The ringing of weapons
Such thoughts seemed to have crossed the mind of every soul in the valley. Previously pale and frightened faces became full of determination and courage.
«Can only one dragon be freed?» The same impatient apprentice asked.
Liam looked at him with interest and attention.
«What is your name, child?» he asked, clearly amused by his apprentice's eagerness.
«I am Unner, lord Mentor, I have no last name, I do not know my parents.»
At these words, many in the crowd snorted with contempt.
«Jerk,» someone said, and others echoed.
«That's all right,» replied the Head, «I lost my parents, too. They were killed by an Ancient Spirit.»
Everyone fell silent in a new fit of terror. Liam thought for a moment as if he were immersed in his memories.
«The Creator's protection is very important. Once an Elder went on an unsupported mission and there she met a cute creature that became her pet. She carelessly brought it to earth and was killed by it. The Ancient Spirit, absorbing the power of the Elder, became very strong and has haunted us ever since...»
Liam fell silent, lost in sad thoughts. No one dared ask him or rush him, except sweet Zhu-Er. He walked over and poked his nose into his hand.
Liam lifted his palm and stroked the beast, which responded with a deep internal growl.
For a moment it seemed to Cal that Liam was stroking his cat.
«For that reason, if you're a Creator, you need a Protector,» the Head summed up. «And if you're a Protector, don't be arrogant. You cannot create worlds, but you can save them.» He looked intently around the students.
«Find a mate, if you can. The union of hearts is the strongest. Love will inexplicably increase your power as creators and protectors. But if you can't find a mate, become someone's friend. And if the first and second don't work out, follow my example and have a dragon.»
«You're so lonely,» Cal sighed. But inwardly he was glad that Liam wasn't looking for anyone to change that situation. «He chose the dragon because he couldn't make a mate. He's breaking my heart!»
Liam jumped into the saddle and soared upward. The bewildered students crowded below in a white flock, not knowing what to do. From above, the Head shouted to them that the lesson was over and fly away, leaving the children alone.
Cal wanted to follow the Head, but something stopped him, and he listened to the students.
The children sat down on the grass and continued their conversation. Many were disturbed by the Head's words. Someone poked Unner in the side and said to him:
«Why did you keep calling him Mentor? It's not like he chose you!»
«I know that,» replied the teenager, «but I thought if I said it often, he would get used to it.»
Everyone laughed, and then someone looked at the lake and said:
«Do you think a dragon retains its memory and appearance after being reborn?»
«I don't know, why?»
«I just thought, if his family stayed at the frontier, they're waiting for him back, aren't they? Aren't they? What if he comes back but doesn't remember his family?»
«Someone often hangs around in the romance department,» some perky girl remarked, and then added, «dragons have been known to live for hundreds of years, but those who languish in this place can wait a thousand years to be reborn.»
«You mean the legendary Dai-Kun might be there, too!»
Everyone looked at the girl again, as if she knew all the secrets.
«What's another 'taikun'?» Someone with bad hearing interjected.
«It's not 'taikun', it's Dai-Kun,» she corrected him, «it's the legendary progenitor of all dragons, the first of the first. He lived for 700 years, fighting alone against all evil spirits.»
«The Light-bearing Lord deliberately did not create other dragons for so long because Dai-Kun loved him devotedly and was very proud. He wanted to defend the lord himself alone and would not tolerate anyone else. It is said that the Master once offered to create a worthy mate for him, a female dragon, but he refused and did not speak to the Master for a year!»
«Wow, that's quite a beast with a temper.» The students laughed.
«You wouldn't dare laugh in Dai-Kun's face. It's the fiercest, most beautiful, most powerful dragon ever,» the perky girl said dreamily, and everyone fell silent as they imagined what he would look like...
«I've heard the legend of Dai-kun's rebirth,» said another apprentice timidly.
Everyone murmured, asking him to tell it.
«I heard from my grandfather,» he began, «that the dragon will only obey a protector with the highest purity of energy.»
«And what color is that?» The students murmured, «Blue?»
«No, blue is for Creators,» interrupted another, «for Protectors it's...»
«Scarlet,» Cal's mind raced. He'd been so absorbed by Liam's lesson that he'd forgotten all about his mission as he listened intently to the students' conversations. Though he wanted to stay and listen more, he had to go.
«I don't understand, why do the Defenders need dragons? Aren't they strong enough as it is?» Someone asked.
«Maybe to protect someone special... Besides, a dragon's power makes a defender stronger, too...»
