A week later, Cordelia's day dawned with an overwhelming sense of anxiety. Field Training was ahead, a crucial step on the path to full Knighthood for young Knights like her.
They had to hunt monsters, yet this wasn't the main reason for her concerns.
Cordelia sat on her bed, while dim lights of the newly risen sun filled the room gently. It seemed like she was the only one awake at the dorm. She was sitting on her bed, with the left sleeve of her white tunic rolled up. She thoughtfully looked at the icy blue runes carved into her flesh. Her condition was still unstable and the thought of messing up and putting everyone at risk scared the Abyss out of her.
The memory of her Binding Ritual resurfaced, vivid and disquieting. When she was fourteen, she had to go through the Binding Ritual like every other knight. But hers was way different than her peers.
Everything started the same way. She was put inside a sarcophagus, with a spherical orb glowing in the middle of the ice cold room. As soon as Madame Liana touched the magical orb, the intricately carved runes of the sarcophagi started glowing and the magic put them to a half-dead sleep which made their souls travel to the Void. Everybody's version of the Void was different, although the experience was mostly the same.
One would first see the thing they desired the most, and possibly someone to guide them through the vast unpredictable emptiness. That guide could be anyone, anything. Their dog, their long dead hamster, their family members…
In Cordelia's case, she saw her adoptive mother, Eleanora, whom she lost at a very young age. And the Void took the shape of green fields with ancient ruins. The things she most desired. She always wanted to be free of this life, and devote herself to adventures like the heroes she read about in the books. But it was cut short, when suddenly a blizzard and snowy mountains took over the green landscape, with a giant white dragon sitting on top.
And that was the moment where things began to not make any sense.
The dragon landed in front of her, causing a slight earthquake which made Cordelia fall to the ground.
"I have been waiting for this moment." the Dragon said.
The Dragon’s voice had a distinctly feminine tone and she was growling as she got closer. Despite the gravity of the situation, Cordelia couldn't help but be captivated by the creature's breathtaking beauty. Bathed in a soft light, the dragon's beautiful white scales shimmered like fractured mirrors, each reflecting the gray sky above. Her azure eyes were like luminescent pearls, gazing upon her curiously.
"You… You've been waiting for me?" Cordelia asked.
The dragon circled Cordelia, sniffing and studying her closely. Cordelia felt minuscule next to the dragon's towering presence, filling her with anxiety. Being near something so vast and powerful made her extremely nervous.
"There must be a reason why my lady abandoned me," she lamented, her voice carrying a hint of sorrow. "When I heard your soul calling my name, I felt compelled to understand why my lady saw fit to bind me to you. For fourteen long years, I have waited here, hoping for answers. Yet, as I stand before you now, I find myself questioning if I have erred in some way to deserve this fate."
Though dragons lacked human-like emotions, there was a sadness and disappointment in her voice that Cordelia couldn't ignore.
Cordelia slowly rose up from the ground. The dragon's blue eyes were following her, calculating her every move. Surprisingly, Cordelia started to feel calm instead of scared.
The dragon wanted answers, questioning why their fates had become intertwined. It became apparent that she had served another before Cordelia, their bond severed, leaving her now bound to Cordelia's soul.
Cordelia wondered whether this was a normal occurrence. Was every dragon going through something like this or was it specifically this dragon? However, she realized the dragon was seeking answers from the wrong person. Not sure if this was part of a test, she decided to talk to the dragon instead.
"My real parents abandoned me too," Cordelia said, looking directly at her. "Sometimes there just isn't any reason. Sometimes people just leave you."
“Why you?" The dragon asked with a mix of bewilderment and frustration. "I have served her faithfully since time immemorial. Why would she cast me aside to serve a mere child? This is what eludes my understanding."
"I wish I could give you an answer," Cordelia said, slightly shaking her head "But maybe she had plans for you.”
Cordelia didn’t believe a single word that came out of her own mouth. Why would anyone leave someone behind because “they had plans for them”?
“What kind of plan could possibly justify severing the bond with her most loyal servant?!” She said angrily. Well, the dragon didn't believe her either, it seemed.
It wasn't surprising to Cordelia that fate had paired her with another being experiencing an existential crisis. The dragon and Cordelia shared more in common than they realized. Both abandoned, they yearned to understand why fate had brought them together.
“Well, since you were her most loyal servant… Maybe you were the only one she could trust." Cordelia shrugged.
“Or perhaps she no longer wants me to serve her.”
“Or maybe she wanted you to experience something new?” Cordelia tried her chance again.
"Hmm."
The Dragon closed her eyes thoughtfully. This back and forth was going nowhere but at least the dragon seemed calmer. They stood in silence for a few moments, the dragon contemplating Cordelia's words. Eventually, she opened her eyes and fixed a serious gaze upon her, her voice taking on a solemn tone.
"This is the stage where my brethren assess the souls, evaluating them based on various criteria: some by their power, some by their wit, and some by their morals," the dragon explained, turning her gaze towards the imposing mountain ahead.
