Chapter 36 CHAPTER 36
I was jolted awake by loud voices, all yelling over each other.
“She's not –”
“Look at her neck!”
“What other lineage is missing from the system?”
“We can't tell for sure, you can't condemn the girl over something that has no concrete proof!”
“But –”
“HEY!” I screamed, feeling the most terrifying migraine at the bickering that was clearly about me but one I didn't understand.
“Oh, you're awake,” Tara said, coming over to me.
They'd laid me down on the coals that were now warm to the touch and went off to the side of the sphere to yell at each other about me.
I rolled my eyes as they, five in number now, turned their attention to me.
“Child, who are your parents? How can we get them down here too?”
“Don't be ridiculous Charis,” her colleague snapped, “if it was easy or necessary, every dragon kin would be home where they belong.”
“You know Charis doesn't believe our prophecies,” a third chimed in.
“I do believe them,” Charis rolled her old eyes, “but while they are unfolding, we need to solve this problem.”
“I'm not a problem!” I snapped, not ready to become everyone’s problem.
Again.
I lived that life as a child and even though I never really grew out of it, I became the problem of just one person and she didn't make me feel like I was a burden.
“Your history isn't showing,” Tara explained, “I'm actually surprised the magic isn't treating you like a threat,” she finished, taking my hand and pulling out the needle.
I didn't even realize it's been in my body the entire time.
Her words made me see the bickering Scribes from a different perspective.
The security of the Academy lay in their hands, and the magic that had guided them all this while was now malfunctioning.
They could blame me all they want but this wasn't my fault.
I mean, I've never allowed myself to think of finding my parents here because that would mean having to stay back and still going through the Academy but a part of me still hoped for something.
Maybe they'd save me from Kovar's cruelty. I wasn't interested in bonding with them, no excuse can justify the horrors I'd overcome on earth and the ones I was facing now because I was twenty-five years late to the dragon party.
Weak limbs, human features, and mental problems. I was literally a fawn in an adult body and I was expected to perform just like them, no excuses.
So why would I want to bond with whoever thought it a good idea to send off a baby into some other planet without even giving her a way to navigate?
A memory of a book flashed through my eyes but it was gone almost immediately.
Odd.
“Tara?” Charis, the Scribe called, “The system has already registered her blood so there's no urgent need to solve this problem now. Send her off with her supplies. Miss Ferguson, we'll be in touch with you when we have a solution to this problem.”
Thank the stars above.
I got off the ground, ready for this afternoon to end already.
Why was every single day here filled with something?
Do I need to feign an injury before I can get a bit of rest?
‘You know what? Maybe that's exactly what I'll do. In fact, with the training tonight, I might not even have to do too much. That man looks devilishly handsome but I could sense a cruelty in him. He would definitely break my bones enough for me to get a chance to sleep for the whole day.’
My scheming was interrupted by the door opening and before I could walk out, I was engulfed in a tight hug.
“Oof!” I squealed, my mind trying to adjust to the pair of hands around me.
The other time she hugged me, I was exhausted mentally and didn't feel odd but now, I just couldn't breathe through it as I'd learned to do with Momma.
“Too…tight,” I complained before Erin pulled back.
“Sorry,” she giggled, “I heard you scream and then they rushed in after you and no one was saying anything and another set rushed in and…”
“I'm fine,” I stopped her rambling, rubbing her back, “I didn't realise you love me already.”
“She's a bearded dragon species,” Tara muttered as she walked past us in her usual solemn mood, “don't take it to heart.”
“You're just jealous you don't have any friends who are looking after you so much,” I retorted.
She shot daggers at me with her eyes but began walking off towards a staircase.
“Do we follow her or…”
“She'll bring it down, don't worry,” Erin told me, “so we have time for you to tell me what happened!”
I smiled at her enthusiasm and I realized I didn't care if there was a possibility her friendship wasn't genuine.
Whatever heartbreak it comes with, it has paid its dues.
So I divulged everything to her and right when I was at the part about my parents, Tara came back, a huge bag in her hand.
“Your uniforms, pass codes, library card, and the map of the Academy. Books too. You can send requests to the mail box outside. You are set. Bye.”
She turned around and began walking off aggressively.
“Thank you so much!” I yelled at her retreating form and even though she ignored me as I'd expected, I noticed a pop in her steps.
She heard me.
Erin and I dragged the heavy bag all the way back to our hostel and we stopped by the door.
“I can try it?” I asked, shocking myself with the excitement in my tone.
But I have had to wait for everyone to show me everything since I got here that this felt like a huge change.
As if I actually belonged, even though that's the absolute last thing I want.
“Yes you can,” she chuckled, stepping aside for me.
I tentatively raised my hand towards the door.
“Go on, it won't bite you,” Erin encouraged me and I finally touched the door.
At first, it was just wood, but then something clicked in my head, and it became plush and soft under my fingers. The feeling was really nice as I pushed it open.
“Wow.”
“What I'll give to experience all of this once again for the first time,” my friend joked as she walked into the room.
“What's next now?”
“You can get changed so we'll go for lunch. Evening class is in two hours and then you have your training.”
I swallowed at the reminder.
Maybe I should actually let him beat me to a pulp so I can get my senses rearranged as it's been misbehaving recently.
I stifled my excitement at the thought of having the Instructor's hands on me and I followed Erin's direction.
She was trustworthy, my body?
Not so much.