Julius was still staring at Garlan, eyes wide open, frozen in place.
— “You’re going to tell me that’s... normal?” he asked, voice a bit higher than usual.
Garlan crossed his arms, leaned against the wall, and slowly nodded.
— “Not quite normal. But not dangerous. At least not to you.”
Marenna sighed.
— “You need to know, Julius. But you have to promise to keep it to yourself.”
Julius raised both hands.
— “You already hid the fact you cast spells without incantations, that you're harboring a dragon in a closet, and now you’re speaking with the voice of some ancient snake-god... I don’t think I can be shocked anymore.”
Garlan closed his eyes for a second. Then, slowly, dark scales spread across his arms, legs, and torso. A thick, living draconic tail appeared from his back. His eyes glowed with golden light. His breathing deepened—not from fatigue, but focus.
Julius stepped back.
— “...Okay. I take it back. I am shocked. Very shocked, actually. Since when can you do that? Since when have you... had that inside you?”
Garlan stayed silent a few seconds, then answered:
— “For a while. It started showing up near the end of our first year. But I’ve always felt strange sensations. Strength I couldn’t explain. Instincts.”
— “And what do you feel now?” Julius asked, more quietly.
— “A constant pressure. Like fire trying to get out. I hold back, even in my sleep. But since Brenuss awakened, it’s clearer. More alive. Like... I’m not alone in my own head anymore.”
Julius nodded, mouth slightly open, absorbed. Then he sighed deeply.
— “I thought I’d seen a lot of weird stuff… but this? This is another level.”
— “It’s a legacy,” Marenna said softly. “Something he didn’t choose. Something he’s learning to master. Just like you with your projectile magic.”
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
— “Comparing that to my lame arrow spells feels a bit harsh, don’t you think?”
The hatchling gave a happy chirp and climbed onto Garlan’s legs, curling up against his tail. Julius narrowed his eyes.
— “Speaking of which... we need to talk about him too. He’s adorable, but... we can’t hide him forever.”
Marenna nodded.
— “We’re going to have to get him out of the academy. But where... and how?”
A soft knock echoed at the door.
Garlan instantly dematerialized the scales, his tail vanishing in a gust, and his appearance returned to fully human within seconds. Marenna pulled the blanket back up over the hatchling, who gave a sleepy grumble.
The door opened slowly.
— “Hey…” said élo?se timidly. “I came to see... my Puffball?”
Complete silence fell in the room.
Then Marenna burst out laughing. Garlan followed, burying his head in his hands.
— “Your what?” Garlan managed. “You mean Julius? He’s right here. With Brenuss.”
— “Brenuss?” élo?se repeated, confused. “Who’s that?”
— “Oh right,” Marenna said, barely holding back a smile. “Didn’t we tell you? The hatchling has a name now.”
Julius, defeated, muttered:
— “I thought we agreed nicknames stayed between us...”
élo?se shrugged, mischievous:
— “Well, aren’t we between us? Like... family?”
The phrase hit the room like a soft, warm slap. Everyone froze for a moment, then looked down with a half-smile. She was right. In their own way, they were the closest thing to a family. A real one. One you could trust.
Brenuss lifted his head slowly, turned his big golden eyes toward élo?se, then stepped closer, sniffing her quietly for a long moment. He let out a low growl.
His gaze shifted slightly, and he turned immediately toward Garlan.
The link between them pulsed subtly, like a silent ripple. Garlan furrowed his brow, closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again—darker now.
— “What is it?” Marenna asked, sensing the change.
— “He... sensed something. A trace of magic. Something... off.”
Julius stepped forward.
— “Wait... you mean élo?se is...”
— “Under the influence of an external spell,” Garlan said gently.
Everyone slowly turned toward her.
élo?se, frozen, whispered:
— “What?”
