"When Kandara left the dragon title and left the house, Krission was lost for a while. And Kronar seemed to realize that he should worry more about his son or lose the one who had become his only heir. It was when she saw the possibility of strengthening the relation of the son with the other heirs of the Great Families. They were already friends. After all, they were the same age and had been living together socially. But putting this group together and bringing them together, so that everyone could see and admire it, was the deciding factor for there being five Dragons at the Dul'Maojin Institute. Once this fame was consolidated and they created their own empire within the Black Gates, Kronar thought that the future of Almakia would belong to Krission, while it would extend its interest to the other Realms... but it seems that even the mighty Lady of the Fire Capital is not able to have absolute control under their plans. Well, as Kandara said, a little something like you came in to interfere. "
— I...
— Yes, you did not mean it, and of course you did not! How could he have?!
The lid of the pot began to shake, indicating that the soup was boiling, and she made to get up from the table.
— I take!
Garo-lin stood up immediately and went to the stove. As soon as he set the pot on the table, she ran to pick up pots and cutlery. She was being polite, but mostly she had to move so that everything she had heard fit her reality. Then, returning to sit in her seat and staring at the empty pot in front of her, she had to ask:
— Why did you tell me all this?
— Because you said it some time ago.
Garo-lin thought about which "no" she was referring to.
Realizing that there was too much information inside Vilashi's head and that she could not sort herself out, you tried to help:
— I may have lived several years mourning the fact that I'm half-breed, but this awareness of what I was also served to see her beyond. Instead of becoming a proud Dul'Maojin, I am someone who has learned to see behind all the facades of the Fire Family. All the vanity, ambition, and arrogance of them have focused dangerously on Kronar, who has become someone with power and influence in Almakia as no one has ever had before, and she wants more. She is capable of anything to put the names of Dul'Maojin above all unscrupulous. And, at the same time, she is a very intelligent person, who thinks of all possibilities and is always prepared.
"However, meeting my cousin and seeing you here in front of me now, I understand some things and maybe you can unravel a part of her plans... it would not be much simpler to have killed the vilashi that was interfering than to create all that fire scene at the Institute?"
Garo-lin pondered.
In fact, now saw that being expelled was not the worst thing that could have happened. What difference would it make to give vilashi a definite end? Then she waited expectantly to know what you had uncovered, but waited patiently for her to serve the soup, and little by little she was defying her theory:
— Although it was not difficult to get this service done... but even the slightest chance that someone would discover that the Lady of the Fire Capital would be behind the sad end of Almakia's only almakin vilashi could crack her image. And she can not take that risk. Your perfect image is what guarantees you open doors in other Realms, so you can subtly weave your webs. To push her away from the Institute was a much simpler and less risky way.
— So... – Garo-lin followed her reasoning – Why did she create all this story that I had died?
— Is not that obvious, vilashi? – She dropped the shell with which she emptied the soup impatiently into the pan, making it clear that she was a Dul'Maojin after all. – To be able to have her heir again! – She always thought she would have her son under control inside the Institute, and his attitudes within the Black Gates always left her unconcerned about not making the same mistake as Kandara. She was always careful to remind him of why the dear sister had left home: that she had become involved with inferior people. That is why the Dragons have always been free to act within the Institute as they see fit. They are the product of Kronar Dul'Maojin's plans and she made sure they felt comfortable with it... but then something went wrong and you showed up. A small stone in the path of Kronar, which needed to be quickly removed – she seemed to remember something and asked, cutting the subject – Where is the Star Stone?
Even as he did not immediately understand, Garo-lin quickly reached into his silver chain pocket and picked up the Piece of Almakia, careful not to touch the glass ball.
— When she learned that her son took one of the Fire Family relics and delivered it to a vilashi, she realized that she needed to act quickly. To push her away from the Institute would be the easiest, but she had to make sure Krission was not behind you. How to actually kill her, though more efficient, was too risky for her reputation, to invent a false death would be perfect. Even if everything were discovered later, it would be easy to blame the teachers of the Institute, who obey it blindly. And, by the time everything had happened as she had planned, she would try to put judgment on her son's head.
Garo-lin looked at the glass sphere beside his pot of soup that was cool, untouched, and the white, drop-shaped stone gleamed in its weak.
— I do not know how you feel about it, vilashi, but do not forget that I've been the one to take care of Krission since he was born. I may not have been a mother to him, but I consider him as a son I never had. Seeing him looking lost, as if something had broken inside him, I realized that Kandara was right and you really matter. Regardless of all you know about the Lady of the Fire Capital's plans and the situation of your village, I think it's time to put your feelings in order, because the Fire Dragon's are very clear – she gave a big sigh and rose from his seat, leaning on the cane. – Stay here tonight and think about it, it's the only way you can help resolve something right now. Tomorrow, Kandara will surely have a solution to give you.
And without another word, she left, closing the door and leaving a stunned Garo-lin.
