In the temple hidden in the Academy's garden, on a cold and silent night, Cale treated the small scratches on his sister's hand. Their meeting until it took to occur, finally appeasing the concern that Cale had after that occurred in the Training Tower.
"So all this happened because some idiot underestimated you?", Cale squeezed the cotton against the scratch on his sister's hand, the ardume made her frown.
"I've been exposed, but I'll still be in the training tower area. Just ignore these fools."
"The people here are more hostile than I thought", Cale commented looking at his sister carefully. "I have also dealt with some comments, although no one has seen my face."
Alinys let out a sigh and tilted her head back, looking tired. There were sharp calluses in her hands, and small scratches on her fingers. How hard has she been training since they arrived?
"If they are just our colleagues, that's fine. We can just ignore them. It would be worse if it was someone of higher rank."
Oh, sure. Cale knew there were classes.
Demigods were small and ordinary deities who still needed to ascend. Then came the heroes, who participated in great events and made small changes in the world. Then they could ascend to guardians. Protective people, of honor, who fight for what they protect.
The accumulation of achievements lead a guardian to ascend the local deity, and then to gods. This was the most they would reach, since the next step was even more difficult.
Higher deities.
In that world there are only twelve higher deities. And above them, a supreme deity.
Ereghast.
Pondering, Cale raised his head as he faced the altar.
"I don't know what the local deities would think if we were discovered. So I believe that our safe limit would be the guardians see our faces."
"The instructors may be human or just priests who follow one of the twelve gods, they are also dangerous."
"Well... it makes sense. In this case we need to hide during the classes... which annoyingly last all day. Oh, forget it, easier to stay hidden all day at once."
Alinys looked at him and smiled relieved to see the brother's bitter mood intact.
"I hope you don't go through the same problems as me. Like you said, brother, these people seem very hostile to what is different from them."
"I'm spending most of my free time here in this temple, but I've been bumping into that veteran... what's his name? The one with colored eyes..."
Alinys frowned again.
"A veteran with colored eyes? You mean... Mikhal?"
"This one!", Cale nodded and bowed his head. "Do you know him?"
Your sister took her fingers to the chin, thoughtful. Cale watched her patiently waiting for an answer, but he knew her well enough to know that the expression on her face meant something.
"I've seen him in a theory class. He usually sleeps at the back of the room. But some girls in my group seem to be attracted to him." Alinys looked up at Cale. "Did he see your face?"
"No. Only that he saw me here when I found this temple. He said something about this place not being very visited... so when he sees me in the corridors, he always greets me discreetly."
Well... a certain guardian had already found out about him, for sure. However, Cale would not comment on Aries. Surely she would be worried, wouldn't she? Cale scratched his neck not knowing if it was good or bad. Aries was a mystery. Always helping him, although he rebuke his terrible ability. But still...
He remembered the baby dragon.
" Keep alert with him. I will try to gather information about the veterans who are assisting the instructors." Alinys muttered, before sighing and looking at her brother with a thin smile on her face. "Well, I'll go back now. We just need to hold on for another two and a half weeks."
After saying goodbye to his sister, Cale remained seated on the bench of the temple, watching the altar. Silence and peace calmed his cowardly heart.
It had only been almost two weeks since they arrival at Othea. And since then, Cale had experienced stress and fun along with the suffocation. The calm of his village seemed so paradisiacal now.
That place was suffocating. Every corridor was full of demigods with divine presence. He felt like an ant among giants, who could crush him in the blink of an eye.
"At least here I feel free" whispered, watching the empty and full of vines altar on the stone table. "Incredible how just to put my feet here I feel free."
Joining hands, he was about to do his daily prayers. Pray to each of the gods of Keonna, and beg for their benevolence that all that torment should be done as soon as possible.
Just a little more, and then you could return to the place where you always belonged.
The sudden creaking of the heavy door echoed through the sacred space. Cale turned instinctively, his eyes widening as he saw Aries there. Dirty with blood, the body marked by cuts and bruises, he could barely stand.
