Chapter 8 (1/3)

Draco walked carefully down the street leading directly to the Academy. He was wary of everyone around him, as he didn't want to fall into any trap that Pirce might set. Of course, he knew that his pursuer most likely didn't know that he intended to return to the Academy just today, but still, it was always better to keep your wits about you.

As soon as he stepped out of the corner he saw the school for dragons. The tall, four-storey building of rather simple construction resembled a large cube cut by rows of windows. A large double door of some dark wood led inside. Basically, it looked as if it was in need of a solid renovation and had been for a long time. From the front, the whole thing was directly adjacent to the street, with tall tenements attached to the sides. However, the most important thing was what was on the other side of the building. This was where there were training arenas, fitness tracks and a small grove used by groups of students for what was popularly known as war games.

He took a deep breath and moved confidently towards the Academy. He saw a lot of others heading in the same direction, students who were in a hurry for classes that would start in just a few minutes. Surprisingly this time no one threw him suspicious or contemptuous glances, they passed him just like the others, not even trying to avoid him. He realised that they wouldn't recognise him at first glance because he had changed recently and now looked like the other dragons. He simply didn't stand out at all if someone didn't look at him more closely.

He smiled under his breath and directed his steps towards the main entrance of the Academy. Once inside, he quickly walked through the crowded corridors and made his way to the classroom where the first lecture of the day was to take place. He arrived just as the professor was opening the door. He walked in with the others and took his usual seat at the end of the room by the window. No one paid much attention to him until the teacher was reading the attendance list. When he got to it and Draco calmly spoke a couple of students turned around looking at him in surprise. He smiled slightly ignoring them. The lesson began.

The lecturer wasn't paying attention to anything as usual. He just stood in the middle of the room and started to say something. As always, no one listened to him or interrupted him. The arrangement suited both parties, because for him it meant peace and quiet, and the class could take care of itself. Professor Bescet had been teaching astronomy at the Academy for more than forty years and he had no illusions that anyone would listen to him after he had taught the class how to recognise the constellations and determine their position by day and night. Everything he said after that was a mere formality, but he continued to repeat the same things year after year because he had to and hoped that maybe one day there would be someone interested in the subject after all.

He suddenly broke off mid-sentence when a knock on the door sounded and the rector in charge of the so-called physical arts entered the classroom.

-What can I help you with, sir?- Bescet asked intrigued. It was very rare for anyone to come to him with a matter, and this one must have been really important, because Master Heilem looked deadly serious.

-I need to take one of your students.- The rector sighed and all the young dragons became lively, their innate curiosity taking over and they snapped out of their previous state of limbo with curiosity watching what was unfolding before them.- Student Ignis, please come with me.

All eyes turned towards Draco. He didn't know what was happening, he just blinked a few times and stood up involuntarily. He walked up to the rector, and the man wordlessly pointed to the door and left immediately after him without looking at Bescet or the class. When they were both in the corridor Heilem gestured for him to follow and moved straight ahead.

Draco followed him, not really knowing what had happened. He was worried about what was just happening because it didn't look too good. He was afraid of whether he had sometimes strained the professors' patience and they would want to remove him from the Academy for his absences. He couldn't imagine what he could do in such a situation. He had always thought that once he finished school he would be able to leave and find a job somewhere away from the prejudices prevalent in Dagos and live as a merchant or enlist in some army or maybe become a mercenary. For all this, however, he had to finish the Academy. Walking through the empty corridors, he didn't know what awaited him and plunged into increasingly gloomy thoughts. He didn't even notice that they had reached the headmaster's office.

He stopped abruptly seeing two guards in the colours of the Dragon Council in front of the entrance watching him curiously. They didn't seem unfriendly, but they kept their hands on their sword heads the whole time. Draco wasn't even scared anymore, now he went pale with fright because it was certain that if it was about expulsion from the Academy he wouldn't meet armed soldiers in here. Suddenly, he remembered what had happened that day in the narrow, deserted alleyway of the harbour at Verde and he felt feeble. If something had happened to the man there that might have been the reason for this turn of events.

Heilem opened the door and stepped inside, then looked expectantly at Draco, who had not moved from his spot. Urged on by the rector, he no longer had a choice and walked in behind him with a frozen heart.

The room was large and the windows overlooked the training arenas. The only furniture in the office was a large desk, a leather armchair and two high chairs. Apart from that, there was no furniture, only portraits of the school's most distinguished headmasters hung on the walls.

