Her stomach churned just thinking about what had just happened, when she had to pass through a crowd of students who stared at her as if she were the greatest criminal in all of Almakia. And this could not exactly be denied, given how everything happened.
When the Fire Dragon had announced that he was hungry and, in its delicate form, dragged her along with him again, Garo-lin had completely forgotten that at that time the morning classes would have been closed so that the apprentices could have lunch. Only when they passed the portal of the main building, where only a path to the Dragon Room was possible, did she realize that they would have to face the students who were heading to the dining hall. She tried to stop immediately, but all she could do was get the dragon to hold her wrist stronger, showing her complete lack of common sense.
How could he pass among a whole new generation of almakins who admired him carrying a vilashi?
Without hiding, running, or disappearing into the air, she was forced to face all those shocked looks and practically hear the question that came up in each one's head: what is that vilashi doing with our Fire Dragon?! No one would notice the fact that whoever was being forced into something was her. So the feeling of doing something completely out of the law would plague her, as if it were really her fault.
Now sitting there with all the other Dragons, as if standing on the same level as Kidari, was practically like asking to be kicked mercilessly out of Almakia.
Staring at her plate, she gave a low sigh of dismay and peered through the glass window, where it was possible to see the hall below through a crack in the closed curtain. Even though she could see only glimpses of what was happening, she imagined the students crowding and talking to each other about how best to end it.
— Are you testing my patience?! Since when is this good?
The scolding of the Lightning Dragon, probably soon discovering the favor of the princess in her juice, made her stop imagining that she would not survive another day in the face of the Institute students' fury and shift her attention to the table.
— Do you prefer vinegar? – She asked, looking around.
That was when Garo-lin realized that his plate was being filled without her noticing.
— Eat – commanded the Fire Dragon, pouring more than enough of each platter into his plate, forming a mountain she would never finish eating.
Ready, Garo-lin thought, yet another crime for his condemnation: the Fire Dragon was serving his plate.
— Kris, I do not think she'll be able to eat all this – Gran'Otto warned.
— Of course he will – He put a fork in front of Garo-lin's face, giving her an unmistakable command to eat soon.
— Are you following the example of the princess? – Sieful asked, pointing to Shion, who was snoring quietly behind his owner's chair with a plateful of chicken with salty juice.
— Hey! – Protested Garo-lin, understanding the hint of being called a pet.
— I do not think that's the case, Benar – hummed the Metal Dragon, with a tone I had already understood.
— Still, that's what he makes it look like. – He shrugged.
Dul'Maojin simply kept on chewing, making it clear he had no idea what they were talking about.
— It was not good – commented the Royal Dragon, speaking quietly, as if he did not want to say that, but that it was inevitable.
— The juice? – Asked Kidari, shrinking and staring at everyone with a look of forgiveness.
— Bringing Garo up here was not good, Kris – he explained, making it clear who he was talking to.
— Why? – The Leader Dragon asked, since he saw nothing wrong with that. -She was my protégé until last week.
The Royal Dragon did not pursue the matter, but that alertness was enough for Garo-lin to understand what he was talking about.
Since she had talked to Kandara about the Water Dragon, she had come to notice that there were always several things behind the simple words he spoke. So if he said it was not good, it was because it really was not good, and that made her shiver.
Perhaps the worst of all was not that she approached the Institute's dictators as she had never imagined that she could ever approach. The consequences of this now seemed far more frightening and frightening than the mere fact that she was drifting close to that powerful group.
Chapter 20 – Fear of Dragons
The cold air season had begun sneaking that week. The nights gradually grew colder than they usually were, and the days were more serene. But that night the day Garo-lin had had lunch with the Dragons, the cold announced itself, demanding that the fireplaces of the buildings begin their activities. Although the Dul'Maojin Institute was in the Fire Capital, not even powerful souls could go against the cycles of the year, and that particular hill seemed to be one of Almakia's coldest points.
Living in a region that received every year the winds of the Nanfan Storm – which carried the glacial air of the south – Garo-lin was accustomed to snowstorms and knew how to deal with it. However, no one seemed to be able to heat those stone walls of the Institute once they cooled down, and she felt that she would be able to do anything to be in one of the lined floor houses of Godan village, which, even if precarious, were much more efficient in retaining heat.
And besides the icy air around her, there was something that made Vilashi feel cold inside as well: the cold looks that followed her wherever she went. As the Royal Dragon had said, it was not a good idea for the students at the Institute to see her walking with the Fire Dragon, even after the Incident. Now, in the halls as well as in the corridors, she was haunted by an inevitable heavy atmosphere.
Even terrified that they might get revenge for her being so close to the Dragons, nothing happened when she returned fearfully to afternoon classes the first time she had lunch with them. Linked that to being with Kidari, a person the almakins wanted to make a good impression on, which made her feel a little relieved. Even at night, when each one was going in one direction, there was no threat either. However, she always had the uncomfortable impression that a shadow was certainly there, waiting, just waiting for a good moment to reveal itself.
