The following days passed in a similar pattern. Waking up before sunrise, studying books, then training with soldiers who happened to be on duty, followed by breakfast with the master and a magic lesson – theoretical for now, beginning with the master quizzing the apprentice on the assigned reading. Darius kept giving the dragon more volumes to read, which Draco did with real passion. After lessons, the mage had time to read a little more, and then one of the butlers would come to ask him to dinner, which he usually ate in the company of Gizel. The elf often disappeared in the afternoons or didn't return until breakfast time, so they didn't have much time to talk. Later, Draco would return to his studies or go to Matheo's workshop to help with hardening more samples or to meet with James. The twins left Atlantis shortly after their first meeting, so now the dragon's only friend, apart from the military, was the elf. Draco didn't even notice how a month had passed in the city of mages.
Today was going to be different from any other day since the dragon had arrived in Ed'heere. The master said that Draco already knew enough to start practising magic, not just reading about it. At the very thought, the dragon could hardly contain his excitement. Sitting at the table after breakfast, he shifted his gaze from his master to Gizel and back again.
-Your student is about to lose his mind, he's so excited.- The elf laughed, putting down her teacup.
-I guess you really can't wait.- Darius sighed with a smile. Draco was not at all taken aback by the remark, but simply nodded vigorously.- All right, let's not delay and go to the training room.
- I'll go with you. - Gizel rose lightly from the table and, without waiting for Bleist's consent, headed for the door. Darius just looked at her back and rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath. Draco waited, looking at his master expectantly. - I'm coming, I'm coming. - The wizard got up from his seat and together they headed for the underground room designated for practising magic.
Draco had been there before, but despite his efforts to slowly explore the entire estate, especially the library, from which he took books on history, tactics, astronomy, navigation, alchemy and other subjects that interested him to read in his spare time, every time he entered the underground training room, he was accompanied by a strange tingling sensation. According to one of the books Darius had asked him to read, this was related to crossing the boundary of defensive spells or the runic formation maintaining the barrier. It was also possible that both theories were true.
-Today we'll start slowly,- Darius said as soon as he closed the door behind them. - I'll show you a few spells you've read about, and you'll try to replicate them. - The mage stretched his fingers, accompanied by a quiet crackling sound, which Gizel responded to with a gentle chuckle. Bleist gave her a look that was probably meant to be reproachful, but the dragon had to admit that his master was incapable of being angry with the elf. - All right, first the target. - Darius waved his hand slightly, and an ice sculpture of roughly human proportions grew on the opposite side. - The first spell is a projectile, - he continued, aiming at the target. - Try to focus on accuracy and energy control, not just the power of the spell. We can work on that later. - In the next moment, there was a flash and a ball of golden energy flew from the mage's hand. The projectile flew across the room and shattered the figure. Pieces of ice scattered around the room. - Now you. - Bleist created a second target and moved back a little.
Draco just nodded and took a step forward. He remembered all the descriptions in the books he had read and his master's extensive explanations. The projectile was a basic combat spell from the category of mind magic. It was not very powerful or fast, but it was extremely susceptible to modification. The dragon focused on the mental image of the spell, stretched out his hand and sent out energy. However, instead of the flash described as evidence of the spell's activation, several symbols lit up in front of Draco's hand. Sphere. Target. Flight. Piercing. Destruction. And with a single heartbeat, the runic circle activated the spell. A golden projectile flew across the room, smashing the target into tiny pieces. Draco stood there for a moment, wondering why a circle with dragon runes had appeared when he cast the spell.
-I think something's wrong,- Draco said, turning to Darius. -I tried to cast a normal projectile, but...- He shook his hand, not knowing what to say.
-Interesting.- Bleist scratched his head.- Did you imagine a runic circle?
-No.- The dragon quickly replied.
-Never before...- Darius paused in mid-sentence as if something had popped into his head. He thought intensely for a moment.- Now another way. You learned about the kinetic shield.- The dragon nodded.- Do you know how to cast it?- Another nod.- This time without demonstration.
-Alright master.- Draco took a few steps towards the centre of the room and recalled the image of a translucent, golden sheet of energy that should appear in front of his hand as a point defence. He pushed the energy in front of him while maintaining the mental image and again the activation deviated from what the books described. Instead of a gentle pulse of energy and a disturbance of the magical background around his hand, repeated dragon signs lit up around his wrist: shield, sheet, defence, reinforcement, forming a bracelet. Then the runes flashed with a stronger light and a kinetic shield identical to the one described among the thought spells appeared in front of Draco.- Again?- The dragon groaned cutting off the stream of energy.- Sorry, I...- He started but was interrupted by Gizel's excited voice.
