The Dragon's Vow or the Stubborn Bride

Prologue

The office has never been so noisy and “fun”. Writing instruments, pages, dust from the cabinet, and even splashes of saliva flew into the faces of intractable opponents. The rector of the Academy of Wind and Storms, Escher Felsen Schwartz, the onyx dragon, watched this disgrace with a stony face. He had held his position for almost a hundred years, but he had never witnessed such a commotion before.

– Enough! – he couldn’t resist and slammed his fist on the table. Having dispelled several whirlwinds accidentally created by the debaters, the rector delivered a verdict: “It will be as I said, and this is not discussed!”

His words fell like black blocks into the depths of the sea.

“Excuse me, Asher Schwartz, but I…” the dean of the Faculty of Natural Arts, Richard Blackrock, did not want to calm down.

He was unceremoniously interrupted by Estella Krieger, head of the Department of Household Magic, the only woman among the deans:

“But from the very beginning, only boys studied with us!” We are simply not ready to accommodate girls here! You will need separate amenities, a separate house! How will they shower after training? They'll have to run to campus! Surely you haven't even thought about this? So what should we do? – she added sarcastically and hit the nail on the head!

But she didn’t manage to win over the rector with this.

– There’s still a whole month before the adepts arrive, eshsheri. I am sure you will cope with arranging your home. After all, that’s what you teach, isn’t it? Don't disappoint me!

– Pfft! – the Magess snorted arrogantly and turned away, folding her hands on her lush chest.

The quarrel almost flared up with renewed vigor, but the rector kicked everyone out of the office, ordering them to calm down.

– We’ll continue tomorrow, when you’ve cooled down and can absorb the information, but now everyone is free! Free, I said!

Felsen Schwartz pronounced the last phrase with palpable pressure. Yell after that “Vooooon!” I didn't have to. The dissatisfied deans, sensing the smell of something fried, gloomily reached for the exit.

– Blackrock, stay! – the rector suddenly stopped one of them.

When the door closed behind the others, and he and the dean were left alone, the onyx dragon openly showed dissatisfaction with his colleague:

“And from you, Duke, I expected support, and not such fierce resistance.” It seemed to me, or you are personally interested in preventing changes in the academy. I'm right?

The dean hesitated, looked around the room, but still met the rector’s gaze and answered:

“It seems like a waste of time to me.” We'll just cause confusion.

– Richard, I already said that the idea was not mine. The order came from the Bishop’s office, and who are we to contradict? The union of your eldest daughter with Rengold Hallward and the healing of the northern dragons from the Scourge has shaken up the dragon community throughout Balaria. The tradition of marrying true ones has returned to fashion, but you know what?

– What? – Blackrock asked.

– The number of marriages has sharply decreased. For two years, dragons have been regularly visiting the Valley of the Spring Primroses, but, as you know, there are almost no elementals of the required orientation there,” Schwartz shared a secret.

– Is that why the Bishop ordered the creation of a women’s faculty? “Blackrock showed glimpses of understanding.

– Right! It's enough to hide girls in closed boarding houses. You can’t organize a show there, it’s a violation of all foundations and rules. But, as you know, not only dragons have problems, but also magicians.

– What are these? – The dean frowned.

– Elementals are degenerating! Don't you notice this? – the rector flared up, angry at the denseness of his colleague and one of the most skilled elemental magicians. – Every year we receive fewer and fewer students with above-average potential. And all because in these boarding houses of yours they teach dancing and dressing up, and not how to control the weather and pacify hurricanes! A gift that is not in demand dries up as unnecessary! Take your wife, for example,” Felsen Schwartz couldn’t resist making a quip.

The Duke spoke, choosing his words carefully.

“You see, Felsen,” he addressed the rector as if he were an old friend, which he allowed only in private and then rarely. – My youngest daughter Mirre is studying in one of these boarding schools. She is making some progress, but…

– If she is successful, she will definitely be chosen. Don't worry so much, we will easily solve this issue.

The dean's face contorted for a moment as if he had been offered a sip from the latrine. But he immediately pulled himself together and, sourly thanking the rector for his help, left the office.

Felsen Schwartz leaned back in his chair with relief.

It turns out that Blackrock was simply embarrassed that his daughter was not a strong enough magician. There were rumors about the dean's wife: she was beautiful, but the magic was barely there. It is not surprising that my daughter’s gift awakened only at sixteen – four years later than usual. And what kind of gift is that? One name, most likely…

But the rector was not particularly worried. He hoped that all the adepts would quickly find grooms and leave the academy early. Even if they return to their boarding houses, most importantly, already engaged. For the dragons, it didn’t matter at all how strong the magician the true couple was. Everything is arranged differently for them.

So Felsen Schwartz, with a calm soul, promised to place Blackrock’s daughter in an academy closer to daddy. Since the mediocre Crystal Princess grabbed the whole duke and the best elementalist, then their daughter will also look after her future husband. And then, lo and behold, she’ll get married even before finishing her studies. It is not at all necessary for her to study well.

Chapter 1

Mirre Blackrock, a pupil of the capital's Boarding House for Noble Elementals named after Teresa the Magnanimous in Verlore, Onyx Rocks

Having settled down on a wide window sill in our shared bedroom for twenty pupils, I placed a book under a sheet of paper and hastily wrote a letter to my older sister. My neighbors and the girls from the room opposite gathered with us, sitting on the beds in twos and threes, to admire the lucky one, that is, me, and at the same time express to her, that is, to me, a collective “Fi!”

Fortunately, there were those here who rejoiced at my luck. Unfortunately, they found themselves in the minority, or rather, alone, so skirmishes broke out in the room every now and then. Quiet and even relatively polite. For others, we would be punished – it is not right for noble eshsheri to behave like market women.

Therefore, the girls whispered animatedly and sighed enviously, every now and then glancing sideways in my direction, but they did not allow themselves more than poisonous statements.

– Lucky you, Mirka!

– Still would! Her father is a dean at the academy. It's no surprise that she was chosen.

– That's it! So, did your father bother? I see…

– What are you talking about! I seriously didn’t know?!

– The first time I've heard!

– Don’t be jealous! Or have you forgotten what score Mirre received on testing last year? – my only friend Samantha sarcastically reminded. – A hundred out of a hundred! And Grymza said that she would have made an excellent battle mage if she had been born a boy. So there’s nothing to talk about!

The discussion went in a new circle, but I didn’t listen anymore. During the two years that I spent at the Boarding House of Teresa the Magnanimous, who during her lifetime was still such a bitch, I managed to become completely disillusioned with both local teaching methods and the noble eshcheris in general, which is why I was glad with all my heart that I was leaving. Another dream coming true!

The thrill of anticipation, concentrated at my fingertips, poured out in neat lines onto the paper:

Hello, beloved sister!

I don’t even know where to start… I’ll start, perhaps, with the main news – I’m going to the Academy of Wind and Storms! Yes, yes, you heard right…

I had almost finished the letter when the girls jumped out of their beds and stood with their hands folded on their stomachs, as decency required. Having quickly said goodbye to my sister, I crumpled the scribbled sheet into a ball so that it would fly further and, opening the window sash, threw it outside. True, I didn’t have time to get back into service. So she stretched out in the place where she was found. I don’t know about other educational institutions, but the order in our boarding house was cleaner than in other barracks. The mentors trained their pupils with all their might, trying to make them exemplary eshsheri and ideal future wives for elemental magicians. True, in their opinion, the ideal wife was a submissive, and better yet, a completely weak-willed creature, who did not have her own opinion, but was capable of “carrying out a number of laid down instructions. Somehow: estate management, playing music and other arts, etiquette, politesse and much more.”

Only girls with gifts studied at Teresa the Magnanimous Boarding School, but for some reason very little attention was paid to magical sciences. Basics of elemental magic. The history of the magic of Balaria, general information about the races of Balaria, about magical sources and their influence on all living things, and a few more theoretical subjects, but that’s all!

And practice is only twice a week! And even then, for the most part, we learned to “pacify the gift.”

Certainly! After all, this is so important for the noble eshsheri! Otherwise, if the Mother of All That Existed didn’t bring him, she would smash the crawler in a quarrel with her beloved, or hit him with the fist of the wind in response to impolite treatment, and even smear the unfortunate man against the wall.

In general, the gift of pupils was considered only as a guarantee of the appearance of a strong heir in the family, but nothing more. But I hoped to develop the gift, and not to pacify it, which I repeatedly tried to tell my dad and mom, who traditionally did not hear me.

