The wave crested then paused… For a split second, violet sparks flickered around the sling. The Veil Stone glowed, absorbing, distorting. The sparks vanished.
Seer Kalthis's pale eyes snapped toward the caretakers. Zephyr fought to keep his face neutral. Beside him, Fenna hummed a soft herb-lull tune that blended into the murmurs.
Kalthis's gaze slid on.
The sweep receded, leaving only lamps' orange glow. Captain Marron stepped forward. "Sweep complete. No unstable cores detected. We appreciate the academy's cooperation."
Applause rippled of relieved and ragged.
Zephyr's knees threatened to give up in relief, but he stayed upright until dismissal.
Outside, Wren intercepted Zephyr and Fenna beneath the cloister. "You kept your Hollowback hidden well," she said, voice unreadable. "But the Seer wishes a private evaluation tomorrow morning. She says your beast intrigues her."
Ice trickled down Zephyr's spine.
Fenna stepped in smoothly. "Chief Medic, Star's core is delicate. Another probe so soon could harm him."
Wren studied Fenna, then Zephyr. Her stern features softened a fraction. "I'll relay your concern. Perhaps a delay." She turned, cloak swirling.
Zephyr exhaled shakily. "We bought time, but not freedom."
Back in the cellar, Zephyr sagged onto blankets. The mana drain hit now his limbs leaden, head pounding. Star chirped in worry.
Fenna brewed willowbark tea, pressing the warm cup to his hands. "Rest. I will stand watch."
Zephyr sipped. Heat spread through chilled veins. He looked at Star, who poked the Veil Stone and whined. "We can't recharge that shard often," he murmured. "We need a permanent solution."
Fenna nodded, brow creased. Zephyr think, "The System said sixty days max before it shatters." Then he thought of Grent's seacoal gift, of hidden allies. "We strengthen Star fast. Enough power to fly us clear if everything fails."
The next three days blurred. By dawn they mixed ember pellets, by dusk they raced in the hidden cavern.
Flight Drills: Star glided across stalagmite arches, wingspan now 22 cm.
Agility +5. Wing Power +3.
Flame Control: Zephyr balanced clay bowls; Star exhaled small focused jets to scorch targets without lighting straw.
Fire Attribute +4. Host Mana +2.
Tremor Navigation: Using Dragon Sense and Star's innate Hollowback mimicry, they practiced mapping buried stones, preparing for Seer tests.
Blood-line purity climbed to 14 %.
But with each success, exhaustion stalked Zephyr. Mana charges on the Veil Stone needed renewal, every ritual cost him strength. Fenna brewed tonic after tonic, dark circles from under her own eyes.
On the fourth morning, Wren sent a note: Private evaluation at noon. Mandatory.
Zephyr closed the letter with numb fingers. "We are out of time."
They prepared in silence. Fenna placed the moonleaf locket against Star's sling. Zephyr recharged the Veil Stone to eighty percent, for past few days, nearly draining the life out of him.
As the chimes struck midday, Zephyr stood inside an empty lecture room, sunlight slanting across dust motes. Seer Kalthis entered alone, spectacles glinting.
"Caretaker," she said softly. "May I see your Hollowback again?"
Zephyr nodded, placing Star on the table. The hatchling blinked, feigning docility. The Veil Stone glinted at his chest, but not enough to draw suspicion.
Kalthis set a polished quartz disc near the dragonling. No light, just a mirror for mana. "Touch the disc, little one."
Star placed a tiny claw atop the crystal. A soft ripple spread, stable and dull. The Seer's brow furrowed. She added a second disc, then a third. Each response was muted, as if tasting lukewarm water.
Finally she smiled, shrug half amused, half resigned. "Fascinating. Your beast has nearly no combative resonance. Rare indeed."
Zephyr feigned sheepishness. "Support only, ma'am. I'm glad that I have a tame beast. I don't care about the type."
Kalthis studied his face. "Wherever beasts like these still rare, cherish him. The world grows hungry for monsters. We forget tools of quiet value." She straightened. "Thank you, caretaker for your cooperation. You may leave now."
He bowed, relief crashing through him like rain after drought.
That night in the cavern, while Star dozed after another pellet, the System chimed anew:
[Stage 1 complete: Survival through Guild sweep.
Blood-line purity +1 % → 15 %
Reward Unlocked: Command Aura (Tier 1) — host can issue instinct pulse to draconic beast within bond radius (10 m).
Stage 2 begins:
Prepare Star for first molt (target wingspan 35 cm).
Complete within 30 days.
Bonus objective: Secure safe sky exit route beyond Lowmoor academy. ]
Zephyr rubbed tired eyes but smiled. "We bought thirty more days." he murdered.
Fenna comes to craven then leaned on his shoulder. "I was worried about you. I was busy with some stuff. I heard everything went well. But we must be careful."
Star snored softly, tiny tongue flicking embers.
Outside the tunnels, winter tightened its grip, and Guild watchers sharpened their gaze but in the hidden dark, a Sovereign bond burned brighter, readying to soar.
Lowmoor academy's winter deepened. Ice crusted on every slate roof, and chimneys spat thin smoke that vanished in a pewter sky. Guild scouts still guarded the gates, they want to find out the secret, how a beast hatch from an egg. Their slate‑gray cloaks a silent warning: We are watching.
Deep below the greenhouse wing, in the dim blue glow of lichen, Zephyr crouched beside Star's nest. The hatchling's wings now stretched twenty‑seven centimeters tip to tip. Each flight drill lengthened the span, but they needed more growth. The System said a first molt would trigger at thirty‑five. Only then would Star's bones harden for true sustained flight and only then could they risk the sky‑exit route Zephyr and Fenna had scouted on the ruined rookery roof.