The Fiery Crown Cycle: A Dragon's Rebirth

Chapter 11

Pant... pant...

She had made it. Just barely. Leaning forward with her hands on her knees, Isolde drew in ragged breaths as a wave of relief washed over her.

Before her stood the ornate wrought-iron gates of Splendor Academy. A fleet of carriages was parked along the sweeping drive—some were opulent and gilded, others elegant and finely lacquered, and a few were even crafted in the graceful, sweeping style of the elves. The one thing they had in common was an air of immense expense.

Their young masters had already entered the academy. Liveried servants stood guard by the vehicles, their expressions betraying mild surprise as they watched the small, uniformed figure panting at the entrance. Isolde quickly shoved the last of her coarse bread into her mouth, chewing and swallowing with practiced haste before hurrying through the gates.

Today was an important day. That was why she had run the whole way, desperate not to be late.

She followed the manicured gravel paths that wound through the academy's elaborate gardens. Yesterday, Ms. Solana had informed the class that today's lesson would not be held indoors. They were to proceed directly to the large training grounds behind the main hall.

The academy was immense, its grounds a stunning tapestry of exquisite, varied gardens, no two alike. When she had first arrived, Isolde would often pause to marvel at them. Not anymore. Even the most beautiful sights become commonplace when seen every day.

Clack! Clack-clack!

The rhythmic crack of wooden swords striking one another echoed across the grounds. On the central field, students of the Knight's Hall were already deep into their morning drills. Isolde lowered her head and quickened her pace, trying to be invisible. A few of the young knights noticed her, their eyes flicking over her briefly before they dismissed her and returned their focus to their sparring.

She hurried past the Knight's Hall field and onto the path that led to the academy's rear mountain. The noisy clamor of the training grounds faded, replaced by a profound quiet. Here, the only sounds were the chirping of insects and the occasional, clear call of a songbird.

Up ahead, she saw a dense grove of emerald bamboo, and her steps grew faster still. The moment she stepped onto the narrow path that wound through it, her tense shoulders began to relax. The canopy was so thick it muffled all sound from the main grounds, creating a pocket of serene silence. She loved the tranquility of this place.

She emerged from the long, winding path into a large clearing in the heart of the grove.

There, a woman stood ramrod straight, her stern face framed by gold-rimmed spectacles. She wore the deep blue, gold-trimmed robes of a master mage. Her white-gloved right hand reached into the left sleeve of her robe and emerged with a golden pocket watch. She flipped it open.

Nine-thirty. Time was up. She could wait no longer. What a pity, she thought. I had hoped the girl would make it. An image of the small, painfully thin child with the determined eyes surfaced in her mind. But Solana knew she was the mentor for an entire class, not just one student.

She strode to the center of the clearing.

Clap, clap.

The sharp sound of her hands coming together drew the attention of the students scattered around the clearing. Those who were reading looked up from their books, their eyes fixed on Ms. Solana, waiting.

The children, all around ten years of age, were dressed in exquisite, formal attire. The academy did not mandate uniforms, and for a momentous occasion such as this, everyone had worn their finest clothes.

“Everyone, please take your positions on the summoning circles. The time has come to begin.”

At her command, the readers closed their books, and those who had been meditating opened their eyes. Ten students in total—three boys and seven girls—moved to stand in the center of ten magic circles that had been inscribed on the ground beforehand. Within each circle lay an egg-sized, brilliant blue crystal.

It was a mana crystal, a simple medium for the day's ritual. For a beginner's summoning, the catalyst was not strictly defined. Any offering could work, so long as it intrigued the entity on the other side enough for it to accept the contract.

But this was a summons for a magical beast whelp, a creature with no rank and little experience of the world. A single, pure mana crystal was more than enough to entice one.

As Solana surveyed her students, ready to give the command to begin, she heard a faint sound of footsteps behind her. As a high-summoner, her senses were exceptionally keen.

She turned. A small, thin figure in a standard academy uniform was jogging toward them.

A flicker of surprise crossed Solana's stern features. It's her. The poor child. She isn't late today.

Isolde skidded to a halt before her mentor, immediately bending over to rest her hands on her knees, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps.

“I'm sorry, Ms. Solana,” she panted, her head bowed. “I'm late again.” Even though it was a familiar routine, tardiness still filled her with a knot of anxiety, especially when facing her mentor.

Solana looked down at the timid child. “No, Isolde,” she said, her voice calm and even. “You are not late. You are just in time. I was just about to begin.”