"However," she continued, "I have never found the need to judge a single mortal soul in all my existence."
Cordelia paused, her mind racing with questions. What did that statement imply, exactly? Did it mean the dragon hadn't judged her previous mistress? Would Cordelia's fate be decided differently because her dragon companion lacked experience, or would she face a more dire outcome?
"Yet," the dragon continued, "there has always been something about mortals that intrigues me. Their resilience, their unwavering determination to persevere despite the hardships they endure."
This was getting even more confusing. Cordelia tilted her head curiously as the Dragon continued speaking.
"But such determination isn't easily proven in mere moments," the dragon said, gesturing towards the mountains with her head. "Would scaling that peak truly demonstrate your worthiness? Would it truly reveal your inner strength?"
Cordelia scratched her head, a puzzled expression crossing her face. "Then… How exactly am I supposed to prove my worthiness?"
As the dragon turned back towards Cordelia and began to approach her, Cordelia couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The dragon's immense size and powerful presence loomed over her, casting a shadow of apprehension.
"I will pledge my service to you now," the dragon said, "and observe your actions henceforth. Should you prove unworthy, I retain the ability to destroy your soul, do I not?"
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
"Wait wait--" Cordelia raised her hands defensively and backed away a little, "Let me get this straight. If I can't handle things the way you want me to, you're just going to kill me?"
The dragon nodded, her response delivered with a chilling nonchalance that sent a shiver down Cordelia's spine. It was as though she was talking about what she was going to have for dinner.
"There comes a time when everyone faces dire situations," the dragon stated seriously, her gaze still on Cordelia. "I wish to see how you navigate those moments. I wish to know if you will be determined enough to overcome them. Know that I will be watching closely."
“What about your lady?” Cordelia asked.
“This is as much for her as it is for me," the dragon clarified “I must understand why our bond was severed, even if I doubt your worthiness. Nevertheless, I shall monitor your every move.”
Well, this is better than dying, Cordelia thought. So she struck the deal with the dragon. The dragon kneeled in front of her, closed her eyes, and started speaking. Her voice now echoed, and with the sound the ground was trembling. The blizzard stopped at that moment, and the snowflakes ceased their motion. It felt like time had paused from moving forward.
“I AM MILASADRIS. I AM THE LIGHT. THE BRINGER OF WINTER. I WILL SERVE YOU UNTIL TIME SEPARATES US.”
A soft blue light began to shine from beneath the dragon's scales, as if they were cracking open to reveal the inner glow. Drawing closer, the dragon invited Cordelia to touch her.
Cordelia gently touched her snout and suddenly, her arm lit up with a radiant energy. Intricate symbols formed on her skin, spanning from her fingertips to her shoulder, and across her left chest. The pain was excruciating. It felt like something was slicing through Cordelia's skin from underneath, each cut bringing a wave of agony. Amidst the pain, she noticed a soft blue light shining through the wounds, reminiscent of Milasadris' scales.
And suddenly she was jolted back to her body, feeling the lightness of the Void completely disappear. Her world's air was heavier, each breath a struggle. She was still feeling dizzy and trying to orient herself to her current surroundings was quite difficult. It all felt like a surreal dream until she looked down to look at her arm. The runes were still there…
The same runes that now caused her a great deal of trouble. Whoever Milasadris’ previous mistress was, she was probably immensely powerful. Because the amount of Soul power to summon Milasadris was way more than a knight normally needed. They had to find a way to fix this before it actually drained Cordelia dry.
Rolling her sleeves down, Cordelia glanced at her sword. Well, even if she wasn't that effective with dragon summoning, at least she was damn good with her sword.
Suddenly the bells started ringing, signaling the students to wake. It was time for Cordelia to leave the bed, which she didn't actually want to do. She started dressing up, ensuring her late mothers red scarf was securely tied around her armor. Since it was field training, she needed every luck she could get.
And so, the day began anew.
***
The dining hall was already filled with students by the time Cordelia arrived. From little children to veteran knights, breakfast time was always filled with people. The chatters filled her ears as she was trying to find her friends.
It didn't take long, however, because her friends were sitting together as always.
“Lia! Think fast!” Sebastian's voice rang out with the sound of something hurtling through the air. Cordelia's reflexes kicked in, her hand shooting out to catch the object in mid-flight. Sebastian smiled at her deftness.
“Whoa. Not bad!” he exclaimed, applauding lightly.
Cordelia looked at the object in her hand, a delicate amulet crafted from braided leather strings with a green, misshapen crystal pendant nestled at its center.
“That's really pretty. But what's the occasion?” she asked, turning to face Sebastian and Theodore.
“Well,” Sebastian began, he smiled as he placed a hand on Theodore's back, “If we pass this field training, we'll be official Knights. Who knows where we'll end up. So Theo made these for us, and I enchanted them.”
Cordelia's cheeks flushed with warmth as she looked between them. “Thank you. That's so sweet!”
She slightly moved between the chairs to make her way to sit beside Daniel. Daniel pushed the chair next to him so that Cordelia could sit. When she finally settled down, she noticed that everyone seemed to wear their amulets.
