The Odd Dragon Out: Reckoning of the Cinder-Born

Reiss and Ginger enjoyed several moments of triumph when they were finally relieved from their punishment.

Contrary to what they had imagined, though, Madam Agathe didn't say something like, "Let me not find you on the wrong side of the rules again" or another warning that gave the idea that she expected them to be well-behaved.

She gave a smile to both of them and then walked away. Ginger and Reiss gave each other dark looks. It seemed the rumours of the irony of Madam Agathe's name when compared to her true nature, were spot on.

How exactly was she 'kind-natured' when she looked like she was egging them to repeat their folly?

In any case, Ginger and Reiss were pleased to be let off while the second sun was still quite high in the sky.

Tomorrow was the day of the Second Burning, and they wished to have adequate time to rest and prepare, Ginger more so given that he only had the one, stinky set of uniform, and lacked sleep.

Speaking of the Second Burning...

"That's right," Ginger said while slamming a fist into his palm. "Do you know the stuff about the behaviours of Kardia? I mean... tomorrow is supposed to decide everything about us, and it's all based on our Kardia type. Do you have any idea how that works?"

Professor Lyall had held off on going too deep into the behaviours of Kardia and whatever Collapsing and Surging Kardia meant during lesson time likely because most dragons knew this and because she wanted to make the emphasis when it was most relevant.

This put Ginger at a disadvantage.

Reiss would have given Ginger a quizzical look, but he refrained from it. He was getting used to the plump dragonling's ignorance. He had been answering some of his questions while they were scraping Olarmander poop too.

"Well, I'm not sure about the exact process used to determine what kind of Kardia we have, Professor Lyall will probably explain, but as far as I know, there are four variations of Kardia. More like Kardia patterns, I suppose," Reiss said as they neared the Frost Mount's Tooth.

"There's Kardia that naturally draws away from the body it's produced from. It's called Alien-type Kardia. It's the easiest to project outside the body. There's also Kardia that is attracted to an object close to the user, or one they are in contact with. I've always wanted to have this type. It's called Affix-type Kardia," the short dragon said while rubbing his hands.

Ginger made an 'O' with his mouth.

So Kardia behaved like that?

According to Professor Lyall, Kardia was more than just another power source to fuel supernatural abilities. It literally became a dragon's life force when they became able to Denature – transforming into their truest state.

For Kardia to have such forms...

'To think breathing fire sounds so... normal compared to this...' Ginger thought.

Their Prime Instructor had explained that breathing fire was the maximum achievement for Olarmanders and some Blighted. Over time, they naturally learned to conjure the Kardia that developed in their stoks – which usually draped down to their bellies when full – and turned it into fire that shot from their mouths.

This was why all Cinder-Born developed scales only around their necks and bellies at first. Their bodies prepared to sustain fire-breathing by representing and toughening the spots most crucial for this trait.

"There's also Kardia that clumps together in one spot, condensing into a small shape, Pooling-type Kardia. It is usually difficult to move over a wide range in the body, but it enhances the spot where it clumps well. I hate this kind. It makes it very hard to be able to use a Custos Zoe properly."

"A Cus- what? Madam Agathe said that before," Ginger asked with a screwed face.

"Good grief, man. A Custos Zoe. It's a basic mechanism that can be used when you can control Kardia. It protects the body, like a shield."

"Oh!" Ginger gave a bright grin.

Professor Lyall had also said this. During her course, Dragon Biology and Kardia Studies, she would be teaching various mechanisms to string Kardia into after the Second Burning. It looked like Custos Zoe was one of them.

Speaking of these mechanisms, there was one course that all the First Years were supposed to learn but were forbidden from commencing before the Second Burning.

Mana Essence Mechanisms and Manipulation.

Draggard-Phoenix Institute wanted its students to become familiar with their Kardia before they began to learn how to manipulate Mana Essence. After all, dragons prided themselves on not relying on Mana Essence like every other race in Ravi.

Ginger and the rest of his class were yet to even meet the Professor responsible for the course.

"What's the last one?" Ginger asked.

"Ah, the last type..." Reiss said with a sigh. By this time, they were already walking up the stairs to the tenth floor. "It's rare. It's called Totality-type. It allows the user to do with it what the other types can."

"Really?" Ginger said, nearly bouncing with excitement.

He automatically gravitated towards this type.

However, because Reiss said it was rare, he felt he probably wouldn't get it.

Of course, patterns or behaviours of Kardia had nothing to do with the cast of scales, but still...

'It would be great if I had that though...' Ginger thought.