“Find your summoning circle. We are ready to start.”

“Thank you, Ms. Solana!”

With a grateful whisper, Isolde turned and scurried to the last empty magic circle at the back of the formation.

Seeing her in position, Solana announced, “Alright, everyone. You may begin. First, infuse your mana into the circle. Then, following the incantation from your texts, recite the words in your heart and await a response.”

The tuition alone for Splendor Academy was more than the annual income of a minor noble. The students here were either from the nobility or were the designated heirs of wealthy merchant dynasties. They were all destined for lives of privilege and power, and every one of them strove to prove their worth. Failure was not an option. Below them, a host of ambitious younger siblings waited for them to falter. If they did not prove exceptional, they could find themselves replaced by a brother or sister the very next day.

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The brutal competition among the great houses began in childhood. It was a cruel but practical reality, and Solana had seen it play out many times. Just this year, two rowdy boys in her own class had been withdrawn and replaced by their more promising sisters. The great families did not choose heirs based on gender; they chose based on talent, on who had the potential to lead the family into a brighter, more glorious future.

One by one, the magic circles began to glow. Most of the students had already completed the first step. Only the little one at the back was struggling.

Solana's gaze settled on her, a flicker of worry in her eyes. The final circle was only half-lit. Unlike the others, Isolde's innate mana was barely at the minimum required level. A single mistake, a lapse in concentration, and she would fail the summoning.

Solana worried that such a failure could shatter the girl's future. In her experience, Isolde's situation was a familiar one: the illegitimate offspring of a great noble. She'd seen it dozens of times. The powerful houses cast a wide net when seeking an heir, investing in every branch of their bloodline, including those born outside of marriage. But the moment a child showed a lack of talent, the investment was withdrawn without a second thought.

Isolde focused, carefully, painstakingly, controlling her meager reserves of mana, feeding the energy into the inscription at her feet. At last, the final glowing line connected. Her circle shone with the same brilliant blue light as all the others.

Now, for the incantation. She closed her eyes.

Here, I offer this token of alliance.

By Providence, I seek to bind myself to you as partner.

If you are willing, please accept this gift and answer my call.

The blue mana crystal on the ground before her vanished.

*****

Deep within the mountain cavern, a shimmering magic circle materialized from thin air beneath the sleeping form of Aiden. A gateway of pure light unfolded before him, and from it, a single mana crystal drifted into the air.

A delectable scent, rich and sweet, wafted into his subconscious.

Without opening his eyes, Aiden acted on pure, primal instinct. His great jaws opened, and with a single, reflexive snap, he bit down on the source of the aroma.

The mana crystal shattered between his teeth, flooding his senses with a taste that was fragrant, sweet, and utterly divine. But it was gone in an instant.

Not enough.

His massive, crimson tongue licked his snout, a futile search for any lingering flavor. Finding none, he sank deeper into his slumber.

*****

Back at the academy, Isolde felt the connection snap into place as her mana crystal was accepted. A jolt of pure joy shot through her. The offering had been taken—that meant she was halfway there. A link had been forged.

She focused, sending her thoughts through the new bond. By the partner contract, I ask you to answer me, my partner.

Silence.

No voice answered her call. She immediately ruled out a language barrier; the magic of the summoning circle ensured mutual understanding. Did it not hear me clearly?

A knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach. She would try again.

By the partner contract, I ask you to answer me, my partner.

In the cavern, the voice intruded upon Aiden's dream-filled sleep once more. His brow furrowed, the great plates of his draconic face creasing in annoyance.

That vexing sound again. How is one supposed to sleep?

By now, the other ten students had all successfully summoned their partners. As expected, they were all unranked magical beast whelps—a shadow cub, a griffin chick, a juvenile basilisk—but each showed obvious potential.

Only Isolde's circle remained empty.

Ms. Solana walked to her side, her voice soft. “What is it, Isolde?”

Seeing her mentor, Isolde felt as though she'd been thrown a lifeline. “Ms. Solana… it's not responding to me. What should I do now?”

Solana's sharp eyes noted that the mana crystal in the circle was gone. “Did it accept the crystal?”

“Yes, it did.”

With Isolde's confirmation, Solana understood. Isolde had connected with a cunning little freeloader, a creature smart enough to take the gift but unwilling to answer the call. But the creature was ignorant of one crucial fact: once the offering was accepted, the bond was formed. It was irrevocable.