“This is the best boarding house in the capital, baby! I learned everything there myself,” repeated Calle Blackrock, nicknamed the Crystal Princess.

The first beauty in Onyx Rocks at one time and a very weak mage, whom no one married for a long time, despite all her beauty and excellent marks in home science. Now I couldn’t help but think that my mother put too much effort into taming the gift when she was studying here. I know that when she insisted on studying at this boarding school, she only wanted the best for me. But our understanding of this “best” was very different. In general, there is no hope for my mother, and my father… An experienced dean, he always took the side of the teachers. He said that the mentors were right and knew better. And in general, “they have experience,” “you’ll understand as you grow up,” and stuff like that. So I had to train in secret, fortunately I managed to find opportunities.

Grymza, the director of the boarding house, a terrible woman in every sense – both in face and in character – burst into our bedroom, accompanied by several mentors and a curator. She looked around at those present with a stern look and asked:

– What kind of gathering is this? How did you let this happen?

The second question was addressed to our curator, Ashsheri Tix, an elderly, timid lady who was always afraid of everything, especially the wrath of the headmistress.

– Eshsheri, why not in your rooms? – She began to fuss, showing zeal with all her appearance.

– The girls came to see Mirre off. “She’s leaving early,” simple-minded Samantha tried to cover for everyone.

She always does this – she takes the fire on herself, and then she is punished. And never a word of gratitude from anyone, except me, perhaps. This is probably why we became friends from the first days.

But this time Samantha was rescued by stupid Henrietta, without wanting it herself:

– And Mirre threw the garbage out the window! She deliberately decided to set us up because she was leaving!

A short, fair-haired beauty with a childish, doll-like face and lush eyelashes spoke with a disgusting drawl, which spoiled the entire impression of her appearance.

Mother of All That Is, what a fool she is! Who was pulling her tongue?

I was sure that the silly girl was simply voicing the thought expressed by the snake Ashsher. And exactly! The brunette with a sharp nose narrowed her eyes meanly, carefully hiding her smile. Did you want to spoil me one last time? Oh well…

Ashsheri Tix immediately ran to the window and looked out. I didn’t even move, hoping that Simka had sorted everything out.

Grymza looked at me intently and asked:

– Pupil Blackrock, is this true?

– I didn’t throw garbage out the window, director!

Yes, I wouldn’t dare call the letter to my beloved sister garbage, so I didn’t lie one bit.

“There’s nothing under the window,” Ashsheri Tix confirmed my words.

I couldn’t resist and also turned around, noticing a white speck in the bushes at a distance. A fluffy tail flashed and immediately hid. The paint has washed off Simka again! It's time to update.

– What kind of book is this, Mirre?

Ashsheri Tix took a textbook on the basics of elemental spells from the windowsill, which I used as a backdrop.

– Oh, sorry for the mess, eshsheri. I was just refreshing my knowledge before leaving. You are not allowed to take a textbook with you, and the most powerful elemental magicians and dragons study at the Academy of Wind and Storms. I don’t want to lose face in front of the local adherents and disgrace the glorious name of our boarding house.

I said all this, embarrassed, and in such an unctuous voice that I even felt sick. Ashsher was completely warped, but more because of how cleverly I managed to get out.

“Commendable, Blackrock student, commendable.” – Grymza was flattered by my words. “The rest of us have an extra task for the evening, since there’s nothing else to do besides gossip.” Learn paragraphs thirteen through twenty-eight on obedience theory. Let's do an additional lesson.

– Yes, ashsheri director! – the pupils answered in unison, mentally howling.

There was nothing more humiliating than this trashy book. If there was a will, each pupil would burn it, and feed the ashes to Grymza and her henchmen with a small spoon without salt and pepper.

– Blackrock, follow me! – the headmistress commanded, interrupting the flow of my thoughts.

Picking up my half-empty suitcase and coat, which were already waiting on the bed, I joyfully left the room, hoping that I would never return here again.

Still, something bothered me. For example, exit time. It was planned to leave only in the morning, but now, even though it’s evening, it’s not even dark yet! However, I did not dare to ask why this was so. Once again, it’s better not to contact Grymza first – it’s a bad omen. And it was not a matter of superstition, but of her bad character. Now I was most afraid of frightening off my luck, so I was silent until we went out onto the back porch, next to which a gig with a folded phaeton was already waiting on the driveway, Bathmore, the boarding house’s regular driver, was sitting on the box.

Autumn this year came ahead of time, and as soon as the sun leaned towards the horizon, it became chilly, and at night it was downright cold, so I, instantly shivering, began to hastily put on my coat.

“Bathmore will take you to the South Station of the Travel Bureau,” the director deigned to inform Ashsheri, condescendingly watching my awkward attempts to get into the sleeve.

Out of confusion, I couldn’t catch him, and besides, the bag hanging on the crook of my elbow got in the way.

– Right now? But the academy stagecoach will only arrive in the morning!

I really didn’t like the idea of spending the night right at the station.

– The stagecoach is already waiting at the Travel Bureau station. I was informed a little less than half an hour ago, so I came to hurry you up. Are you ready?

Grymza's question confused me. Usually she was not interested in such trifles as the readiness of her pupils.

“Y-yes…” I answered, finally mastering the sleeve and began to fasten the buttons. But having fastened two, she stopped. – More precisely, no! Ashsheri Director, everything is so sudden! I didn’t have time to prepare to leave… – Seeing that Grymza’s eyebrows were converging on the bridge of her nose, she hastily explained in a whisper: “Can I go to the restroom before the road?”

The face of the woman, whose age had frozen somewhere between the sixth and seventh decades for thirty years, smoothed out.

– Certainly. But hurry up.

– Thank you, eshsheri director!

I put the bag right on the porch and rushed back to the door.

– Blackrock, what kind of gait is that? Why are you rushing like crazy? Where is the dignity? – the whip whistled from behind.

– Sorry!

I straightened up, turned my shoulders and hastily trotted off, as decency required. I broke into a run again when my inappropriate behavior was hidden by the door. I still looked into the toilet. It was true that the matter was necessary, but the main purpose of the absence and the choice of place lay elsewhere. Climbing onto the wide windowsill, I opened the sash of the window overlooking the park and, looking outside, called quietly:

– Simka!

Simka is my familiar Simuran. Actually, elementals don’t have such familiars, but I’m not a completely normal elementalist. I was born an empty nester, and received the gift just two years ago. At sixteen years old, and not at twelve or thirteen, as expected. And even then I received it in an unusual way, but that’s a completely different story*.

My older sister Talaria gave me the SIM card. She saved a little simuran with a broken wing. While he was being treated, the baby’s mother disappeared somewhere, and he had to be left behind. But Simka grew up to be such a hooligan that they willingly gave him away to me, which made me incredibly happy, because I had a pet and a true friend that I had always dreamed of.

Simka and I had love at first sight, but my mother barely survived his stay at the Blackrock estate. Not only did the wolf cub spoil things, but he also scared her on purpose, which is why we all experienced many unpleasant moments. But I was able to insist on my own and pacified both of them – the simuran and my mother too. Surprisingly, my father only chuckled as he watched our battles and flatly refused to take anyone’s side.

– Simka? – I called again, hearing some rustling in the lush thickets of the garden euonymus.

This time we didn’t have to wait long, and from the largest bush, a smiling wolf’s face, white with green spots and stripes, looked out.

– Are you here! “I exhaled with relief and, easily jumping over the window sill, hugged the simuran, who did not stick out of the bushes completely, but only up to his neck. “Is it just me, or have you grown up again?”

Simka licked my nose, making me wince and wipe myself off. I couldn’t talk to him mentally, but the simuran understood me perfectly, and I understood him too.

When I was sent to a boarding school, Simka followed me and lived secretly here in the vast park. How he managed to get food, I never found out. He probably hunted chickens at night in the surrounding villages. Or on rabbits and birds in the mountains, fortunately his wing had grown together long ago, and he flew perfectly. But I would rather believe that Simka steals food from the local kitchen. I heard the housekeeper swear at the cook, and the cook at the unknown thief.

To prevent Simka from being caught, because he is so clean and all white, I regularly tinted his fur with green pigment, which my sister taught me to prepare. Fortunately, the ingredients there were trivial. Now the dye had almost peeled off from the simuran’s fur, and he amused me with his spotted colors, which hid him so well among the white-green leaves and gave my winged wolf a particularly hooligan look of a warrior on a mission. Sometimes they also paint their faces like this in order to be more invisible. As Talaria says: “Rely on magic, but don’t make a mistake yourself!”

