[The capital of Arilon hosts more than two hundred thousand people in its walls, an eighth of the population of the kingdom. It is by far the biggest city in the nation and could be considered a small city-state all on its own. The closest city that could compare to its size is the capital of its neighbor, Karvum, which holds nearly a hundred and fifty thousand. This is why the capital has always had at least three dragon riders guarding it, although due to recent tensions, the number of riders has been considered by the king for an increase. -Excerpt from Recent History on the kingdoms.]

Aster

“Do we actually have to go? I mean, we go to the dungeon tomorrow. Isn’t it a bad idea? Shouldn’t we get extra sleep?” I asked Kat, taking a glimpse in the mirror. We were both still in the school’s uniform.

The last few days had been pretty routine compared to the time I’d spent in the city so far. The only prominent change was Umbra watching most of the courses when she wasn't learning from Silt. The feeling of having her watch from my eyes almost felt normal now. She had actually proved an avid listener during the bonding course, even coming up with some questions and concerns that I hadn't thought about asking Union. Speaking of the professor, I suspected he knew something was up, but he never said anything. Unio’s bond had yet to show up as well, something I was getting increasingly impatient to see.

“Yes, we're going. You said you would. You can’t go back now. Plus, we have the whole morning to get ready for the dungeon. We have all of our other courses off because of it for the next two days.” Kat crossed her arms, giving me a stare, and I sighed, ignoring Umbra's laugh in the back of my head.

“Look, we already spoke with Fernand. We're picking up the armor in the morning, and we have a plan set out. Let’s just enjoy tonight.”

I gave in, my shoulders slumping. Kat and Umbra both were pushing me to go. For different reasons, Umbra wanted me to go so she could see what all the excitement was about. Kat wanted me to go for the purpose of getting out. She had said I’d spent too much time studying, but I had my suspensions. She really just wanted someone to go with.

“Fine, but I’m not drinking any of that stuff all of the others drink. It tastes disgusting.” I declared.

Kat snorted. “I don’t even want to know what a drunk would do. It’s always the reserved ones that have a crazy side.”

“I’m not reserved. I just don’t talk to a lot of people or big groups. I talk to my classmates when I have questions.” I said, maybe a bit too quickly.

“Exactly my point. Now, let's get going! The party’s already started and were late as is because of our club.”

“Is what we’re wearing fine?” I asked her. The last party required a lot of preparation.

Kat snorted. “We're not going to a noble ball, just a party hosted by a rich noble kid. Probably to show off.”

As we made our way out of the academy, I was able to get a good look at the city's noble section for the first time, well, second time. The only other time I'd been through the place was in a carriage to the castle a few weeks ago. The house was on the edge of the area, near the academy and close to where the line of shops started.

At first, I wasn't sure what to expect, not being able to see it from a distance as the sun had almost fully set, leaving the sky dark. So, as I got closer, I was surprised. While not tall compared to all of the other buildings, it was still at least four stories tall. It was the size of the grassy area around it that was a shock. From the little I understood about the city, the land was expensive, which is why everyone built tall. There was a limit on how high you could go, but it was still a better option. This house was surrounded by a short, thick iron fence and a field of grass. It had to have cost thousands of gold just to get the land. There was no telling how much it had cost to get grass and the few trees set up.

Students were milling around in small groups, laughing. The double door on the front of the building was open; people were moving in and out, some of them a bit unsteady in their steps, with others helping them. Most of everyone was students and were still wearing their uniforms; however, a few fancily dressed people were making their way in.

I almost stopped to take in everything for another minute but was dragged along by Kat, her hand latched onto my arm as I was pulled inside.

There were a lot more people inside. The main room was wide and open, with stairs leading up to another floor on either side and a balcony stretching all the way around with a gold railing. Some of the people were looking down at the crowd drinking like they were the most important person there. Tables laid out on each wall had multitudes of different expensive-looking foods that were being picked on by some people who seemed already tipsy with half-empty drinks.

"This place is amazing. They even have servants!" Kat whispered excitedly.

I nodded, looking at the people dressed in slim black clothes navigating the crowd as they held glasses on silver trays.

Stepping to the side to let the people who were behind us in, Kat seemed to be a bundle of energy even as she kept a straight face.

I had no idea what to do in a place like this. Were you meant to go around and talk to people? That seemed boring and definitely not something I wanted to do. I looked around for a table to sit at. If I could find a place out of the way, maybe I could just let it run her energy out. It worked with the wolves, who were overly excited. She seemed too smart for that, though.

