Chapter 13

13

ZEPHYR

I found myself wandering the halls, my mind buzzing with the revelations from earlier. Ancient dragons we had to awaken. How the fate of everything rested with us and this supposed power we had to do so.

Like that wasn't enough to crush you under the weight. It was almost too fantastical to believe.

I wandered back down towards the Training Grounds, wanting to be alone with my thoughts after everything. It was one of the few areas apart from our living quarters that we were allowed to move about, magic not blocking us off like it did in other areas.

As I rounded a corner, I nearly collided with Eirian. The dragon shifter's eyes narrowed as he steadied himself, his gaze sharp and assessing.

"Zephyr," he said, his voice cool. "You're up late."

I offered a lazy smile, masking my inner turmoil with the carefree facade I'd perfected over the years. I was surprised he'd remembered my name, we'd not conversed much in the training sessions. "Just taking in the sights, my scaly friend. This Keep of yours is quite the architectural marvel."

Eirian's expression remained impassive, but I caught a flicker of something - annoyance? concern? - in his eyes. "Indeed. Though I'd advise against wandering too far. There are areas of the Keep that are... restricted."

"Restricted?" I echoed, my curiosity piqued. "Right, but your little magic has warded us from those areas. Any particular reason for the secrecy?"

"Security measures," Eirian replied curtly. "Nothing that need concern you."

I nodded, keeping my expression neutral even as my mind raced. Security measures, or something more? And if only security measures, was it for them, or for us? I dared to believe they didn't quite trust us. Although, after that outburst with Marcus, it was rightfully so. Before I could press further, Eirian spoke again.

"I trust you and the others are preparing for the trial? It's crucial that you all be at your best."

"Oh, absolutely," I said, injecting a note of false enthusiasm into my voice. "We're all very excited about potentially waking up some giant lizards. Though, between you and me," I leaned in conspiratorially, "I can't help but wonder why you Dracarians haven't managed it yourselves. Surely your pure blood would be more suited to the task?"

Eirian's jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought I'd pushed too far. But then he exhaled slowly, his features smoothing into a mask of calm.

"We tried," he admitted, his voice low. "For years, we attempted to awaken the dragons using our purest bloodlines. But to no avail. It was our Seer who finally had the vision - those from Earth, with their mixed heritage, were the key."

My eyebrows shot up in genuine surprise. They had a Seer? We fae had them as well, old, wise fae who'd lived long enough to garner the power of a Seer, able to glimpse into the future. Many fae paid a mighty price to reveal their futures and what choices they should make, although our Seers knew not to meddle in the affairs of the Courts. "Fascinating. And why, pray tell, hasn't this little tidbit been shared with the group? Seems like rather important information, don't you think?"

Eirian's eyes narrowed. "Because it's not useful information to you. You've been told everything you need to know to complete your task. Nothing more, nothing less."

I couldn't help but push further. "And who decides what we need to know? Seems a bit... paternalistic, don't you think?"

Eirian's expression hardened. "We do what's necessary to protect our realm - and yours, I might add. The less you concern yourselves with the whys and hows, the better you can focus on your training."

I held up my hands in mock surrender, knowing he was getting aggravated. Don't poke the dragon too much. Before Eirian could walk away, I decided to voice another concern that had been nagging at me.

"Speaking of focus," I said, keeping my tone light, "I couldn't help but notice some tension among our fanged friends. The vampires seem a bit on edge lately. Particularly around our sole human companion."

Eirian's expression shifted, a flicker of concern crossing his features before he schooled them back into neutrality. "We're aware of the situation and are monitoring it closely. Aria's safety is a priority."

"Is it now?" I mused, watching him carefully, surprised he knew her name as well. Perhaps he was more assessing and involved than I'd believed. "That's good to hear. Though I can't help but wonder if perhaps some additional protective measures might be in order. After all, we wouldn't want anything to happen to our key to awakening the dragons, would we? We need to keep the peace amongst our group."

Eirian's gaze sharpened. "Your concern is noted, Zephyr. But as I said, we have the situation under control. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have matters to attend to."

As he strode away, I couldn't shake the feeling that he didn't truly care for what happened in our group of supernaturals. The air of him was one of superiority, something I was far too accustomed to with my own kind. It was… tiresome.

As I made my way back to the communal area, I wondered on just how safe Aria was with the restless vampires. Chris had begun talking to her again, and I'd overheard him apologizing after a kiss… how peculiar indeed. Again, though, not something I should concern myself with too much, although I was quite becoming fond of my new friends.

To my surprise, I found the communal area still alive with quiet conversation despite the late hour. Our little group - Aria, Christopher, and Lydia - were huddled together on one of the plush sofas, their faces etched with concern. Around the room, other small groups had formed, their whispered discussions creating a low hum of anxiety.