– Simka, do you have a letter? – I asked.

The head dived into the bushes, and then looked back, and the simuran put on the ground the leaf crumpled into a ball that I had thrown out the window earlier. I smoothed it out, folded it into a neat rectangle and put it in a special pocket on the magic collar, which was visible only to me and Tali, and also did not interfere with Simka at all.

– Give the letter to Talaria and come back. Yes! I'm leaving right now, not in the morning. First to the Travel Bureau station, remember? My father and I arrived there, and you found me.

Simuran growled affirmatively.

– Here. From there a stagecoach from the academy will pick me up. I’m sure you’ll quickly catch up with us, especially since the road is already familiar to you. All. Fly, don't delay. I want to please my sister with the news as soon as possible.

I kissed my pet right on his wet nose and climbed back out the restroom window. The window was too high. I didn’t calculate something when I jumped out, so I hung on my elbows, vainly groping along the wall with my feet, trying to find at least some kind of support. She found herself. The forehead of a wolf placed itself at my feet and easily lifted me up. Climbing onto the windowsill, I smiled at caring Simka and thanked:

– Thank you!

Simuran wagged his fluffy tail goodbye and took off from the ground with a jump. He opened his mighty wings, the snow-whiteness of which alternated with green, and… He disappeared right into the air, turning into a milky haze, which immediately dissipated. I will never get tired of watching this magic! Not all simurans are capable of this. Probably the only one of mine in all of Balaria.

When Simka delivers the letter to his sister, he will return in the same way to the place where we last saw each other, or where we agreed to meet. True, for the second option it is necessary for the simuran to visit there at least once, otherwise he will have to fly in the usual way and spend more time.

Having finished sending urgent mail, I hurried back. Grymza is probably already tired of waiting and will swear.

– Blackrock, why is it taking so long? Or maybe I should have chosen someone else? “The rebuke came as soon as I appeared on the back porch.

The headmistress, squinting, examined me, as if deciding who would be best to replace me. I went cold. She will do this, and then goodbye to my long-awaited freedom…

– Ashsheri director, please forgive me. I was so excited that I felt sick to my stomach, so I had to stay late,” I began to make excuses.

Even my face became stained from excitement, so Grymza did not doubt my words for a moment.

“That’s great,” she sighed grumpily. – Still, you won’t be able to find another candidate quickly…

Meanwhile, I had already climbed into the gig and sat down on the seat, straightening my back and taking on the most innocent and beautiful appearance, so as not to give her time to come to her senses and doubt me even more.

The headmistress came closer and suddenly covered my hand with hers.

“I want to give you some advice, Blackrock.” Don't rely too much on your father once you get there. And don't boast about his name. Family ties in such matters are not always for the good. And second: the Academy of Wind and Storms is filled to capacity, albeit still young, but already men. Men can be unrestrained in their impulses, so I want to give you something. Here. “She took a pendant on a chain from her pocket and placed it in my palm.

It turned out to be an asymmetrical transparent crystal, lined with black stripes on the inside. All in all, it was about as beautiful as Grymza herself, and would have looked great as her decoration.

– What is this?

I stared at the headmistress, wondering why I needed such a trinket and how it would help at the academy.

Grymza broke into a knowing smile:

– Ugly, huh? “I remained silent so as not to lie to my face, and the headmistress condescended to explain: “This is an artifact of a distortion of appearance.”

– Forgive me, Ashsheri Director, I am sincerely grateful to you and I understand that your gift contains some deep meaning that, due to my age and stupidity, I simply cannot grasp. Could you give me a little hint? – I smiled guiltily, hoping that they wouldn’t drag me out of the gig, completely disappointed in the choice of candidate.

– Why is it unclear? If you need to hide your beauty, just put it on your neck and imagine what you need. Scars, burns, sour mine, just a faded appearance, a tired, painful appearance, warts, whatever!

– Warts?!

I finally stopped understanding what she was talking about and batted my eyelashes.

– Oh, my girl! Nothing can cool a man's ardor more than the right wart at the right time and in the right place. Understood?

– It seems… This is all for disguise, right?

“For camouflage,” Grymza repeated after me and grinned condescendingly. “You’re a smart girl, you’ll figure it out on your own when the time comes.” Do not lose. A rare thing. Most likely, the second one does not exist. The master did it.

Suddenly I realized that she was looking at me almost affectionately. And her face didn’t look so stern now.

– Eshsheri director, and you… Don’t you need it anymore? – Having blurted out the question, I fell silent and swallowed, afraid of my own courage.

It was necessary to blurt out such a thing! And to whom!

But the headmistress only broke into a surprisingly pleasant smile.

“Grymza’s mask has grown on me over the years, baby.” People here are afraid of fire, so I really don’t need the amulet anymore. It’s not like fifty years ago, when I, a girl not much older than you, was forced to take the reins of the boarding house into my own hands. Believe me, it wasn’t easy…” she shared. – All. Enough chatter. Touch it! – the headmistress commanded the elderly, silent driver. – Good luck, Blackrock! Show them all there!

Raising her fist, Grymza smiled at me and, without turning around, headed into the building. I followed her with my gaze until her straight, tall figure disappeared behind the door, and then looked forward to a bright future.

Chapter 2

There were a dozen Travel Bureau stations in Verlor, the capital of the Onyx Rocks, but I had to leave from the same one where I had once arrived with my father. The journey to it from the guesthouse took about forty minutes, and while we were driving, it began to get dark. Reacting to the deepening twilight, bright magic lanterns began to blink on the streets, flooding the area with a cozy, warm light. I admired the beautiful houses of wealthy capital city residents and the majestic building of the theater, which made an indelible impression on me – I had the opportunity to visit there once with other students.

Sitting in the gig driven by the silent Batmore, I gazed at the noble Eshsheri leisurely strolling in the autumn park with their smart daughters and husbands. At the carriages rushing past. On thoroughbred, well-trained horses with equally thoroughbred riders. To tastefully decorated shop windows. For fountains that don’t freeze even in winter. She looked and smiled involuntarily, sincerely enjoying every moment.

Eh! Still, there are advantages in the life of a magician! Did I think, running around the castle courtyard with the boys, that this would happen to me? That one day I will be able to travel alone without parental supervision?

As we moved away from the center, the houses became darker in appearance. Their narrow dark windows did not please with bright light and pretty curtains, but frightened with bars and iron shutters – the industrial quarter had begun. Buildings of factories and factories stretched out, where magic and craft were intertwined, producing metal products known throughout Balaria: from rune swords to cart wheel rims. From magical jewelry forging to ordinary scythes and sickles. Only at the boarding school did I learn what an important place my native land occupies in the world. How many inventors and scientists are born, and how rich in metals and jewels its depths are, the guardians of which from time immemorial were the ruling families of onyx dragons.

Having passed industrial areas, we found ourselves in residential ones. There were also shops and shops here, but with simpler display windows. Dim lights were burning in the windows, and the shadows of residents preparing dinner flickered. A rollicking melody came from some tavern, and the bright magic lanterns had long since been replaced by dim lanterns that gave off a deathly green color. Because of him, the faces of people rushing from work seemed especially sallow, and a staggering drunkard could easily be mistaken for a zombie.

And in some alleys there was no lighting at all. A noisy group tumbled out of one of these straight onto the roadway, frightening our horse. The driver had to use an air wave to gently push the revelers to the side of the road. Drunken swearing followed, but the phlegmatic Bathmore silently whipped the reins, urging the brown filly on.

My father and I passed these places in the morning, and then they did not look so dangerous. Feeling uncomfortable, I hid deeper into the phaeton and, just in case, grabbed the handle of the bag, regretting that I was not traveling in a carriage, but in an open carriage. There was only a short distance to the station—three or four blocks—when I felt a magical tension in the atmosphere. The hairs on my arms stood up and a specific chill ran down my back. Wary, I turned my head, looking around the street with an unfocused gaze. I was still incapable of doing more, but this simple technique allowed me to see exactly where magic was used.

– Stop! Stop! – I shouted to the driver, but Bathmore was already pulling on the reins.

He managed a moment before a man was thrown out of a nearby alley by the horse's feet, mercilessly slamming onto the pavement.