Chapter 25 – Garo-lin against the Lady of the Fire Capital
The faint light of the sun made Garo-lin slowly aware that it was morning. Sensing her aching body, she opened her eyes and saw that she had slept right there on the floor with only her back on the bed.
Did not eat, could not think, much less deal with everything that So-ren Dul'Maojin had told him. Tiredness, mixed with the burden of information he had received in a single day, was enough to make his mind instantly turn off and let his body work in resting the way it needed.
But to wake up like this, now, without the weight of the things they said last night that had crushed her, she made something clear. The reason for being there was exclusively one: his village. He would give priority to this and he should tell Kandara and everyone else what his position would be.
Then he took the glass ball, put it in his backpack anyway, put it on his shoulder and left immediately, determinedly.
Mrs. Dul'Maojin's little room was in the attic of the storeroom, which now, in daylight, did not look as frightening as it had been last night. Managed to recognize the path should follow easily, and as descended the stairs, waved a flame of almaki so could see where was. But as drew near the last shelves of your way, heard heavy, contentious voices, and stopped to pay attention. Then heard Kandara saying:
— And when will we have to wait? When is it too late?!
— It's not safe! – Said one of the Almakins – We have to rely on the Wind Dragon and get the support of the mountain pirates. Only they will be able to infiltrate and bring us information about the Dark Stones. If we get into the Inland Valley now, we'll have to reveal who we are. And we can not just act knowing that they have something so dangerous that it leaves us defenseless.
— But meanwhile they'll let the villages be destroyed? Are they only going to act when the pirates are coming to the Capitals?!
— We can not do anything, Kandara – she tried to explain to another woman, trying to calm her down.
— Benar! Is
that really it?! – The heiress demanded to know.
— My father is supporting his mother, Kandara – the Wind Dragon used an apologetic tone. – If I do not act carefully, they'll find out, and then we will not have a chance.
The heiress stopped for a while, breathing furiously, implying that she was thinking too fast.
— We have to tell Garo-lin – said the Metal Dragon – She came here expecting us to help her.
— What happened?
All eyes turned to the one who came in carrying a small almaki flame in her hand and looked at them as someone who foresaw that something bad had happened.
— What happened?! – She demanded to know.
— You are being hunted – said the Royal Dragon, and Garo-lin, for a brief moment, was astonished to perceive it with his friends.
— My mother has discovered that you have come to the Fire Capital – Kandara said. – She does not know where you are, but she knows she left her village and went to Routes. She must have given orders to search the entire city, and since they have not found her, there is only one place you could have gone to.
— How do you know that? – She asked, feeling that there was a lot more behind it.
— We were warned a little before the sun rose from the spheres – explained the dragon. – A new order has been decreed in Routes: the Vilashi Village that is found outside its limits will be punished.
There was no need to think too hard to understand that it was a threat directed exclusively to her: either she would leave, or Godan would be punished. It was so easy to deal with vilashis!
Garo-lin squeezed the hand holding the flame and made it disappear. Then he turned his back on everyone and ran.
— Garo-lin! Kandara tried to run after her, but was stopped by the Royal Dragon, who stood in his way. – But she...
— She needs to do this – he explained simply.
***
Even though he did not know how to move around the Fire Capital, there was an order that left Garo-lin safe from the direction he was taking. Unlike the chaos of streets and detours that were in Rotas, the great city had wide main streets that led to a single place: the center, where it would find what it looked for. From the top of the hill, it was possible to see the monumental building that was the heart of the Capital, the Power Center, which lost only in greatness to the Institute itself. But nothing had prepared Garo-lin for what she would find when she got close to this historic building, considered the core of the almakins' power. The large windows that reflected light, the statues of ancient and important handlers, heroes arranged throughout the facade, the columns that supported an intimidating portal with the symbol of the Fire Family. All this made the vilashi stop and falter.
With overwhelming pressure, thoughts that clearly said that she was nothing to be stepping on that place almost made her turn around. However, there was something bubbling inside her that filled her with courage. Then, shaking her head to scare away those thoughts and taking off her bonnet so that her hair could clearly tell who she was, Garo-lin marched up the stairs and entered.
She crossed the great dark marble floor hall, not letting himself be frightened by the sensation of invading a sacred place of almakins. Despite being only the entrance to the building, a vilashi like herself could not help but be impressed by the wealth lavished on the decor.
Trying not to pay attention to this, she walked with her firm footsteps echoing to a counter in which there was a lady and a lady formally dressed, clearly in the function of receiving and directing visitors. Then asked, sounding as uncompromisingly as possible:
— I want to see the Lady of the Fire Capital!
The younger almakin gave him the familiar look of aversion as he recognized her as a vilashi and smiled disbelievingly, saying,
— The Lady of the Fire Capital is a very important person. It is not so easy to talk to her-and then he beckoned to two men in black robes, who came up with the clear intention of kicking her out.
