455 Tembai Academy part one (1/2)

Nix listened to the story with interest, at one time Unaqoir had used all of her dragon marrow to keep Verynzai in the air. When her supply was depleted, she abandoned her dragon form and decided to live in Everspire as a human. She sent her dragon spawn to other cities to live so that her bloodline would continue. Eventually, she was able to assume the form of a lesser creature which was shortly before the time that she was captured and enslaved by Menial. ”Why do I get the feeling that you can assume dragon form again?”

”Not yet, but soon.” Una poured each of them a glass of wine. ”Before I get into that, where are Semmi and Pon?”

”Semmi is working on an important quest while the old bastard is mopping up our current mission.” Nix glanced around the courtyard, although it looked worn every was in good repair. The buildings were made from a red brick that seemed out of place when compared to the dark cobblestones. ”What's this trial for?”

Una pursed her lips slightly as if considering her words carefully. ”I already owe you too much, so I will not request your aide in this matter.”

Nix shrugged slightly, although he hadn't spent much time with Una before placing her in elemental puppet, she made a positive impression on him. ”We have our own interest here. We are after a swordsman named Milamber, Raya Remis, and unknown Necromancer.”

”The Necromancer would be Dotha the Black, both Milamber and Remis are on his team.” Una studied Nix for a few moments while Inferno considered their options. ”Dotha has no connection with Khione.”

/Alpha: Nix: Opinions?

/Alpha: Chiba: I think Milamber and Raya have decided to leave the mid-spire forever. Let's go back, we can consider the Dhou quest cleared if Pon cleared out Aledo's army.

/Alpha: Wind: Up to you guys, I'm itching for a fight after the last fiasco.

/Alpha: Raine: Whatever you decide is fine with me.

Four Corner Quest Updated: Report to General Remis in Dhou has been completed.

Report to Quartermaster Felid Sah in Vespri

Report to the Thieves Guild in Mocai.

Report to Madam Ravine in Lana.

/Alpha: Wind: Pon already wiped them out?

/Alpha: Nix: Maybe. Either that or they surrendered without any of their leaders.

/Alpha: Chiba: Vespri next then?

/Alpha: Nix: Not so fast. I'm not willing to let Milamber go. He treated my Master badly and killed her dog. What kind of Apprentice would I be if I let that slide?

Chiba's face reddened noticeably, pressing her perfect hands against her cheeks. ”I have the best Apprentice.”

”I can reclaim my dragon form.” Although Una's pale face was expressionless, there was an undertone of excitement in her voice. ”Do you know what a wildling is?”

Nix shook his head. ”No idea.”

Una leaned closer and inhaled slightly. ”You know something about Krelandur?”

”Why are you smelling me? Yeah, I understand Krelandur.”

Una shook her head. ”No reason. Not all the dragons reside in the Dragon Cities, however, those are the most powerful ones.” She swirled the red wine in her glass for a moment before finishing it off. ”There are those who attempt to breed outside of the collective will of the dragons.”

Chiba's pretty face broke into a wide smile. ”Everything wants to fuck... Right? Even dragons.”

The green-haired elemental smiled at the statement. She didn't know Chiba, but she already had a good idea of her personality. ”It is never completely successful. When a dragon is born, the collective will of dragons gathers together to strengthen its soul.”

Nix understood that dragon souls were special, but he hadn't known why. When Tharaka consumed his own heart while occupying a Nether-Rat puppet, its dragon soul was temporarily transferred. Unaqoir had done the same thing while in a Dire Wolf puppet during the Menial raid. ”Does this have anything to do with why you consumed your own heart?”

Una nodded. ”My dragon soul is much more important than my consciousness. It represents the approval of the dragon collective. It is anchored to our hearts.”

Nix glanced at Wind who was looking as confused as he felt. ”I'm missing something. What happens when dragons are born away from the collective will?”

”A dragon body is special, it takes a powerful soul to reside inside it. Without the presence of a strong soul, half of them become mindless creatures sometime during their adolescence.” Una's face looked grim when she spoke. It was obvious that she found the idea abhorrent. ”These creatures kill and burn everything in sight. The dragon collective hunts these creatures.”

”They become crazy because their soul detaches?” Nix remembered from their fight with the Diaz dragon puppet in Neva pass, adolescent dragons were very strong.

”In simple terms, yes. Once the wildlings are captured, the body is preserved and a tournament is held. This time there are two wildling dragons.” Una's brown eyes studied the group for a moment. ”There are two ways to be considered for insertion. One is to already have a soul suitable for a dragon.”

Nix nodded slightly. ”Which both you and Tharaka already have.”

”The other is to prove your mettle in a qualifying tournament. Dotha and his team have advanced through the Provincial Dragon Academy.”

Nix swore loudly, the word slipping out before he could help it. Deidra had kidnapped him from Loki and marooned him during the Academy's War Games for a week. Although he hadn't done anything other than hide, he was still angry about being strong-armed. ”I was an unwilling participant in the H \u0026 K portion of the games, Deidra released me after the week was over.”