The weight of our situation hung heavy in the air. I could see it in the slumped shoulders, the furrowed brows, the nervous fidgeting. These people had been thrust into a battle they never asked for, tasked with saving not one, but two worlds. The enormity of it all was clearly taking its toll. We'd been focusing so much on the new world and training, but now, with this new information, it was crushing down on us all, the reality sinking in.

At least, in my mind, it wasn't so much that we were taking on the void alone now. We just had to wake up some winged lizards and hopefully they'd do most of the heavy lifting. How exactly did we fit in once we awoke them?

That thought made me uneasy. What if that was our only purpose? Would the Dracarians still send us home? Their disdain for us worried me. Perhaps, and I hated to even think it, they'd cast us aside once we'd done the dirty work for them. Awaken their ancient beasts and then get tossed aside like yesterday's garbage.

A sob off to the corner drew my attention, one of the fae women crying with her little entourage. I'd attempted to speak to them when we'd first arrived, but they'd turned up their noses at me. In my plane, I was not thought highly of, and the fact that my standing had followed me here burdened me.

Right now, though, was not the time for me to wallow in my own misfortune. Everyone around me had been stolen from their lives, and it was weighing on them now more than ever, the exoticness of this world waning and the shininess fading as the darkness set in.

With a flourish of my hand, I conjured a small ball of glowing light. It danced between my fingers, leaving trails of sparkling dust in its wake. A few nearby faces turned, curiosity momentarily overriding their worry.

"Ladies, gentlemen, assorted beings," I announced, pitching my voice to carry across the room. "Gather 'round for a spectacle like no other!"

As more eyes turned my way, I let the ball of light explode into a shower of multicolored butterflies. They fluttered around the room, their wings leaving trails of shimmering magic in the air. Gasps of wonder replaced the worried murmurs, and I felt a surge of satisfaction.

I wove illusion after illusion, each more fantastical than the last. Miniature dragons soared overhead, breathing harmless flames of rainbow colors. Flowers bloomed from thin air, their petals transforming into songbirds mid-flight. I created a miniature aurora borealis that danced across the ceiling, its colors shifting and swirling in mesmerizing patterns.

Laughter began to fill the room, replacing the earlier tension. Even the other fae, who I'd half expected to scoff at my ‘parlor tricks', seemed genuinely entertained. I caught sight of Aria, her face alight with wonder as she reached out to touch a spectral butterfly that had landed on her outstretched hand.

As I continued my magical display, I couldn't help but notice the way the room had naturally segregated. The shifters had formed their own tight-knit groups, much like our little band of misfits. The werewolves clustered together, while the big cat shifters formed another faction. It was fascinating to see how quickly alliances formed, even in this strange new world. It was the nature of all species.

But it was the vampires that truly caught my attention. Valeria and Ossian seemed delighted by my illusion magic, but their three companions were not. They stood at the edge of the room, slightly away from Valeria and Ossian, their faces a mixture of boredom and disdain. All except one - Marcus, whose gaze was fixed intently on Aria. There was a hunger in his eyes that had nothing to do with my magical display, and everything to do with the only human in our midst.

Alarm bells rang in my head. Without breaking the rhythm of my performance, I began to weave a more subtle magic. Threads of protective fae energy, invisible to all but the most discerning magical eye, began to wrap around Aria. It wasn't much - certainly not enough to stop a determined vampire - but it would mask her scent somewhat and alert me if she was in immediate danger.

As I brought my impromptu show to a close, with a grand finale of illusory fireworks that rained down harmless sparks of every color imaginable, a sense of accomplishment flooded through me. The room was filled with smiles and excited chatter, the earlier gloom dispelled, at least for the moment.

Aria approached me, her eyes still wide with wonder. "Zephyr, that was incredible! I had no idea you could do things like that."

I gave a theatrical bow. "My dear Aria, you've only scratched the surface of my talents. My family's line of illusion magic is quite unique, even among the fae."

"What exactly is fae magic?" she asked, and I grinned, more than happy to delve into the lines of magic that the fae carried.

As we chatted, I kept a subtle eye on the vampire who had been watching her. He had melted back into the shadows, but I could still feel the weight of his gaze. I made a mental note to keep a closer watch on the vampires in the coming days. Something told me that our challenges might not all come from the impending trial.

For now, though, I was content to bask in the lighter mood I'd managed to create. Tomorrow would bring new worries and challenges, but for tonight, at least, we could all rest a little easier.

As the gathering began to disperse, people heading off to their rooms with lighter hearts, I couldn't help but feel a sense of purpose. Perhaps this was my role in all of this - to bring a little light to the darkness, to remind everyone that even in the face of great challenges, there was still room for wonder and joy.