Seis : the Ruins of the Wind

Chapter 9 : The Test ( Part 3)

Seis opened his eyes to find himself in a bed of incredible comfort, wrapped in a soft white blanket. The room he was in was filled with fresh flowers, golden details that shimmered in the daylight, and precious books whose pages seemed to be made of pure bark. A bell, hanging above his bed, began to ring as soon as he tried to sit up and better observe his surroundings. The crystal-clear chime resonated in the lavish room, filling the air with melody and mystery. Seis suddenly remembered the end of his battle against the Dragon Worms, the moment he triumphed by activating his Qi. This inner force was now his, flowing within him like a raging torrent, an energy he could feel and control. He concentrated, seeking to ignite the fire of his will once again. It was a challenge, but with perseverance, he succeeded in conjuring a flame, small at first, which enveloped his hand and then spread to cover his forearm. The flames danced at his command, bending to his will, changing in intensity and shape at his discretion. It was a moment of triumph, of fascination, and deep inner joy. He had passed the trial; he had mastered a power that had long been forgotten. Yet, just as he was immersed in this accomplishment, the door suddenly swung open with a bang. A sense of tension electrified the atmosphere, and Seis turned to face the intruder. With incredible speed, the intruder lunged at him, and in less than half a second, Seis found himself squeezed between the most beautiful Drakon and a large black furball. The two guardians were there. He couldn't help but smile in the midst of this embrace. He asked:

- "How did you know I was awake?"

- "The bell above you monitors your vital signs, it's designed to send a signal as soon as you wake up."

- "How long have I slept?" he then asked.

- "Just one night. Your wound wasn't that deep. With your constitution and the medicine at our disposal, you were healed in the blink of an eye."

- "Bubu, Aremetria."

- "Yes, my boy," said the furball.

- "I did it. I'm a true Drakon," he added, covering his hand in black flames.

- "I never doubted it," replied Bubu in her small voice.

- "Yeah, right," Tria said sarcastically. "She was worried sick during your test."

- "Shut up! If I say I never doubted it, then I never doubted it."

Tria's beautiful laughter seemed to erase his mental fatigue. He felt so full of joy. He had succeeded. The stress he had lived with for two years had vanished. His life as a full-fledged member of the Drakons had finally begun. Tria's piercing green eyes settled on him and, as if reading him like a book, she then declared:

- "It's not as simple as you think. But you're no longer in danger."

- "What do you mean, it's not that simple?"

- "Rest a little more, Seis. As soon as you've eaten and dressed, we have a meeting with the Apex and my brother."

- "You say that as if it's a bad thing. But I manifested the Qi properly, everyone saw it, didn't they?"

- "Yes, yes, my little white monkey. Calm down. They're calling you in to officially welcome you among us. It should've been done yesterday, but it's rare for new Drakons to pass out at the end of their test."

Seis felt himself blush, but he asked without delay:

- "Then why don't I sense you're happy when you tell me this?"

- "I don't know, Seis. I have a bad feeling."

- "Stop it, Tria, let's all be happy together. Everything went well.

- "You're right, Bubu. You're the wisest as usual," Tria declared.

- "And the cutest," Seis added.

The elder started swaying with joy.