Page 39 of Stolen By Dragons

As I made my way back to the communal area, I wondered on just how safe Aria was with the restless vampires. Chris had begun talking to her again, and I’d overheard him apologizing after a kiss… how peculiar indeed. Again, though, not something I should concern myself with too much, although I was quite becoming fond of my new friends.

To my surprise, I found the communal area still alive with quiet conversation despite the late hour. Our little group - Aria, Christopher, and Lydia - were huddled together on one of the plush sofas, their faces etched with concern. Around the room, other small groups had formed, their whispered discussions creating a low hum of anxiety.

The weight of our situation hung heavy in the air. I could see it in the slumped shoulders, the furrowed brows, the nervous fidgeting. These people had been thrust into a battle they never asked for, tasked with saving not one, but two worlds. The enormity of it all was clearly taking its toll. We’d been focusing so much on the new world and training, but now, with this new information, it was crushing down on us all, the reality sinking in.

At least, in my mind, it wasn’t so much that we were taking on the void alone now. We just had to wake up some wingedlizards and hopefully they’d do most of the heavy lifting. How exactly did we fit in once we awoke them?

That thought made me uneasy. What if that was our only purpose? Would the Dracarians still send us home? Their disdain for us worried me. Perhaps, and I hated to even think it, they’d cast us aside once we’d done the dirty work for them. Awaken their ancient beasts and then get tossed aside like yesterday’s garbage.

A sob off to the corner drew my attention, one of the fae women crying with her little entourage. I’d attempted to speak to them when we’d first arrived, but they’d turned up their noses at me. In my plane, I was not thought highly of, and the fact that my standing had followed me here burdened me.

Right now, though, was not the time for me to wallow in my own misfortune. Everyone around me had been stolen from their lives, and it was weighing on them now more than ever, the exoticness of this world waning and the shininess fading as the darkness set in.

With a flourish of my hand, I conjured a small ball of glowing light. It danced between my fingers, leaving trails of sparkling dust in its wake. A few nearby faces turned, curiosity momentarily overriding their worry.

"Ladies, gentlemen, assorted beings," I announced, pitching my voice to carry across the room. "Gather 'round for a spectacle like no other!"

As more eyes turned my way, I let the ball of light explode into a shower of multicolored butterflies. They fluttered around the room, their wings leaving trails of shimmering magic in the air. Gasps of wonder replaced the worried murmurs, and I felt a surge of satisfaction.

I wove illusion after illusion, each more fantastical than the last. Miniature dragons soared overhead, breathing harmless flames of rainbow colors. Flowers bloomed from thin air,their petals transforming into songbirds mid-flight. I created a miniature aurora borealis that danced across the ceiling, its colors shifting and swirling in mesmerizing patterns.

Laughter began to fill the room, replacing the earlier tension. Even the other fae, who I'd half expected to scoff at my ‘parlor tricks’, seemed genuinely entertained. I caught sight of Aria, her face alight with wonder as she reached out to touch a spectral butterfly that had landed on her outstretched hand.

As I continued my magical display, I couldn't help but notice the way the room had naturally segregated. The shifters had formed their own tight-knit groups, much like our little band of misfits. The werewolves clustered together, while the big cat shifters formed another faction. It was fascinating to see how quickly alliances formed, even in this strange new world. It was the nature of all species.

But it was the vampires that truly caught my attention. Valeria and Ossian seemed delighted by my illusion magic, but their three companions were not. They stood at the edge of the room, slightly away from Valeria and Ossian, their faces a mixture of boredom and disdain. All except one - Marcus, whose gaze was fixed intently on Aria. There was a hunger in his eyes that had nothing to do with my magical display, and everything to do with the only human in our midst.

Alarm bells rang in my head. Without breaking the rhythm of my performance, I began to weave a more subtle magic. Threads of protective fae energy, invisible to all but the most discerning magical eye, began to wrap around Aria. It wasn't much - certainly not enough to stop a determined vampire - but it would mask her scent somewhat and alert me if she was in immediate danger.

As I brought my impromptu show to a close, with a grand finale of illusory fireworks that rained down harmless sparks of every color imaginable, a sense of accomplishment floodedthrough me. The room was filled with smiles and excited chatter, the earlier gloom dispelled, at least for the moment.

Aria approached me, her eyes still wide with wonder. "Zephyr, that was incredible! I had no idea you could do things like that."

I gave a theatrical bow. "My dear Aria, you've only scratched the surface of my talents. My family's line of illusion magic is quite unique, even among the fae."

“What exactly is fae magic?” she asked, and I grinned, more than happy to delve into the lines of magic that the fae carried.

As we chatted, I kept a subtle eye on the vampire who had been watching her. He had melted back into the shadows, but I could still feel the weight of his gaze. I made a mental note to keep a closer watch on the vampires in the coming days. Something told me that our challenges might not all come from the impending trial.

For now, though, I was content to bask in the lighter mood I'd managed to create. Tomorrow would bring new worries and challenges, but for tonight, at least, we could all rest a little easier.

As the gathering began to disperse, people heading off to their rooms with lighter hearts, I couldn't help but feel a sense of purpose. Perhaps this was my role in all of this - to bring a little light to the darkness, to remind everyone that even in the face of great challenges, there was still room for wonder and joy.

14

ARIA

The weeks following the announcement of the Trial of the Stone Sentinels passed in a blur of intense training and heightened emotions. Each day, we pushed ourselves harder, honing our newly awakened abilities and strengthening our connection to our Dracarian heritage. The weight of our task - to awaken ancient dragons and save two worlds - hung heavy over us all.

But amidst the grueling training sessions and the constant worry about what lay ahead, I found moments of unexpected comfort. My relationships with the others in our little group had deepened, evolving into something that felt like family. Lydia's quiet strength, Zephyr's mischievous humor, and Chris's unwavering support had become anchors in this strange new world.

And then there was Ossian.

The vampire had become a constant presence in my life, seeking me out in the communal area whenever I found myselfthere alone. As the days passed, I found myself looking forward to our conversations.

Ossian was a wealth of knowledge, his centuries of existence giving him a unique perspective on history and human nature. He told me tales of bygone eras, of the rise and fall of empires, of art and music long lost to time. I found myself fascinated by the way he spoke, the elegant cadence of his words painting vivid pictures in my mind.

"Tell me about the Renaissance," I asked one evening, curled up in an armchair as Ossian leaned against the fireplace. "What was it like to see it firsthand?"

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