And then, a few days later, there was the perfect time.
The morning had come with a froth that covered the whole hill, making it impossible to see a way to walk. It was necessary to inspect the floor well and to deduce the place where it was, always being careful not to hit a wall or anyone. Garo-lin was not let down by being late that day, since she had not heard a single noise in the bedroom that woke her as it usually did.
She dressed quickly in all the warm clothes she needed to cope with the cold, pulled the hood of her thick uniform jacket from the Institute, hugged her books well, and headed to her first classes.
Concentrated on walking through the right places, it was with a scare that she felt someone push her and make her fall forward. Before she could stand up to see who had been responsible for dumping her books on the damp ground, they pulled her through her hair and forced her to follow them, her protests losing themselves in the mists.
***
She was dragged into the cafeteria without the attackers saying a word, and there she was thrown to the ground. Burning with anger at being treated that way, she finally got her head up when she was let go and found herself in the middle of a circle of students who looked at her with contempt. In the face of that, she shrank back in defense, since she did not know what to expect from them. Then a student of the sixth level, almakin of wind, roommate of the Dragons, stood in front of her, arms crossed, in a typical pose of who was spokesman of the group.
— What do you think you're doing, vilashi? – She asked, with a tone that did not hide her revulsion at having to force herself to talk to someone so inferior. -
— How dare you approach the Dragons? – Just because you left with the Fire Dragon for an Assignment doesn’t mean you has become something!
Several protests erupted from the other students, each demonstrating her indignation
at the fact, but soon ceased as the pupil raised her hands for silence.
Garo-lin looked around, analyzing. There was no escape from that siege. She could not even see through the ranks of students around her and she could not have a sense of how many of them were there. Probably all were, since no almakin would miss the spectacle of seeing someone being humiliated.
— Stay away from them, vilashi! – the student said. – Or we'll make measures for you!
Since there was no way to escape, unless she used her almaki – and the idea was somewhat tempting – Garo-lin decided that at least she would not be alone listening to the song:
— Why do I have to obey your orders? You are students like me!
— Hunf! And you think this is just an order? – The student laughed and was joined by everyone.
Then, in front of the loaded look that the vilashi sent to her, she made a quick gesture with her hands.
A strong wind began to sweep around Garo-lin's body, pulling her off the ground and trapping your arms in the air in something invisible.
— Can not you see how weak you are? Do you think you can against Almakins like us? Put yourself in your place! – and dropped her suddenly, causing her fall, not being able to defend herself against the ground.
Garo-lin felt something go out of place on his wrist and a shock made his whole body paralyze as the pain started without any mercy.
Breathing as much air as she could to try not to scream, she controlled herself, holding the injured hand carefully. With a smile of disdain, the student gave space to three other colleagues, who joined her and drove water around her, creating a storm whirlwind. Even with her injured hand, she tried to protect her face from drowning with the spills that came incessantly from every direction. Before she ran out of air, the water and wind ceased, once again throwing her to the ground, and she could hear the laughter of the students around her.
Dripping water, trembling with pain and cold, Garo-lin gathered all the strength she had to stand and stared at the students without saying anything.
She would not give them the taste of resignation, not when knew she was being wronged. However, for showing this resistance and not seeming to have understood the message, the student gave a sigh of who until now was being good and said:
— It's not worth spending our almaki with her. This vilashi does not deserve so much – so she beckoned to another lower-level student, who came forward holding a stick, used among advanced classes to train defense, with a very clear intention.
Knowing she could not escape, Garo-lin closed her eyes and waited for the worst.
— GARO! – The frightened scream ran through the cafeteria and made her spy, in time to see the student stop halfway to hit her.
Kidari ran as fast as he could as he realized what was happening. Shion flew in front of her, diving among the students and pulling them away, clearing the way for the princess to get to her friend. Without wasting time, the Kodorin knelt with open arms in front of her, putting herself as a shield, ready to defend her from anything.
— WHAT DO YOU THINK DOING?! – She shouted to the students, with the winged cat landing beside her and growling menacingly in an attacking position.
Unable to continue, since the princess did not seem willing to leave, the students dispersed, satisfied with what they had already done, thinking it was enough for the vilashi to understand what they wanted.
— Garo – Kidari cried, seeing her condition.
— I'm all right – said Garo-lin in a weak voice, rising slowly – Let's get out of here.
At the request, she took off her coat and placed it on her friend, helping her to her feet and walking out of the dining room.
