Probation

There was no worthy opponent for Liam among the barely standing guards. He finished the fight and let them go.

Wiping his sweaty forehead with his hand, he squinted and looked at the bridge as if waiting for someone. Down to the river, he threw off his shirt and boots and jumped into the water.

Quickly overcoming the current, he emerged on the opposite bank and walked back. Cal blushed with shame. He couldn't bring himself to stop devouring Liam with his eyes. His chest heaving with exercise, dotted with dewdrops, his damp hair, and his darker lashes.

«Why are his eyes so bottomless? What shall I do with my poor heart?» The invisible spirit could have screamed or cried, no one would have heard him. Cal immediately began the hardest part of the task: restraining himself in the presence of his loved one.

Then Liam went up to the observation deck and stood staring at the machines for a few minutes, making Cal feel the infernal flames inside. Then he went to the very room in which Cal had spent the night without sleep. Liam threw his clothes in the hamper and headed for the bathroom, which wasn't there before.

«Well, convenient,» Cal remarked and began to explore the room. Liam had never actually seen the room, so he organized it to his Spartan tastes. But there was an oddity. Though seemingly ascetic, the room had luxuries: a deep beautiful armchair, a carved table, and a fluffy expensive rug.

A glass glittered on the table, and a bottle of wine languished. Everything looked such a contrast to the modest bed and gray walls. It was as if the owner wanted to make someone happy in this corner of luxury.

Liam came out of the bathroom, wiping his damp hair. Walking over to the closet, he pulled out a surprisingly nice suit and began to change. Cal turned away. Not that he didn't want to peek, but...it was Liam, the humble, stubborn, righteous man.

Even so, Cal didn't want to offend him; everything seemed like a dream as it was. On top of the suit, Liam wore his crystal. Cal squeezed him and thought he could easily contact him now... but he couldn't.

Liam moved toward the Academy and Cal followed him. He touched the stone to his chest and imagined the place where he wanted to go.

A girl ran out toward the Head. She stopped him and babbled:

«Head, it's the Third Course again! That nasty Michal was peeping at the girls in the bathing room yesterday, ah.»

«And Grady fought with him again?» the Head finished in her place.

«Yeah, and now the Academy is under siege by Michal's clan and Grady's clan. Their parents have lost their temper, too, and it's almost like a massacre out there. I beg you, hurry up and break them up!»

The girl's eyes filled with terror and tears.

«Calm down Third and stay behind me,» said the Head and walked resolutely forward.

The first thing they saw was a haze in the air. From the collision of two hundred people a veritable dust storm began. In the blink of an eye, Liam flew over the battlefield and struck lightning into the very center.

The noise of battle fell silent, and everyone raised their faces to the sky. There hovered the Head of the Academy, waiting.

The excitement of warriors immediately died down, everyone knew that the Head does not tolerate violations of the rules and is strict with anyone who crossed the line. No one had ever managed to even get close to him, let alone slay him.

Liam slowly lowered himself to the ground.

Glancing around the two clans, he ordered Michal and Grady to accompany him on a twilight patrol. This order made the bullies' faces pale, and their clansmen dutifully retreated.

«Go for now,» Liam ordered, and the young men obediently fled.

«Third, what's the schedule today?» The man asked nonchalantly, and his assistant quickly produced a list of meetings and errands. Then she added:

«You have a special class today, Head. The students are gathering and waiting for you.»

Liam nodded and walked forward.

After the dust settled Cal could finally see the impressive scale and beauty of the Academy building. It looked so stunningly majestic as if it had been carved out of pure crystal.

Glistening and dazzling in the morning sun, the Academy was awe-inspiring to the untrained!

Cal thought that if the most beautiful temple in the universe existed, it would look just like this. The sharp peaks above seemed to pierce the sky, defying the gods.

«It must be the greatest good fortune for gifted people to be here,» he suggested, «but fighting here over nonsense is kind of petty.»

The Academy was at least a hundred meters high and consisted of three separate parts, connected by high galleries. Liam pushed off easily, took off, and landed on the lone ledge at the very top.

It wasn't even a balcony, just a small platform, no railing or protection, but by the looks of it, it was unnecessary.

Repeating after Liam, Cal deftly stepped onto the platform and into the Head's office.

The furnishings here were luxurious, far better than in Liam's room. It was clear to see that the room had been given to the Chapter by its previous owner and had not been remodeled. Liam didn't linger.

Threw off his jacket, rolled up the sleeves of his snow-white shirt, and took a thin cane that looked like a whip, he went to an open class.

About fifty students in matching white robes were waiting for him on the grounds behind the Academy, and at the Head's appearance, all conversation fell silent.

Liam stood in front of a hundred eyes and held his whip up and waited a few seconds. Suddenly a gust of wind caused everyone to grab each other and cover their eyes with their sleeves from the surging sand.

Behind the Head, a huge... dragon landed on the stone platform!

Cal was stunned for a moment. He was totally unprepared for this. Like most of the kids in the class, he was shocked and frightened.

The dragon's scales had a bluish-silver hue. A saddle was attached to its back, and it looked as if the beast had been tamed.

The head enjoyed the effect his personal dragon had on everyone and spoke.

