The Dragon's Vow or the Stubborn Bride

Chapter 5

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:

– Flammer, that's not the point. These girls are dangerous to us.

– What is it? – Kayu grinned condescendingly.

– Don't you understand? They were sent here for a reason. Very soon they will get used to it and start hunting! – Aze explained.

– OU! Well, I don't mind being hunted by a couple of beauties! – Contrary to expectations, the restless Freckled One became inspired.

“Jed, it seems you don’t understand.” These girls are from noble families. Stay away from them if you don't want to die in your prime! – Aiz’s patience was running out, judging by the green lights lighting up in his pupils.

– Why should I die? Do you think I can’t handle two or three at a time? – Freckled arched his eyebrow dashingly.

“I think you’re thinking with the wrong head!” If you make an attempt on even one of these girls, her parents will strangle you! – Malachite flared up.

“For the causal place,” Kayu added with a laugh.

“You’ll just have to get married and that’s all,” I remarked calmly, which scared Freckled Man much more than everyone else.

– Marry?! Nope! I pass! – Jed finally realized, but then added: “But can we look at them?”

In fact, I was also interested in what kind of crazy people agreed to come here, but I didn’t show it. It would not do for the second heir to the Onyx Throne to show excessive interest in girls.

Yielding to an impulse, I put my hand into the pocket of my camisole and felt there the Focus of the Onyx Dragon, which I had stolen from my uncle’s office.

The senior adepts of the Academy of Wind and Storms preferred to use not the main gate, but the secret gate leading to the park. From there you could go straight to campus and not flit around in everyone's sight. Through the same gate, adherents left the territory or returned at odd times when the gates were closed. At times, it seemed to me that it was deliberately invented so that revelers like us would not discredit the glorious institution with their indecent appearance, wandering through the square in front of the academy.

Today, the crimson-clad kerns, euonymus and abelias in the park seemed overly elegant to me. The state of my soul was as gloomy and dark gray as the weather and the ubiquitous stone, but I wanted even more gray, and my unsightly act was to blame. This is probably why I sat alone all night drinking, not taking part in the general fun. I kept thinking about how my uncle was going crazy, how the servants and guards were knocked off their feet, turning the palace upside down, and I was very, very ashamed, but I simply could not do otherwise.

It all started with the fact that my cousin Mikael, to make him feel empty, made things worse again, and in the end we both suffered. My uncle called us for a conversation, and I had to listen to his lectures. Then endure a difficult conversation about how it’s time for the two of us to settle down and not disgrace the glorious Derberg family with our adventures. Although I still don’t understand, what does this have to do with me? And at the very end, my uncle set a condition for us that he would review the order of succession to the throne, in favor of the one of us who would be the first to find a bride. Yes, not just any, but a true couple, as befits a dragon of the ruling family.

This condition greatly complicated the task, but gave me an advantage as the second heir. But Mikael, who was already asleep and saw himself as the ruler of the Onyx Rocks, on the contrary, was seriously worried. He was no longer the first crown prince, just as I was no longer the second. From now on, we are on equal terms, which makes Mika hate me even more. But I didn't care about my cousin's feelings. I just punched him in the face and broke his nose, no matter what the guys said. Did I need at least some kind of compensation for all the shame that I experienced through his fault, listening to my uncle’s reprimands?

Ignoring Mika's threats and scolding, I left. And yet one phrase of his caught my attention and made me think. Mikael swore that he would do everything to ensure that I would never be able to find a bride in my life. Neither true nor any other.

What could this mean?

Yes, anything when it came to Mikael Derberg. To the point that this idiot will decide to deprive everyone of honor who agrees to give me their hand and heart.

The cousin was two years older. Handsome, smart. He graduated from the academy with honors and became an excellent naturalist, as befits the first heir. But much better than studying, Mika knew how to lie and pretend. And also – to humiliate people and mock the weak and those who could not fight back. This was at the top of his list of entertainments. He even indulged in gambling with less enthusiasm.

