1 - Daughter Of The Storm

11 - A Few Mistakes

2nd day of the scythe season 2447

Azéna thought she was alone and yet she felt watched. Two ruby eyes shone behind her in the darkness of the night. A warm breath caressed her neck like a seduction attempt. She shivered, dared to look up and saw a huge crimson dragon watching her from above. It roared so loudly that she had to put her hands over her ears in a desperate attempt to prevent her eardrums from bursting. The shrill sound threatened to make her head explode.

After a moment of this agony, she realized that she was terrified when she started shaking and having cold chills. She gritted her teeth, refusing to do as others would: pray to the deities for protection.

"The first day of training!" sang a familiar, enthusiastic voice.

The aeromancer abruptly opened her eyes. The roar still rang and eventually died down. She quickly realized how foolish she had been to be so easily panicked by the slightest sign of danger.

"Fuck, what's that infernal noise?!" she screamed, still in shock.

She wiped her eyes to clear her blurred vision. On the bed next to hers, she saw Fayne who was already dressed and brushing her hair hastily. There was no red dragon. Yet she clearly remembered seeing one recently. Was it just a dream?

"That's Rendar," the Litfow girl replied. "He's in charge of waking us up, remember?"

On the spot, Azéna missed the maids who just knocked on her door and grumbled that it was time for her to get up or Lord Bayrne would come and punish her. Eventually, he had opted to remove the lock from her door since she was being stubborn most of the time.

She looked out the window and noticed that the first sun was halfway to the clouds, there was no sign of the second sun and there was almost no light.

"By Elysia, they're crazy!" she exclaimed. "It's way too early. Also, I refuse to have my eardrums bursted every damn morning!"

Fayne sighed as her friend swore. The young Kindirah had grown up with her so she knew how nobles were supposed to behave. Swearing brought Azéna harsh punishment every time her parents had heard her. However, as of the day before, she was no longer a noblewoman and that too came with its ups and downs.

"You can't do as you please here," Fayne pointed out. "We are all equal now. You took an oath. No special treatment for anyone. Besides, a little discipline and routine won't hurt you."

Her roommate grumbled and dropped onto her bed. She pulled the blanket up to her neck and closed her eyes. Sleep overcame her weak will.

"Azéna!" called the herbalist. "Come on. Let's have breakfast."

The familiar voice shook her friend's drowsy mind. She rolled onto her back and with an effort glanced at the clock. It was ten past seven. Classes started at 8:30. The day before, Fayne had had to explain to her how it worked. She had heard about it through other apprentices. Since the gray elves lived in constant darkness, they needed something to help them measure time. It was unheard of in Daigorn because it was enchanted. Humans rarely had a connection with mana and magic was regarded as a curse for lack of understanding it.

"Damn it, just a bit longer," Azéna complained. "Let the first sun rise a little more."

"You lazy butt," grumbled her roomate. "Why don't you come have breakfast with me? You'll have to get used to this routine anyway."

The younger girl covered her head with the blanket and closed her eyes, ignoring her protests. Fayne gave up and went to continue preparing herself.

Ten minutes later, she had finished and returned to the room. She stopped at the right side of Azéna's bed. With a sharp tug, she tore the blanket off, leaving half of her friend's body exposed. The latter, in her underwear, covered herself up to her shoulders and glared at her.