The air wave at the end reflected from the wall of the building opposite, scattering dust, small debris and dry leaves on the sides. Screaming in fear, I stared wide-eyed at the body that Batmore was trying to avoid. But the filly neighed and fought, not wanting to go further. Meanwhile, the tension of magic intensified. Ahead of us, drifting snow ran from building to building, swirling in the uncertain light of the streetlights like thick steam. Along the line she drew, a real palisade of thick icicles grew. Do not go around or jump over!

Following the driver's quick glance back, I realized that the same fence blocked our way back.

– What’s going on today! – Batmore could not stand it and tried to take it to the left so as not to run over the victim with his wheel.

And I suddenly wondered if I had ever heard his voice before?

“Batmore, is this man… dead?” – she asked quietly, unable to take her eyes off the person lying on the road.

“If he’s a magician, he’ll survive,” the driver tried to reassure me, but he didn’t do a very good job.

– We must help!

I stood up, intending to jump out, but I was stopped by a sudden shout, like the crack of a whip:

– Sit, eshsheri! We don't want any trouble, and the guards will deal with the tramp.

Bathmore pulled on the reins, causing the filly to back up a little. Just a few steps. The gig turned out to be opposite the alley on the other side of the street, but even a fleeting glance made it clear that it was impossible to get through there. The passage was cluttered with some rubbish. So we managed to fall into a trap! If we had driven a little faster, we would have managed to get past…

At the end of the street, from behind the squat houses, the dark silhouette of a gas tank was clearly visible. The large round building in which PR was accumulated, and from there it was used to heat houses and illuminate streets, impressed me even on the day of my arrival. It was located right next to the station. Maybe run to it on foot and ask for help there?

I pulled the bag closer. I can, I can run. Maybe…

But while she was deciding to get out of the gig, which was creating a false impression of security, a group of men appeared from a nearby alley. They were in no hurry, they walked imposingly, laughing and talking. There was no doubt that everything that was happening was their doing.

There were six men, and all were definitely magicians. Not paying much attention to us, they imposingly surrounded the unfortunate man, who lay motionless on the pavement. One of the magicians lit a firefly, illuminating a small space above their heads, and I was surprised to realize that they were all young guys, hardly much older than me.

“Mikael, it seems you’ve gone too far,” stated one, blond and rosy-cheeked, the spitting image of “mom’s little pie,” reproachfully.

– I do not like it! Let's get out of here! – whined another, short and the frailest of all.

I agreed with him, and I myself would gladly follow this advice.

– Splinter, you always don’t like something! Better shut up! – a tall and dark-haired magician, who was named Mikael, barked at him. He poked the victim with the toe of his boot. – Hey, stop being a fool! Get up and start apologizing! I'm waiting!

The man on the pavement moved, and I mentally exhaled. Still not dead!

The scoundrels, and these scumbags could not be called otherwise, began to chatter animatedly in anticipation of entertainment. I couldn’t resist and grabbed the driver’s elbow:

– Bathmore, do something, eh!

– No, eshsheri! My life is dear to me, and these murderers… Ahem! “He glanced sideways at me and corrected himself. – These people are the offspring of noble families in the capital. It's better for us not to shine at all. Maybe they won't pay attention to us.

This was the longest tirade I heard today from the driver of the Teresa the Magnanimous boarding house.

– But that’s not possible! “I objected hesitantly, not taking my eyes off the people on the road.

The bully Mikael bent down and grabbed the victim by the hair, thick dark with contrasting light strands. Their owner suddenly jumped up quickly, simultaneously squeezing the bully's throat and lifting him up at arm's length. So much so that your feet left the ground!

I even stood up in my seat, surprised by such agility and strength.

“Do you want me to apologize to you, morel?” Me, the daughter of Jarl Hedwin from the Coast of Sharp Blades?!

The voice was low, but definitely female!

The stranger stood in profile towards me, and despite the male attire, the features of the female figure stood out clearly from the front. Such decent features, I must say! It's a girl! There could be no mistake. Tall and strong, slightly taller than the bully whose legs dangled helplessly above the ground, she held Mikael by the throat with apparent ease. The guy convulsively clung to her hand and wheezed, trying to free himself.

Judging by what I managed to hear, this strong woman was a northerner and compatriot of Audbjorn Strike, one of the brothers-in-law of my half-sister’s husband. I don’t know why Earl Hedwin’s daughter annoyed these guys so much, but what they did went beyond what was permitted.

– Bathmore! Bathmore! We must help her out! – I became worried, not imagining what I could do against six magicians.

– Eshsheri, calm down, I beg you! – hissed the driver, not wanting to interfere in the squabbles of the rich youth.

Meanwhile, the hooligans, taken aback by such agility of their recent victim, regained their composure.

– Let go of Mikael! – the one called Splinter squealed.

And the most powerful and broad-shouldered of them all suddenly growled and rushed into the fight. I screamed in surprise, believing that he would now trample the northern woman, who was still more fragile than this closet with mezzanines. But the stranger was faster. Throwing the Tuffnut away so that he crashed backwards onto the pavement, she twisted and met the Brute with a direct kick to the head. He, as if hit by a battering ram, silently fell on his back, and three of them attacked the northern woman at once. Subtle Splinter did not participate in the fight, he only caused a fuss by shouting:

– Blood! You're bleeding! – he yelled, staring at the stunned big man.

He was already getting up, pressing his hands to his broken face and looking unkindly towards the fighters.

– Shut up! “He slapped the screamer on the back of the head, and he choked on his next tirade.

Before I decided to do anything, the northern woman scattered the trio, but it wasn’t easy for her. She was breathing heavily and taking care of her left side, and the Big Man, crimson with rage, was already approaching her. The others also pulled themselves up, wincing and rubbing their bruised areas. It would seem that it was time to escape while there was still at least some chance, but the northern woman did not even think about making a move.

– Where is my backpack, pregnant penguins! – she went on the offensive.

The girl was confident in herself and did not seem to be at all afraid of this pack!

The bully made a sign, stopping his henchmen, and asked arrogantly:

– Do you even know who I am?

– Unfortunately. – The girl winced in disgust. “You’re a thief, an idiot, and a bad fighter.” Shame on your father, in general. It will be a miracle if he doesn’t drown in shame when he finds out who your mother’s womb gave birth to.

Well, the stranger really knew how to infuriate.

– How dare you! – Tuffnut hissed, but instead of attacking, on the contrary, he began to retreat.

His comrades did the same, as if they knew in advance what was about to happen. It's clear as day that something is wrong!

– No no! Mika, don't! – Splinter squeaked, but the thug, whose broken nose was dripping blood directly onto his expensive jacket, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck with one hand and dragged him to the wall of the building.

Bathmore did the same, pulling me back into the gig.

– Where, you fool! Sit! – he hissed.

– But…

– Quiet!

The bully extended his hand, fingers spread, and shouted just one word. The ether tensed, and the next moment lightning struck from the sky, deafening with a dry crack and blinding. I screamed, covering myself with my bag, but even through tightly clenched eyelids I saw lightning strike one after another, all over the street and the walls of the houses!

Above us, the absorber shield hummed strainedly, which by some miracle managed to deploy Batmore. The driver himself, no longer embarrassed, hissed dirty curses through his teeth, interspersing them with prayers to the Mother of All That Is. And it seems that she heard him, because the shield withstood the blow. When it was all over and I risked opening my eyes, the girl was lying on the pavement again. The magical firefly was destroyed when lightning struck the area. The windows went out in the houses whose residents were disturbed by unexpected disputes between the nobility.

At a distance, the PR lantern that had somehow miraculously survived was still shining, and the thin wisps of smoke emanating from the girl’s clothes seemed especially ominous in its greenish light.

–You killed her! Killed! – Splinter was the first to break the reigning silence, but he was forced to shut up with a short blow to the nose.

All participants in the incident looked scared and confused, but did not yet take their eyes off the northern woman’s body lying on the ground. Entertainment turned into a real crime, and Batmore and I turned out to be witnesses, and very soon they will pay attention to us…

“Mika, this time you definitely overdid it…” noticed the rather pale “mom’s little pie.”

“We should get rid of… her quickly,” one of the guys suggested.

I couldn’t make out who it was, but I was amazed by the fact that they were so calmly discussing how to hide the crime!

“Batmore…” I breathed out.

At that moment the girl moved again and tried to get up. The whole company recoiled from her, as if from a dead man who had risen without the participation of a necromancer. The guys looked at each other, and something unkind was reflected in their eyes, and I realized: the game had gone too far. With trembling fingers, I felt in my pocket the artifact given by Grymza and threw the chain around my neck, and then, praying to the goddess that it would work as it should, I jumped out of the gig, and this time Bathmore did not have time to stop me.

