style="font-size:15px;"> The dragoness frowned with displeasure, and her orange eyes flashed brighter, promising trouble to anyone who dared to stand in her way.
– Who is our uncle? – Ada whispered in my ear.
“Uncle is the ruler of the Onyx Rocks,” I answered just as quietly.
“Oh…” the northern woman was impressed.
– Eshsheri, you are detaining the rector and the others. Remember about decency, finally! – Estella Krieger sternly scolded the girls.
Having measured each other with derogatory glances, the girls stood at different ends of our small formation. The blonde is at the beginning, the dragon is at the end.
– Adepts, for the first time the Academy of Wind and Storms opens its doors to female students. Both for us and for you it will be a new unique experience, hopefully successful. Serious changes are coming, and I am glad to welcome you to these ancient walls! – the rector began again.
He introduced us to the teachers and deans, then we introduced ourselves one by one. By this moment, adherents had gathered on the square near the statue of the founder, on the side of the idle fountain and on the side of the porch, looking at us with interest. Trying not to be distracted by them, I listened carefully to the rector.
Perhaps this would have continued, but I noticed that Asher Schwartz was talking to us, but was now looking somewhere to the side. Following his gaze, I came across a group of guys walking along the driveway past a stagecoach. They hardly paid any attention to us, they just glanced at us with indifferent glances and headed towards the park.
So bright and different, they stood out among other adherents!
One is blond with long hair as gorgeous as that of one of my friend’s northern dragons. The short fiery red hair of the second played with tongues of flame in the breeze. This one of them all smiled at us, as if he was unable to maintain a serious expression on his face for long.
A brown-haired man with wavy hair combed to one side looked from under his brows with squinted eyes, latently evoking a feeling of anxiety. Completely inexperienced in romantic relationships, I instantly realized that it was better to stay away from people like him.
But most of all I was impressed by the brown-haired, gloomy guy who walked with them, but seemed to be on his own. He didn’t even turn his head at us, and I experienced mixed feelings. Slight offense and interest. Offense because he didn’t consider us worthy of attention, but interest because I didn’t have time to see his face and eye color. All that remained was to admire the spread of the shoulders, covered with a uniform jacket, and the neck peeking out from the collar.
I didn't think so, did I? Does he have tattoos there similar to those of Beate Hügel? Is he also a dragon from a junior branch of the ruling family?
Stealthily looking at the broad backs and stately figures, I got distracted, and suddenly something forcefully poked me under the knees! It all happened so suddenly that I almost fell and, in order to maintain my balance, I stepped forward, finding myself out of line.
– Ashsheri Blackrock, did you want something? – Felsen Schwartz immediately drew attention to me.
– Y-yes, escher rector. I… I forgot something on the stagecoach. And now I remember. A very important thing, dear to the heart…
The rector grinned condescendingly, and my father stared at me with disapproval. “Well, since you’re so dear that you decided to interrupt me, so be it.” Go and get it. We will wait.
– Simka, why did you set me up like that? – I hissed at the simuran angrily. “Thank you!” Excuse me… – I stammered, blushing, and hastily disappeared inside the stagecoach. There, as I expected, the culprit of the incident was hiding. That's who pushed me out of line!
My friend looked at me reproachfully and, wagging his tail, placed a ball that had come from out of nowhere on the floor in front of me.
– Do you think now is the right time for games?! – I was indignant.
No! It wasn't a ball! This was something different. A ball as black as darkness itself, covered with orange dragon writing, which suddenly flashed and glowed. In surprise, I stumbled back and grabbed the wall.
Dragon Focus – that's what it was like!
Having survived the first shock, she stretched out her hand to pick it up, but at the very last moment she stopped, without touching the precious surface.
– Where did you take it? – asked Simka in a whisper.
Simuran growled, slightly spread his wings and stamped his paw.
“Are you saying it was flying through the air on its own, and you just intercepted it and brought it to me?” – As always, in some miraculous way I deciphered his explanation.
Simka snorted in agreement, confirming that this was all true.
– Mirre, why are you hiding here? Let's go outside quickly! – Alan Nett looked into the salon and, seeing the simuran, was indignant: – Well, I knew that he would cause problems! Simka, sit here and keep your head down. Soon the stagecoach will be driven to the parking lot, and you will get out there. Understood? Don't let your mistress down again!
Uncle Alan did not notice the artifact lying on the floor.
There was no point in testing the rector’s patience on the first day. Moreover, it was not worth testing my father’s patience. He will try to get me sent back to the boarding school. Even without that, I was already anticipating a severe reprimand from the Duke of Blackrock. It was worth following Uncle Alan's advice as soon as possible.
I sat down next to the artifact again. It was a little scary to touch him, but why not leave him here? If I'm not mistaken, and this is really what I think, then… This is priceless! The Focus cannot be allowed to fall into the wrong hands.
She decisively grabbed the ball, put it in her coat pocket and froze. Moments passed, but nothing happened. No security charms worked and nothing suspicious happened. Exhaling with relief, I got out of the stagecoach and, as if nothing had happened, took my place in the ranks, ignoring Ada’s questioning glance and the curious sisters.
Chapter 5
Ethan Derberg, onyx dragon, adept of the Academy of Wind and Storms. Border of Onyx Rocks and the Steppe of the Seventeen Winds
Same morning, a little earlier…
The village at the Academy of Wind and Storms was called Dream-on-the-Veterke, but my friends and I simply called it – Village. Here you could find anything, from a sweet shop to accessories from famous fashion houses. From artifacts and tailoring and clothing repair services, to weapons counters where you could forge a unique blade to order. And there were countless different eateries with menus for every taste and budget in the Village. Every famous house that produces anything considered it good form to open a store in this village. In general, there was everything here to make adherents from all over Balaria shake their wallets.
During the first week of autumn, adherents gathered in advance to study. So my friends and I, while waiting for classes, decided to properly celebrate the beginning of the new school year. All that night we openly reveled, so we returned to the academy only in the early morning, which turned out to be surprisingly nasty to the delight of the water