Reiss went on to explain how a dragon's Kardia only behaved in one way and how it was rare for that to change. Only geniuses could perhaps change that aspect later in life.

Ginger wasn't that concerned about it. Just as with the cast of his scales, he didn't mind whichever type he got. His goals didn't demand for him to be absolutely monstrous. All he wanted, was finesse.

Just like Ancor. The clumsy Shaman wasn't the strongest, but he sure was the best – in Ginger's opinion.

The thought gave Ginger a smile.

He and Reiss then chattered away until they reached the tenth floor where they took showers once again in the deserted dorm room, washed their uniforms, and saw them dry at the retirement of the second sun.

Before the others came back, Reiss also got to showing Ginger some of the things he had come with from home with a cool air about him.

While it was certainly a hassle to have a friend who didn't know anything about anything, Reiss did enjoy the exaggerated reactions from Ginger especially when he told him about popular dragon sports, a few topics on politics, and about his parents.

Ginger gave a solemn smile.

"Your parents must be something," he said.

Reiss wore a smirk.

"They are. Feeling bad about my size is a crime back home. My mom has always had me chin up, chest out for as long as I can remember. She says feeling bad about being different is how you destroy your own potential. I've really started to believe that. It doesn't stop me from being smarter than most people," he said with a proud visage.

Being different. Ginger could relate. He remembered Reiss's reaction two days ago when he had said they shared similar hardships.

The dwarfish dragon didn't show it, but he had been through a lot.

How much he began sharing about himself and his philosophy to Ginger, someone who didn't mind his size, was telling of the fact that he rarely got to meet children who didn't judge him.

"What about your dad?" Ginger asked.

"Oh, he's pretty much the same. It's that look on his face that says, 'Kid, the whole of Ravi doesn't revolve around your size' that keeps me going."

Ginger laughed.

At first, he thought discussing this would weigh him down, but he was actually relieved to hear things like this.

Well... that wasn't entirely true.

In fact, it was mostly untrue.

Ginger felt a part of him crumble, but he didn't show it. He was just starting to get along with Reiss. The last thing he wanted was to emphasize his own sob stories, right?

Reiss saw the look that flashed in Ginger's eyes for a split moment and was about to speak when...

"Well, well, well. Look who it is."

From the door to the entrance, the other First Year boys came in, led by the hateful face of Alcaeus Doukas.

Ginger and Reiss both frowned.

"Looks like our resident weirdos are actually getting along now. What happened while we were away?" Alcaeus said with a scoff and whipped his apple-green hair to the side.

A decent number of his followers sniggered while the rest minded their own business and headed to their beds.

Strangely, some boys from the other dorm room were coming in, and among them, Ginger recognized the boy he had seen Fillys and Alcaeus fawn over.

Vassilis Avecsalot.

The other boys made way as he walked forward, his exposed blue scales almost glittering in order to make him stand out more.

The boy was a bit tall for his age. His prominent hazel eyes were piercing, contending against his medium-length caramel hair that formed furious bangs over his forehead.

His solemn expression emphasized his chin dimple and gave him a slightly mature look, something that became apparent when Vassilis stood before Ginger, staring him down with an unsettled look.

The plump dragonling felt as though Vassilis' slit-like pupils pricked his eyes, but he stood his ground.

Why was this fine dragonling looking at him like that?

They weren't even acquainted. Vassilis was from a different class and a different dorm.

Surprising everyone, Reiss stood in front of Ginger and stared up at Vassilis with an unshakeable visage.

His bravery was only met by cackles from some of the boys in the dorm, though.

The dwarfish dragonling didn't care.

"What do you want?" Reiss asked Vassilis.

The one to answer, as though to mirror how this was working so far, was Alcaeus, who had his arms folded smugly.

"You really want to know?" he said with a twisted grin. "Did Ginger make you his spokesperson?"

"Yes, he did," Reiss replied without a second thought. "But I bet you're just this guy's wheezing horse."

A shower of laughter erupted, making Alcaeus' face contort in rage. Most of the dragonlings hadn't expected to laugh, honesty. It was just so sudden of an attack.

Ginger beamed.

Reiss was defending him.

He felt himself swell with strength.

However, Vassilis still stood, unamused and still staring at him with an odd look.

He finally spoke.

"Is it true?" he asked.

Ginger frowned.

"What?" he asked.

Alcaeus regained his smug look instantly.

The whole dorm was drawn in.

"I've been told you're a dragon born and raised in the Wild. Is that true?" Vassilis asked.

The atmosphere immediately shifted.