Daniel toyed with the crystal back and forth between his index finger and thumb thoughtfully, his gaze drifting to Theodore. “Where did you get these crystals, anyway?”
Theodore shrugged, putting his long blonde hair aside to one shoulder. “Master Volrank... misplaced them.”
Daniel's expression shifted from confusion to realization. “Misplaced... Wait! You stole from Master Volrank? YOU?”
“Sshhh!” Theo immediately hushed him.
Cordelia's eyebrows lifted with an impressed expression. “I guess you've been spending more time with Seb than we thought.”
Sebastian placed his hand over his heart dramatically. “I swear on my dead grandma, I have not told him to steal anything. Besides, even I can't risk stealing anything from that stingy old dwarf.”
Theo sighed, “Look, I didn't steal it. Remember when we were learning the usages of these green jades in the alchemy class? Master Volrank happened to give me a few more jades than he intended. And I just decided to put them in my pocket.”
Daniel snorted while chuckling softly “Yeah, Theo. That… That still makes it stealing.”
Sebastian feigned, wiping away his tears, “Our widdle priest boy is growing up so fast.”
The easy banter flowed on, offering Cordelia a reassuring distraction from the impending field training. Amidst the uncertainty, being with her friends provided her with a sense of calm, easing her concerns more than anything else.
As breakfast neared its end, Madame Liana entered the dining hall, holding a pile of books close to her chest. Her chestnut hair, streaked with silver, fell in a graceful braided half-updo, framing her face with elegance. Her green dress matched the color of her eyes, which surveyed the hall with intensity. Despite being over ninety, Madame Liana looked no older than fifty, a testament to her elven heritage that kept her youthful.
Madame Liana was highly respected throughout the academy, her stern and steady demeanor a reflection of her life's trials. Students whispered about her tragic past—a story of unimaginable loss. Her husband and children had been taken from her in a brutal monster attack, leaving her devastated and alone. Some said she blamed herself, tormented by the belief that she couldn't save them in time.
Madame Liana's sorrow seemed to drive her protective nature, especially when it came to her students. She enforced her rules firmly, driven by a heartfelt need to shield them from any dangers. While some saw her as strict, her actions stemmed from a genuine desire to keep her young students safe.
Stepping onto the platform, Madame Liana commanded instant silence from everyone. With a gentle thud, she placed her oversized books upon the lectern and cleared her throat.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Good morning, Madame Liana," chorused the students in unison.
Madame Liana offered a slight bow before continuing, "I have two brief announcements today." She raised her index finger for emphasis. "Firstly, to the fifth years eagerly awaiting their Binding Rituals. I understand your anticipation to return home, but I regret to inform you that the dates have been postponed to late Spring."
Suddenly mutters and disappointed faces filled the air. Many of these children had spent their formative years within the academy's walls, isolated from the outside world. From as young as nine years old they were kept within for safety reasons. Since their souls attracted wild dragons and even other monsters, they posed a danger to themselves and others, which was the reason they were not allowed to leave under any circumstances. The Binding Ritual ensured that the resonance of their souls would only call to their own dragons, which made it safe for them to finally meet their parents. Of course being cooped up inside a giant castle for nearly five years, the longing to explore beyond the castle's confines burned within them.
Cordelia knew the feeling all too well. When she first arrived at the academy, she felt scared and alone. It was like being trapped in a giant castle with strangers all around. She wanted to be free from here as soon as possible. Especially seeing her late mother in the Void during the Binding Ritual, fueled her desire to leave the Academy walls whenever she wanted. Her biggest motivation was to set out into the world, adventuring with her father all around Jur. She felt she owed him that much after all he had been through because of her. Remembering the first time when she set foot on Granaria after the ritual, and seeing her father in the crowd smiling at her was a moment that filled her with both happiness and sadness, which lingered in her heart for a long time.
"I understand it's disappointing," Madame Liana continued, her tone firm yet empathetic. "But with reports of war looming from the south-west, we must assess the situation before allowing any departures. It's for your safety, please understand."
Daniel's expression darkened, his jaw clenched in frustration. “I suppose the war is coming to Granaria, after all. Damn it.”,
Sebastian shook his head with a sigh. “I hope we actually find our homes intact by the time we're done with this training.”
Madame Liana raised two fingers to emphasize her next point. "Secondly, ninth years preparing for Field Training, please assemble in the courtyard immediately after you’re done here. Your instructors and Commanders await, so don't delay."
Cordelia shifted nervously in her seat, exchanging worried glances with her friends. The gravity of their final test, happening today, began to sink in.
"For the rest of you, classes will proceed as usual, starting at nine. That will be all. I wish you all a good day."
Madame Liana retrieved her books and descended from the stand. As she briskly exited the dining hall, the buzz of conversation among the students gradually filled the room. Some of the ninth years were already making their way towards the courtyard for the final test.
Theodore let out a sigh and cast a reassuring glance at his friends. "Well, it looks like it's our turn to head out."