Kat took a drink from one of the passing servants, taking a sip. "this is really good wine, better than anywhere I'm from, but it's not too strong like mead. Are you sure you don't want any?"

I wrinkled my nose. I'd tried wine before, and it was way too tart to be good. "No thanks, I'm sure there's water somewhere to drink." we spent a minute looking around at the people flowing before Kat grew bored, finishing her drink with a gulp, and we started up the stairs. Couches and chairs were placed around out up here. Thankfully, there was a free couch near the railing, and both of us were able to sit down.

"Oh! Look, it's Andreth, she's part of one of my courses. I'm going to go say hi. Do you want to come?"

I shook my head, grateful to have an excuse. "I'll stay here and keep the couch. It has a good view, and maybe I'll get some food."

Kat eyed me for a moment before she nodded

"fine, but when I come back, I want you to meet her then."

I almost sighed but managed to smile and nod. My voice even sounded enthusiastic. "Sure!"

She moved away, aiming for someone who had blond hair.

Free of her, I took a moment to relax and almost jumped when Umbra spoke.

"There's lots of different foods, but it really seems to just be able humans talking with each other. It's boring. They could at least be fighting. Then it would be interesting to watch, at least."

I rolled my eyes at her words, but I did have to agree it was bland. I would have preferred an active type of party with more events and things to do.

I replied to her mentally, not wanting to speak out loud. "Well, at least I'll be able to take some food back."

"Make sure to bring me some. It smells amazing."

I snorted at that. "Vain and a glutton, you know if you keep eating, you might grow to be round."

"I'm a growing dragon, and dragons are never fat anyway."

I was about to reply when someone spoke from next to me.

"Ah, look who it is. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

I blinked, refocusing my gaze from the distant look I knew most people got when not focusing and talking mentally.

The voice had been familiar, and I looked up to see Lucas Arilon. He was in uniform, and he looked a lot more relaxed.

"Ah, um, no. I was just thinking." Taking a look around at everyone, not seeming to pay attention, I was a bit confused. "Aren't you meant to be special?"

Lucas let out a chuckle and then whispered as he sat down on the edge, leaving plenty of room between us.

"We don't show up in public often enough in the city. Only high nobles know what we look like because of meetings. My father even did us a favor by setting us up with another last name in the academy. Still, some people are smart enough to notice, but I think we'll have at least a few months to enjoy our anonymity before the word gets out."

I didn't understand the point he was trying to make, but I still tried my best with an understanding smile. "I guess that would be hard, having everyone try to get to know you."

He shrugged a shoulder ."You get used to it, but what are you doing here? I didn't take you for the type to go to a party."

I grimaced. "I was dragged here by a friend. No, it wasn't an option for her."

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Letting out a laugh, Lucas grinned. "Sounds like a fun person."

"Who does?" Kat's voice sounded behind me.

Turing my head up to look behind me, I saw her with the girl she had been heading towards earlier.

"You do." I replied with a laugh, and after a moment of her giving me a confused look, I motioned to Lucas, "This is Lucas."

Kat looked between me and him, her eyebrows raised in a question I didn't understand. After a second, she rolled her eyes and looked at Lucas. "It's nice to meet you. What classes do you two share?"

"Oh, we don't share one. We just ran into each other a few times between classes."

I was surprised by how easily Lucas lied. He didn't even take a moment to answer. Looking at the girl Kat had dragged and seeing her slouched shoulder and uncertain look, I gave her my best welcoming smile.

I may not like this type of event, but I could still be nice.

"This is Andreth. She's in my course on swords." Kat declared.

The girl gave a small wave at me and then Lucas.

After a moment of silence between the four of us, Kat snorted, "Well damn, this got boring fast. I'm going to get another drink. Do any of you want one?"

Andreth spoke hesitantly. "If you get too drunk before you leave tomorrow, you'll get in trouble tomorrow, won't you? Wouldn't water be better?"

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Leave? Oh, are you in the adventuring course?"

Kat's smile couldn't have been bigger as she leaned over the couch. "Me and Aster here are in the same group. It's a three-day trip, even with the teleporter that was built, so we got our classes off for the days. We're going to come back a dozen levels higher!"

She raised both hands in a happy cheer before stepping back and making her way toward a counter with a row of drinks laid out.