-It's a natural predisposition to syncretic magic, isn't it?- began the excited elf.-The activation time is the same as with classical thought magic, but the power is greater!- The duchess clapped her hands smiling like a child who got a new toy.- Such a rare talent!
-Yes, rare indeed.- Darius was also smiling, but Draco didn't know what it was about. He had been tasked with using spells from the category of thought magic, but he had failed, and both the master and the elf seemed to pay no attention to it.- You see Draco.- Bleist seemed to have noticed the dragon's confusion only after a while.- Normally when it comes to learning magic, wizards start by acquiring the simplest spells, namely thought magic. At this stage they learn to control their energy, form it and release it. Once they have mastered such basics they move on to the more difficult part by learning intricate incantations and casting spells by imbuing words with mana. By doing so, they improve their strength and control. The next step, which many mages never take, is to study runic circles and learn the laws that govern them. This is a difficult and very time-consuming art. Only after mastering it can one be tempted to take the next step and attempt to combine runes with the other two types of magic. As I have told you before and you have read in books, this is syncretic magic.- Darius paused for a moment and stared into space.- There are many mages who combine the magic of thought and word, but true syncretic mages are quite difficult to find except for high-class combat mages who are required to know runic magic. However, even among those in the military, only one in ten is able to master syncretic magic. As you can see it is a difficult art, but it is not related to the knowledge of the user, but to his control and understanding of his own power.- Darius crooked his head slightly.- Given your natural ability to control power and the fact that you had to understand your power and the changes it caused in you in order to be able to transform safely, I infer that you subconsciously enhance your magic with runes that best represent it. This is why the dragon rune and not the Atlantean runes appear in your circles. It also seems to me that casting spells using incantations will have a similar effect on you.
-But... It's... How...- Draco was scared. From what his master had said, he couldn't use magic the way he should, and that would mean....
-Oh, don't worry.- Gizel must have realised earlier that the slight pallor on the dragon's face was not at all the result of the play of light cast by the dwarven lamps.- Your predisposition to syncretic magic is nothing wrong or inappropriate. It just means that you have a deeper understanding of your own abilities. Maybe that's better too, because once you start learning about runic circles you'll be able to enhance your magic on all levels.
-Right.- The master nodded to her.- At this point, the runes you subconsciously choose to activate spells are simply the words that give them form. Nothing more and nothing less. Fact, using even simple words instead of an image enhances the spell, but in a minor way. What changes is the control of power. When casting a spell, you have better and more complete control over the amount of mana used, which you don't have to use to support the mental image. The imagery of the spell form is recorded with specific runes. A fixed set of runes also means a stable and repeatable spell form.
-So... I didn't do it wrong?- Draco asked uncertainly while shifting from foot to foot.
-Wrong?- Darius was puzzled at first, but then it was as if he suddenly remembered something.- Of course not.- He walked over to his apprentice and tousled his hair before looking deeply into his eyes.- This only means that I first have to teach you about the structure, correlations and layout of runes, as well as the laws governing magic circles. Nothing more.- Bleist smiled warmly.- And now show us the other spells you have learned.- He rubbed his hands together returning to his spot closer to the wall and creating another ice target along the way.- And remember, it is the effect of the spell that counts, not how it is activated.- He added before giving the dragon a hand sign to begin.
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Further practice, and lunch proceeding in a serene atmosphere calmed the dragon, so he set about dessert already in good spirits. After showing his master the spells he had mastered throughout the forenoon and receiving praise for them despite the fact that the activation of each spell was linked to the manifestation of a set of runes, he found that Darius was indeed right and changing the mental image to runes reduced the energy requirements of the spells and improved his control over them. Understanding at last that he had not failed at all, he decided to apply himself even more to his studies, and especially to anything related to rune magic. He had hoped that the master would give him the title of a book containing an introduction to the art of using runes at the end of the class, but at the end Bleist said with a smile that Draco deserved a rest and that constant reading through the nights was unhealthy. That was why he was to take the whole day off.
-What are your plans for today, my dear? -Gizel licked her fork and looked predatorily at the tray of cakes standing on the table.
-I made a deal with Master Matheo to come to the workshop today.- Draco took a third slice of chocolate cake.- He was very insistent about today.
-Yes, he pestered me until I swore I'd come too.- Darius sighed.- I took an extra day off for this.- The mage stretched slightly.- Apart from me, I don't think anyone in the Palace was happy about it.- He added with a vague smile.
-Oh, could it be that Matheo was preparing something big?- Interest lit up in Gizel's eyes. It was apparent that the smith's unexpected behaviour had punctured the extent of her concentration on the sweets. Draco already knew after that that the elven lady would also show up at the workshop. And she wouldn't be asking at all if she could go with Draco and Darius.
