Chapter 144 CHAPTER 144
FLORIAN'S POV
“Don't push her too much,” Zephyr said in my head, sounding fatherly for the first time.
“But she's misunderstanding me, I need to explain to her.”
“And I'll tell you that's selfish. Right now everyone is drilling her hard about leaving as if they understand half an inch of what she's been through. As if they would have done any better. You forcing her to listen to you isn't the way to go about it. You need to be indirect.”
“Stars above, I'm taking love advice from my dragon.”
“That's what you get when you keep messing shit up. Now go and gather those children and put them in their place. Let her come to class tomorrow and everyone is smiling her way.”
“You know what Zephyr? You're absolutely right. I noticed how they were all talking about her and I know it won't stop except somebody does something about it.”
With a plan of action in mind, I felt like I could breathe again.
Since last night, I'd felt like I was walking with pins poking into my sides.
The news that she was back spread across the entire Academy, and even the barracks were abuzz.
Everyone had opinions, thoughts and reactions.
I felt like I could finally breathe, like a hundred bags of Kalutian gold I didn't work for had been dropped at my doorstep.
She was back and the chance to repair this mess was availed to me.
I considered taking the woman who had caused this problem in the first place to meet her so she could explain, but I hated that option.
My other option was to talk to her, pour out my heart and let her know that no one else matters but her.
I followed her scent and ended up at Draco's lair and…
The memory alone was threatening to make me hard as I rode atop my wolf.
Shaking my head, I focused on the other part of my day.
Evening roles in faster than I was ready for and I headed to the dragon pens again where students had already gathered.
The dragons weren't as restless as in the morning and I guessed they'd passed their message to her.
I didn't even realise what was happening then because I was trying to make sure no one got roasted.
To these dragons, we're much like ants that they gave an undeserved chance to be with them. That's why they don't speak to us or stay too close to the human side of the Academy.
Outside of here, only the King and some of his special council members have a dragon, everyone else uses a Steed to move around and this gives us a certain air of pride.
Many are still jealous of me because Zephyr communicates with me directly.
He'd told me they were pissed at somebody and they wanted to address her without the crowd.
Which meant I had less than two minutes to clear out the Pen area or we'd have had a disaster on our hands.
So when I had successfully moved everyone out, I was shocked to find Alira still there although she was walking away.
Now everyone was back and they kept inching towards the end of the smooth path.
The dragon pens were built in a specific way.
Coming from the Central area, you would barely feel the climb but then there's this side that is meant for lift off.
One wrong move and you'll fall to your death.
“Move back everyone!” I yelled loudly, “Except you want to take your Trial classes a week early, you better stay away from here. Move back!”
They slowly did, only an inch or two, still wary of the dragons.
Then I began hearing a buzz from the other side and I paused to look up, hoping to see what the problem was.
“It's your fault!”
“You made the dragons angry!”
“All you do is cause trouble wherever you go!”
“Hey!” I yelled, loud enough that everyone shut up. “Shut up your mouth you inconsiderate lot! She left Drakkonia, and so fucking what?! None of you would have gone through half of what she did and survived it. One of you made it his life mission to kill her, did any of you try to help?!”
Their buzzing continued, annoying me.
“No! You all laughed and moved on like it's nothing! She's back now and instead of trying to help her pass the Trials, you're already making life difficult for her. I know none of you has ever been to the Border but it's hell over there! Things are getting worse and we need every willing hand we can get. That means she's doing us a favour by being here so you better stop being assholes and help Alira out. It's not her fault she wasn't born here, it's not her fault that people are trying to kill her and she shouldn't be blamed for trying to escape the hostile environment you all helped create against her. So let me warn you all, the next time I hear one bad word against her, I'll mount my dragon and head off to the war front. Torrin will teach you how to pass the Trials and at least half of you will fall to your deaths.”
Sweet silence greeted my ears.
“Now if y'all are done being assholes, let's begin training.”
Everyone watched as Zephyr and I went through simulations, showing them where to grab and how to stay stable on the back of a dragon.
There were several types with different anatomy so it took the entire evening for me to round up the part I'd decided to teach today.
Hopefully, by the end of the preparation period, everyone would be ready.
Normally this doesn't happen, the Trial is a sacred process that is meant to separate the weak from the strong and the dragons made a big show of it themselves.
But with the Fae kingdom getting desperate and more vicious, we needed more warriors than cooks and Scribes.
When everyone cleared, I went after her but before I could get to her, she was already with Zade.
Crestfallen, I turned back and went home.
Maybe tomorrow I'll see her.