– Well, stop! – she barked, trying to speak as low as possible.

My throat was dry from fear, successfully adding the hoarseness that was naturally lacking.

All the magicians frowned at me. Under their heavy, unprincipled gazes, I was at a loss, not knowing how to behave further. The same Splinter came to the rescue.

– Oh no! This is Grymza! We're finished! – he screamed nasally because of his broken nose.

“The artifact worked!” – I mentally exhaled.

The image of the strict director of the boarding school, terrifying both the pupils and the staff, was the first thing that came to my mind. Having made sure that everything worked out, and the hooligans see an elderly, strict woman instead of me, I poised myself, raised my chin higher and, squeezing my lips into a tight line, looked around at the guys with a dissatisfied look, focusing on the leader.

– And from you, Mikael, I didn’t expect this! “I’ll have to have a serious conversation with your father,” she said, carefully copying the mournful intonations of the headmistress and she was surprised at how much like Grymza I managed to do.

The pale brunette, whose whole appearance hinted that he had overdone it with the lightning and was now suffering from magical exhaustion, completely turned red. His eyes flashed lightning. True, this time only figuratively.

“Eshsheri…” He opened his mouth.

– Be silent! – I barked and winced with displeasure, not wanting to enter into controversy. If there's any chatter, I'll be found out right away, so I can't give them that opportunity. – Go away! And pray that the girl survives! – I commanded.

The hooligan really didn’t like what was happening. Maybe they would even risk getting rid of Grymza, who appeared on their way at such an inopportune time, but behind me stood the gloomy Batmore. And three corpses are not two for you anymore! There were too many witnesses to the failed entertainment.

An ordinary candle lit up in one of the windows right above us, and a man looking out asked in a drunken voice:

– … ... What … is … happening here … your … ...?

The meaning of the tirade thickly mixed with obscenities, it seems, did not immediately reach the hooligans, but at least they were distracted. The man was immediately dragged deeper into the room by a woman, whose frightened voice tried to persuade her husband not to interfere. He growled in response, but still retreated from the window.

The number of witnesses to the crime instantly increased to five. And how many other dark windows watched the street secretly?

The criminals also understood this, so they became increasingly gloomy, but did nothing. Taking advantage of the pause, I sat down next to the northern woman.

– Hurry up, get up! – she asked in a whisper, offering the girl her shoulder.

Butmore fussed over and grabbed her by the elbow, trying to lead her to the gig.

– I won’t go anywhere without my things! They stole them! “She was in no hurry to get away from the place of potential death.

– Nobody stole anything from you! Just wanted to joke! Who knew that you were completely bruised! – Mom’s Pie lost his nerves.

He was the first of all to arrive and, grabbing Mikael by the arm, tried to lead him into the alley.

– Return everything safe and sound, otherwise the ruler will know about your trick. I'll take care of it! – I threatened, carefully dragging the northern woman in the opposite direction. – Things should be sent…

I looked expressively at the victim.

“To the Academy of Wind and Storms,” she muttered reluctantly.

– To the Academy of Wind and Storms. Clear? – I echoed. “And if I find out that anything is missing or damaged…” without saying anything, I arched my eyebrow meaningfully.

More precisely, I imagined how Grymza does it. I couldn’t do that well myself.

Mikael hesitated, nodded and finally allowed himself to be led away.

Considering the conversation over, I led the northern woman to the gig. She walked not too willingly and did not take her frowning, promising gaze off the backs of the would-be killers disappearing into a dark alley, but she did not provoke them again. She probably decided that it was better to disperse peacefully this time than to continue the obviously losing confrontation.

Once we were in the wagon, Bathmore breathed more freely. Jumping onto the box, he lashed with the reins, and we were pressed into the seat. The ice fence ahead was broken by the same lightning, and its fragments had already melted considerably. Having released an air wave, the driver scattered the remains, clearing the passage, and drove the horse to the station.

– Thank you, eshsheri. But you shouldn’t have taken such risks at your age,” the northern woman expressed her gratitude ambiguously as we drove around the block.

She sat hunched over and winced from time to time when the gig bounced on potholes. The road closer to the station turned out to be completely broken.

“Eshsheri Blackrock, I will have to report to the Ashsheri director about your prank,” Bathmore suddenly said and unexpectedly added: “But you’ve done well.” I don’t know how it all would have ended otherwise.

“Thank you,” I thanked him for the praise and pulled the pendant from my neck.

His hands were shaking like a never-dry drunk. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and the taste of iron appeared in his mouth. It seems that not everything is so simple with this artifact. A full mask sucked out magic faster than maintaining an air funnel, and yet my potential is not below average! No wonder Grymza talked about warts and wrinkles. From now on, you should be careful and not use complete images of other people, only small details.

– So, you’re not an old lady! – the northern woman was sincerely surprised.

She even straightened up, but immediately bent over again, wincing in pain.

I smiled welcomingly, looking at my new acquaintance, and answered:

– No. I am just a future adept at the Academy of Wind and Storms. So that's where you're headed?

Chapter 3

The girl Batmore and I picked off along the way was called Adalbjorg Hedvin. She was the only daughter of the northern jarl of the Coast of Iron Blades.

“I know our names sound unusual in these lands, but you can call me Ada.” I am in your debt, Mirre.

– Stop doing that. Any person would try to help in my place,” I was embarrassed.

The new acquaintance sat unevenly, leaning on one side, as if she could not fully straighten her back. She winced every now and then, clearly in pain, and I tried to turn the conversation to what was really important now: “No, Mirre!” Not just anyone. Only a very brave person with a caring heart would risk speaking out against six elemental magicians who are not burdened with either reason or conscience,” the northern woman objected, which embarrassed me.

– Did they hurt you?

– Nonsense! “It’s been worse,” the northern woman shrugged it off, but I didn’t believe her.

– Not at all! You should see a healer. Let's go to the station, there is a 24-hour first aid station.

– Perhaps you're right. That’s what I’ll do, only… Only now I have nothing to pay for their services,” she frowned sadly.

– Don’t worry about it, I won’t leave you in trouble.

– Mirre, I…

– No objections, Ada! You almost got killed! And then, when your things return, you can pay me back,” I reassured her.

– Thank you!

The Northern woman touched her forehead with two fingers and, with an unexpectedly graceful gesture, extended her open palm to me. A small ball flashed gold above her. He swam up to me and hovered, and suddenly pleasant shivers ran down my back, like when trying on a tailor.

– What is this? – I asked quietly.

– Oath of purity of intentions. If you accept it, just touch it.

“Ada… Really, it’s not worth it…” I stopped short, catching the northern woman’s gaze, and realized that if I refused, I would offend her to the core.

Sighing, she dipped her finger into the golden light, and her chest felt hot, as if she had sipped the cinnamon wine that we were treated to at the boarding house on New Year’s Eve.

“We are now more connected than sisters.” “You are my kyari, my savior,” Ada explained.

Her face suddenly blurred, and then I blinked, and two tears rolled down my cheeks.

–What are you doing? Are you crying, or what? – The northern woman frowned.

– No no! It's just… Everything is so unexpected. I lived alone for a long time, and just recently met my older sister. And now I have another sister.

The northern woman burst into a smile and hugged me by the shoulders in a familiar way, but immediately shuddered and again took the “hook” pose.

– Hurts?

“Stronger than we would like,” Adalbjorg answered with a dark smile.

Hearing her, Bathmore reined in his horse and began to choose a level road. We were just driving past the giant gas holder, and ahead there was already a station glowing with lights, where life was in full swing day and night.

– Ada, forgive me for the indiscreet question, but why did you need to get involved with this dubious company? Where did you actually come across them? – Unable to bear it, I asked.

– I arrived in Verlor this morning and decided to take a walk around the city. I haven’t been to the capital of Onyx Rocks before. Everything here is structured differently than here. And I accidentally encountered these children of a sick walrus on the street. They stuck to the sole worse than dog shit. No matter how many, it still stinks and stinks. I usually don’t let anyone off the hook, but here I endured it until the last moment. I didn't want any trouble with the locals. “I tried to be taller,” as my mentor punished me.

Ada nodded and continued. “We were taught the same thing at the boarding school,” I interjected into her story.

