The Dragon's Vow or the Stubborn Bride

– And she also used combat magic in the wrong place! – one of his friends complained.

– What a bat! – Ada hissed.

The word was unfamiliar, but definitely dirty.

– Is that so? – Estella Krieger came closer and carefully examined the scene. – Adepts, it seems to me that you have not yet realized where you are? The Academy is not a boarding school or a nursery; no one here will coddle with you. We have strict rules and you will follow them or we will say goodbye. And so you understand better, as an exception, everyone gets a minus point!

– For what? – Yumi squeaked, and her eyes filled with tears.

– This is unfair! – Khvoyana was indignant.

– Yes, I actually had nothing to do with it this time! – Vilde leaned forward, but her sister grabbed her by the elbow.

Ada and I looked at each other gloomily, but remained silent. It is clear that there is no point in objecting. This bitch hates us by default.

– I disagree! We haven’t had time to study the code yet, so we simply couldn’t know about the rules,” Lisel objected.

“Zikkaera was just defending herself,” I added, unable to remain on the sidelines any longer.

But Harvey did not want to admit the obvious, or was it something else?

– Not true! She was the first to attack. I just came up to talk, and she immediately used force!

– Yes, yes, that’s how it happened! – His comrades nodded.

“You let your hands go, and then the three of you attacked!” – I was indignant.

“We just wanted to help Harvey.”

“Nobody was going to touch your crazy girlfriend.” They would have pulled her aside and that was it!

– Unlike you, we know the rules!

The provocateurs vying with each other pretended to be innocent, and I realized that this was their plan. They set us up in the most trivial way!

The altercation attracted everyone's attention, and a whole crowd gathered in the hall to see what kind of scandal out of the blue. The adherents whispered, but tried not to come close. They were probably afraid of running into the wrath of Dean Krieger.

Suddenly I noticed a lonely figure. Some guy in a white jacket stood apart behind everyone at one of the columns. He was wearing a hood that hid his facial features, and he was definitely using some kind of magic. It seemed that this type simultaneously stood out among the others, and at the same time seemed invisible. It felt as if his gaze was slipping away from him. I had to make an effort to see.

I tugged at the northern woman’s sleeve, intending to show her this strange guy.

– Do you see him?

– Who, Chiara?

But the stranger was not in the same place.

“There’s no one anymore…” I said disappointedly.

“Eshsheri Dean, I could also use magic, but I didn’t even use my skills so as not to hurt the girl!” – Curly continued to make excuses.

The dean's wife waved her hand, and the stopping spell subsided. Zikki got off the defeated Curly and walked aside with a dissatisfied look. Harvey also rose from the floor.

– Adepts, it seems to me that you have a lot to do. Go. Adept Glin, show yourself to the healer. Escort your comrade,” Eshsheri Krieger commanded his henchmen.

Ada and I looked at each other meaningfully. Yeah…

– Thank you for your concern, eshsheri dean, but what could this girl do to me? Everything is fine with me. – Curly smiled.

Zikki started to jerk, wanting to hit him, but she stopped, and it suddenly seemed to me that the symbols on her jacket had darkened. It looked like she was trying her best to contain the flames right now!

– Well, as you know. All. Disperse! – Estella Krieger commanded, clapping her hands twice.

The performance was over, and the audience went in different directions to go about their business.

– And it's all? – Volde asked quietly.

It seems that my cousin is seriously upset.

– Don't worry, little sister. We will take revenge on them all,” the unusually quiet Vilde whispered in response.

– Ashsheri dean! – Zikki suddenly called out to our curator.

Estella Krieger turned around and, raising an eyebrow, looked at the firewoman with bewilderment.

– Did you want something, adept?

– Yes. I apologize if my question seems stupid to you, but I haven’t seen the academy code yet. So, please tell me where it is acceptable to use combat magic? It is advisable that the place be adapted to the fire element.

– Adept…

– Splash. Zikkaera Splash,” Zikki introduced herself.

– So, adept Splash, for this there is a training ground and an arena where competitions are held, as well as duels. This is all?

– Yes. Thank you, ashsheri dean. – Zikki turned and shouted at Harvey, who was heading towards the exit: – Hey, Glynn! Let's find out in the arena which of us is the weaker sex?

Curly turned around and grinned.

– It's covered, baby! Tomorrow at seven pm. I'll be looking forward to it. Wear your best. “He winked and saluted her with the air of a winner.

And I suddenly became interested in how the dean would react to what was happening. What if such behavior is considered unacceptable? To my surprise, Ashsheri Krieger had a nasty, but definitely satisfied smile on her lips, which she hid when she noticed my attention.

Hmm… What could this mean?

Estella Krieger, giving me a promising look, immediately knitted her eyebrows sternly and headed towards the stairs. And suddenly her path was blocked by the same guy I saw at the column. Now he was without a hood and stood closer, I was able to get a better look at him. The symbols on his clothes resembled those of Zikka. Artifacts or decorations in the form of crosses glittered in the ears. Snow-white hair, at first glance, was disheveled, but such a torn hairstyle gave charm. I couldn’t see the color of the eyes, but I noticed the tattoo on the neck. Is it really a dragon too?

“Eshsheri Dean, it’s unfair to punish only new students.” “Both sides are to blame in this conflict,” the stranger stood up for us, and I thought that I liked his voice. Soft, somehow even enveloping. I wanted to listen and listen to him. – You should deduct points from the guys too.