10

Chapter 10: Shadows at the Gate

A grey dawn settled over Lowmoor Academy, cold and watchful. Thin clouds drifted like smoke across the sky, and the air tasted of iron—as if the earth itself held its breath. Zephyr sensed the change the moment he woke. Star did too. The hatchling stood on his pillow, wings half-spread and nose twitching at distant scents.

"What is it, little scout?" Zephyr whispered.

A soft chime bloomed inside his mind.

[Ding! Dragon Sense Alert]

Foreign mana signatures detected — South Gate.

Rank estimate: A-Rank (suppressed).

Zephyr's pulse jumped. The Guild envoys are here.

He slipped from bed, secured Star in the hidden sling, and crossed the hall to knock on Fenna's door. She opened in her night coat, hair tousled.

"They arrived?" she asked, eyes already sharp.

He nodded. "We must be careful all day. Stay close if you can."

Her hand squeezed his. "Together."

By mid-morning the whole academy lined the main yard. Frostback trackers, caretaker apprentices, and first-year tamers jostled for a glimpse of the visitors. Two stone-painted wagons rolled through the gate, drawn by Onyxbulls whose hooves struck sparks on the cobbles. Soldiers in slate armour marched ahead, banners displaying the coiled dragon of the Royal Beast Tamer's Guild.

At the centre walked a woman in charcoal velvet, silver spectacles framing moon-pale eyes: Seer Kalthis. Beside her strode Captain Reilas Marron, blue cloak sweeping the mud. Their faces held no smiles.

Zephyr stood near the hay barn, cloak pulled tight, Star's warmth pressed to his ribs. He felt the hatchling's heartbeat quicken. "Easy," he whispered. "Small breaths."

Kalthis paused at the fountain and raised one gloved hand. White mana poured outward in a silent wave that swept across the yard. Students gasped as the energy brushed over their beasts.

Star stiffened. Golden filaments leapt from Zephyr's chest, wrapping the hatchling in a cloak of quiet. Dragon Sovereign Bond masked their combined aura beneath a harmless hum.

Kalthis's gaze swept past without pause.

System: Stealth field maintained.

Zephyr exhaled.

After the procession, Wren cornered Zephyr near Infirmary Wing. "Guild wants a demonstration of our support beasts. I told them about your Hollowback. Bring it to the lecture hall at second bell."

Cold pricked the back of Zephyr's neck. "Today?"

"Today," Wren said. "They are testing tremor-sense arrays. If your beast is half as unique as you claim, now is the time to prove it."

Second bell—two hours. Anxiety pulsed. Star's cover would face the Guild's greatest Seer.

Zephyr and Fenna rushed to the herb cellar. Star bounded onto a crate, chirping questioningly.

Zephyr knelt, meeting the dragonling's silver gaze. "We need you to pretend. When they set a mana stone on the ground, I need you to react as if you sense it."

Star cocked his head.

The System flashed instructions:

Mini-Quest: Mock Tremor Sense

Teach Star a cue-and-response.

Reward: Bond trust +2.

Zephyr retrieved a copper vibrator crystal—used in hoof checks—from his pouch. He set it on the floor. The crystal hummed low.

Star's frills twitched.

"Good," Zephyr said. "When you feel that, tap your tail twice." He demonstrated, drumming fingers.

They repeated. Three times. Five. On the sixth try, Star tapped tail, chirped, and looked proud. Fenna laughed softly. "He learns fast."

Second bell neared.

The lecture hall smelled of chalk and damp wool. Benches rose in tiers. At the front, Seer Kalthis placed five colored stones across the floor—each one pulsing at a hidden frequency. Captain Marron watched with folded arms.

Wren introduced Zephyr. He stepped into the circle, cloak heavy with sweaty fear. Star poked his snout out from the sling.

Kalthis spoke, voice cool. "Caretaker, reveal your Hollowback."

Zephyr lifted Star onto his palm. The hatchling blinked, small but composed.

"Begin," Kalthis said.

She touched a green stone. A soft thrum filled the air.

Star's ears flicked. Tail—one, two—taps on Zephyr's wrist.

Murmurs rose in the seats.

Kalthis pressed a red stone—higher pitch. Star reacted again: two taps, soft chirp.

Third, fourth stone: responses true.

On the final black stone, the Seer channeled a sudden spike of mana. Zephyr's heart clenched—the frequency high, almost painful. Star flinched, tiny wings flaring. But then he tapped twice, nuzzled Zephyr's thumb for comfort.

Kalthis nodded once. "Accurate and swift. Rare indeed." She turned to Marron. "No threat here. Support-class only."

Relief flooded Zephyr so hard he nearly sagged.

Wren released a breath as if she too had been holding the world on her ribs.

Outside, Callen cornered Zephyr yet again. "Your pet's tricks won't fool real tamers forever."

Zephyr kept tone polite. "Maybe not, but today he did the job."

Callen's eyes narrowed. "Where did you truly find that egg?" He brushed past, muttering. Suspicion burned like ember under snow.

Zephyr hurried away, pulse racing.

Back in the cellar, Star devoured warm mash and curled around Zephyr's arm. The system displayed updated growth:

Star — Attributes:

• Strength 4

• Agility 9

• Fire 3

• Sense 7

New Passive: Quiet Glow — scales dim automatically when unknown mana exceeds safety limit.

Zephyr grinned. "Smart protective hide."

Another window:

Major Quest Unlocked:

Path of the Young Sovereign (Stage 1)

• Objective A: Enhance Star to Juvenile stage (20 cm wingspan).

• Objective B: Raise Host Blood-line to 15 %.

• Time: 40 days.

• Reward: Dragon Sovereign Bond—Command Aura (first tier).

The timeline tightened his chest. Forty days to grow stronger before Guild eyes return. He resolved to gather rare feed minerals, train quietly, and keep political storms at bay.

That night Fenna entered carrying a brass locket. "My mother gave it for safe journeys." She opened it; inside, pressed moonleaf glowed faint green. "It calms surge beasts. Pin it in the sling near Star."

Zephyr's throat tightened with gratitude. He pinned the locket. Star sniffed, purred.

He caught Fenna's hand. "I can face anything with you beside me." She looked away shyly, then leaned up and kissed his cheek—a quick spark that left them both smiling like fools.

Near curfew, Zephyr climbed the tower for fresh air. Snow clouds parted; stars blazed. Star sat on the parapet, tiny chest puffed. The wind carried faint echoes from the south gate—clanking armour, hushed voices.

Dragon Sense stretched. Two riders conversed beyond walls.

"Nothing unusual," one said. "But Seer Kalthis marked that caretaker for review. We leave watchers."

Zephyr's blood chilled. They are not fooled completely.

He scooped Star close. "We must grow fast," he whispered to the night. "Faster than their doubt."

A single shooting star streaked overhead. Star followed it with bright silver eyes. Together, they watched it burn, a promise painting darkness with light.