Chapter 13: The Day of the Sweep
Morning lay thick and grey over Lowmoor Academy, weighed down by clouds that threatened snow. A hush hung in every corridor—too many whispers had spoken of the Guild's artifact, and now its hour had come.
Zephyr and Fenna reached the herb cellar at first bell. Star, still drowsy, poked his head from the sling, silver eyes luminous in the dim light. Against Zephyr's palm, the Veil Stone fragment pulsed a slow violet, steady as a heartbeat.
"This is it," Fenna murmured. "We have maybe eight hours before they scan every wing."
Zephyr set the shard on a crate. It floated, humming gently. "System, how do we bind the Veil Stone?"
[Ding! Temporary Core-Mask Procedure]
Clamp fragment against dragon chest.
Host channels 50 mana into shard—duration linked to charge.
Suppression lasts thirty hours at full capacity.
Warning: Drains host stamina.
Zephyr flexed sore fingers. "I have enough mana for one full charge. After that we'll be vulnerable again." He knelt, coaxing Star onto his lap. "Ready, little scout?"
Star chirped, tiny wings flaring.
Fenna produced a strip of soft leather. Together, they pressed the shard to Star's breastbone and bound it snug. Veils of purple light seeped into scales, then faded.
Zephyr felt the bond quiet—a blanket folded over a flame. He squeezed his eyes shut, directing mana through his palm into the shard. Heat pricked behind his ribs, but he kept channeling.
Charge 100 %. Masking active.
When he opened his eyes, Star's aura was faint as a candle behind thick glass. Relief surged.
Fenna handed Zephyr an herb tonic. "Drink. You look pale."
He gulped the bitter liquid, then smiled. "Better."
By mid-afternoon, every student, caretaker, and instructor assembled in the Grand Drill Hall, a vast chamber of stone pillars and arch windows. At its center stood a plinth bearing the Guild's silver chest, now open to reveal a crystalline orb the size of a melon. Inside swirled shifting light—amber, azure, and crimson.
Seer Kalthis raised gloved hands. "Resonance sweep will commence. Keep beasts calm. Tamers, stand firm."
Guild soldiers fanned out, each clutching a chain of runes that anchored the orb's growing glow.
Zephyr's pulse beat so hard he tasted iron. Star rested inside the sling beneath his cloak, the Veil Stone cool as ice.
Fenna took Zephyr's hand among the caretakers' line. She squeezed—a silent promise.
The orb flashed.
Light rippled across the hall like a silent wave. Zephyr felt it pass through coat, skin, bone—a cool tingle, searching. Around them, beasts shivered or preened nervously. Callen's Bristle Fang snarled but stayed seated.
Zephyr held still, drawing slow breaths. He pictured calm, wrapping the bond in quiet thought.
The wave crested—paused—
For a split second, violet sparks flickered around the sling. The Veil Stone glowed, absorbing, distorting. The sparks vanished.
Seer Kalthis's pale eyes snapped toward the caretakers. Zephyr fought to keep his face neutral. Beside him, Fenna hummed a soft herb-lull tune that blended into the murmurs.
Kalthis's gaze slid on.
The sweep receded, leaving only lamps' orange glow. Captain Marron stepped forward. "Sweep complete. No unstable cores detected. We appreciate the academy's cooperation."
Applause rippled—relieved, ragged.
Zephyr's knees threatened to give, but he stayed upright until dismissal.
Outside, Wren intercepted Zephyr and Fenna beneath the cloister. "You kept your Hollowback hidden well," she said, voice unreadable. "But the Seer wishes a private evaluation tomorrow morning. She says your beast intrigues her."
Ice trickled down Zephyr's spine.
Fenna stepped in smoothly. "Chief Medic, Star's core is delicate. Another probe so soon could harm him."
Wren studied Fenna, then Zephyr. Her stern features softened a fraction. "I'll relay your concern. Perhaps a delay." She turned, cloak swirling.
Zephyr exhaled shakily. "We bought time, but not freedom."
Back in the cellar, Zephyr sagged onto blankets. The mana drain hit now—limbs leaden, head pounding. Star chirped in worry.
Fenna brewed willowbark tea, pressing the warm cup to his hands. "Rest. I'll stand watch."
Zephyr sipped. Heat spread through chilled veins. He looked at Star, who poked the Veil Stone and whined. "We can't recharge that shard often," he murmured. "We need a permanent solution."
Fenna nodded, brow creased. "The System said sixty days max before it shatters."
Zephyr thought of Grent's seacoal gift, of hidden allies. "We strengthen Star fast. Enough power to fly us clear if everything fails."
The next three days blurred. By dawn they mixed ember pellets; by dusk they raced in the hidden cavern.
Flight Drills: Star glided across stalagmite arches, wingspan now 22 cm.
Agility +5. Wing Power +3.
Flame Control: Zephyr balanced clay bowls; Star exhaled small focused jets to scorch targets without lighting straw.
Fire Attribute +4. Host Mana +2.
Tremor Navigation: Using Dragon Sense and Star's innate Hollowback mimicry, they practiced mapping buried stones—preparing for Seer tests.
Blood-line purity climbed to 14 %.
But with each success, exhaustion stalked Zephyr. Mana charges on the Veil Stone needed renewal; every ritual cost him strength. Fenna brewed tonic after tonic, dark circles under her own eyes.
On the fourth morning, Wren sent a note: Private evaluation at noon. Mandatory.
Zephyr closed the letter with numb fingers. "We are out of time."
They prepared in silence. Fenna placed the moonleaf locket against Star's sling. Zephyr recharged the Veil Stone to eighty percent, nearly draining his reserves.
As the chimes struck midday, Zephyr stood inside an empty lecture room, sunlight slanting across dust motes. Seer Kalthis entered alone, spectacles glinting.
"Caretaker," she said softly. "May I see your Hollowback again?"
Zephyr nodded, placing Star on the table. The hatchling blinked, feigning docility. The Veil Stone glinted at his breast, but not enough to draw suspicion.
Kalthis set a polished quartz disc near the dragonling. No light—just a mirror for mana. "Touch the disc, little one."
Star placed a tiny claw atop the crystal. A soft ripple spread—stable, dull. The Seer's brow furrowed. She added a second disc, then a third. Each response was muted, as if tasting lukewarm water.
Finally she smiled, shrug half amused, half resigned. "Fascinating. Your beast has nearly no combative resonance. Rare indeed."
Zephyr feigned sheepishness. "Support only, ma'am. I'm glad he passes."
Kalthis studied his face. "Wherever beasts like these still hide, cherish them. The world grows hungry for monsters. We forget tools of quiet value." She straightened. "Thank you, caretaker."
He bowed, relief crashing through him like rain after drought.
That night in the cavern, while Star dozed after another pellet, the System chimed anew:
Stage 1 complete: Survival through Guild sweep.
Blood-line purity +1 % → 15 %
Reward Unlocked: Command Aura (Tier 1) — host can issue instinct pulse to draconic beast within bond radius (10 m).
Stage 2 begins:
• Prepare Star for first molt (target wingspan 35 cm).
• Complete within 30 days.
• Bonus objective: Secure safe sky-exit route beyond Lowmoor.
Zephyr rubbed tired eyes but smiled. "We bought thirty more days."
Fenna leaned on his shoulder. "We'll use every hour."
Star snored softly, tiny tongue flicking embers.
Outside the tunnels, winter tightened its grip, and Guild watchers sharpened their gaze—
—but in the hidden dark, a Sovereign bond burned brighter, readying to soar.