“By that time it was getting close to dinner, and I was pretty hungry. But in the center they didn’t let me into a single establishment, can you imagine? They said I looked inappropriate. I assured that I had something to pay, but they still did not agree! And those petrified mammoth feces kept trailing behind me. They neighed like sick horses at my shame. And then, as if on purpose, my stomach began to growl…

The northern woman sighed heavily and, wincing, looked at me meaningfully.

– Yeah. I can imagine what kind of food for ridicule this gave to the presumptuous idiots.

– Right! Then I simply caught a cab and asked him to take me to some decent establishment not far from the South Station. The kind where you can eat delicious food and the prices aren’t too bad.

“And he brought you to Rabochiy Gorodok,” Bathmore unexpectedly butted into the conversation.

“I don’t know, but the food here really turned out to be good.” I like it. Everything was fine until Mikael’s company entered the same tavern. These degenerates of the rickety sperm whale began to mock me again. They laughed at me for being so tall. They made fun of my clothes, and then they stole my bag and began demanding insulting things from me for returning it. I am the daughter of Earl Hedwin and I couldn’t let them down! – The northern woman flashed with rage in her eyes.

–Did you get into a fight?

– No. She insulted them back, and they rushed into the fight. They turned out to be not as patient as me. “She grinned almost cheerfully.

– Mother of All That Is! But these are the children of the capital's aristocrats. All elemental magicians…” I grimaced. – What a disgrace! What were they thinking, chasing a foreigner throughout the capital?

“It’s a pack of mad dogs, not children.” People like them ought to have their teeth pulled out before they bite someone to death,” Bathmore opined, stopping the gig next to a large black stagecoach that bore the Wind and Storm Academy emblem on its side.

And next to the stagecoach stood a man, at the sight of whom my mood immediately soared to heaven.

“Uncle Al…” I screamed joyfully, but seeing that he was not alone, I corrected myself: “Eshsher Nett, how glad I am to see you!”

Alan Nett, a teacher from my father’s department, who visited us more than once, saw me and also burst into a smile.

– Mirre Blackrock! Meet girls, this is Mirre Blackrock from Teresa the Magnanimous boarding house. You will study at the academy together. Mirre, this is Lisel Konradine and Hvoyana Holtz,” he introduced them to me. – And Yumi Lo is hiding inside.

– Nice to meet you! – Lisel answered politely.

The Conradine family was rightfully one of the ten most influential in Onyx Rocks. Duke Conradine was the ruler's adviser, and in front of me stood his youngest daughter, about whom they gossiped even in our boarding house.

Slender, tall. With a shock of light brown hair, braided in a loose braid. Her travel outfit fit perfectly and looked as if it had just come from the tailor shop. Lisel was a strong elemental who, according to rumors, had already mastered the control of lightning, and also the most enviable bride of Onyx Rocks. She was predicted to marry one of the dragons of the ruling family.

– Hello! – Khvoyana waved to us.

Judging by the unusual bright blue color of her eyes and the blue tint of her hair, which only remained ash-blond near her face, the girl preferred water to other elements. And her name was unusual – Khvoyana. It would be more suitable for a sorceress from the Old Forest. However, the girl looked so that I would not doubt that she was a native of those places.

Khvoyana wore her long hair in two braids, and another one adorned her head like a wreath. She dressed in the traditional clothes of the peoples from the banks of the Struna. I must say, quite exotic to my eyes. Even more exotic than the northern woman was dressed.

While I was looking at my future classmates, Uncle Alan looked at some list.

– So. All we have to do is wait for Adalbjörg Hedvin, and…

– Adalbjorg is already here, and… She needs the help of a healer! – I realized.

– What's happened? – Lisel immediately looked into the gig.

I quickly introduced Ada to everyone and retold a brief version of the attack, keeping silent only about the artifact that Grymza gave me. Ada did not say a word about him.

– It’s incomprehensible! Where are the parents of these little kids looking? – Uncle Alan lamented. “Sit here, I’ll bring the healer.”

Lanky and awkward, he rushed towards the building with a characteristic bowl and a “healing hand” stretched over it, emitting light.

– Mirre, do you remember any of the attackers? Are you familiar with them? – asked Lisel.

– No, but their leader was called Mikael. And another one, small and fussy, was teased with Splinter.

I described the attackers as best I could, and Ada filled in the details I had missed, telling me what magic they used and what techniques they preferred in battle.

“I will make sure that those responsible are punished,” Lisel promised us with the most serious look.

For some reason I had no doubt that this would be the case.

– Thank you. – Ada smiled wryly, trying not to show too much that she was suffering.

– Girls, what happened to you? “A very young girl’s face suddenly looked out of the stagecoach window.

A frightened look of wide eyes, a slightly open mouth, an unexpectedly short haircut framing the face. Only the eyes shone with a deep blue, and the hair had already turned completely sea green.

Wow! A very strong sorceress comes from the mouth of the Struna! It directly feels close to the sea elements.

– Stop hiding, Yumi! Go out and meet your classmates. This is Mirre and Adalbjorg.

“I’m afraid…” the girl whispered and hid again.

We looked at each other, and then I left the girls and climbed into the stagecoach.

– Hello, Yumi! I'm Mirre.

– I know. “I can clearly hear what’s happening outside,” Yumi answered, for some reason again in a whisper.

– You said you were afraid. And what exactly?

In general, after the attack on Ada, I will not deny that the streets of the capital are not so safe at night, but still the station is guarded, and it is quite light here…

“I’m afraid that I won’t be able to control my magic from excitement.” “I have a lot of dope, but my control is poor,” she shared in her own way, clearly repeating someone else’s words.

I giggled.

– Didn’t they teach you to “pacify the gift” at your boarding school?

– We taught. It just didn't work out very well for me. That's what I'm worried about. When I get excited, I can’t control myself at all.

The girl sighed heavily.

– Don’t worry! “Smiling, I put my hand on her shoulder.

– Do you think it’s not worth it? – She stared at me with hope.

– I think it's useless. Worry or not, it will be difficult for all of us.

Having voiced my secret thoughts, I suddenly realized that I was right.

Until that moment, I carefully hid them even from myself. I was happy to leave the boarding school, looking forward to a new free life, but I was latently afraid that everything would not be as rosy as I had imagined. And what just happened is a clear example of this. After all, these were also those whom we would have to face at the academy. What if all the guys there are just like them?

The thought did not make me happy at all. I could only hope that there were people like my sister’s husband there. Rengold Hallward was for me the ideal man and husband, and I secretly dreamed that someday I too would find such a faithful and reliable life partner.

Uncle Alan returned with an elderly, strong woman in a healing robe. She brought with her a suitcase with drugs and rubbing substances, but did not even open it. She just stated in a hoarse bass voice, briefly examining Ada:

– Yes, two ribs are cracked! Numerous bruises, and that’s just a rough guess! And on the aura there are traces of a blow from elemental magic. No, she definitely needs to stop by the healing room for at least half an hour. We’ll fix everything, she’ll recover in three days, strictly following the recommendations, of course.

– Will you join your friend? – Uncle Alan asked hopefully.

– Certainly! Bathmore, can you take us to the healing room? – I asked, climbing back into the gig.

Uncle Alan breathed a sigh of relief and clarified the essence of his request:

“I don’t want to go away, it’s already night.” We need to keep an eye on you, you never know…

– Don’t worry, Asher Nett. We can handle it. – I winked at him in my own way.

Bathmore stopped the gig right at the healer's porch, and we helped Ada get out.

Having said goodbye to the driver, we hobbled into the healing room. Ada's damage turned out to be much more serious than we thought. As soon as she got out of the gig, she almost lost consciousness from pain and magical exhaustion. I would hardly have been able to hold her alone, but the healer helped. We set off not after the promised half hour, but only after two and a half. When the treatment was completed, I asked how much we owed. “Batmore, tell the director my sincere gratitude for the gift,” I asked. – And tell us in detail about the attackers. Maybe she can call them to order?

– Not at all! – the healer answered dryly. “The invoice will be issued to the Academy of Wind and Storms, and they, if they deem it necessary, will ask the parents for compensation.

After giving us recommendations, some bottles and powders, the healers sent us out. Yawning furtively, we wandered towards the stagecoach, already drawn by six horses. The coachman sat on the box, and Uncle Alan paced impatiently next to him.

– Finally! – he exclaimed when he saw us. – How are you feeling, Hedwin?

“Much better than when we first met,” Ada joked.

She really was now holding herself upright and breathing normally, without wincing from every breath and word.

