Chapter 17
720 Words
The most influential House became the House of Earth. Grounded mages could restore material wealth to the world — and, primarily, to themselves. Water and Fire joined Earth in rebuilding, but a silent rivalry simmered between them.
Earth magicians had never before been Supreme. Fire and Water both knew that the battle for the title of the new Supreme Dragon would be between them.
The heirs of all three Houses were born in the same year, confirming these expectations.
Eleanor Vars — heir of the House of Earth, granddaughter of Sylvester the Great, restorer of the world.
Noah Aquaris — heir of the House of Water, son of Triton the Just.
Ray Flaming — heir of the House of Fire, grandson of Thais the All-Seeing.
I set the history book down. Oddly, I couldn’t feel Aria’s presence. That had never happened before.
“Aria, are you here?” I called out — but the dragon did not answer.
I opened another book and read about Water magic. Apparently, magic truly existed in everything — every human cell. All one had to do was feel it and pull it from the depths of consciousness.
I devoured The Epic of Dragons without even noticing. It turned out dragons did have souls. They could love. Dragons had never served humans — they were partners, complementing each other, until humans forgot that.
“Aria, are you here?” I asked again. Still nothing.
The element shaped a dragon’s very essence far more than it ever shaped a human’s.
From that fascinating book — fascinating to me, at least — I learned that Supreme Dragons were often chosen from the House of Air. Their minds were sharp enough to uncover a person’s true intentions, their souls capable of forging real bonds — friendship, love and their magic strong enough to cleanse the “unfaithful” of poisoned thoughts.
Only once had a Fire Dragon risen to the rank of High Dragon. Bonifas, sworn to serve Walter Flaming.
He was the one who destroyed the House of Air.
Did he really refuse to hand the power to young Lea Arn?
“Aria? Where are you?”
Silence.
My stomach growled. How stupid — I hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning and had completely forgotten about such a basic human need.
I gathered my things, tucking The Dragon Epic under my arm, and headed toward the exit. Almost at the door, near Sector Two, I overheard voices.
“The House of Air had an advantage, Dan. I need to know what it was. I can’t let the Supreme Dragon Selection run its course blindly. Beating Aquaris won’t be difficult. But becoming the Supreme Dragon — and binding a dragon to me — is another matter entirely.”
“You really think we’ll find their secret here? The House of Air is gone. Digging into their knowledge may not be the brightest idea, Ray.”
I froze.
Perfect. Exactly what I needed.
Peeking through a gap between the shelves, I spotted them in the dimly lit sector: two guys in black — one standing guard-still, the other nervously riffling through a book.
I needed to disappear before I drew the attention of the Fire heir on top of everything else.
But the moment I glanced through the gap again, he lifted his eyes directly to mine, and I panicked, dropping my book.
“Someone’s here, Dan. Check,” he ordered.
Dan moved deeper into the library. I had to go. Now. Before they caught me red-handed.
Trying to calm my breathing, I bent for my book and glanced once more through the shelves.
The table was empty.
Maybe, just maybe, I could slip out unnoticed.
I even smiled at the thought of escaping without consequences, when someone’s hand stopped me.
Everything inside me twisted tight.
“Going somewhere? Not so fast.”
A low voice. Sharp. Dangerous.
“Who are you? And why were you spying on me?”
I turned around slowly. My palms were sweating.
A tall, dark-haired guy held my shoulder. Long bangs shadowed slightly slanted steel-gray eyes. Sharp cheekbones. A mocking smirk. An earring in his right ear.
He and Noah truly were opposites.
If Noah Aquaris looked like Apollo brought to life, then this guy…
this guy was sin and temptation wrapped into flesh.
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