Draco shuddered involuntarily as another two guards stood inside, and a clerk sat in one of the chairs with a bored look on his face. Headmaster Luister sat in his armchair reading some official-looking document over which he glanced periodically at the dragon sitting in front of him. When the door closed he looked at the rector of the physical arts and then at Draco standing uncertainly beside him.

-Are you sure this is about this boy?- The headmaster shifted his gaze to the clerk and looked at him investigatively.

-The document is clear enough Principal Luister.-The clerk replied dispassionately and without even bestowing a single glance on the Principal he continued to look at something outside the window.-I am not going to discuss this with you again.-He suddenly stood up from his seat and fixed his gaze on the young dragon.-You are probably Draco.-He neither asked nor stated.-You will have to come with me.-He added without waiting for an answer.

He turned back to the headmaster and nodded dismissively to him in farewell, then left without looking back. Draco was still standing in the same place with a pale face and only twitched when one of the soldiers pulled him gently by the arm. He moved behind them.

Draco was scared enough to only see the back of the official walking in front of him, so he didn't quite realise where they were going. He only woke up when they passed through the huge gate of the Royal Castle. A shiver ran down the back of his neck. He was afraid of what awaited him on the other side of the gate, but there was no turning back now. He had four armed guards behind him, and there were more on the walls. He would not have escaped even if he had been able to think logically or even dream of such a thing.

He followed the official all the way without even realising it. They only stopped in front of a large door.

-You are to answer questions and that's all,- said the dragon looking down at him slightly.

-Yes...- Draco replied uncertainly trying to calm his nerves.

The clerk pushed the door open and the two of them went inside. Thirteen dragons were seated at a black table and each stared at the pale Draco walking past the clerk. No one even flinched until they stopped. Then the dark green dragon sitting at the head of the table leaned forward slightly and spoke up.

-You stand before the Dragon Council, so you are to answer every question truthfully.- He paused and waited.

Draco swallowed his saliva heavily and nervously just nodded confirming that he understood. He didn't know what to expect, but he didn't have the strength to think anymore. Only the present moment and only this one place existed.

-Your name is Draco Ignis.- He nodded staring at the Chairman's figure.-You live at your aunt's place.- Another nod.-You attend the Dragon Academy in Dagos?

-Y...yes.- He choked out gathering an almost unbelievable degree of effort. A single thought broke through the barrier of fear. It's getting worse. But that was enough and the wall began to simply crumble. The impenetrable barrier collapsed releasing further thoughts and forcing him to consider his position. He was standing in the Dragon Council's headquarters in the Royal Castle in front of a full house and the Chairman was beginning to question him as if before an interrogation. If this was going to be a court of law then they wouldn't bother and pass sentence in absentia. He thought, analysing the facts and all his knowledge. This is about something else.

-Tell me, Draco, have you discovered any special abilities lately?- Przybyski leaned even further and tilted his head slightly looking at him carefully with his brown eyes.

-Yes,- the boy replied more confidently now. I'm not going to change what's going to happen anymore, because they've already decided. I just don't know about what. He added in his mind.-You are right my Lord.- He bowed his head slightly which gave him the opportunity to have a look at the room they were in. Nothing unusual caught his eye.

-Could you demonstrate?- The Chairman's pupils narrowed almost to vertical lines.

Draco breathed deeply and held out his hand in front of him. He released some energy and watched as a golden orb formed above his palm. This time, he didn't even give it a moment to reach its form and began to change its shape to essentially random in the blink of an eye. He knew that everyone was looking at his hand, and he wanted to see their faces. Despite some panicky feeling, he saw no sign of resentment or even open hostility in anyone.

-Enough,- said Przybyski firmly.- Everything is clear.-He turned to the other members of the Council.-The decision has been made and we cannot back out of it.-He looked at the slightly confused young dragon.-Draco, due to the fact that we have unequivocally determined that you are a mage from now on you are no longer accountable to in front of the Dragon Council but to the Masters of Atlantis.

Draco blinked and then rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hand not knowing if this was a joke or a very realistic dream. What is this all about? Had he really said that? He didn't know what to do or think. He just stood staring at the Chairman with his eyes wide open.

Przybyski looked at the official who had managed to retreat to the wall and nodded at him.

-Take him to the Embassy.- He shifted his gaze back to the dragon wizard.-They are waiting for you there boy.- He added looking at him even more closely.

Draco only flinched when the official put a hand on his shoulder and followed him out of the Dragon Council meeting room. As soon as the door closed behind them they heard the muffled sounds of a very loud and fierce argument.