– That's good! Get in quickly, we have to go. We are already far behind schedule.

Indeed, the time was approaching midnight, as the clock on the high tower told us. According to rumors, there were these at every Travel Bureau station. As soon as Ada and I climbed inside, the stagecoach started moving. Yumi and Hwoyana were already asleep, leaning against each other. Lisel sat apart and dozed, throwing her head back on the seat, but when she heard us, she opened her eyes and nodded slightly, congratulating her on the healing.

– Good night! – Ada muttered and immediately dozed off, exhausted from a difficult day.

And I was prevented from falling asleep so quickly by the impressions that I had more than taken in that day. I couldn’t really see anything outside the window, but a small magic lamp was burning inside, and I looked at the girls, each of whom was dressed differently. An involuntary thought flashed: “But I’m only here in a boarding school uniform, right?”

The measured shaking, the creaking of wheels, the clatter of horseshoes – all this gradually lulled me to sleep. I woke up with a jolt and realized that the stagecoach had stopped, and someone was arguing with Uncle Alan outside. Pulling back the curtain, I closed my eyes against the bright light – it turns out it was already morning! At the same moment, the stagecoach door swung open, and two more curly brown-haired girls climbed inside, who did not even try to be quiet.

– Hey, sleepyheads, sleep away your happiness! – one exclaimed, looking around us all with a perky look.

–What other happiness is there? – Ada, awakened too early, muttered in an unkind voice.

– What is this? Meeting the Dustrasse sisters, of course!

“Dubious happiness, some kind of…” Ada grumbled, looking at them with a dissatisfied look, and closed her eyes again.

And I stared at the twins… No, still at the twins with all my eyes. The girls were so similar, and yet very different. Starting from clothing, facial expressions, and ending with the manner of speaking and the smoothness of movements. Although if they wanted to do it themselves, distinguishing them from each other would become a real challenge.

All my ears were buzzing about cousins of the third or fourth water and their potential success in the magic of the firmament even in early childhood. As soon as I visited Dustrasse’s relatives, they immediately began to drag my mother’s face into the mud, until my father forbade her to take me to visit my grandparents.

I also didn’t like the pitying glances or the sympathetic sighs. And especially the moments when every relative I met tried to express condolences to my mother. As if I was not born a dummy, but completely dead, forgive the Mother of All That Is! But, perhaps, the most disgusting thing was when, sympathizing with my mother, my relatives began to praise their cousins right in front of me. In general, visiting relatives turned into an unpleasant duty, so my father’s ban did not upset me at all.

And now those same Dustrasse twins, my competitors for the attention of my maternal relatives, stood in front of me and smiled. I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, I wanted to punch them on the nose with the fact that I was no longer a dummy, and at the same time I was simply scared. I don’t know what exactly? Is it possible that I won’t be able to meet the high standards of Dustrasse? Or that I will remain a dummy in their tea-brown eyes?

But this wasn’t the first time I had to face my own fears, and this time I didn’t look away.

“Introduce yourself properly, eshsheri,” Uncle Alan called the sisters to order.

– I'm Willde. This means wild.

– And I’m Volde. This means a rule.

This sounded somewhat defiant. The girls in the stagecoach looked at each other and also began to introduce themselves. Even Ada deigned to wake up for such an occasion. It was my turn and, having overcome my inner turmoil, I smiled wryly.

– And I’m Mirre. Mirrae Blackrock. “It means fair, reasonable,” she added in tone with her cousins.

It sounded strange, but Dustrasse really had such a tradition.

“And also brave and selfless, don’t even doubt it,” Ada suddenly added additional meanings to my name.

Vilde stared at me incredulously.

– Come on! Are you the same Mirre? – she said in amazement.

– But you’re empty! – Volde blurted out bluntly.

– What stupidity! Would a dummy be invited to the academy? – Khvoyana noted innocently.

– Girls, don’t you think that for boarding school girls, you are all a little… ill-mannered? – Lisel noted.

– What did I say? – Vilde took it personally.

– In your opinion, is it polite to call a relative empty in front of unfamiliar people? – Khvoyana, who had just distinguished herself, chuckled.

– It wasn’t me who called it, it was you and Volde! – Vilde was indignant.

– But it's true! Everyone knows that Mirre Blackrock was born without magic…” Volde tried to justify herself, batting her long, thick eyelashes.

“Then how did I end up on this stagecoach?” – I pretended to think, barely restraining myself from anger.

Here we go again! As soon as someone from Dustrasse is nearby, they start pestering me!

– Well… Maybe your father set it up? – Vilde suggested in all seriousness, lowering her voice.

– Who is your father, Mirre? – Khvoyana suddenly asked.

– Duke of Blackrock! – Volde responded innocently. – He serves as dean at the academy. He could have pulled it off in such a way that Mirre was taken.

The envious girls at the boarding school said the same thing, but for some reason it was the cousins’ words that touched me. I even jumped out of my seat and blurted out:

– What nonsense! I have the highest score on testing! Yes, our Grymza signed me up as a combat magician!

I came to my senses when Ada persistently pulled my hand. It turns out that I was standing over my sisters, clenching my fists and wheezing like an angry yak.

The Dustrasse sisters looked at each other.

– Yes cold!

– Can't be!

– Show me!

– What can you do?

They demanded vying with each other.

– Yes, girls! Stop! Mirre will not demonstrate his skills to you, if only because this is prohibited for first-year adepts,” Uncle Alan stood up for me. – Sit down, and let's move on. We should be at the crossing already an hour ago. There we will change to a vehicle more suitable for traveling across the steppe, and several days of travel await us. I advise you to find a common language during this time.

Having thrown the twins' bags into the luggage compartment on the roof, Uncle Alan joined the driver on the box. It seems he spent the whole night there. The Dustrasse cousins took seats opposite me and began to look at me without a twinge of conscience.

– Mirre, how did it happen that you finally got magic? – Vilde asked a question.

– No, really! It is interesting to us. After all, they said that…” Wolde joined her, but her sister elbowed her in the side.

I realized that questions could not be avoided, and I decided that it would be better to tell them my version. In addition, the other girls watched us with curiosity. Even Yumi, who never said a word except her name.

“Late initiation under stress,” I very briefly described my deadly adventures in the Ancient Forest two years ago.*

– Oh!

– Wow!

The cousins reacted.

– What happened to you? – Vilde asked.

“I was in mortal danger, so the gift woke up.” “It happens,” I gave the version that was agreed upon in the family.

We kept the details of that story secret for obvious reasons.

– Of course…

“I see…” the sisters said in disappointment, hoping for a more detailed story.

The others hoped so too, judging by the way they looked at me.

“Girls, maybe someday we’ll get to know each other better, become friends, and I’ll tell you, but not now.” “Everyone started talking in unison, assuring me that this would definitely happen.” And I decided to take the bull by the horns, and smiling, added: “But on one condition: don’t shout at every corner in the academy that my father is the Duke of Blackrock, agreed?”

Chapter 4

On the way, we caught up with the gap and arrived at the crossing on time. After warming up and having a snack at the tavern at the Travel Bureau station, we transferred to another stagecoach. More bulky than the previous one, it did not have wheels, but simply hovered above the ground. The steppe stagecoach looked unusual, but it turned out to be spacious. I could even walk upright inside. The cabin had shelves for luggage and special light bunks for sleeping according to the number of passengers.

– The ride is smooth, the load capacity is increased. “Everything is as ordered,” the new driver in the blue bureau uniform muttered nasally.

“I know, I know,” Uncle Alan nodded. – I’ve already traveled on one of these. Please take care of our luggage while I sort out the formalities.

Having overloaded his few belongings, the driver took his place on the box. After waiting for Alan Nett to return, we climbed inside and the stagecoach set off, carried by a team of long-legged steppe wolves. They were much tougher than horses, did not need a good road and were not afraid of the inhabitants of the plains – the Yutars, two-legged nimble lizards who, although they did not eat meat, fiercely defended their territory. There were also plenty of other creatures in the steppe, an encounter with which could have been fatal if wolves had not been with us.

The night on the road was not very comfortable; we had to sleep sitting up, so the girls immediately took their bunks and dozed off. Lying on my own, I looked out the narrow window for a long time and hoped that Simka would catch up with us, but without waiting, I fell asleep too. Simuran appeared only on the third day of the journey. We had just stopped at the next station to have a snack and rest when a white spot appeared in the sky.

Adalbjorg was the first to notice him.