-I suspect he will want to open the shop.- The Master finished his tea and sought Oscar with his gaze.- We will be rather late. Knowing Fiora's temperament it's possible that it might even be very late.
-Of course sir.- The older man bowed slightly accepting this.
-Then let's not keep Matheo waiting.- Darius rose from the table and Gizel almost immediately efficiently took him under the arm. The mage had no choice but to lead the elf towards the door. Draco waved to a smiling Oscar and moved behind the other two.
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The road to Koriens passed very quickly especially as Draco kept asking about something the whole time. Even though Darius had already told the dragon several times that he had free time for today, the boy kept trying to question him about the runes and their use. Darius was genuinely impressed with the speed at which his pupil was absorbing new knowledge and with what dedication to learning. It seemed that the boy was fascinated by the new field and was completely immersed in it. However, the dragon did not forget other things that were important to him. He practised with his sword every morning, read books outside the field of magical studies, met with a friend and explored both the estate and Soeren. It seemed that Draco adapted very quickly to his new environment and lifestyle. He was also slowly beginning to change his attitude to everything around him. Slowly, he was opening up and starting to lose his Dagos-trained reflexes. He was speaking more often, talking to others and making his mark. He was starting to behave like a normal kid. Maybe not a kid. Far from it. Bleist admonished himself, recalling the dragon's mature approach to the reality around him.
The carriage stopped and Darius heard one of the soldiers jump down onto the pavement. After a moment, the door opened and slowly the three of them got out. Matheo greeted them at the entrance and it was immediately apparent that he wanted to show off the renovated shop front. It seemed that the shop window was bigger and more spacious. Already the new exhibits stood on it. Bleist assessed the more or less hidden security features with an expert eye. It seemed to him that Matheo had really spared no expense in protecting his shop.
-How's that? -The smiling smith grabbed his friend with one hand and pointed at the shop with the other.- Great, isn't it? -Darius had no way to answer without being able to take a breath. Matheo half pulled and half carried his friend inside. It looked like the shop had the final touches left to be done, which were just being tightened up by James walking all around with tools and a rag. As soon as they entered the elf and dragon greeted each other and disappeared into the depths of the shop.
-I really must commend you Matheo.- Gizel took a critical look at the interior.-Although I can feel your wife's hand here.- She added while looking at the decorations that had appeared in the new interior design.
-I knew you would appreciate my efforts.- Fiora, as usual, appeared out of nowhere and immediately sent everyone a friendly smile.- Is Draco not with you?- She asked looking around the shop.
-He is somewhere in here.- Darius finally freed himself from his friend's grasp and was able to speak.- He disappeared with James as soon as we entered .- The mage rubbed his sore ribs with a slow motion. Gizel sent him a supportive look and he barely restrained himself not to curse.
-I really didn't expect them to become friends so quickly, but as you can see, they are pulling for their own. All the time they just whisper something and discuss a lot, and then they disappear into the smithy or into town and that's all they've seen.- Darius picked up from Fiora's voice that she didn't mind at all, but she wanted to complain about something.
-You know what boys are like at this age, don't you my dear?- Gizel trotted over to the dwarf and gently embraced her by the shoulders.- Always in their own world forgetting about the beautiful ladies.
-As I rarely agree with you, I'll concede you're right.- Another dwarven sigh was laced with a beautiful theatrical nod from a heartbroken madmuazelle.- They want to grow up so fast.
-Women.- The smith's voice was barely audible, which Darius understood perfectly, but he preferred to refrain from commenting himself. He had already learned more than once that a word said in even the quietest whisper would be remembered and reproached him at the most inconvenient moment. Gizele had already made sure of that.- Let's go to the scalawags, because I need Draco for the rest.- Matheo had already said it in his usual booming voice.
They followed the women from the shop to the workshop where the dragon and elf were discussing something while leaning over some drawings. It was hard to tell what they were planning, but the mage preferred not to ask. Sooner or later everyone would find out, and this way at least he wouldn't spoil anyone's surprise.
-Draco, come here.- The smith beckoned the boy with his hand. Both boys approached as they quickly cleaned the papers off the table.
-A truly beautiful renovation.- Draco smiled broadly. He must have complimented the work on the shop before, when he came into the studio or to James.
-Thank you, my little one.- It sounded a little strange in Fiora's mouth considering that the dragon, even in human form, was two heads taller than her.
