Chapter 10 New roommate, first friend
Eloise
I dragged my gaze across the space that was supposed to be my room, taking in everything inside. There was a tiny bed, a reading desk and chair, a full length mirror, and an armoire. That was it.
The room was considerably small, compared to the one I had stayed in at the Dragon Keep, and my bedroom back home. I didn't mind the space, not when I didn't plan to be here for so long. The assassination attempt was just another confirmation that I couldn't stay here. I had to find a way to leave or I would be dead.
A lot of people here are more than willing to kill me for a crime I didn't commit just because of what I am. It would be better if I left. I just needed to do it in a way that didn't alert the High Lords or their heirs.
A small knock came on my door before it was pushed open, Tina stuck her head in.
“May I come in?” she asked.
I gave her a small nod. She pushed the door open fully and stepped in. She was still in her uniform, her short, silver hair was braided.
“You seem settled in.” She started.
My eyes went to the armoire at the side of the room. ‘Settled in’ was a strong word when I didn't have any luggage. The few clothes Tina had packed for me consisted of my uniform, two nightgowns, and a jacket.
I wasn't allowed to go anywhere back in Thornwood, yet my wardrobe consists of more clothes. My thoughts must have betrayed my expression because Tina sighed loudly.
“I assure you we will have a lot of time for shopping later, especially now that we’re basically roommates.” She beamed, but I saw the flicker of something else in her eyes.
Rumates.
I didn't know what that word meant. Thornwood and Varethin share multiple borders so we technically speak the same language. But sometimes, like right now, they speak words in a different dialect.
Tina didn't seem to understand my confusion as she continued to speak.
“I moved into the room next to yours. The girl who lived there was a second year student. Apparently, she snapped her neck and died during combat lessons.”
Mae always praised me for having lightning quick reflexes. But if my sister saw me now, she would be disappointed by how I couldn't stop myself from flinching.
It was terrifying how casually they mention death in this place, like it was the most normal thing in the world. But if I wanted to survive, I had to get used to the way they do things around here.
“I'm sorry, Ellie.” Tina said suddenly. She moved closer to me and took my hand in hers.
“I shouldn't have left you. This is my fault.”
I didn't know how to feel about this strange form of connection. Tina had been the only dragon who hadn't shown me outright hatred. She'd been warm to me from the very start. It was slightly unnerving, yet comforting.
I needed to know if her kindness was momentary or if she could be a long term ally. Goddess above, I needed an ally if I wanted to get out of here.
“Why don't you hate me? Dragons are supposed to hate Wolves.” I asked.
The question seem to take her by surprise as she blinked. She scratched her head, her eyes darting around the room. She muttered something under her breath and sighed.
“You're not like the wolves I've heard stories about. You're different, Ellie. You're kind.” She smiled.
My confusion deepened. “How did you know that?”
Her eyes softened slightly, they shone with gratitude. “Because you saved him.”
“Him?”
“Aeron. You saved him from The Burn. Also, I'm a Waterborn. We can feel people's emotions. Aside from a wave of intense confusion, I’ve never felt malice from you.”
I tucked away that piece of information about the Waterborns. I knew they were sometimes capable of healing, if they were strong enough, but I didn't know their powers extended to emotions too.
“Now that I mentioned, we should work on your mental shields. Your mental pathways are wide opened. It was probably why the compulsion worked on you.”
I simply nodded, not understanding half of what she said. Something else had snared my attention.
“You and Aeron, are you lovers?” I asked.
“By the Hearth! No, we are not!” She balked.
Her reaction surprised me just as it shocked me. It was the only reason I could think of why she was so grateful that I saved him. The other alternative was that they were siblings, but that was far from the truth.
Tina was a Waterborn, and though I hadn't seen the boy's face clearly that day, I knew he was a Shadowborn. His dark hair and relation to the High Lord were proof of that.
I still didn't understand what happened to him that day, and no one seemed willing to give me an explanation. It didn't matter because I was going to find out for myself.
“Aeron is like my brother.” She paused. I could sense the contemplation from her.
“His mother saved me while I was a child and brought me to the Dragon Keep despite everyone's protest. She's the reason I'm alive today. After she passed…” Tins swallowed, her eyes watering.
“After she passed, I promised myself that I would take care of Aeron the way she took care of me. She gave her life to save him the very first time he triggered The Burn. And I failed to protect the person she died saving.”
Her head hung low. I wasn't quite familiar with this side of her and I didn't know how to approach it. I reached my hand out, wordlessly, my thumb grazing the back of her hand.
We sat in comfortable silence for a while before Tina finally raised her head.
“Thank you for saving him. You changed a lot of the dragon's perspective of the wolves that day.” she smiled.
I wanted to tell her not to thank me, that I didn't understand what I did that day and that I had no idea how to do it again. But she had just opened up to me. So instead, I smiled.
Her lips parted like she wanted to say something but was abruptly cut off when a paper appeared on her lap. I blinked in surprise. This type of magic was still very strange to me. I had seen it in the Shadowborn Heir's study when he had summoned us. It wasn't one that Mae and I ever did.
“Mother above, we really need to work on your mental shields.” Tina groaned. She must have felt my confusion.
She picked up the paper, and without opening it, she said, “This is another of the basic spells of supernaturals. You will be taught in your first year, or not.”
“Why not?”
“Well, it's a simple messaging spell. Almost everyone in the Capital knows it or has done it multiple times. They only include it in the curriculum because of dragons who come from faraway villages. Sometimes, they just ignore it and tell them to figure it out on their own. Hopefully they don't do that this year.” she sighed.
“Don't they teach you these in Thornwood?” she asked.
I shook my head. She muttered something under her breath before unfolding the paper. She drew a long exhale.
“It's Raihn.” she scoffed, her eyes skimming through the paper as she spoke.
Her eyes widened suddenly, her grip on the paper tightening, “He said he would meet us at the Descent tomorrow.”
“Descent. What is that?” I asked.
Tina didn't reply to me immediately, but the look she gave me was enough to make the fear in me grow stronger.