“Try chanting the invocation several more times,” she advised.

“Yes, Teacher.”

With her mentor's guidance, Isolde's panic subsided. She closed her eyes and focused once more.

By the partner contract, I call to you, unknown existence. Please answer me.

By the partner contract, I call to you, unknown existence. Please answer me.

In his mountain lair, the incessant, vexing voice echoed in his mind again.

Aaargh! This is maddening! Will it not let me sleep?!

A crown of pure flame coalesced above the sleeping dragon's brow. Aiden's body began to swell, expanding with a surge of nascent power as rivulets of fire traced the edges of his scales.

By the partner contract, I call to you, unknown existence. Please answer me.

“Back the fuck off!”

Aiden's jaws snapped open, and a torrent of molten fire erupted from his throat, pouring directly into the shimmering gateway before him.

A voice, booming and powerful, finally answered Isolde's call, echoing in her mind. Back the fuck off!

A wave of relief and excitement washed over her. It had replied! But… what do its words mean?

Before she could even ask Ms. Solana, the gateway of light before her began to warp violently. It flashed from brilliant white to a furious, malevolent crimson.

Solana reacted instantly. She threw her left hand forward, palm out. A sapphire ring on her finger flared with intense blue light.

“Aegis!”

A translucent blue barrier sprang into existence just as the dragon's fire blasted through the portal. The torrent of flame slammed into the shield, engulfing it in a roaring inferno. For a moment, it held. Then, a hairline crack spiderwebbed across its surface.

Seeing the crack, Solana's heart leaped into her throat.

Just as suddenly as it had erupted, the crimson portal shattered, dissolving into a shower of fading blue particles. With its source cut off, the dragon fire vanished. A second later, the blue barrier disintegrated into dust.

Solana lowered her hand, her heart aching as she looked at the shattered sapphire on her ring. It was a high-tier protective artifact that had cost her half a year's savings. And now it was gone.

But… a portal can only be traversed by the one who was summoned. That rule applies to attacks as well. Which means… what in the world has this poor child contracted with? A whelp with that kind of terrifying power? Could it be a dragon? No, even a dragon whelp shouldn't be that powerful. She couldn't comprehend it.

One thing was certain. It seemed poor little Isolde had truly been touched by divine favor. She had formed a pact with a being of incomprehensible potential. Whatever it was, its power was terrifyingly real. Its temperament, however, seemed to be just as terrible. It would be up to Isolde to slowly, carefully win its favor. If she could build enough goodwill, summoning it would only be a matter of time.

“Ms. Solana?”

A gentle tug on her robe pulled Solana from her thoughts. She looked down to see Isolde gazing up at her. The intense heat had flushed her pale cheeks a rosy red, and her bright, aquamarine eyes were wide with excitement.

“What is it, Isolde?”

“Ms. Solana… what does ‘back the fuck off!' mean?”

Faced with such a pure, innocent question, even the stern Ms. Solana couldn't stop her lips from twitching. There was no doubt those were the words her partner had shouted. It confirmed her suspicions: Isolde's partner was an incredibly ill-tempered creature.

“Well,” she began, searching for the right words as she looked into Isolde's expectant eyes. She decided to soften the truth. “It is… a very forceful way of asking to be left alone.”

“Oh. I see.”

The excitement drained from Isolde's face, replaced by a wave of disappointment. Her summoned partner had rejected her. Of course it had. She had nothing to offer. She glanced across the clearing, where the other ten students were already interacting with their new partners, coaxing them with treats from small pouches filled with pellets of high-density mana.

Isolde's head bowed low.

Seeing the child's crestfallen expression, Solana quickly knelt beside her. “Do not lose heart, Isolde. Take it slowly. At the very least, it answered your contract, did it not?”

At those words, a spark returned to Isolde's eyes. She was right. It had answered. The feeling of the bond, that undeniable link in her soul, was real. She truly had a partner.

Across the clearing, the other ten students, while tending to their new companions, had been watching the entire exchange from the corners of their eyes. They had seen it all. And in their minds, the gears were already turning, calculating how to approach Isolde, how to befriend her without seeming too obvious.

Like Ms. Solana, their minds, already honed by the politics of their powerful families, had reached the same conclusion: Isolde was about to rise.

Anyone contracted to a partner of such staggering power was destined for a future that was anything but ordinary.

Every noble and merchant house is, at its heart, an investor. And now, an investment with a guaranteed, astronomical return had just appeared right before their eyes.