The steps were dragged, the weight of the battle stamped in a rigid and exhausted posture. The blood, partly dry and partly fresh, stained the damaged armor and the clothes underneath it.
For a moment, Cale froze. The usual provocation disappeared from his eyes, replaced by something rare and unexpected: genuine concern.
"Aries?"
"Urgh."
Quickly he got up. In hasty steps he went to the door, widening his eyes as he noticed how Aries leaned against the door and squeezed his abdomen.
The warrior who always maintained an imposing and unshakable presence, seemed smaller there, bent by fatigue. When Cale touched his arm to guide him to one of the stone benches, Aries did not protest. He just let it go, as if the resistance cost him an effort that he could no longer offer.
"What happened?", Cale leaned over and was even more terrified to see the blood stain the tissues around his torso. "That's..."
"Ha... I can't... take it anymore."
Aries' voice came out so weak that Cale almost did not understand what he had said. But soon the body of Aries was wrapped in smoke, and the strong human form was replaced by a wounded dragon cub.
Blinking stunned, Cale frowned. He stared at the baby dragon for a few seconds to assimilate the information. Only then a smile curled on his lips.
"Well, I knew it."
Taking off his cape, he used it to wrap the dragon and grab it on his lap. He observed the sleeping dragon, whose blonde coat was stained with blood.
"What do I do? I have never cared for a common puppy... much less one like you."
The dragon breathed deep and fast, as if he was fighting hard to survive. The urgency arose like a storm. Squeezing his arms around the dragon, Cale pulled the hood to cover the creature, and he quickly turned to the altar, bending over.
"Excuse me, but there is a poor life needing me."
And then, Cale withdrew from his peaceful corner.
It took a lot of care to sneak through the silent and dark corridors, which were under the watchful eye of the instructors and watchers. It seemed that Melli, the superior god of erudition, had his own guard, who wore a mint green uniform. The symbol of erudition embroidered on their covers was beautiful, but unfortunately Cale did not have time to appreciate them.
It took about twenty minutes for him to finally reach his dorm. In the corner, between his bed and the wall, Cale threw his pillow on the floor. He lit a candle from his small altar and brought it to the ground as well, partially lighting up the space for him to start taking care of the creature.
Cautiously, Cale laid the little creature on the pillow. As he unwrapped it, Cale pulled away his fur, feeling the softness on his fingers, trying to see the wounds.
"My gosh... what the hell happened to you, Aries..."
The dragon trembled and made a lovely sound. Taking a deep breath, Cale went to his chest to get some medicine. He rushed to get all the first aid he had. He imagined that he would use it to help his sister, not a dragon.
Or rather, a famous guardian who, for some reason, turned into a dragon.
Sitting on the floor, Cale wet a piece of cotton cloth and began to clean the wounds. The dragon growled and stuck his sharp claws into Cale's arm, who suppressed the cry.
"I know it hurts, but I'm just trying to help you", Cale tried to sound as calm as possible, despite the dragon staring at him angrily. "Look... I know you're trying to look scary, but... you're cute."
The indignation in the expression of the dragon became clear.
Cale smirked and continued to clean the wound carefully.
Resented, the dragon watched him carefully, although now he stuck his claws in the pillow instead of Cale's arm. Which was a relief, since that hurt too.
Kneading medicinal herbs and mixing them with oils, Cale made a greenish paste and used it to smear bandages and curl up the dragon's wounds. His fingers were skillful and careful, sliding with a lightness that Aries did not expect. The touch was cold in contrast to his warm and febrile skin.
"My sister often gets hurt quite often because of the training", he muttered suddenly, with a soft expression on his face. "So I made it a habit to carry some things with me. I am relieved to have found you before it was too late."
Finishing the last bandage, fingers taking a little longer than necessary on the heated skin of Aries. Then Cale's eyes rose to meet his. For the first time, he did not turn away.
"The gods guide me to where I should be. And for some reason, they keep leading me to you."
The dragon's breath faltered for a brief moment. It was not an ordinary speech. It wasn't something he expected to hear. Because, deep down, maybe he had that feeling too.
And maybe, just maybe, he was too tired to deny what he felt.