The Odd Dragon Out: Reckoning of the Cinder-Born

The great roar almost washed Professor Lyall's words out of the ears of all the students, some of whom, in impulsive surprise, clutched each other desperately. Even if each of the First Years knew what they were here to do, what they were here to kill, they recognized that the cry of a Cinder-Born beast other than an Olarmander, other than a dragon – Qin Asha – like them, was just different.

Most were hearing it for the first time, and as it rang out, it inspired an angry chill to gush through them, much like a terrible fever. At least that's how it felt to Ginger.

The plump dragonling could relate most to such an analogy because he, as a halfling, had experienced it, but he wasn't sure it was the same for everyone else. Perhaps they felt something different.

Regardless, however, the feeling was far from pleasant, but of course, a certain dwarf of a dragon managed to look both deathly pale and thickly enthused. Ginger wasn't surprised.

He had been fed enough tales and text about Blighted and Condemned to understand why they should be feared and also studied.

Their permanently Denatured bodies fitted murderously with sharp claws, thick scales and the awesome cheat of having Totality-type Kardia… all of it was interesting to read about, but all that was fun ended there.

Unlike Reiss, Ginger didn't see a reason to be giddy about these creatures even a little bit, though he did know that his short friend was just as scared out of his mind as he was.

Ginger stole a glance at Caron and found that she didn't appear as rattled.

'Good for her, I suppose,' he thought.

"Calm down, calm down. If it only takes this much to rattle your scales, then I'm afraid you might have enrolled into the wrong school. I hear the Weasel Academy is still taking new students. Hmm, that might have been a little racist…" Professor Lyall said with several claps.

Professor Aarons gave her a suspicious look.

The students tried as best as they could to gather their spines. Thankfully, a feared second roar didn't come to break apart their fragile collective calm.

The thickly Professor Lyall was glad to see it.

"This is the Beginner's Den. All First Years come here to refine their Kardia, as you are about to. There's rarely ever been a student who was exempt from this process, but you should be proud to get to experience it," she explained, her eyes behind the glasses reflecting the warm light from the globes she had made.

Ginger thought about her words.

Being exempt from this exercise to refine Kardia by killing a Blighted, meant that you had to have refined your Kardia already before enrolling into a school.

'Wait… But doesn't that mean you would have had to get your Second Burning outside of school? How does that work? Come to think of it, if this isn't the only school for dragons, does that mean every other school has a Rebounding Seether?' Ginger wondered.

The Rebounding Seether – the great hollow in the mountain at Draggard-Phoenix hoisting the great flame that allowed the students to channel their Kardia into their second heart - was said to be a product of the Argent Dragon, Sapphira. Was this flame shared to other schools perhaps? Like how there was a miniature flame like it in old Professor Alexandros' office?

Ginger would have asked Reiss, but he saw his focused look on Professor Lyall's lips and decided to ask later.

"Now, the Beginner's Den – as I'm sure it's painfully clear – is a prison under the Draggard-Phoenix Institute for weak Blighted. Every year, several hundred Blighted captured by various personnel, formal or rogue, are brought here," Professor Lyall explained.

"None of them are too strong, and most, like you, have not lived through a single growth spurt. That doesn't mean they are not dangerous though. With that in mind, l brought with me Professor Aarons to remind the majority of you what you are up against and to give you tips. This isn't an exam, after all. Whether you like it or not, you will put down a Cinder-Born or two today."

As Professor Lyall gestured towards Professor Aarons to speak, all the students turned to her.

The hunched, squat woman licked her lips before shuffling her feet lightly, causing her bright red boots to squeak.

As the instructor for Universal Knowledge of Unnatural Creatures, Professor Aarons usually had a lot to say, and not in a good way, as far as students were concerned, but today…

"Watch out for the claws, the tail and the teeth. Don't be tempted to attack the neck or the torso. The scales are very thick there. Go for the eyes instead. If you see their throat turn bright, try not to stand close. The flames can be poisonous."