***
This was the third time Garo-lin had received almaki healing treatment in such a short time. Even though Kidari was not a guardian of this Secret and could not be compared to the Lightning Dragon, at least the swelling in her wrist had subsided, and her knees – which she later noticed had been bruised by the falling – did not appear to be so bad
Even though she changed her damp clothes and wrapped herself in two fluffy blankets in front of the fireplace in Kidari's room, she was still shaking. She knew very well that the consequences of that cold shower could be a series of sneezes that she could not avoid. At the moment, however, your sneezing seemed to be the least of her problems.
— How they can do this with Garo? – Kidari asked, still working on his wrist, leaving all his shocked tone appear.
Garo-lin could not answer. She felt that even her bones were icy, which made her bruises stand up to the treatment.
— Door to my room locked – Kodorin said, somehow whining, since she knew the reason now. – Locked up! Shion managed to open it.
The vilashi remained quiet, just staring at the flames of the fireplace. It had all been premeditated, and her foreboding was not just a fear she'd created.
— Dragons got out – Kidari continued, ceasing her almaki, aware that she could only get there with what she knew. – Since last night, Kidari was asking Vinshu a question, but Vinshu and the other Dragons went to town.
So that was it. Now it made sense why the students had only come out against her that day and that way: they had taken advantage of the Dragons not to intimidate her, since it would be rude to do that in front of them.
Even though it was the almakins extreme form, the warning had put her in her proper place.
Until that year, she had lived reasonably well. She was ignored and treated like one of the building stones, but at least they let her live there. How could she resist another two years at the Institute if aggressions like this or worse began to complement her days? Even though the guilt of being near the Dragons staining her reputation was not necessarily her own, it was now more than evident that she had gone far beyond that, and she had to crawl where it was convenient for her to be in that almakins nest.
The students might not have the courage to take those attitudes if the Dragons were around, but they would never be around forever.
And yet, there was no guarantee that they would intervene should anything happen. After all, they were the Dragons of Almakia and they needed duty anything to a vilashi.
With those pessimistic thoughts flitting through her head, Kidari made her go back to the present, saying:
— If Krission is here, they will see! When Dragons return, I...
— No, Kidari.
— But...
— They do not need to know. – Garo-lin sniffed with dignity. – It was good that it happened.
— What? – The princess asked, confused.
— They are right. It's okay for you to stay with them. Even if you do not want to be recognized for it here, you are the Kodo Princess and an illustrious guest in Almakia. It is practically a duty of the Dragons to treat it well. But I am nothing, and gradually I got stupidly involved in the circumstances. What happened today was good to remind me that being in the Institute is just a favor and that I can not demand more than I already have.
— But dragons good with Garo, right? Royal Dragon is friend, right?
— No friend, Kidari. None of them would rush into the cafeteria and stand by me as you did.
— Fire Dragon save you of the pirates!
— Yes, but... – Garo-lin thought for a moment and said, not just to the kodorin, but to himself: – It was his duty as my mentor, and that is over.
She got up, still clinging to the blankets, and walked over to her coat, which was hanging in front of the fireplace. She picked up something in her pocket and went back to Kidari, asking:
— Give me a favor, Kidari. – She opened her hand, and a glass sphere hung in her chain. – Give it to the Fire Dragon when he comes back... and tell him I will not stay where he can see me.
***
The central building of the Fire Capital, property of the Dul'Maojin, considered the heart of that city, was also the building of the concentration of power of the most important place of the Realm
. There, great decisions were made that influenced the entire Almakia, in which great representatives of the Fire Family coordinated the actions that for centuries shaped the entire almakin people. Now who was in charge was Kronar Dul'Maojin, known as the Lady of the Fire Capital and Director of the Dul'Maojin Institute.
In her pompous office, she would sign papers with orders and check the reports on her business as her assistant walked through the wide open doors announcing:
— The Fire Dragon, ma'am.
With only a gesture telling her to continue, she released her son's entrance, giving no more than this attention to the fact. With a bow, the wizard indicated that the dragon could come in, which he did neither bothering to thank or, in any way, acting formally as the whole atmosphere of the place seemed to demand.
— What is it now? – He asked annoyingly.
— Sit down – the headmistress indicated an armchair in front of her desk.
— I need to go back and study soon!
She stopped paying attention to her papers and looked directly at her son, over her thin glasses, with that veiled smile that did not let her thoughts show.
The Fire Dragon shifted uncomfortably in front of the look that said it was not a request and then sat with an air of impatience.
She took her a while before she finished reading what she was reading and then put the work aside, taking off her glasses and looking at him, who pretended to be more interested in the ceiling chandelier.
— How was assignment? – She asked in a soft voice, raising her smile to the point where it seemed real.
— It's over – he said vaguely, unwillingly.
— Do you remember the condition I gave you so that you could leave the Institute?
— I remember – the dragon folded his arms, showing she had reached the part she did not want to hear.
Almakia_The vilashi and the Dragons Page 27