An itch in her right hand quickly instructed her what she should do and without much thought, Garo-lin created a fireball and threw her toward a table where several newspapers were available. Just as she blew out one of the comfortable waiting chairs, the flames spread through the carpets and other furniture around. The people screamed in panic that they did not know what was happening, and the almakins in black looked at her, not knowing what to do in front of the vilashi who had demonstrated that level of almaki power. Then Garo-lin looked at the two who huddled behind the counter to protect themselves and asked again, more specifically:
— Tell the Lady of the Fire Capital that the dead Garo-lin Colinpis is here and want to talk to her!
***
As he passed by the large, heavy wooden door, which in itself gave a sample of what would be inside, Garo-lin could not help but be impressed and forgot everything he had seen from the entrance. For the first time in his life, the ostentation of the Institute seemed simple and normal when compared to what the place presented. Only here in that room should a sample of all the riches accumulated for hundreds of years by the Dul'Maojin family be assembled. And, surrounded by all that opulent atmosphere, sitting behind a marble table on what looked like a throne of black velvet, was the most frightening presence she had ever felt in her life.
It was with a sink in his chest that Garo-lin recognized in those eyes the same cruelty she had seen in the Fire Dragon during her years at the Institute. At the same time, she knew that they were not only the source of the likeness but also from where the dragon had taken all the example to act intolerant as it was. The kind smile could camouflage the charged gaze to the unsuspecting. And if Garo-lin did not have so much experience in recognizing where he should seek the truth in the Dul'Maojin's expressions, he could easily be deceived.
What the Royal Dragon had told that day in his village, which had been reaffirmed by Kandara and So-ren, had resonated in his mind with a concrete sense now: the Lady of the Fire Capital was a person who saw strategies at all and did not he would hesitate to use his own children to achieve his interests. Kandara and Krission Dul'Maojin were created to do exactly what the mother wanted for them, even if it meant burning inferior beings and vilashis like her.
Director Dul'Maojin, Lady of the Fire Capital, stared at her over her thin, delicate glasses, making it clear that she was not exactly pleased with that forced meeting and that she had more important things to do.
— Gradually or finally? – the director asked, showing that he had imagined the possibility of her appearing there exactly as she was doing.
Though she sensed that she had everything under control, Garo-lin did not let himself be shaken. Combining all the courage she had found in herself with the clear awareness that this woman was capable of burning her entire village for selfish reasons, she took a deep breath and said:
— End the siege against the villages! It does not matter to the vilashis if you have ambition to control Almakia and the other Realms! We have no power to oppose and we are not a threat!
Quite calmly, Almakin closed the book in which she wrote notes, arranged the documents she was checking, dropped her pen, took off her glasses, and held them in her hands, looking at her closely, as if evaluating the words spoken.
— Do you think I consider the villages a threat? – She asked at last. – You should have kept yourself humbly in your place, vilashi – continued, sounding like someone who could not do anything about it. – Passing through the Black Gates has already been an undue honor handed over into your improper hands. Getting involved with the Fire Dragon was the worst affront you could do to us, almakins!
Garo-lin stared at her, fully understanding where she wanted to go, and thought better of the words she should use. Even though she was determined to defend her village, she could not simply give clues as to what the heiress Dul'Maojin was doing. It was obvious that the director could not get a sense of all she knew and that the crime for which she could accuse her was only one: to make t
he Fire Dragon defend her against a whole new generation of almakins. This had been the crux of everything for the Lady of the Fire Capital, an unprecedented scandal, something that was not in her plans. If the Almaki Society knew that the Heir of Fire had been against all the traditions of his family and had fallen to the point of defending a vilashi, the Institute and the proud almakins would have their honor stained. A vilashi would somehow unthinkable that the Dul'Maojin's centuries-old reputation would collapse.
And, clearly, the one who was deceived and manipulated in all this history was the Fire Dragon. That was enough reason for all the villages to be crushed mercilessly.
— You mean you're doing it because of something I did?
— If the villages did not exist, you would not exist and there would be no problems.
The cruel smile on her face, and the glare that said she did not care if her brothers and the other children in the villages starved to death or at the hands of the pirates made that bubble inside her intensify in an alarming way. Was it that easy for her to play with innocent lives? Did he simply sit behind that majestic table and act as if the consequences of his actions were acceptable?
Realizing that her silence was caused by an avalanche of condensing feelings, the headmistress saw a perfect opportunity and began to unravel her web:
— There is a very easy way to solve this – she said retaining all that tranquility that only those who are sure she is under control of the situation can have. -
We can make a deal here, the two of us.
— An agreement? – Garo-lin managed to ask, without hiding the tone of those who do not believe.
— You know I have influences, Garo-lin Colinpis. Unfortunately, it is with this same influence that detestable people like you are able to enter the Institute. In the same way, I can easily get you and your large family living well outside the Almakia Realm. You will never have to worry about hunger, icy winds, or whatever you vilashis worry about. I, Kronar Dul'Maojin, former dragon, Director of the Dul'Maojin Institute and Lady of the Fire Capital, can easily guarantee this ... All I ask in return is that you promise me one thing: you will forget that one day was an almakin and will never get closer to my son.
Almakia_The vilashi and the Dragons Page 34