The Fiery Crown Cycle: A Dragon's Rebirth

Chapter 34

Isolde was still so hungry.

She swung her legs off the bed, her feet finding her slippers in the dark. She had to find something to eat. She stood and walked to the door, opening it with painstaking care.

Creeak~

The faint sound from the old wooden door made her small body go rigid. She poked her head out, peering down into the lower level. The hallway was pitch black, save for a few patches where the faint moonlight managed to drive back the darkness.

She stood frozen for nearly a minute. There was no other sound. It seemed her aunt was fast asleep and hadn't heard the noise.

She slipped out of the room, turning sideways to fit through the narrow opening. Relying on memory, she traced the wall with her fingertips, making her way to the attic stairs. She gripped the railing and descended.

The first floor wasn't quite so dark; a few glowstones set into the walls provided enough light to make out the general surroundings. Slowing her steps, she crept into the kitchen. It was a simple room with a large stove and a massive cupboard where her aunt stored all the food and ingredients.

She walked to the cupboard.

Sniff, sniff.

Her small nose twitched. The scent of food. Her eyes went to the door of the second shelf. The aroma was coming from there.

She reached out a small hand and pulled the cupboard door open.

A golden-brown roasted leg of meat sat inside, its surface covered in the marks of a carving knife. This was what her aunt's family had eaten for dinner last night. Isolde's mouth began to water, her eyes fixed on the roast as if glued to it.

Gulp.

She forced herself to swallow. Should I try some? But if Auntie finds out, she'll definitely beat me. With so many knife marks on it already… if I only eat a little piece, she probably won't notice. Yes… just a little piece.

Having convinced herself, Isolde reached out a trembling hand. She tore off a small shred of meat and put it in her mouth.

Her eyes immediately squeezed shut. So this is what meat tastes like! It's so fragrant! So delicious!

Her right hand reached out again.

Smack.

Her left hand slapped her right one away. No, she told herself. I can't have any more. She'll notice.

Her eyes lingered on the magnificent roast as she slowly closed the cupboard door. She then opened the third shelf. It was a double-layered space. On the top shelf sat a plate of white bread. On the bottom, a careless pile of black bread loaves. She reached in and took two of the black loaves, pointedly ignoring the white bread above.

She closed the cupboard and tiptoed back to the stairs. The attic hallway was dark again. She clutched the two loaves in one arm and used her free hand to feel her way along the wall.

Creeak~

She heard the familiar sound and knew she had reached her room. She fumbled for the latch, pushed the door open just wide enough to slip through, and then closed it behind her. The moment she sat down, she began to eat, her hunger too great to wait another second.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

…

The next morning, Isolde went downstairs. The living room was quiet. She cast a guilty glance at her aunt's room. The door was shut tight. It seemed her aunt was still asleep. The memory of what she had done last night made her stomach clench with anxiety.

She won't find out, will she?

Torn between fear and guilt, Isolde finished her morning chores. When she returned to the main room, her aunt was still nowhere to be seen, but a single black bread sat on the dining table. She looked at her aunt's door. It was still closed. So, her aunt had already been up and about.

Isolde stared at the black bread. She didn't find out!

The anxiety that had been pressing down on her heart finally eased. She felt instantly lighter. Grabbing the bread from the table, Isolde walked out the front door. It was time for class. Ms. Solana had said that today's lesson would be on the training grounds. They were to perform a second summoning. Unlike the first, this would be a contract summoning—any beast they called forth could be bound to them directly.

I wonder what I'll be able to summon this time. A seed of anticipation began to sprout in her heart.

Because of the snow, the roads were difficult to walk on. As expected, she was late again. Very late.

She stepped through the great iron gates of the academy. It was like entering another world. Outside the gates, thick snow covered everything. Inside, there wasn't a single trace of it. It was magical. Once inside, Isolde broke into a run.

She ran to the bamboo grove behind the main school building. Her classmates were already there, interacting with their new summons. The scene was not a friendly one.

CRACK!

A girl in a long, black gauze dress swung a golden whip, striking her summoned beast hard across its flank.

Whimper~

The magical beast, a wolf-like creature covered in long, green fur, cried out in pain. Its eyes were locked on its summoner in a hateful glare.

Seeing her own summon stare at her like that, Thea's brow furrowed in displeasure. After all the expensive materials I added to the circle, this is all I get? A low-tier beast? And it dares to defy its master? A mere Mossling! It must have a death wish!

She raised the whip again. A faint golden light shimmered along its length before it lashed out, becoming a blur of motion.

CRACK!

Whimper~

With another cry of pain, the Mossling was sent flying.

Hearing the commotion, the teacher, Solana, glanced over. It was Thea. It seemed she was not satisfied with the Mossling. Solana had no intention of intervening. How a summoner chose to interact with their summon was their own decision. They could choose peaceful coexistence or violent enslavement. It was clear Thea had chosen the latter—a path taken by most summoners.

Suddenly, Solana heard a familiar set of footsteps. It seems Isolde has arrived.

She turned toward the path leading into the grove. A small figure was running toward them. The girl stopped in front of Ms. Solana, breathing heavily.

“I'm sorry, Ms. Solana. I'm late again.” Her apology was sincere.

Staring into those earnest eyes, Solana narrowed her own slightly. This girl, she must have run the whole way here. But… she's not panting. That wasn't like her at all. Is it contract feedback?

“Mm,” Solana nodded. “Go and begin your summoning.”

“Yes, Ms. Solana!”

With a nod, Isolde walked toward the summoning circles. There was only one left on the field that hadn't been used. There was no need to choose.

Seeing Isolde arrive, the other ten students stopped what they were doing and dismissed their contract summons. They, too, were curious to see what magical beast the lucky girl would call forth this time.

Thea looked at the Mossling on the ground, struggling to get up. A flash of contempt crossed her bright, black-gemstone eyes. She simply cut off the flow of mana. A blue magic circle flared to life around the struggling Mossling. In the next second, the beast vanished, and the circle faded away. Having dismissed her summon, Thea also turned her gaze to Isolde, who had just stepped onto the summoning platform.

The circle was already prepared and could be used immediately, though students could add their own mana-infused items if they wished. Isolde, of course, had nothing to add. She began the summoning directly.

She closed her eyes. Orange mana coalesced in the air around her before pouring into the magic circle. The sigils at her feet began to glow with an orange light.

By the decree of the great Fourth Crown,

I, Isolde, present this tribute in your name.

By the decree of the great Fourth Crown,

I ask that you answer my call.

The magic crystals piled on the circle began to dissolve into light, a sign that the summoning had succeeded.

What would it be?

Anticipation filled the eyes of Solana and all ten students.