Hounds Rising

Lyla spent her day in the bedroom, working through various skills the monastery taught her. The tower seemed always to know their needs and had given them a secondary space in the bathroom for training. She bathed, relaxing her sore muscles, then dried off and put on fresh clothes that looked identical to what she had previously worn. She couldn’t tell which pair was the original but was glad to have clean clothes. Lyla walked into the main chamber of the tower’s first floor and saw Myla moving around a small table of various journals and sketchbooks she had been pouring over during the afternoon.

Leaf had just started to descend the stairs when they heard a knock at the door. Lyla walked over, passing Rhokhishi’s room, who had just opened her door to look out and see what the noise was, and opened the front door. Standing there, with a small pouch around his shoulder and down his side, a human male smiled almost exaggeratedly. He was older, with scraggly blond hair that fell below his ears.

“Yes?” Lyla asked.

“Hello! I’m looking for Leaf?”

Leaf walked over towards the door, confused. When he saw the man standing on the other side, his stature relaxed, and he smiled.

“Hello, Darion. I hope the trip from Berkton was easy.”

“Of course. The paperwork took me so long, or I’d have been here sooner.”

Lyla stepped aside and let the man step in. He shook hands with Leaf. Leaf gestured over to one of the many chairs at the dining table, and the man set his satchel down and took a seat. Leaf walked over and sat across from him. He noticed Lyla’s confused face and answered.

“This is Dean Darion Walker.”

Lyla realized that she had seen this man before, at the funeral. It was only for a moment before she had seen Master Fallingstar. She shook the thought of him, then sat down at the dining table near Leaf.

“Dinner will be ready!” Ana said as she came out of the kitchen. She turned and saw the new arrival and smiled.

“I should have enough for a guest if you’re staying?” She stated, looking to Leaf for confirmation.

“Of course. He’s welcome here,” Leaf answered.

Lyla listened over the next half an hour as their new arrival had small talk with Leaf. The rest of the group came and sat at the dining table, and Ana brought food for everyone. They all took a few bites before Darion changed his demeanor.

“Well, the pleasantries are nice, but I remember you didn’t enjoy it, Leaf. First, let me offer my condolences again for the previous Archmage’s unfortunate passing.”

Darion looked around at the rest of them before speaking again.

“I’m assuming you were part of the carnival? I heard that you lost someone as well. I’m sorry to hear that tragedy, like lightning, struck twice in the same space so quickly after the first.”

Lyla could feel her sister next to her and didn’t have to pry into her mind to know there were still moments of guilt.

“I assume you already spoke with the Queen before coming here?” Leaf asked.

“Yes. She was most welcoming. Then, I came straight here.”

“We had waited until you arrived to make decisions, as we wanted to ensure that you would take over in the interim while I finish my training.”

“Wise of you to wait before making rash decisions. I will say that some of the reasons I took so long was because I wanted to make everything feel appropriate.”

“In what way?” Leaf asked him.

Darion placed his satchel on his lap and pulled out two pieces of parchment. He handed them over to Rhokhishi, who handed them down to Ana, then to Leaf. Lyla’s curiosity got the better of her quickly, and she leaned over to see what had been written.

“It is a basic contract. It states that I am to take shared ownership of the Archmage’s Tower and the political power of the Archmage position while you are gone until a time that you feel I am no longer needed for this. It’s mostly to ensure that the tower will work with me and not against me, and who doesn’t like contracts?” Darion smiled.

“Look at this, Leaf! Someone who communicates clearly. That’s gotta be nice, huh?” Lyla joked.

She could see Leaf’s face but was unsure what he was feeling. She watched him read it once, then stare at the bottom where he was to sign for almost double the time. Leaf stood and walked over to a small cabinet, pulling out a quill and ink bottle. He uncorked it and then placed the quill in the ink. As if trying to get it done all in one breath, he pushed the quill to one paper, then the other. He placed the quill down and walked to Darion with only one copy. Lyla could see him looking over the paper again and then handing it over.

Darion carefully took one of the copies, folded it, and placed it in his pouch.

“That’s that then!” He said, taking his fork in his hand and another bite of his dinner and smiling.

Lyla could feel the tension but knew it wasn’t from Darion. It was Leaf. Darion had to be trustworthy for Leaf to do this, but she could understand if he was anxious, what with everything that happened in the past weeks.

“I’m assuming that many of you don’t know much about me or my position at Berkton Academy.”

Lyla shook her head and noticed that most of them also did.

“Well, it’s easier to say than to do, but I am one of five deans at Berkton Academy, the most prestigious school of magic in Cecela. I say that we’re deans, but it’s more like being a spokesperson. North of Berkton is The Isle of the Voided Ones. These islands are inhabited by the true owners of Berkton Academy, five gem dragons. My full title is Darion Walker, Dean of Rahmnivar. Rahmnivar is an ancient emerald dragon. They came to Midgard at a time before humanity learned magic, and they have held dominion over what is allowed and what is forbidden to be taught for the safety of others.”

Lyla knew that dragons were abundant in the world, but academic dragons? That was a new one for her. She reflected on the Book of Io and the things they had just learned. Dragons like Vaeros Fireshield, which the Monastery of Gildenfire trained from initially, was a child of Bahamut. Gem dragons were supposedly children of Io.

If they are truly ancient, would they be direct children of Io? Would they know more about the book?

“I must admit, I’m excited to be here for many reasons. The Archmage’s Tower is supposed to be the most versatile space in all of Cecela. I’m curious to see what it can do, but I was a teacher as well, and I’m curious how your training has gone since you left the Academy, young Leaf. I know we are still in the midst of this fabulous meal, but I wonder if you’d consent to a pop quiz of sorts?”

Lyla could feel her brain buzzing with boredom immediately at the word quiz.

“If I’m not mistaken, the third floor was owned originally by Umzina Gallarr, the Dark Mistress of Conjuration. May we head up to that floor and test our skills?”

“Sure,” Leaf answered.