I sat down next to the artifact again. It was a little scary to touch him, but why not leave him here? If I'm not mistaken, and this is really what I think, then… This is priceless! The Focus cannot be allowed to fall into the wrong hands.
She decisively grabbed the ball, put it in her coat pocket and froze. Moments passed, but nothing happened. No security charms worked and nothing suspicious happened. Exhaling with relief, I got out of the stagecoach and, as if nothing had happened, took my place in the ranks, ignoring Ada’s questioning glance and the curious sisters.
Ethan Derberg, onyx dragon, adept of the Academy of Wind and Storms. Border of Onyx Rocks and the Steppe of the Seventeen Winds
Same morning, a little earlier…
The village at the Academy of Wind and Storms was called Dream-on-the-Veterke, but my friends and I simply called it – Village. Here you could find anything, from a sweet shop to accessories from famous fashion houses. From artifacts and tailoring and clothing repair services, to weapons counters where you could forge a unique blade to order. And there were countless different eateries with menus for every taste and budget in the Village. Every famous house that produces anything considered it good form to open a store in this village. In general, there was everything here to make adherents from all over Balaria shake their wallets.
During the first week of autumn, adherents gathered in advance to study. So my friends and I, while waiting for classes, decided to properly celebrate the beginning of the new school year. All that night we openly reveled, so we returned to the academy only in the early morning, which turned out to be surprisingly nasty to the delight of the water spirits. However, as always in these parts.
It was drizzling, the gray walls of the buildings seemed especially gray, and gusts of wind from the sea pierced through the clothes. However, nothing that cannot be corrected with the help of elemental magic. My head was noisy with songs, dances, chatter and guffaws from friends who missed me during the holidays and the whispers of local beauties promising pleasure for just a few silver lire. I dreamed of one thing – to quickly get to my bed and lie down.
– Let's wait a little, the new ones are about to arrive. I want to see if any of them have cute faces,” suggested Jed Flammer.
Despite the sleepless night, he looked very cheerful and cheerful. It’s always the same with redheads, as with fire fighters in general. Even on the gloomiest day they seem to glow.
– Shut down, Jed! Don't fuss! – I lazily growled.
– Come on, Ethan! Isn't it interesting to look at girls? – he asked peacefully.
– Flammer, haven’t you seen enough of girls yet? Your freckled nose didn’t come out of Fat Greta’s neckline all night! – Caius Delamille teased him.
– Look who's Talking! – Jed mimicked him.
“But I think girls have nothing to do here!” – Aiz, who had been gloomily silent all morning, spoke up.
“Goldilocks, are you afraid that one of them will have more beautiful hair than you?” Don't worry. You are beyond competition!
Jed pulled Aiz by a long blond lock and immediately pulled back with a laugh, dodging the blow. But Ezeroth Ramlin didn't even smile. The malachite dragon has always been overly serious. Sighing at Jade's stupidity, he explained as if for a little one:
