Dragon Sorcerer 2- Chapter 57 (Patreon)

Chapter 57- Obstacles at the Door

The night was quiet as I,  walked across the university's campus. The darkness was illuminated by glowing orbs of light, hovering just above lamp posts. Each orb tended to flit about, dancing as though it were composed of a swarm of lightning bugs.

Shadows stretched across the cobblestone paths, as the ancient buildings cast a mysterious aura over the campus. These towering structures, made from aged stone and enchanted wood, seemed to whisper stories of magical knowledge and secrets held within their walls. I could feel the pulse of ancient magic in the air, like a heartbeat, steady and strong.

Up till now, I hadn’t been out and about at night. Devoid of people now, the campus truly seemed like a magical place. Sight after sight drew me in and drove home the point of why I was here. Dragons didn’t build things like this. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it was a shortcoming of my people, but rather that this was an example of what I could learn from humans.

As I continued my journey, the scent of smoke drifted out of some of the windows. Fireplaces, and cooking fires were at work in some of the residences. It was a pleasant reminder of the mundane at work even in the midst of all this wonder. I paused and drew in a deep breath. My senses were nowhere near what they were in dragon form, but I could still pick up a faint scent in the air, like a mixture of musty old books and a tinge of lightning after a storm.

The rustle of leaves from the enchanted trees lining the paths was accompanied by the soft hum of magical energy that seemed to resonate from the very ground beneath my feet. I couldn't help but marvel at the intricate tapestries of vines and ivy that wove themselves around the gothic arches and windows, as if they were trying to keep the buildings' secrets safe from prying eyes. Upon closer examination, I realized that dryads must live within those trees. That would explain the sense of enchantment I felt as well as the way the seemed to move out of rhythm with the wind.

It was another small wonder, that in my animosity I had missed. I hated what this university, what humans, had done to my kind. They had reduced some of them to little more than beasts of burden. It was an atrocity, but I’d be a fool not to pay attention to all of the wonder around me.

I crossed the moonlit courtyard, surrounded by statues of legendary wizards and sorceresses. It was as though they had been frozen in time as they were casting powerful spells. The water in the central fountain shimmered, reflecting the stars that twinkled in the night sky above, while the droplets of water played a gentle, hypnotic melody.

I felt a sense of peace with my decision to come here and was happy with the beauty that surrounded me. It was so much more alive than the desert I’d been born in and even more than the forest I had fought in. Knowing that the university was not just a place of learning but a living, breathing entity that held the essence of magic itself made this easier for me. Learning from humans was one thing, but learning from a place that was practically alive was another.

I entered the residential building where, Lisella, resided. The air inside was cooler, a refreshing change from the night air. In fact as I drew in a deep breath, there was even the scent of lilacs in the atrium. There were none to be found though, so I pondered if it were a magical affect or some scent circulated from another spot in the building.

The building's entrance hall was grand and spacious, adorned with tapestries depicting Miseria, the goddess of healing, and various scenes from the history of Forlay. Those two things alone made me wonder if the entire building was dedicated to housing individuals from Forlay.

Thinking about my mentor cause me to feel a surge of animosity towards Lisella as I recalled her role in my sister's kidnapping and my own exile. However, I knew I needed her, and for that reason, I had begrudgingly accepted her as my mentor, but that was a matter of need rather than desire. Although now, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was one of the mistakes Allinor had alluded to me making.

No, I shook my head. What did he know. It might have been a mistake but only in the since that I rushed into it. I’d already begun collecting gold by letting her be my mentor. That alone was worth something. No, it wasn’t a mistake to take her as my mentor. The mistake was in not setting better ground rules with her. That was something I planned to rectify tonight.

I approached the base of the large winding spiral stone staircase that led to Lisella's suite. It spanned twelve stories up, and I knew I had to climb it to reach her. Although a daunting task for most, my draconic strength and stamina made the climb trivial. I did however wish that I could have simply gone outside and assumed my natural shape. Then I could have circumvented the stairs entirely and simply flown to the top of the building.

As I ascended, the soft echo of my footsteps reverberated through the stairwell. The flickering light from the enchanted sconces on the walls cast an eerie glow on the stone steps. The shadows drew my attention as they danced along the wall. My eyes even took in the various striations in the stone. Everything about this place was meant to draw the eye in. That meant, that I likely should be careful. More than one dragon slew the adventurers coming to invade his lair simply by distracting them with bits of his hoard. The same principle applied here.

Finally, I reached the top and found myself facing a large ornate door. But before I could knock, I noticed a commotion just outside Lisella's suite. A middle-aged man, his face twisted with anger, was pounding on the door. “Princess, this is most unbecoming. I’ve traveled a great way and paid a small fortune to be teleported here so that we could discuss the details. I simply must demand that you open the door now.”

From inside the apartment, I heard a voice I recognized. “Baron Lister, how many times must I tell you no. And even if that were not enough, it’s far too late for you to visit the chamber of an unwed woman without a proper chaperone. Why, anything could happen,” Lisella said. Then after a moment she snickered, “As if.”

This man who had been identified as Baron Lister was accompanied by four imposing bodyguards, their hands resting menacingly on their weapons. He himself was middle-aged with a head of gray hair and a curled mustache sharing the same shade. He was mildly overweight by human standards judging from the swell in his mid-section. His guards however were much better appointed. I used identify on each of them and discovered that none of them were over level eight. That brought a smile to my lips. The baron was only level one.

“Come now, this is no way to treat your betrothed. You know your uncle has promised you to me.”

From within the apartment, Lisella's voice rang out again. “For the last time, I am not your betrothed. I may be a princess of Forlay but I am also a daughter of Miseria and an adventurer. I can’t stop to marry while I’m traveling the world on missions for the church and empire.”

“I’ve heard your protestations before. Why do you think I waited till now? You’ve taken on an apprentice and so will be here at the university for at least the next two years. What could be a better time? And your father may be the king’s brother, but your uncle has spoken, you are to be mine. The mingling of our bloodlines and combining of our houses will strengthen Forlay. Even the emperor won’t interfere in such a matter. Don’t tell me you intend to disobey a lawful command of the king.

I was amused hearing these details about Lisella’s life. I might not know the specifics of what all this meant, but it was clearly some type of mating ritual. Yet, she had made her intentions clear. She wanted him to leave. Moreover, she had committed to be my mentor and I didn’t have time for her to suddenly run off with some pudgy human male. I needed to get the most out of my time at the university.

I clenched my fists, my possessive nature getting the better of me. Even though I didn't trust Lisella, she was still my mentor, and I felt compelled to protect what was mine.

I approached the group, my voice dripping with disdain. "Leave. Now." I didn't care who this Baron Lister was, and I certainly didn't appreciate the interruption.

The baron sneered at me, clearly unaccustomed to being challenged. "And who are you to interfere in my business?" he spat, his bodyguards shifting uneasily.

His reaction annoyed me to no end. He likely felt like I was nothing more than the young man that I appeared to be. Oh how I longed to show him my true self. For a moment, I contemplated using Dragon Fear on them. I was willing to bet that the fat one would have messed his pants.

Then again, I didn’t really want to spell human defacation. It was already bad enough that I had to make use of their facilities for such things. Humans were truly unclean creatures. But no. more than that, I felt the need for physical engagement. Matilda, the conversation with Cami, and even Allinor’s appearance had left me with a great need to work off some stress. What better way than with a light workout.

I locked eyes with the baron. He was clearly waiting for me to say something. Some foolish dragons roared at a moment like this, but a wise wyrm knew that the moment of attack or initiative was often everything in a battle.

The air grew tense as the bodyguards readied themselves for a fight. I could hear their breathing, the rustle of their clothing, and the sound of their weapons being unsheathed. My senses heightened as I prepared for the brawl. They must have sensed that I wasn’t going to back down.

Baron Lister said, “Get rid of this fool. You don’t even have to be gentle. Lisella’s inside and can heal him if he’s hurt too badly. It might actually get her to come out of the apartment.”