-Yes, we did great.- The blacksmith nodded vigorously.- But that's not the point.-He stroked his chin with his hand while watching the dragon carefully and calculating something.- It's about your payment for helping us with the tests.- Draco didn't have time to speak because Matheo patted him on the back in a friendly manner until it banged.- Don't even try!- The blacksmith clearly didn't feel like letting the dragon come to his senses. At least I now know why he urged me so strongly to come today. Darius smiled slightly as he saw the apparent resistance in his apprentice's eyes. Though I wonder how much a dragon is paid for such a job.- You deserve it like no one else!- The big man continued.- Not only did you help with the hardening itself, but also with the fixing and removing and everything else wherever you got carried away.- Darius could imagine it without the slightest difficulty. Draco was most often full of energy and eager to help.- Considering how much you did and how the dragons charge for help I decided that you should be awarded the Crystal Crown for a fortnight of work.- Darius felt like whistling. He knew that Matheo had fairly calculated the price of the help he had received and had indeed taken into account the rates the fire dragons demanded for help at the forge, but he had not expected his apprentice to earn that much in such a short time. One Crystal Crown was the equivalent of 1,000 Dublons, gold coins mostly in circulation. The lower denomination was silver Galeo worth one hundredth of a Dublon, and the lowest denomination was bronze minted Cust representing a tenth of a Galeo. The average earning bourgeois on Atlantis earned a Crown a year. While this was quite a large sum for the ordinary citizen, from the perspective of the aristocrats and wealthy merchants it was not at all so. Their businesses made hundreds and sometimes thousands of Crystal Crowns in profit. Darius alone, who invested most of his money in trade and the military earned, after deducting all the taxes and expenses of maintaining not only Ed'heere and the other estates but also the private troops and handling trade transactions, about 50 Crystal Crowns per month. The blacksmith grabbed Draco's hand and placed two sizable gold coins in his palm with a transparent iridescent crystal in the centre. A runic inscription ran around the rim of the coin: Atlanti pro'thes corse anthis ces'thestis. Which meant: Protected by the heart of Atlantis, he shall know no harm. The simple phrase was an incantation activating a protective spell woven into the Atlanteans' most precious coins. The spell was quite powerful, however, its activation destroyed the coin used.- It will certainly come in handy for you.- The blacksmith finished.
-I don't...- The dragon already wanted to start arguing most likely thinking only about how to push the money back to Matheo, but the smith already turned towards Darius and completely ignored Draco's strong logical arguments.
-I think there will be a little excursion waiting for you when you leave .- The blacksmith mused for a moment.- You'll just have to make quick work of it to make it in time for the evening.
-Why? - Bleist was interested. Something touched him and he turned towards Gizel, who was quietly talking to Fiora.
-Something's the matter?- The elven beauty broke away from the conversation and glanced around at everyone. She gently giggled as she looked at the sullen dragon turning coins in his hand and mumbling that he had said he didn't need it after all.- Why are you looking at me like that Darius?
-Why should we be in a hurry before the evening?- The mage asked with an audible note of suspicion in his voice.
-Oh, didn't I tell you?- Gizel made a surprised face and covered her mouth with the palm of her hand.- How could I have missed it.- She added opening a small bag that she had exceptionally carried with her today and started looking in it for something. Now everyone was looking at her and even Draco had stopped trying to explain anything to the blacksmith.- Oh, there it is.- The elfess triumphantly took two envelopes out of her purse and strode over to Darius to hand him one and then over to Draco to give him the other.
Bleist knew all too well that he had just received an invitation. He was also well aware that he should have received it at least a few days earlier. With a slightly grim smile, he opened the envelope and took out the contents. The invitation on ornate stationery was written in Gizel's beautiful handwriting.
-I wonder since when I have been co-organising a party to celebrate the re-opening of Matheo's shop?- Darius raised one eyebrow looking at Gizel pretending that the question was not directed at her.
-From the beginning...-The blacksmith froze in mid-word.- Aha.- He connected the dots and sighed.- As always.
-As always.- The mage nodded and only let out the air he had taken in.- Since we are holding the party, why not at my place?- He asked, glancing at the place where the banquet was to be held.- The Column Palace is one of the most expensive locations to rent in the city.- This was basically about the most famous and exclusive banquet hall located on a hill slightly below the Luminous Palace, which was located at the highest point of Atlantis.
-Prestige, my dear.- The elven woman smiled sinisterly.- Prestige.
-Aha, so on top of that you also figured out how to shut a few people's mouths.- Bleist reciprocated the smile in the same way as Gizel.- You could have said something then I would have added a little bit from myself too.
-Oh, you'll have a chance to prove yourself.- The woman tossed her head and her long loose hair danced in the air.- We still have a few things to prepare.- She pulled taking Fiora under her arm and leading her to the exit. Surprisingly the dwarf didn't even try to resist, and predatory flashes flashed in her eyes.- Meanwhile you guys have something to do in the city.- She added as she walked away pointing at Darius and Draco. The dragon stood holding two Crystal Crowns in one hand and an invitation in the other and not knowing what to do with himself.