For a long time I myself did not believe the rumors that occasionally reached me, believing that someone wanted to denigrate the future ruler, until I witnessed how my cousin was having fun in person. And most importantly, he got away with everything! Well, Mika knew how to solve problems. And he chose his victims carefully, taking care of his own reputation. Those who will be easy to cajole, give money or simply intimidate. He did this excellently.

And if something got out of control, Uncle Olaf – his father and my second uncle – got involved. In dealing with the “petty pranks” of his beloved son, he spared no expense.

I have neither father nor mother left, only Uncle Eric. It was he who supported me when the misfortune happened. The misfortune affected not only northern dragons, but also onyx ones. It did not affect anyone, but the ruling family. Six years ago I was left alone, around the same time the Lord of the Onyx Rocks lost his wife and daughter. Both of them changed their hypostasis mid-flight and crashed. Both cases were strictly classified so that panic would not set in, surveillance of the sources was intensified, and my uncle began to leave the house much less often and almost never took off.

Only by supporting each other, we were able to survive.

But in the last two years a lot has changed. The dragons returned to tradition in matters of marriage, and it all started again with the northerners. They coped with the Adversity, and we also became calmer. The sources have indeed stabilized, and the risk of flights has disappeared. But the freedom of choice is gone. And the elements are with her!

– Through the main entrance! – I commanded irritably, walking past the gate.

The guys followed me silently, only Jed frowned:

– Through the main one? Are you serious, Ethan? It's a hook!

Freckled always expressed everything that was on his mind, but he preferred to walk in a roundabout way, as if compensating for his own straightforwardness

–What are you dissatisfied with, Flammer? “He himself wanted to look at the adepts,” Kaya sarcastically told him.

– Then, it's OK! – The fireman instantly became humble and inspired. He was unable to remain silent for a long time, so he pestered Ramlin: “Aiz, I still don’t understand why you were afraid?”

– What are you talking about? – Malachite responded gloomily.

– About hunting! You were so worried that girls would start hunting guys, but you, dragons, now only marry the true ones. What do you have to fear?

“Oh, believe me, this won’t stop some pretty face from dragging him into bed, and then accusing him of all his sins and forcefully marrying him,” answered Kaya instead of Eiz.

– The scheme is too complicated, don’t you think? – Freckled waved him off.

– Proven for centuries! – I smiled crookedly. “Even a dragon won’t be able to escape.” The girls are probably all from noble families, so keep your pants tied, guys.

– N-yes… I'm so glad I was born a human! There is no need to stress when choosing a life partner. Even if they marry by force, it’s not scary, like you dragons,” Jed blurted out without thinking.

– Don't tell me! A marriage with a true couple will always be successful. This is a perfect match of characters, loyalty, healthy offspring,” Eizeroth began to describe the advantages of truth. – And you, the magicians, have pure roulette. If you marry unsuccessfully, you will suffer for the rest of your life. And so that the magic does not burn out, you will have to choose your soul mate not by their figure or cute face, but by the strength of their gift. So there is a high probability of getting a scary or quarrelsome wife, and, moreover, gifted in such a way that it will not seem a little. But who won’t you marry in order to preserve the magic of the family?

– Oh, don't be dramatic! All you have to do is be patient until the children are born, and then you can get a divorce,” retorted the resilient Freckled One. – Again, walk left and right as much as you like. Not like you dragons. Got married, and no, no! I can't do that. “I don’t look at the same neckline twice,” he said with conviction. – I stand for diversity and freedom, here!

“On the contrary, I envy dragons in this regard,” he expressed an unexpected opinion to Kai, who was much more loving than Jed, he just didn’t talk about it. – This is a true couple! With her you will really be happy, and you won’t have to spend your whole life tossing and searching for a fresh neckline. I wish I could do the same… – He sighed sadly.