…

Ginger, along with every other student who had heard Professor Rotten… Aarons, speak, distinctly recalled how she always emphasized all these points during lessons where they had to visit the Pine – the conical building where Ginger and Reiss had spent three days removing Olarmander stool from the creatures' pens.

The Pine was a building for keeping small, unique creatures. Professor Aarons often used Olarmanders for teaching the students many of the characteristics of Blighted and Condemned since she couldn't bring them into the school for live demonstrations.

What she had just said was darkly familiar to what she always sang almost every Stride.

Ginger couldn't help but imagine that the squat Professor was daring them to forget again as most were susceptible to due to how boring her long-winded explanations could be.

With her short yet to-the-point advice delivered, Professor Aarons went silent once again. The transition was unnerving for all the students, but they clung to all she had said as though their lives depended on it.

Professor Lyall was also surprised by how little the squat dragon had to say, but she didn't show it.

"I believe that should suffice. Do keep it in mind. I think you all don't need another two Strides of learning how Kardia works… I hope. While it's fine to trust in your weapon, don't forget that physical tools seldom end a war. Use your other resources," she said with her lips drawing a taut V.

It might have been an encouraging smile, but no one could tell.

Ginger made room for her words next to the mantra ringing in his head going:

'Watch out for the claws and tail. Don't go for the neck or belly, just the eyes. Watch out for the claws and tail…and the fire. Don't go for the neck or belly, just the eyes.'

It seemed everyone was reciting the same thing.

"Now, this is how this is going to work," the thickly Professor said as she pointed at the great, intricate arched gap at the end of the cavernous space. There was a billowing darkness within that refused to be illuminated by the radiance from whatever Mana Essence spell or charm she used to light up this space.

Ginger didn't know if that was the intended effect by those who designed this place, or if it was something caused by the abundance of Blighted on the other side… somehow.

"You will be going through that gap in pairs and assisting each other in this activity. Your goal – I emphasize – is to kill at least one Blighted. And ah, the selections for pairings have already been made, so don't expect to be bundled up with your best friendling," Professor Lyall said, much to the surprise of the students who began humming chatters that were silenced by another one of her claps.

"As dark as it appears from this side, the chamber on the other side is bright enough for all of you to see what's ahead. You will walk to its end, and there, you will encounter your foes. I advise you to not lose your head. Try to keep calm. Do also note that while your peers won't be able to see what happens in that chamber, Professor Aarons and I will be able to."

The implication by the Professor's last sentence caused the greatest reaction.

Professor Lyall was effectively clearing schemes from the minds of any who would try to use their partners in… unsavory ways. Only heck knew what kind of madness was inspired by fear.

At the same time, it wouldn't be a good idea to expose a phenomenal degree of cowardice even if the audience was made up of two old dragons.

Ginger bit his upper lip.

'Who am I going to be paired with?' he thought amid the dramatic whispers from all the First Years.

Glancing at Reiss who looked to be deep in thought, he immediately cast away any hopes of being paired with his best friend. That would be too good.

'What about Caron?'

Ginger didn't see much hope.

What was the criteria used for these selections anyway? Were they based on something specific or just random?

CLAP!

Deciding that the students had wallowed in speculation, relief and panic enough, Professor Lyall grabbed the attention of the students once more and drew a long stretch of rolled up parchment from an unseen source.

While she still had it bundled, her eyes turned into crescents as she spoke:

"If by any means you feel that your own strength isn't enough to slay your enemy, you can opt for a different course. In the chamber, there will be a small, thin pedestal in one corner. If you and your partner lay your hands over its top end overlapping, you will find that this exercise will become much easier."

What?

Ginger was puzzled.

What did that mean?

Before he or any other student could fully process what Professor Lyall had said, she unfurled the rolled-up parchment and named the two who would go into the chamber first.