The Dragon's Soul. Unveiling the Truth

Chapter 6

Leaving the tidy, unmistakably feminine bedroom, I stepped into a wide corridor. Corridors like this existed only in palaces and museums back home. The walls, covered in blue-green wallpaper, displayed breathtaking paintings — portraits of people, and on some, dragons.

“The girl who knocked called me ‘my lady.’ Maybe I’m the daughter of some noble family here. Maybe… I’m a princess.” My thoughts were cut off by Aria’s dry interruption.

“There are no princesses in this world, Ari. Here, power belongs to the four Great Houses. Each House commands one of the elemental magics — fire, water, earth, or air. To keep magic from corrupting humanity, dragon guardians were created. Every century, a High Dragon was chosen, one strong enough to restrain greed and vice in human hearts. That lasted for thousands of years until…”

Aria didn’t finish or maybe I stopped paying attention.

My gaze had caught a painting of a girl riding a dragon in flight. It was so stunning that my mouth fell open. I had always dreamed of flying.

I had no idea how long I stood there before an arrogant voice cut through the moment.

“Pathetic. Don’t drool over it, you’ll never be anything like that.”

A mocking laugh followed.

I spun around, indignation flaring, ready to fire back, but Aria’s plea rang sharply in my mind.

“Don’t draw attention. Help me.”

I turned.

A young man stood before me. Tall, athletic, with striking blue eyes and light blond hair. How something so vile could come out of such a perfect face, I had no idea. He looked like an actual Apollo of this world.

He stepped closer, and I stiffened.

“And stop staring, you pathetic thing. You don’t stand a chance. Stay away from me at the Academy. Pretend you don’t know me, or you’ll regret ever crossing paths with me,” he said with a cold, sweet smile. Then added, “Do you understand?”

What?!

How dared he talk to me like that?

Whoever this girl was, she didn’t deserve this. No one did.

I opened my mouth to give him a piece of my mind, but Aria’s voice cut in again:

“Help me. Don’t attract attention.”

I bit my lip hard.

“… Understood,” I forced out.

“Excellent.” He smirked. “Tell Father I’m not hungry. I have errands before leaving for the Academy. I’ll create my own portal.”

With that, he turned lazily and walked down the corridor.

“What an arrogant jerk!” I burst out the moment the smug prince vanished from sight. “How dare he talk to me like that? If this happened back in my world, I’d put him in his place in seconds.”

“That’s exactly why I told you not to draw attention,” Aria said gently. “You need to figure out who you are here first, Ari.”

“I know. I need a strategy. And I will put that rude brat in his place.”

And since postponing things has never been my style, I headed straight down the stairs.

When I stepped into the dining hall, something else immediately stole my breath.

The wall opposite the windows wasn’t a wall at all, it was water. A massive sheet of flowing water, endlessly cascading like a living fountain.

How was this even possible?

“Magic, Ari. Water magic,” my imaginary dragon answered, reading my thoughts as always.

In the next room, a long table was already set for breakfast. Several people were seated around it. At the head sat a tall, imposing man with a neatly trimmed beard. Beside him an elegant young woman and a little girl.

“Ariel, you know I don’t tolerate lateness,” the man said sharply. “What excuse do you have this time? And where the hell is Noah?”

He was clearly irritated. I needed something to say, fast.

Luckily, my brain was functioning just fine, and the puzzle pieces fit together quickly.

First: the girl — me — was named Ariel.

What a coincidence.

They could call me Ari, at least. One good thing today.

Second: this man was her uncle.

Which made him my uncle. And judging by the resemblance, he was the father of that infuriatingly handsome jerk — Noah.

And considering the decor, the watery color palette, and, well, the giant living wall of water in the entrance hall… this family obviously belonged to the Water House.

“Uncle,” I began uncertainly, “Noah held me up. He told me to say he isn’t hungry, that he has things to do before we leave for the academy, and that he’ll create his own portal.”

“What does that boy think he’s doing?!” my “uncle” roared, slamming his fist on the table.

Bullseye. Every guess confirmed.

“Calm down, Triton. Please, you’re frightening Marika,” the beautiful woman said softly.

So the little girl was Marika, and that was her mother.

My uncle apparently was named Triton.

Triton. Ariel.

This was starting to feel like some twisted dragon version of The Little Mermaid.

“That pup thinks he’s some great mage who doesn’t need my help!” Triton growled. I could swear steam puffed from his nose. “We’ll see how he sings during the Selection.”

Then he snapped his attention to me. “And you, why are you just standing there? Sit and eat! We don’t have much time.”

“Yes, Uncle,” I said quickly. The woman gave me a sympathetic look.

I sat and began eating. The food was delicious, comforting. I reached for my tea—

Find out what year it is, Ari, the dragon reminded me.

Right.

But how was I supposed to ask that outright without sounding like Ariel had lost her last brain cell?

I was drawing a total blank, until the little girl saved me.

“Papa, when is the High Dragon Selection happening? I can’t wait for Noah to win! He promised he’ll give me a ride on his dragon!” Marika chirped.

“Soon, sweetheart,” Triton replied. “Every hundred years, on New Year’s Eve, the Selection is held. The strongest mage and their dragon become the High Dragon, bringing honor and power to their Great House.”

He stood.

“Speaking of which, we need to go. I have important business with the rector. Ariel, I hope you’re ready. You have five minutes. If you’re late, get to the academy however you wish.”

“Yes, Uncle. Five minutes is plenty,” I answered obediently.