Chapter 15: Dragon's Heart

The movement stirred Azrael, his eyes fluttering open as the world came into focus for him. He had blinked several times, with blurry shapes sharpening into faces he knew. Standing over him were many of the sisters from the academy, including his mother, and the ever-cheerful Adam.

"He's awake!" Adam exclaimed excitedly, bouncing on his feet practically.

The girls all oohed and ahhed in a circle around him, patting his forehead and taking his pulse to see if he had a fever.

"What happened to you, Azrael?" one girl asked, sounding genuinely worried. "You've been unconscious for two whole hours! Are you alright?"

Azrael blinked and rubbed his temples, fighting the grogginess. "Two hours?" he said, hoarse with confusion.

Two hours? he thought. That didn't feel like two hours. Time must be different on the other side… His mind was a jumbled mess of half-remembered images of that weird encounter and the Goddess's cryptic words.

"He's fine," his mother said firmly, her voice cutting through the chatter. "You can all leave now. Give him space to breathe."

The girls started to file out, still whispering amongst themselves, throwing curious glances back his way. Adam was the last to leave, giving him a thumbs-up and a playful grin before slipping out the door.

When the room had quieted, his mother turned to him, her eyes sharp and searching. "It's happened, hasn't it? You met with the Great Goddess?" she asked without preamble.

Slowly, Azrael sat up, the weight of her question beginning to sink in. He hesitated before an engaging grin spread across his face. "Meeting the Goddess? Yeah. She's… fun, I guess. A bit mysterious, though."

"Good," his mother murmured. "And the 'One Power'? What about it?"

"Uhh…" Azrael scratched his head, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. "That's where things get tricky. I don't really

Before he could continue, a voice pierced the air, cold and icy, like an instant storm. "You will understand it," the authoritative voice said.

Azrael's head jerked up to see the Grand Leader, the feared Green of the Bene Gesserit, glide into the room. She was suffocating, like a coiled serpent ready to strike. She raised her hand in alarming calmness. A sphere of green magic crackled at her fingertips. The next instant, she released it with deadly precision.

Time froze as the air compacted. Every beat of his heart echoed loud in his ears. The pupils in Azrael's eyes constricted as a semi-transparent blue screen blinked into existence right in front of him.

[System online]

[Threat detected: High-class magic attack targeted on the host's head by an A-ranked female user.]

[Three choices are available. Please make your choice now.]

1 Block the magic and kill the caster.

2 Block the magic only.

3 Do nothing and die.

"What the…?" Azrael stared, his brain unable to process the surreality of the display before him. His voice, laced with disbelief, quavered. "You have got to be kidding me."

[Decision required in ten seconds.]

"You're insane," he murmured in a low tone.

[Nine seconds.]

"You're pushing it—"

[Five seconds.]

"I'll take option two! I select option two!" he yelled at increasing pressure.

[Acknowledged. Option two selected.]

Immediately, his body seemed to act of its own violation. His arm flung out, palm splayed toward the incoming spell, his actions seeming almost guided.

A scintillating barrier of energy belched from his hand and caught the magic mid-air. The air was heavy with tension as swirling green energy tussled, seeming to live, until it was drawn into Azrael's hand, easily absorbed into his skin.

The eyes of the Grand Leader narrowed, and she sounded surprised. "You… absorbed my magic? Impressive." A thin smile pursed her lips. "Such power. You're finally beginning to understand."

Azrael's glare intensified, his chest heaving with each labored breath. "Trust me, I did that out of more pleasant choices, and next time, I may not be so polite."

"Good." She nodded, seemingly satisfied with that. "Your first mission begins now."

"What?!," Azrael's voice broke. "Today's my birthday! I just got these powers! I barely know what they do and you want to send me on a mission already? Mom, say something!"

His mom did nothing more than cross her arms over her chest, the tiniest, knowing smile pulling her lips upwards. "Well," she said, "you said you would not resist this time. It's good practice.

"Practice?!" Azrael sputtered, but there was no arguing with them. They were already out the door.

Muttering curses under his breath, Azrael got dressed. He slipped into his dark combat uniform, tugging on the straps and belts with frustration and resignation. His reflection in the mirror showed a scowl that grew deeper by the second.

Adam was dancing at the door, fairly bouncing with anticipation. "Hey! Ready for action?"

"

"No," Azrael replied dryly, "and since when are you coming along to weigh me down?"

"

"I can do stuff, too!" he said, puffing his chest out, "Besides, this is a mission for a whole team. Just no choice here, buddy".

Azrael looked up to heaven to say "Marvelous".

All students congregated in the grand hall, where the Grand Leader set their task as, "Your mission is to fetch a heart of a dragon from the Forbidden Caverns. There is only one, and whoever returns with it shall get a reward befitting a true warrior."

A murmur of excitement ran through the crowd. Adam dug his elbow into Azrael's side. "You hear that? A dragon heart! This is going to be epic."

Azrael was unimpressed. "Yeah, epic. If by epic, you mean suicidal."