That was the last thing Cal heard as he soared away. Some kind of animal excitement inside him told him that he must by all means get himself a dragon.
Smiling at the idea, Cal landed gently on the ledge in front of the Head's office.
The man sat inside, thinking deeply about his work. Flipping through papers, he made notes and was in no hurry to get anywhere. Meanwhile, on the training grounds, of which there were at least fifty, fierce battles were being fought.
Cal looked in that direction with interest and longing, and then at Liam, and decided that nothing would happen to the Head. The ringing of swords caught his attention more than the boredom in his friend's office and he spun toward the ringing of weapons.
Two warriors came onto the platform. And the gender and age were not necessarily the same. Students who regularly participated in battles increased their ranking. Reputation and prestige were very important at the Academy.
They were what depended on a fighter's rating. The more desperate ones swung to a higher level, others were content with the same rating to challenge.
A fight counted if one managed to dislodge an opponent from the large circle in the center of the court. While waiting for their turn, the students placed their bets, and no one punished them.
The uniforms of the fighters also varied.
Wealthy and influential families got more privileges for their children, while poor students could rely on themselves and the sponsorship of mentors. This was another reason for the enthusiasm for fighting.
By performing well, one could get the attention of a mentor, one of the influential Elders.
«Pretty much the same as everywhere else,» Cal thought. He wondered who was holding the top spot and paced the courts.
Young female players came to cheer on the defenders.
"No time to waste, looks like there will be a lot of weddings by the end of the Academy," Cal smiled. These sweet creatures had gone out of their way to get themselves a personal bodyguard while they still had some choice.
Cal laughed, «I wonder if anyone will fight for me?»
As he passed three more platforms, he became interested in the large crowd watching the battle between the first and second place in the rankings. These were highlighted above the court in bright neon. And why hadn't Cal noticed sooner?
There was an intense battle going on in the center of the circle. A young man in gold armor looked like a medieval knight. His opponent was without armor, but extremely agile.
His heavier opponent could not hit him, but the boy with the two crooked sabers hit him from time to time, inflicting minor damage.
But the golden knight was strong and strong, so he did not give up and changed tactics. Throwing off his heavy armor, he became just as nimble and fast and stopped missing blows.
His opponent was delighted by this and attacked him with even more enthusiasm.
Suddenly the sword was knocked out of the golden knight's hands and as everyone froze in horror, his rival threw his sabers out of the circle as well.
It grew increasingly crowded around the court, as students and mentors flocked to watch the legendary fight.
Cal took off and landed on a stone pillar in the corner of the court. The opponents moved into hand-to-hand combat. They spliced and rolled around the field - the crowd roared. The Judge was ready to break off the fight at any moment, and the fury of the opponents was growing.
Their battle had already crossed all boundaries, and unable to contain their aggression; they soared upward and landed in a valley. As they pushed each other away, they parted, and then threw their hands up in the air.
The crowd murmured, «are they summoning dragons?!»
The apprentices rushed on, and Cal beat them to it. A bright flash split the sky, and two dragons burst from it: earth and air. While the humans fought on the ground, the dragons clashed in the sky.
The sight was breathtaking, but it did not last long. Suddenly a third dragon appeared in the sky and roared at its brethren, knocking them to the ground with its paws.
The astonished students stared in disappointment at the sight, and the fighting ceased at once.
When everyone looked at the first and second place, they started laughing. The head of the Academy stood between them and held them by the ears like mischievous children. Laughter erupted and Liam let the students go.
«Nood, Rashid,» he said, and everyone fell silent. «You know that dragons can't be released on Academy grounds to fight and that there's a special place for that? What's got into you?»
The head was reprimanding his best students in front of everyone. Even Cal felt uncomfortable.
«I'll accept the Mentor's punishment» The little fellow dropped to his knees and bowed his head respectfully.
«I was wrong, too,» the golden knight bowed to the Mentor.
The Head thought for a while and then said:
«Only twilight patrols today...» The Head spread his hands. «In addition to you will go, Michal and Grady. Keep it together,» he said as he heard his apprentices panting unhappily. There was no sympathy between them.
After both apprentices were disqualified because they had broken the rules of engagement, the crowd hurriedly dispersed.
Cal followed the hapless fighters. Surprisingly, they conversed peacefully, showing no intention of sneakily chopping off the other's arm or putting a dagger in his leg.
They entered the dining hall together and, after gathering their food, sat down at a table in the corner, which, thanks to architectural quirks, was hidden from view.
Cal sat down next to him with interest, taking advantage of his invisibility.