1 - Daughter Of The Storm

22 - The Arièlla Plan

34rth day of the moon season 2448

In the evening, Azéna rolled over in bed so that she was facing Fayne who was also getting ready for a good night's sleep.

"You know..."

"Oh," her friend interrupted, "there's no need to apologize about earlier. I searched for a long time and I didn't find anything interesting. I was irritable and tired..."

She avoided her roommate's gaze, looking ashamed.

"I think the information was not there. The masters' personal library is probably where our answers lie. I think they're hiding things from us... So, I propose..."

"That we infiltrate the Mother Tower! It's really strange to hear this from you, but I like your plan. No apprentice has access without a staff member watching. It's going to be hard to get in."

"I didn't say anything, but sure. Yes, let's say that that's what I was doing to say. So what could possibly get us there?"

Azéna thought about it for a moment, looking confused.

"Come on, stop playing with me. I know you have the solution."

The brunette sighed, obviously unimpressed.

"We need someone who would be able to get those special permissions. Someone with a close relationship with one of the members of the staff, perhaps..."

She paused to see her roommate's reaction as she stared blankly at her in silence. Discouraged, she signed and gave her the answer.

"I'm talking about Arièlla, you silly goose. Where is your logic?"

"Oh!" exclaimed Azéna, who had finally understood the connection. "Of course! It's the Arièlla Plan!"

"Exactly! Now go to bed before your brain melts from overuse."

"Very funny."

In all honesty, she was not tired, despite her eyes burning with fatigue. She sat down with her feet crossed and stared out the window. Fayne, who was already sleeping, was breathing quietly and it soothed her.

In the sublime moonlight, the pale dragons' scales glowed azure while the dark ones looked even more scowling than usual. One of the smaller ones perched on a nearby roof. Barely larger than Tyrath, it had a youthful, but damaged appearance. Its ebony scales were worn and some were broken. He was completely ignored, probably the runt of his litter. He slipped and almost fell, but recovered in time. Afterwards, he just stared at his siblings with bitterness.

Azéna, recognizing the familiar expression, sympathized with him. She, too, sometimes felt ashamed and inspired to be like the others, probably like him. She pushed back one of her silver locks, hating its color.

In the end, dragons may have been powerful and superior to other races, but their feelings plagued them just like the average person. No being is perfect and each struggles in their own way.

✦×✦

The next day, she took advantage of the free time she had during breakfast to go see Arièlla. The muscular blonde was proving hesitant about the favor she was asking of her.

"You're asking a lot of me, gray dragon rider," she said severely between two mouthfuls of her omelet.

Stubbornly, Azéna sat down at the right of the pyromancer and brought her face close to her ear.

"Just don't tell your mother," she whispered. "A little adventure won't hurt you. Besides, it's for a good cause."

"You sound just like when Master Eldarytzan speaks nonsense. Goodness, move over a bit! It looks like you're hitting on me and it's making me uncomfortable."