Chapter 40: An intrusion

"AAAAAA!" 

"Alert. Alert. Please head towards the administrative building. Alert. Alert."

"Alert. Alert. Please—"

As I ran toward the sounds of the screams, the prevention alarms continued to ring throughout the academy. 

In mere minutes, the inside of the academy became a mess —looking like the ground of a battlefield. 

I could hear around me myriads of screams for help as the students ran, as instructed, towards the most secure place of the academy—the administrative building, where the door to the underground gallery led outside. 

Blood rushed to my head, the scent of blood engulfing my senses. 

I bit my tongue to stay level-headed enough to remain calm until I could determine the origin of that scream. 

Why I was doing that and not going to a safe place, knowing that I couldn't mess up all the pretending I did until now? 

Well, I, myself, didn't know. 

Before I knew what I was doing, I was running towards the scream. 

But I didn't regret my choice when, a few minutes later, I found myself before the birth of a phenomenon that would be talked of even thousands of years later. 

The birth of an actual dragon, a species that people either thought didn't exist or extinguished. 

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"AAAAAAAAI! AAAAAAA!"

Ahead of me, seeing it with my own two eyes, was a small-sized dragon—compared to the adult dragons—which spat fire, confused and angry.

Under him could be seen a pile of ashes. And all around, there were burning marks on the ground. 

Something tilted in my head when I saw that spectacle. Everything that happened those previous weeks, the investigation, the secret society, the unknown territory, and the abandoned mansion came back to me. 

It was without doubt the work of what the academy called "terrorists" and "rebels."

'So that's what they were trying to do. But why now?' 

Why today precisely, just after we found their hideout (if it was really their hideout), and why a dragon? 

Because it was a big enough disaster? 

But that one was too small and weak to compete against hundreds of mages, tamers, and knights. 

For now, he had the advantage because we were taken by surprise, but soon, when the army—altered by the urgency alarm—would come to help, he would be in a disadvantaged position. 

'No…they probably have another plan. Something else.'

'What are they trying to do?' 

As I thought deeper, something else came up to me. 

At the beginning of the semester, during one of my classes, I heard a rumor about a prince of Gefya being in the academy as a student. 

They were, in fact, targeting him and were only diverting the attention with the dragon. 

'Oh, no. You poor child…' 

I looked at the dragon, watching him go on a rampage. 

This later was lost, throwing his might without aim or precision, barely trying to protect himself. 

He couldn't fly, still being an infant and having never learned to. 

He tried multiple times, his wings hitting the poor students stuck behind him, but ultimately failed. 

'What should I do?' 

I wasn't a tamer, so I couldn't help him. And I couldn't go help the students either, as they weren't my primary responsibility.

If I helped them, it would mess up my entire plan and probably my future and Ricardo's future. 

I wasn't yet strong enough to face the might of my family or the possible repercussions of destiny. 

I knew better than anyone what price I would pay for my generosity and the consequences that came with blind pity. 

I had to stay firm. For Ricardo. And for me. 

If to survive, I had to be a villain and a selfish human, I would without hesitation if it meant I could protect my loved ones. 

I had to lie low. 

Always. 

After two good minutes of persuading myself, I finally decided to turn away—running away. 

Or at least that was what I was going to do when I heard another scream, this time human screams.

Until now, between all the sounds, I didn't hear the multiple horrifying screams around me, but justly when I had decided to ignore the chaos, a circuit of my brain switched up and allowed me to hear all people individually. 

I could hear distinctly the muffled cries, painful screams, and agonizing voices. Each of them seemed to directly convey their voices to me, asking for help. 

And with that cacophony, added up a flood of scents—blood mixed with burned scents. 

'God, I am going crazy!' 

'My humanity would be the death of me.' I thought as I turned back, running toward the dragon.

On my way, I helped a few students stand up and told them where to go since in their panic, they lost all sense of direction. 

Then, instinctively, I reached for my sword before stopping, remembering that that stupid demon had broken it. 

Next time, I will ask Alan for a sturdier one. Something that can support demons and dragon's strength. 

Having no other choice, I had only one option left—magic. 

Fighting against a dragon bare-handed was impossible, even for me, and even more since I didn't know the capacity and limits of its body. 

'Okay, I have to do it smart because I don't have unlimited time.' 

Because I couldn't use my power for a long time, I had to use one strong strategy: a direct power move. 

I would concentrate all my magic power into one energy to knock the child dragon out. Then I would secure the perimeter, ensuring that all students could go to the shelter. 

I didn't have to kill him, only ensuring he would sleep until reinforcements arrives.

And if people had the same idea as me, they would soon figure out the secret group's plan, and then protect the prince. 

Normally, I wouldn't have to intervene on that matter.

While running, sometimes stopping to help someone, I continued to think about all sorts of things. 

When I was closer enough, stopping at a safe distance, I began to chant spells—for the form— and used the most powerful magic I had. 

"incumbo et concidat sub pondere" I whispered in a chant. 

Immediately after, a gust of wind engulfed the space, taking in its way the scraps lying around. 

My hair stood up above my head, pushed by the wind. 

I continued to chant different other spells, to ensure the students' protection. 

I raised a shield big enough to protect everyone and yelled at them to go under it. 

"It's between us now, big guy!" I screamed at the dragon, attracting his attention. 

This one, previously still on a rampage—running wild as he screamed flames in the void— now turned, in a swift motion, at me. 

His big enormous, but fantastic, and mysterious, eyes were focused on me. He blinked two times before screaming again, in my direction, his mouth wide open. 

"AAAAAA!" 

'Shit! I hope I can do it, or it's done for me.' 

I prepared myself for its attack, as my magic accumulated in the air—in blinding round and colorful lights—above my head. 

I needed more time. 

"Georgia! What are you doing!" Screamed an angry voice at me. 

'Damn, I don't have time for this. Get lost!'

I didn't turn to see who it was, I easily guessed it by the voice. 

It was Mainu Frederic DuPont, my future killer. 

'Hahaha, look at how the world cherishes you. You won't even have to do the dirty job.' 

I laughed hysterically for no reason, finding the situation strangely funny. 

"Let's go, you—" I began to scream, ready to launch my attack, when someone held me from behind, making me miss my momentum. 

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING? LET ME GO!" I screamed, struggling from his hold. 

"No! WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS SUICIDAL. I CAN'T LET YOU DO THAT!" He screamed back even louder. 

Then calming himself, he continued, "Not now. You aren't strong enough yet. Believe me."

"And what do you know? Why do you always act like you know everything about me!?" 

"Because—" He began before stopping, again, "Georgia, listen to me. You aren't strong enough. The reinforcements will arrive soon. Let's go to the shelter."

Ah, the same excuses again. Always diverting the subject to something else. Always lying. 

'I don't have time for this bullshit!' 

"Mainu, let go of me, right now!" I said as I threw an elbow at his stomach. 

Taken by surprise, his grip weakened a bit. 

I thought I was finally free when he held me back again, this time more tightly. 

"I won't let you go. Never." He claimed in a nearly possessive manner. 

While we talked, Mainu half trying to persuade me and half pulling me away, the dragon began to lose patience. 

From the side of my eyes, I saw him concentrate a huge amount of flames, ready to launch at us. 

"Fuck—" I swore as I turned around, taking Mainu between my arms—one hand on his back and the other around his neck— jumping a few meters farther.