Aiz nodded contentedly, rejoicing at the unexpected support, and I again put my hand in my pocket and clenched the Focus in my fist, which I stole from under Mika’s nose so that he would not do the same first. I had no doubt that my cousin was going to do this. He planned to accuse me of theft. I accidentally overheard his conversation with Uncle Olaf, so I decided to take the lead. I immediately went to Uncle Eric's office and took the Focus with me. I will return it to him personally, obey him and explain everything when the right time comes. In the meantime, let it stay with me – safe and sound.

By that time, I had time to thoroughly think about what had happened and understood a lot. Uncle Eric started all this for a reason, and Mika’s adventures have nothing to do with it. He had long doubted his eldest nephew’s ability to rule the state, so he put on a whole performance to give me a chance to compete for the throne with my cousin on equal terms. Surely, my uncle will forgive me the same day I present him with the true truth. But there is very little chance of finding her in an academy where only men study. Except that…

I stared at the Travel Bureau stagecoach hovering outside the main building. The deans and teachers, led by the rector, gathered on the porch itself. Come on! I don't think I'll be so lucky.

– The girls have arrived! We’re on time,” Flammer noted. “But you can’t see them from here.”

– But what an intrigue! – He grinned at Kai, and then, turning more serious, added: – Just imagine, the dragon doesn’t even need to see them if he decides to make a choice.

What wise thought did your friend express?

“This is a true couple! With her you will really be happy.”

On impulse, I took the Focus from my pocket.

– Now we’ll check it…

– Fuck! – Freckled cursed, gawking at the artifact in my hand.

“Ethan, is this what I think it is?” – Kayu stared at the Focus, and his eyes flashed greedily.

Aiz somehow got all sorted out. His nostrils flared and his pupils turned emerald.

– How did you get it? – he asked dully.

“I stole it from my uncle,” I answered defiantly.

The friends looked at each other, but said nothing. And I stood, holding Focus at arm’s length, like in the pictures in the children’s books that my mother read to me, and felt like an idiot. What should we do with him next?

My uncle showed me the cache where the Focus was kept only once, and even admitted that he had found it with my aunt’s help. At that time it was not fashionable among young people, and he did everything in secret, without telling anyone anything. It seemed terribly unfair to me that it was Uncle Eric who was touched by the Misfortune, depriving not only his beloved wife, but also a true couple.

There were no instructions for activating the Focus in the cache, but I suspect there was some kind of ritual or spell that I didn’t bother to find out about. But it’s understandable, I didn’t intend to get married. It was a hard pull, I decided to show off! So what's now? Maybe I should ask Aiz?

Oh no! My reputation cannot withstand such a blow. We are both contenders, albeit for different thrones, and competition between authorities in this situation is inevitable, which did not interfere with our friendship. But now is a completely different moment. Moments passed, but still nothing happened. I began to regret starting all this. Maybe pretend he was joking? At least I won’t embarrass myself, otherwise Kai will giggle at my failed attempt for the rest of his days, and Aze will look on with superiority.

– Ethan, can I touch it? – Kaya suddenly asked in a trembling voice. “I’ll just touch it once and that’s it.” Maybe I can figure out how to come up with something similar for magicians?

“I don’t advise you to paw at dragon artifacts unnecessarily,” Aiz warned him menacingly, as if it were his own Focus.

– And why is that? “Kai, who often got into trouble with malachite, squinted his eyes in a bad way.

– Who knows how it works? You never know what the consequences will be! – Jed answered instead of Aiz and laughed obscenely at his own stupid inventions.

– Jerk! – Kayu pushed him in the shoulder.

Grinning, I lightly tossed the Focus in my palm, intending to put it in my pocket and declare that they, like children, fell for my prank. But then everything happened. Taking off much higher than I expected, the artifact hovered in the air. It slowly turned around its own axis and blazed brightly with orange runes!

– Oh, you! – one of the guys exclaimed, but I couldn’t make out who exactly.