– I can’t believe my eyes! – the northern woman muttered under her breath.

– What's there? – attentive Khvoyana, immediately appeared nearby.

– I give my right hand to be cut off, because I see a simuran! – Ada answered her.

–Where is the simuran? – Vilde shook her head.

– What kind of simuran? Simurans live in the northern lands,” Volde noted.

– This is Simka. My simuran! – I intrigued everyone.

– Your Simuran? – Lisel raised her eyebrows.

– Do you have a live simuran?! – the cousins said in unison.

– This one is clearly not dead. Look how it flutters its wings! – Khvoyana chuckled.

And Simka, noticing such attention to himself from afar, did not miss the opportunity to show off, and having formed a circle above us, he landed spectacularly, raising clouds of dust.

– Simka!

I hugged my friend’s neck, and at the same time checked the pocket on the collar, where I found a long-awaited letter from my sister.

– Oh, how cute! – Volde melted. – Mirre, can I… Can I pet him?

The cousin folded her hands in a pleading gesture.

“We weren’t allowed to keep animals,” her “wild” sister said unusually quietly.

– Iron for good health! If he allows it, of course. I have a Simka with character.

Winking at the winged wolf, I stepped aside. Simka was not at all against affection. In general, he loved attention, treats, and having his belly scratched. While the girls were squeezing and stroking him, Ada came and stood next to me, condescendingly watching the others.

– And you are full of surprises, Kyari.

– This is bad? – I asked.

– It's fun! – the northern woman responded with a smile.

– Ada, do you have a pet at home?

– Was. Large northern wolf. But he died.

– Oh. sorry…

“He died of old age,” Ada explained. – Happy and toothless. He also loved having his belly scratched.

Uncle Alan, who had gone away to replenish water and provisions, was already hurrying to the stagecoach. Noticing Simka, he turned towards us.

– Mirre, about your simuran… I’m not sure that you will be allowed to keep it at the academy. Of course, you can ask your father, but the rector… – He shook his head.

– Ashsher Nett, don’t worry about Simka. It is adapted to wild life and knows how to get food. Or do you think that at the boarding house he lived right in my room?

– Simuran accompanied you to the boarding house?!

The magician's eyes widened twice, and I laughed.

– From the very first day. And somehow he survived, and he ate so many sides!

These same sides were now being scratched with four hands, and Simka was lying in a completely indecent position with his tongue lolling out in pleasure. Hearing our conversation, the girls began to persuade Essher Nett to allow him to take the simuran with him. The twins especially tried. And when the quiet and silent Yumi looked at him with her huge eyes and whispered “please,” the magician’s heart melted.

– OK then. You know better. But be careful, there will always be some detractor.

– Thank you, uncle… Ashsher Nett! – I was happy. “We’ll take note and warn Simka not to stick his head out too much.” He is no stranger to hiding.

And so the simuran, watered, fed, and even loved, slept peacefully on the floor next to my bunk, and I finally got to the letter from Talaria. My sister was sincerely happy for me. She knew how much I didn’t like it at the boarding school, and she took my transfer to the academy positively.

“…But remember, Mirre, it won’t be easy. Try, learn. Prove that you are a really cool naturalist. I believe in you, dear!”, the sister wrote.

Every line I read was filled with love, and I couldn’t help but smile as I read them over and over again.

Tali is my father’s illegitimate daughter, born before mom and dad met. Once upon a time, my mother didn’t want us to communicate with her because she was jealous and afraid that she would have a bad influence on me. How wrong she was!

At the end of the letter there was a warning:

“Mirrae, I’ve been thinking for a long time about how to tell you this… I’ll say it straight: be careful with guys. Scions of glorious families from all over Balaria study at the Academy of Wind and Storms. Including dragon ones. But not everyone is like my Ren. The dragons you know are all grown up and settled. Even Yorni and Yarti, although you can’t tell from them. But you shouldn’t expect the same from your peers. As well as from older guys. They may seem charming and interesting. You may even decide that you have fallen in love, and there is nothing wrong with that, but remain reasonable until the end. I think you know what I mean. And don’t let anyone get on your neck or offend you! Always fight back!

With love, your sister Talaria."

At the end of the fifth day, we picked up another passenger. Deftly jumping into the salon, she looked around at all of us.

– Hello! I'm Zikki! – the new girl greeted so easily and, easily throwing her skinny knapsack onto an empty shelf, sat down directly on the floor, crossing her legs.

Out of surprise, everyone fell silent, looking at her, and the girl shamelessly looked at us with her strange green eyes, as if slightly dusted with ash.

I instantly identified the new girl as a fire-kissed southerner from the Burning Desert. But she was dressed unusually for a native of those regions. Although the leather jacket and trousers were the right size, they looked frankly masculine attire. The girl braided her bright red hair with a wide black lock into two careless braids. This hair color was a sign of a strong fiery gift.

– You’re from the north, aren’t you? – Zikki turned to my friend.

– Right. Call me Ada. And this is my kyari Mirre,” my friend introduced me.

The new girl nodded sedately, as if she understood what this meant. Or maybe she really understood?

– My name is Lisel.

– Khvoyana. And this silent Yumi Lo. And there are those two chatterboxes, Vilde and Wolde – one is wild, the other is correct. For some reason this is important to them,” the girl added, lowering her voice.

The Southern woman nodded to everyone who was introduced.

When the acquaintance took place, Alan Nett looked into the stagecoach.

– Girls, this is Zikkaera Splash. Already met? Great! Zikaera, hold your bunks, there's another night ahead.

He handed her a camp sleeping place that looked like a stretcher when assembled.

– Thank you! “Zikki bowed with dignity and asked Ada: “Can I sit next to you?”

Between my bunks and Lisael’s bunks there was free space where Simka usually slept. Having made room, we widened it enough for another bunk to stand, and Zikki moved from the floor onto them. But before the stagecoach moved, the face of a simuran poked its head inside, who had gone for a walk about his simuran business even earlier.

– Zikki, don’t be scared, this is Simka. “He’s with me,” I warned the firewoman, just in case.

– How cute! “She burst into a smile, and Simka came up to introduce himself.

The fact that he would have to sleep in the aisle today did not bother him at all, but we did not sleep at all this evening. The journey through the monotonous steppe was quite tiring, but by night the landscape changed. The foothills began, and tomorrow morning we were supposed to arrive at the academy, so we were on pins and needles, brightening up the excitement with chatter.

– Zikki, why are you dressed so strangely? – Vilde asked.

– I feel so comfortable. “Besides, leather is more fire-resistant than fabric,” the southern woman answered, not at all offended by the tactlessness.

– What are these marks on your jacket? – kept up with sister Volde.

– And this is so that you don’t get burned. For example, at night, if I have a bad dream. – Ognevichka smiled wryly.

“Apparently, you have the same problems with fire that Yumi has with water.” You also seem like a southern version of Ada to me. There is something of Mirre in you too. I wouldn’t be surprised if I find traits of one of us in you,” Khvoyana unexpectedly declared.

The southern woman shrugged her shoulders and replied:

– You know better. I don't know you at all.

Khvoyana smiled.

– Nothing, let's get acquainted. We still have to study together,” I said.

– Zikki, you’re from the Burning Desert, am I right? How did you get into the academy? – asked Adalbjorg.

“I suspect the same as you.” You are from the Coast of Sharp Blades, am I right? – Zikki retorted.

Ada laughed contentedly.

– And I like you!

“You’re all nothing at first glance either,” the new girl didn’t bother to say anything.

The girls giggled, and the awakened Simka opened one eye.

– Can you tell me how you got into the academy? – Zikki asked Ada.

– Well, what can I tell you? I was sent to one of the boarding houses in Onyx Rocks, in the hope of making a worthy future wife and a noble eshsheri. But the material could not be cut. I turned out to be too much for the boarding house of noble eshsheri, so they simply got rid of the problem pupil at the first opportunity. Do you know what my mentors called me among themselves? Headache! – Ada shared and, in turn, asked: – What is your destiny?

– Ha! I have a slightly different story, although similar. “I ran away from an imposed marriage,” Zikka responded with frankness for frankness.

– You have a fiance!

– Is he handsome? – The Dustrasse twins were seriously excited.

– I have no idea what he looks like. I’ve never seen him and I don’t want to see him! That's actually why I'm here.

Vilde began to furiously twirl a curl of hair around her finger.

– Well, in vain! I should look at him first before running away,” she blurted out.

“I’m afraid that after we met, I would have become his w