Lucas sighed. "There are no restrictions on drinking, but it's advised by the kingdom to wait until your second class unlocks. It creates this sort of scenario where some people are bound to embarrass themselves when they drink for the first time."

I shrugged my shoulders. "She just hasn't had a chance to drink this much because she's from a smaller town or village, I think. So why not make the most out of it?"

Andreth, finally seeming to relax slightly, sat down on the couch as well. "Where are you from?"

"Oh, the claw woods. A forest at the edge of the kingdom."

Andreth nodded. "Does everyone there have ears like yours?"

I couldn't help a laugh spilling from my lips as I thought of the wolves. "Everyone there has these ears and a tail like mine."

I tried to imagine what they would look like without them or with human ears and snorted.

Andreth's eyes seemed to light up at the news, and she seemed to open up more as we continued to talk. As it turned out, she was learning healing at the academy but had taken the course on swords at her father's request to learn some form of protection. Lucas seemed to find interest in the fact that he shared a course but went at a different time.

"So you and Kat are going to the dungeon tomorrow?" Andreth asked curiously.

"We are in the same group, so we will be together, but we were only permitted to go on the first floor, and the amount of papers we had to sign gave my hand a cramp for two days."

I shook my hand out at the memory, wincing slightly.

Andreth opened her mouth to ask another question, but her eyes widened as she looked above me. I started to look up, but before I could see what she was looking at, a cold red liquid drenched the top of my head, soaking my hair and ears. The icy chill it probably had wasn't a problem. But the sweet smell and tart taste that made it into my mouth told me what it was.

"Oops, It seemed my hand slipped." the familiar voice of Wren sounded behind me, followed by chuckles.

Wiping my eyes to clear them, I could see Andreth's surprised and uneasy expression. Lucas's face had gone neutral, away from the friendly one he had been showing earlier.

Looking down, I could see my clothes were already starting to clean themselves by way of the runes stitched into them. It wouldn't solve the sticky mess in my hair or ears, but at least it was something.

I debated on what to do. I could feel Wren behind me, and the idea of slamming my fist into his face was a pleasant one, but would I even be able to? I knew next to nothing about his skills. Was he trying to start a fight with me? Why?

Taking a breath to relax, I realized he was still standing behind me, waiting for something. I turned my head slightly to look over and up at him. "Can I help you, Wren?"

He was surrounded by four other boys who were each holding a similar glass to his empty one.

"Help me?" He gave a laugh, but I could stop something in his eyes. "Your bitch of a mother couldn't even stop herself from laying with a beast. What makes you think you could help me?"

He had to know how classes worked, and I knew he knew nothing about my family, so why was he throwing unfounded insults out? I paused as a thought crossed my mind as I looked at his eager eyes.

He was actually trying to start a fight. Why? Our dungeon run was tomorrow. If there were a fight, whoever started it would be...Ah.

That was it. Wren, for whatever reason, really didn't want me to go and start a fight here. There would be lots of people around to point the finger at me, and I didn't know what the repercussions of that would be, but I did have an idea. Little did Wren know, though, he'd given me a perfect reason to leave this party, one even Kat couldn't complain about.

I gave him my best smile, trying to push down the rumble in my chest. "Well then, If you don't need anything, then I'll leave. I have to get cleaned up after all."

His eager gaze turned angry again, and now I was entirely positive he wanted to start a fight. Slowly, I got up from the now-stained couch, keeping my face as pleasant as I could. I was inwardly seething at him. Twice now, he'd insulted Kulni. I didn't personally care what he said about me; I'd only be here a few years and only here to learn. The only reason I didn't try to put an arrow through his neck was the repercussions. If there was no one around, It would have been a different story. Giving Lucas and Andreth a parting smile that held no warmth, I started to walk away. The best thing to do was leave now. Putting whatever words Wren was speaking out of my head, I had to focus on pushing down the simmering anger from the bond that Umbra was feeling. Her anger was much hotter than mine, maybe because she was a dragon or because she was young. It didn't matter.

"You should kill him," Umbra stated

Shaking my head ever so slightly, I replied mentally, "I don't know how strong he is, he has something blocking identify, and Insults are no reason for death. If he tries anything in the dungeon, though, that's a different story."

Stopping at a table to pick up two plates, I loaded food on them, ignoring the looks I was getting, and stored them. Kat was nowhere to be seen, but I didn't think she would be too upset with me leaving. I walked out of the building with a relieved sigh. Looking around at all the students in the front yard, I did have a passing thought: there were almost no adults here besides the servants. Kat had mentioned that it was hosted by a noble student, but it still seemed weird.

