The door shut with a soft click behind them, sealing away the headmistress’s inscrutable gaze and the dark, weighty air of the office. Lorelai let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, glancing down at the box cradled in her hands. The spear inside felt heavier than its physical weight, as if it carried the weight of an unspoken responsibility, and expectations. Aeryn strode beside her, her face unreadable, though the corners of her mouth hinted at a smirk.

“Well, that was… intense,” Lorelai murmured, eyeing Aeryn for some sense of solidarity. Aeryn merely shrugged, her usual composure unshaken.

"Get used to it,” Aeryn replied. “The more power you get, the more they expect you to prove yourself.”

They reached the main hall, its stone walls bathed in the flickering glow of torchlight. The Academy was quiet at this hour, but Lorelai sensed an energy in the air. As they walked, she found herself unable to resist another glance at Aeryn’s amulet—a piece that looked strangely mundane but, no doubt, concealed immense power. She wondered what abilities it would unlock for her friend.

"So… your amulet,” she started, her voice tentative. “What do you think it does?”

Aeryn smirked, fingering the chain. “No clue, I already have an enchantment to survive sunlight, hopefully it'll be more useful than that. Though, it wouldn’t be any fun if it were easy, would it?”

Before Lorelai could reply, an unfamiliar voice echoed down the corridor.

“Well, well look who’s back from the headmistress’s lair.”

Lorelai and Aeryn turned to see a young man they've seen around other areas of the academy. Lorelai ook a peak at his status sheet to see his name: Pyrothraxus, as well as his race...Dragonkin. Pyrothraxus was six and a half foot tall and built like a rock wall, had dark blue hair and golden eyes that sported slits instead of pupils. He had two thick horns that came out from the top of his head roughly in a curved "L" shape. Pyrothraxus was leaning casually against a pillar, his arms crossed and a knowing grin plastered across his face. He was for his incredibly good looking and wore sleeveless armor that showed off his well toned arms.

Before she could react, the strange man was now close enough that Lorelai could smell him, and she did not have an overtly keen sense of smell. The sharp edge of his jaw softened slightly as he gave her a half-smile he leaned in and inhaled deeply, his nose barely grazing the side of her neck. Lorelai froze, feeling her face go hot as he drew back, his expression one of curiosity and something deeper, almost primal.

“You smell… familiar,” he said, his voice sonorous and edged with a roughness that sent a shiver down her spine. “Enticing, like a dragoness.” He paused, his eyes narrowing with keen interest. “You aren’t fully human, are you?”

The question caught her off-guard, and she stammered, “I-I’m not human, but definitely nothing draconic about me, so I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She tried to laugh it off, but the intensity of his gaze pinned her in place, did it have to do with her dragonheart?

He tilted his head, considering her for a moment before his lips curled into a smirk. “You can deny it all you like, but I know a dragon when its scent wafts across my nose. This makes things…interesting.” He let the words hang in the air, his gaze never leaving hers.

“Uh, thanks,” she managed, feeling her cheeks flush. She didn’t know him, but something about his gaze made her pulse race, as if he saw through her with unsettling clarity. She tried to step back to give herself space, but he moved closer, his movements smooth and predatory.

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“I think you've peaked my interest, Lorelai, I'll mark you as mine,” he murmured winking, his voice almost a purr. “Wouldn’t want anything to happen to you. The name is Thrax by the way. Hey Aeryn, what were you doing in the headmistresses office?”

“Word’s already out?” Lorelai asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh, absolutely,” he said, his eyes glinting with intrigue. “The details are a little fuzzy, but you two apparently pulled off something ‘unprecedented’ in the dungeon and got summoned for a ‘special audience’ with Headmistress Windrider. Care to share?”

Aeryn tilted her head, considering. “Let’s just say we got a little… reward for our efforts.” She pulled the amulet out of her cloak, letting the chain glint in the low light.

Thrax whistled, low and appreciative. “An artifact reward already, huh? You two are setting records.”

Lorelai nodded, feeling both pride and the faintest twinge of unease. She felt an instinctive desire to keep the details about her spear to herself for now. She wasn’t sure why, just that it felt personal, like something she had to earn before revealing it to others not to mention this strange man invaded her personal space upon the first second of meeting him. She couldn't see his level or stats, but she could feel it, this man was powerful.

“So,” Thrax said, eyes narrowing slightly as he took them both in, “what’s the plan? You’re not planning on just basking in the glory of today’s victory, are you?”

“Not likely,” Aeryn replied, a smirk curving her lips. “In fact, I think we’re going to the training fields. Care to join?”

“Absolutely! Gives me a chance to get to know Lorelai on a more...personal level.” Thrax’s grin widened, and just as smoothly, he pulled back. He offered a slight nod leaving her standing alone with a racing heart and the faintest scent of smoke lingering in the air.

They walked down winding paths until they reached the training grounds, a large, open expanse dotted with targets, dummies, and magical wards to protect students from the more dangerous spells. The training fields were usually bustling, but tonight they were quiet, the silence heavy with potential.

Aeryn slid her amulet onto her neck, examining it carefully as she took her place on the field. Meanwhile, Lorelai set down the box and lifted the spear from within. It gleamed under the moonlight, catching hints of silver in its bone-white hue. The weight of it felt familiar yet strange in her grip, a perfect balance that begged to be wielded. She discarded the box, she would use her spatial storage for it for now on.

“Alright,” Lorelai said, her voice low. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

She took her stance, her body moving almost on instinct. She thrust the spear forward, testing its weight with a few quick jabs and a slash that cut through the air with an eerie, whispering sound. She could feel the spear’s dormant power, an energy coiled within it, waiting to be awakened.

Thrax, watching with a critical eye. “So, what’s its magic?”

“Still figuring that out,” Lorelai replied. “I have a feeling it’s not going to make it easy for me.”

“Wouldn’t be much of a challenge if it did,” Aeryn said, her amulet gleaming as she closed her eyes, murmuring a quiet incantation. The amulet responded, a faint light pulsing from within as if testing her strength.

Lorelai planted her feet firmly, raising the spear and channeling her energy into its length. The spear responded, glowing faintly in her hands. She could feel a connection forming, something deeper than mere weapon and wielder, a silent invitation to prove herself. She focused, feeling for the magic within and trying to draw it out. It resisted; slippery and elusive, like trying to catch smoke in her hands.

Aeryn was similarly engaged, her brow furrowed as she concentrated on the amulet. Tendrils of shadow began to swirl around her fingers, forming into faint shapes before dissolving back into darkness. “This thing has a mind of its own,” she muttered, irritation creeping into her voice. “It’s like trying to wrestle a shadow.”

Lorelai looked up, her own frustration mounting. “Same here. The spear’s... it’s not cooperating.”

“That’s because it is,” Thrax said from behind them, watching with arms folded. “Artifact weapons and enchanted items, especially ones tied to the Academy are rarely straightforward. They respond to intent, strength, and personal growth.” He smirked. “The Academy never does anything half assed, if they gave you those items it means two things. Firstly, you are compatible with the items they gave you and second they're hoping you can succeed where others had failed in unlocking their potential.”

“Then let’s prove ourselves worthy,” Aeryn said, her voice resolute.