«Water dragons,» he pointed to the creature behind him, «as well as earth, fire, and air dragons, are special spiritual beings. You can own such a dragon without money or influence. But there is a prerequisite, and I will tell you about it today. Follow me.»

The head climbed into the dragon's saddle and lifted it into the air. One by one, the disciples also took off and flew after him. Cal could not fly, so he ran and scolded the abbot for not teaching him a useful skill. But then he stopped and suggested that perhaps one could only fly in the Aether.

He soared sharply into the air and rushed forward, overtaking the crowd of children. He landed on the silver dragon, almost ready to show them all his tongue, but he held himself back.

In front of him sat the Head of the Academy with dignity.

He peered into his face and saw not a drop of arrogance or hubris. He was still humble and reserved.

The dragon made a circle over the valley and descended to the ground.

Liam let it go, and the beast slapped happily toward the water. Dipping its head into the lake, it shook itself off, and thousands of splashes flew in all directions.

«Zhu-Er,» the Head called reproachfully, and the dragon whimpered back, in the manner of a dog.

It looked so comical that some of the students laughed, while others gradually emerged from their stupor.

The student creators were not known for their bravery; they were subtle and vulnerable, unlike the defenders. Cal noted that about a third of the students were girls.

«There's only one way to get your dragon,» the Head spoke, putting his hands behind his back, «and that's to go through the valley of fear.»

The crowd was buzzing with excitement. Word of the place made the blood run cold. Only one in a hundred could walk through the valley without going mad. That's why so few had tried it.

«The rumors are slightly exaggerated,» the Head continued, «there are no monsters in the Valley of Fear, as you can see. You are all in your first year, but you have already filled your heads with gossip.»

His words shocked the students. It appeared that the Head had led them into the thick of it, into the «valley of fear.» They looked around in horror, several of the girls fainted. The students' faces went pale and their knees trembled.

By the way, the dragon of the Head was very shrewd and understood human speech. He shook his head and snorted contemptuously at the commotion among the students, which made the Head look reproachfully at him again.

«Listen,» he said to the frightened students, «the name of this valley comes from a legend.»

«Once upon a time there was a timid elder with the gift of a creator. He was the youngest and weakest. He never found a mate, and no brave protector offered to unite him for a joint mission. Lamenting his mentor, he dreaded the hour when he would have to get to work. He had heard of monsters and dangers, and, falling at his teacher's feet, begging for a way out.»

Everyone froze, listening to the legend, including Cal, and the Head paused to continue the story.

«The Master went to the old wing of the library and studied the ancient scrolls there for a long time, trying to find a way to ward off trouble from his apprentice. At the same time, the other disciples, who were accustomed to making fun of him, entered his room at night and, tying him up, carried him far away and left him alone in that valley.»

«When the moon rose, flowers of amazing beauty blossomed. The disciple freed himself from the ropes and went to see the strange plant. Suddenly a wounded dragon came out of the lake. Its body was badly damaged in a terrible battle; it could hardly breathe and fell without strength in front of the apprentice.»

«He was so shaken that he could not move. Suddenly he saw all kinds of evil things crawling out of the lake. At that very moment, a crystal tear rolled from the dragon's eyes and became an egg of extraordinary beauty.»

«The apprentice was amazed to see a faint light inside the egg and felt a heartbeat. He realized that the egg was alive and wanted to protect it. He grabbed the egg and ran away from the dragon's body, with the monsters of his nightmares chasing him.»

«The apprentice had no sword or shield. But feeling sympathy for the little creature, he covered it with his body and when the enemies swooped down on him, he sacrificed his life to save it.»

Sobbing could be heard in the crowd of students, some shedding tears. Others huddled together with pale faces, cheering on the most sensitive.

The Head continued:

«When it dawned, the student looked up and saw that he was alive and well. There was no trace of his pursuers anywhere, nor was there a dragon. But in his hands, he clutched tightly the pulsing egg of life. So he became the first owner of a water dragon like Zhu-Er."

When he heard his nickname, the dragon raised its head and grinned a crooked smile, and Liam smiled back at him.

«Mentor, but where do dragons come from?» Cried out an impatient student in the front row.

«Good question,» the Head praised, «you know that our brother defenders fight valiantly against the spirits of chaos and death at the edge of the universe to prevent monsters from entering the human world.»

Everyone nodded.

«But did you know that the dragons were the first to do battle?» Everyone froze in amazement. "The Light-bearing Lord created them thousands of years ago before he prepared the first elders for battle.»

He created these beautiful creatures, endowing them with power and nobility, and rewarding them for their selfless service with the ability to be reborn.

«What does this mean, Mentor?» The same apprentice shouted.

Liam shook his head and continued:

«Dragons are not immortal creatures. They can be wounded and killed. When a dragon dies, not of his own accord, he finds himself in this place through a special portal,» Liam pointed to the lake, «and there are thousands of brave dragons there now, imprisoned, waiting for a new life...»

The crowd turned their heads in amazement toward the blue of the lake. Zhu-Er howled long into the water as if to call out to his brothers...

Cal got goosebumps. He wanted to possess the dragon immediately, or rather release the dragon, and meet this amazing creature!