Checking the sky and the position of the moon, I still had time to study and practice some runes after I washed up. The smell of the wine was making me want to sneeze.

Lucas Arilon

It seemed to happen all at once as the wine fell on Aster's head. Her surprise was equal to the girl who was sitting next to her. The man who was standing behind the couch was obviously a noble. The plain student uniform couldn't hide the type of arrogance all noble children seemed to have.

I'd been lucky my father had beaten that out of me at an early age.

The fun and relaxed atmosphere that had been there a moment ago disappeared like a bubble popping.

Aster looked up, and the spark of recognition and anger in her eyes told me she knew him.

The smile she gave the noble seemed like it could skin a beast. The long set of canines showing through the red of the wine that was still dripping down her face made her look almost like a feral beast.

For a moment, I wondered if she would lunge at him. The noble seemed to expect something of the sort and had his feet positioned to move out of the way or absorb the blow. But she didn't move to do anything to him, she didn't even bother to say another word instead she spun around and made her way to the stairs at a calm, relaxed pace if you ignored the twitching ear.

Still, her eyes seemed to blaze with anger, not of her own, and I could make out small specs of purple in her eyes for a moment before she was gone. I could only come up with one thought as I watched her leave.

This stupid man seemed to be ignorant as to who he was messing with. He had a look in his eyes that told me that he didn't have a plan to stop any time soon.

Inwardly, I smiled. My father had taught me always to watch a person's eyes to see their intentions. It was one of the reasons I'd picked up the bow. I could tell by the look in his eyes that, for whatever reason, this would end badly.

That was fine, though. It wasn’t my problem. Aster was more than capable of protecting herself, even if she was ignorant of how a society like ours functioned. I could just watch it play out and get the enjoyment out of it.

I couldn't help a small smile splitting my lips at what was to come as I looked around to get a drink.

Aster

I let my head rest against the desk for a moment. The rune for mana storage had six different components, each with a different use. The type of mana, the size of the storage, the way it could be used, what rune it would go to, and so on. Needless to say, it was complicated.

There was a groan from the room to the side. I snorted. Kat had come back to the dorm so drunk she didn't even seem to notice me, just stumbling into her room and falling asleep. Putting the notebook of partial runes, I was working on. I relaxed back. We were scheduled to leave in five hours for the dungeon and were meant to meet up in four hours to go through a check with our minders.

Moving my eyes to the black box on the edge of the room, I eyed it. Inside was meant to be my armor. The short time it had taken to make it was considering. The note it had come with was open on the top, which just said if there were any issues to bring it back in for fixes.

I had wanted to wait to open and look at the armor, but with Kat still trying to recover, I figured now would be as good as any.

Mentally nudging Umbra and letting her use my sight to watch, I opened the box. The box was lined with a soft fabric. The leather armor pieces sat on top. Picking them up, I was surprised by the lack of weight. The chest piece was the thickest piece of the armor. It only covered the top half of my chest, ending where my ribs did. It would allow for easier movement than most armor and still cover my heart and lungs. The back side of the armor also had a clip that seemed to fit my bow perfectly. I couldn't even remember showing him the bow. The other parts of the armor included bracers and outer and inner thigh pieces that clipped together and seemed to flex as I bent them. The leather armor was also dyed purple and black in a scale pattern, with the purple being the accent of each of the scales.

Setting down the pieces, I looked at the other two parts of the armor, the suit and helmet. The fabric of the suit held no shine and didn't reflect any of the light as I picked it up. The material was silky smooth as I picked it up and scratched easily, but unlike the leather, it was heavy and much thicker than I would have expected. Besides that, it was plain.

Setting it back down, I picked up the helmet. It was the same matte black. The front half was a crystal black material and glimmered slightly.

Giddy with excitement and having taken my initial look, I identified the entire set.

[Partial Leather Armor - Uncommon - Made from the hide of Sevkum Bear, this leather is thick but lightweight and holds multiple enchantments.]

[Davkim Suit - Rare - Made out of Silica Fiber from a grade 4 Depth Davkim Squid, this suit is capable of withstanding low and high altitudes and protecting the body of the wearer.]

I was ecstatic, and with only a brief moment of consideration, I went to my room to get dressed and ready. Soon, I would be back in my element, killing beasts and monsters like in the forest. Before that, though, I had to find a way to sober up Kat.