Duke Lewis Canton's POV
As I walked back to my study, I had this unsettling feeling in my gut. Not many children's immediate response to death or bloodshed is like Joel's.
She had naturally evaded all my defenses, had a sharp eye and even convinced me that she was different. There was no doubt in that. A girl like that is different.
But meeting her of all the people shouldn't be a coincidence. Have I found myself a worthy apprentice then?
Not unless she is here to do more harm than good.
I was aware that there were more people praying for my downfall, than those who wished me good.
"Joel," I called out, as I found her sitting on the chair in the new, oversized robes that the guards had found for her.
"Your Highness," she stands up. Her head bows down, as she does a curtsy.
"Be at ease now. Tell me what you know about dragons?" I asked.
"I would, Your Highness. But for some reason, I don't find the robes to my liking," she sighs.
Not a minute before, I would have thought that this girl was special. Perhaps, I had misjudged her. Her dreamy eyes seemed disinterested. Her hair was let down, as she sinks back into the chair.
She was young, beautiful and smart. Her ingenious had brought her so far. But this wasn't what I entertained. If she was of no use to me, there was nothing I could do for her.
"I shall look into it that the royal seamstress brings you the finest robes as soon as possible. All in your size," I watched her closely.
Was she someone's idea of a cruel joke? She talked as if she knew everything about me. But did she?
"Joel, I have no patience for impudence," my voice was cold.
"I need to know all that you know," I tell her, and she gulps.
"Something tells me I cannot gouge Your Highness' eyes out, if I was bored," she sighed.
I had led an enemy into the palace. I should have known.
"Enemy? I thought I was better than that," she tells him.
"Who are you, little girl?" I asked, and she lifted one of her hand.
The air crystallized. A purple light emerged, cutting through it. From it popped out a sphere, cut from Ruby. It's hilt held by a thin branch as it rests in her hand.
A spectre? So she was a mage.
"A mage, who's out to get me. What for?" I looked at her.
"I am not here to get you. I will tell you all about the dragons, if you teach me the Sacred Magic Of Dragons," she said determined.
"I cannot teach you anything. Your magic cannot sustain the spells. You think just because you had your forefathers steal from the Dragons, you can perform Sacred Magic?" This was no child's play.
Long before, the three realms thought that the dragons were nothing but fire breathing beasts, capable of nothing but destruction. The truth was far from that.
The dragon clans could manipulate element within their bodies. The Earth Dragons had command over Minerals and Earth. They thrived in peace and were the saviour of the Legged Creatures.
The Fire Dragons, the most proud and prominent of them were protectors of the sky. There rage could burn cities down. Their magic was meant for destruction. They were known for their great feats in the war. So much so, that provoking then was always a bad idea.
And then, there were the Snow Dragons. The Beasts that guarded the Ocean and controlled the winds. They could freeze oceans with their breath and steered away from affairs of all magical species.
The Snow Dragons secretly studied the elements of the three realms, and developed within them the ability to harness mana. Their powers were kept hidden until the Greater One's calling.
The dragon clans had long survived the storms of three realms. The Faeries exploited dragons to the point that their loyalty became brunt. With the First Great War came the cry for help.
The Head of the three dragon clans - King Raeker from the Earth Dragons, Princess Giarda from the Fire Dragons and Princess Xiealta from the Snow Dragons merged forces. The art of harnessing mana was taught to fellow dragon clans.
And then, came the Great War. The Dragons fought for the Fae, and the other winged creatures. The Greater One, favoured the Legged Creatures. However, when the Fae Prince, Linok had agreed to the terms of peace, the war was brought to an end.
The Greater One decided that the magic couldn't be set free for all creatures to use. So they bestowed it only to the wisest of them all. The Dragons. The Dragons' magic could only be sustained by those who has the Dragon's blood within them.
There was no way that the mages who stole the magic could ever summon a spell from the bureau of Sacred Magic. It would not only burn the practicioner, but also instill upon them an irreversible curse.
"Young girl, do you wish for an early death?" I asked, and she looked at me in an all knowing manner.
"I am not naive, Prince Lewis," she says.
"I am not a prince," I tell her.
"Not here. But you are the Prince of the snow dragons. Afraid that you'll meet the same fate your Grandfather now?" She chuckles.
Just who was this girl?
"Do not pretend that you know more than what the three realms know. I am not going to teach you how to sustain the Sacred Magic's spells. If you are so eager for an early death, there could be other way," I tell her.
"Do not be fooled. You might think I come from a lineage of traitors, but I am well versed in the ways of our magic. Black Magic," she adds.
She waves her spectre, as it casts an array of dazzling sparkles that hit the curtains and set fire to them.
"Do not get ahead of yourself," I snap my fingers as a gush of flowing water pales over, dousing the fire.
"The Black Magic, you speak of is maligned. It's laden with curses. You think you can control the elements?" I reach for her spectre and break it into two.
"Try doing that now," I tell her, as she looks at me with fuming eyes.
"You think I'd like to know about the secret path that led Mages to the Dragon's Lair? I can very well find that by myself," I tell her.
"But you would love to know how the Red Daggers found their way in. Don't you?" She said, slyly.
"Little girl, you might tell me that you are unafraid but you knees are knocking," I tell her, and watch as she shivers.
"I- I-" I watched as struggled.
"What's your deal?" I look at her. It only dawns at me then. She is just a little girl.
"Waa- Don't kill me. I am only doing this because I need to learn magic," she breaks down crying.
"You have no idea how hard it was to kill that man. I have never killed a man before. But they won't take me seriously," she bawled. Her eyes turned red.
"I don't even like fancy clothes. I just want to go home," her personality had done a full one eighty.
"Please. Make me your apprentice. I want to learn magic. I read all about the history. I don't want to get married to that pesky boy. He doesn't even bathe! Please," she begged.
"I will do you a favour and not kill you right now for misleading me," I tell her and she sinks to the floor.
"Please don't kill me. I can prove to be very useful. My family is indebted to a mage Lord. They did it all for my education. But they won't teach me a thing. I ran errands and got tired of it one day," she cried.
"Then they tied me to their pervert son who wants to marry me. I want to be a skilled mage," she knelt down, cowering by my feet.
"Well then, Joel," I said, lowering myself to lift her head.
"You must know that mages don't give up easily. The only way to conjure a stronger mana is to make oneself strong from the inside," I tell her.
Wasn't this what mother had told me?
"Y- Your Highness," she stutters.
"Lies will kill you faster than any curse of magic. Remember that," I tell her and she nods.
"I won't teach you magic, till you prove yourself worthy. Even then you must know that the magic you deal with would be subpar with the Sacred Magic," I sighed.
"I will do everything it takes. Tell me right away," she begged.
"For one, I want you to fetch new curtains for the room," I tell her and she flinched. "I won't treat you like the mage Lord. But this is important. You must only destroy what you can repair."