And the Focus set off and, picking up speed, flew towards the main building. It flew right over the roof of the stagecoach, barely missing it, and disappeared.

– And… What now? – Kayu asked cautiously, on whose face I had never seen such a childishly admiring expression before.

“I don’t know…” I admitted.

– So did he choose the true one for you, or not? When will it become clear? – Jed Flammer shifted his feet impatiently.

Jed raised his hands in conciliation. I myself would like to know what to do next and how to return Focus. Losing the artifact where the ancestor spirit of the onyx dragons slept was tantamount to a death sentence. These thoughts were reflected on my face as I glanced irritably at the fireman.

– OK OK. I'm not climbing. You're in charge, it's up to you to figure it out.

– Ahem! Ethan… I believe that your true one was indeed among these girls,” Aze hinted.

– Why do you think so? – I asked, becoming more and more irritated.

– Since the Focus was activated, it means she was nearby. You did it, friend! Congratulations! – Malachite slapped me on the back.

It seemed that Ezeroth was indeed aware of how Focus worked.

“Thank you…” I answered without enthusiasm.

Frankly, I did not imagine that everything would turn out this way, and I was in a slight shock. It was necessary to think and digest what happened.

– What's next? – Kayu inquired cautiously. – How will we look for her?

Shrugging my shoulders, I answered vaguely:

– Let's figure it out…

We hurried towards the stagecoach, but as we got closer we slowed down.

“Jed, for the sake of the Mother of All That Is, don’t stare at them like you’ve never seen a girl in your life!” – asked the fireman to Kaya.

– Come on! Me with one eye! – he waved it off.

It was not possible to take a good look at the new arrivals as we walked along the driveway. To do this, they would have to go around the hefty steppe stagecoach that covered them from behind and stop right on the road, but the rector was standing on the porch. Walking past, Jed couldn’t resist looking back first, followed by the others turning their heads. I also took one short glance, convinced that I was right.

– And which of them has Focus? Do you understand? – Ezeroth asked.

“No,” I answered reluctantly.

– The first blonde is just fire! – Freckled smiled joyfully.

– Jed, what did I say about these adepts? – Malachite asked sternly.

– Come on! I don't mind marrying her if I have to. I saw what size she is…

– Shut up! – Aze barked. – What if this is the real Ethan, and you speak about her like that? He'll kill you!

– Oops! I didn't think…

“Jed, do you know why you spend more time talking about girls than actually having fun with them?” – Kayu asked insinuatingly.

– Why? – Freckled naively blinked his eyes.

– You talk too much in vain! Learn to use the language correctly!

– Fuck you! – the fireman was offended.

Cursing and pushing, they turned behind Aiz and me towards the park.

“I still haven’t seen anyone except that blonde girl…” Jed sighed in disappointment when the two-story buildings where the adherents lived appeared ahead.

– It’s not evening yet. They will be settled over there. – Kayu pointed to the previously empty old building, which they were going to demolish back that year, but they changed their minds and started renovations in the last month of summer.

It looked as if the decision had been made at the last moment, and the work was being done in a hurry. Old scaffolding still stood at the end of the building, some things and broken furniture were dumped near the porch, and part of the roof had not been covered or had been completely forgotten.

– Do you suggest stopping by to visit the girls? – The fireman, who cannot grieve for long, immediately perked up.

“I suggest we set up somewhere nearby and wait for them.” “They won’t pass us by,” he expressed a sensible thought to Kai. – Ethan, how do you know which one has your Focus?

“A magical sign appears on the couple’s forearm, like a wide bracelet,” I enlightened him.

– Shall we grab them by the hands and watch? – Jed was inspired and immediately complained: “It’s a pity the weather let us down, all the girls are dressed warmly.”

“Then, let’s think about how to force them to undress,” he winked at Kai.

“You definitely have no equal in this,” I chuckled contentedly.