A Pet for the Dragons

87.

IVRET

Arika didn't wake up for a few days after marking, making everyone anxious. I'd been closely monitoring her health, and so far, she'd been able to fight our venom. Her body even readily accepted a-nard when I administered it after we marked her.

However, she continued to sleep, showing no signs of waking up soon. This made us more anxious, mainly because we didn't have the time to spare in a situation like this. The day to meet the Empress was getting nearer and nearer.

We tried to find ways to wake her up. I tried many of my spells, and Zorge and Radrox had seen some witches for help, but nothing worked.

Our panic grew when Arika remained sleeping on the day of our summoning. The three of us sat around her, waiting for her to wake up.

"Why is she asleep so long?" Zorge asked for the millionth time.

"I'd have answered that if I knew," I hissed, annoyed and deeply frustrated. I had used all my wits and skills but couldn't wake her up. Zorge held Arika's hand, looking at her expectantly.

Radrox stood by the window, looking out into the sky for any Cardinal Guards. Meanwhile, I continued to look through my scrolls for something... anything that would wake her up.

"I don't find any infection or anything on her that would make her sleep this much," I muttered, tossing a scroll and looking at others. I had done this numerous times again and again. I had even gotten my hands on some ancient healing spells that worked on everyone, regardless of dragon, human or demon, but Arika was still asleep. "Our markings on her are perfectly healed, and she shows no sign of fever or any abnormality,"

"She needs to wake up today, or we're in big trouble," Zorge reminded me again. I wanted to punch him in the face for saying that because it didn't help. Instead, it made me more nervous. I'd never been this nervous before, even when I had to appear for my ultimate test to get the Silge Level.

But what use it was being a Silge Healer if I couldn't cure my Arika? It was another thing that had been troubling me since the beginning. So far, I had failed Arika, which made me feel unworthy of having a bond. But I'd marked now, and she was mine. There was no going back from this. I'd give her my all if that were what it took for her to wake up.

"Stop talking," I hissed at Zorge as I searched the scrolls with more determination.

"If she doesn't wake up, we meet the Empress and tell her she's tired due to travelling and needs rest," Zorge suggested. His excuse was almost convincing, but I knew it wouldn't last long.

"That would have worked if there was a surety of her waking up soon," I said, and instantly, a dark look crossed Zorge's face. Radrox tuned to give me a sharp look.

"You mean to say she might not ever wake up?" Zorge asked darkly.

"I can't say anything now," I replied honestly. I was so full of doubts. I'd have answers if she were a dragon, but she was a human, which was the most terrifying thing about her.

A tense silence followed my answer. Radrox's eyes lingered on Arika for a heated second before he returned his focus to the window, keeping a watch on the skyline. I realised that my words might have made the situation worse.

"What if she never wakes up?" Zorge asked.

"No, she'll wake up," I hissed, getting more agitated every second. I was a wreck. I hadn't rested since the night of the marking. I'd been constantly beside her to monitor her health closely. So far, she hadn't shown any signs of rejecting our venoms. That was one less thing to worry about for now.

I wondered if our venoms would mingle and give her part of our magic. It was what happened when Zorge, Radrox and I were grouped. Our magics converged to make us stronger than before. Usually, the bonds' magic also grew stronger due to marking. A bond often acted as an anchor, grounding the magic and making it stronger than before.

However, I wasn't sure if the same could be expected in our case since Arika was a human and possessed no magic in her blood. I didn't sense anything. Not that I'd been able to sense much, just like others.

Since the beginning, she seemed to have a strong shield against our magic. This made me more curious and anxious about the whole situation. What if all the protective spells I had cast on her weren't working? The thought scared me.

"We need to think of something. The Cardinal Guards would be here any minute to accompany us to the Cardinal House," Zorge said and started pacing. Radrox was still standing by the window, glaring out into the sky as if that would somehow delay the guards. For once, I wished that was possible.

"Just stop it—" The sound of a Kraken horn interrupted my words. The three of us straightened up immediately. I left Arika's side for once and rushed to the window with Zorge, where Radrox had been waiting all this time.

"They are early," Zorge said in disbelief. I didn't want to believe that the Cardinal Guards were here already, but nothing could be mistaken for the sound of a Kraken horn. It was the official protocol for the Cardinal Guards to declare their presence.

They were finally here for us. I was going to return to the Cardinal House after years and didn't feel ready for it. Even if Arika were awake, I didn't think I'd still feel ready. I'd worked hard to leave that place, but now, I was being dragged back. This was another thing that had been troubling me lately.

The three of us stood by the window, searching the skyline until we spotted the Head Guard. It was a green dragon with four wings. He was one of those mutant dragons specially created and bred to protect the Cardinal Family closely.

There was no match for those green dragons. They were the deadliest. If they set their mind on killing someone, then nothing could stop them. Not even gods.

Their sight made me shudder. Even though I practically grew up seeing them and even used to heal them while serving as the Silge Healer at the Cardinal House, I could never get used to them. They always made me uncomfortable because I'd not only heard all the rumours about them, but I'd seen those rumours turn true.

"I'll meet them. You two stay with her," Radrox said quietly, leaving the room hastily. Zorge and I remained frozen by the window, watching more green dragons appear. There were eleven in total — an official summoning party. I swallowed hard at their sight.

As they got closer and closer, the noise of the Kraken horns grew louder. My heart thrashed in my chest, and my mouth dried as the dragons circled my estate, flying in a formation that signalled they weren't here for an attack. Still, I couldn't help but feel afraid. Arika was still asleep, and I had no clue how to awaken her. There was no time anymore.

It was official.

"We're fucked," Zorge said out loud, reading my mind.

"Those are some massive dragons," Arika yawned behind us, almost frightening us.

~

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