Chapter 16
The night passed in eerie silence, save for the crackling of the fire and the occasional rustling of the wind through the ancient ruins. Zyrex had fallen into a deep sleep, his body finally succumbing to exhaustion. The dragons remained on guard, though none voiced their concerns aloud.
Noah sat with his back against a broken pillar, staring at the starless sky. His mind refused to rest. Even after everything, doubt lingered—had he really done the right thing?
Silviana, seated a short distance away, finally spoke. "You're worried," she said. It wasn't a question.
Noah exhaled. "Should I not be? If Zyrex had gone berserk back there, we wouldn't be sitting here right now."
She studied him carefully. "But he didn't. And you saved him."
Noah scoffed. "Saved? Maybe. Or maybe I just delayed something inevitable."
Tenebris, lying down in his dragon form, cracked one golden eye open. "If he does lose control, I'll handle it." His voice carried absolute certainty.
Meanwhile, Ignis tossed a small ember into the fire. "Enough talk. Just wait and see what happens."
Their conversation faded into silence again. Across the campfire, Zyrex shifted slightly in his sleep, a faint frown creasing his forehead. Noah watched him for a moment longer before finally closing his eyes, allowing exhaustion to take over.
—
Dawn arrived.
Zyrex stirred awake, blinking as the morning sun filtered through the ruins. His body ached, his mind foggy, but something was different. He wasn't in a cold, dark cell. He wasn't bound.
He was… free.
His gaze flickered over to Noah, who was still asleep, then to the dragons watching him cautiously. His fingers clenched. What now?
Zyrex sat up slowly, his body sore but functional. His black eyes scanned his surroundings, taking in the ruined structures, the dragons, and finally, Noah—still half-asleep, rubbing his eyes. It felt surreal.
How? Why?
Before he could make sense of it, a voice broke through his thoughts.
"What do you plan to do now?"
Silviana's golden gaze met his, calm but firm. There was no hostility in her voice, only curiosity—yet Zyrex felt cornered.
His fingers curled into the dirt beneath him. "...I don't know."
He didn't expect to be given a choice. He never had one before.
Noah, now fully awake, stretched before standing up. "Then I have a suggestion—join us."
Zyrex narrowed his eyes. "Join you?"
"Yeah," Noah said casually. "You can't just wander around aimlessly, and after everything you've been through… You deserve a chance at something better. So why not come with us?"
Zyrex scoffed. "And do what? Play hero?"
Noah smirked. "Close enough. We're heading to the academy soon. You could come along."
Zyrex frowned, his mind clouded. Academy? A normal life? After all this? His thoughts swirled into chaos, his past and present clashing violently.
Silviana, watching his growing confusion, sighed. "I see," she murmured, stepping closer. "You're still lost in your own mind, unable to think clearly."
Before Zyrex could react, she raised her hand. A faint, silver glow emanated from her fingertips.
"Allow me."
A gentle pulse of power surged through him. It wasn't invasive, but it swept through his mind like a calming wave, organizing the storm of emotions raging inside him. Clarity.
Zyrex's tense shoulders loosened. His breath steadied. And for the first time in years, his thoughts became clear.
He looked at Noah again, this time truly considering his words.
"...What if I don't belong?" he asked quietly.
Noah smirked. "Then you make a place for yourself."
For a long moment, Zyrex said nothing. Then, finally—
"Fine."
Azura stretched his arms behind his head, smirking. "Look at me—I thought I had no one. Even my dick would stand up to others before I did, but now I have a family who stands by me."
Ignis, who had been silently tolerating him, finally snapped. His eye twitched as he growled, "Don't compare us to your damn dick, Azura."
Silviana sighed, rubbing her temples. Vaeloran let out a tired chuckle, while Tenebris remained expressionless.
Meanwhile, Zyrex just stared, utterly baffled. What kind of group is this?
Azura was about to spout more nonsense when—smack!
Tenebris casually smacked him on the head, silencing him instantly. Azura rubbed his head, grumbling under his breath, while the others pretended not to notice.
Ignoring him, Tenebris turned to Noah. "So, are you ready to learn Dragon Magic?" His golden eyes shifted toward Zyrex. "And… should I teach the newcomer too?"
Noah shook his head. "No need for him. He'll get stronger than you think without any help."
Then he stood up, dusting off his clothes. "Let's go."
Tenebris gave a slow nod, then turned, leading Noah away from the campfire and deeper into the ruins of the Lost City. The faint glow of mana still pulsed through the ancient stone, remnants of a civilization long gone.
Noah followed in silence, his mind brimming with anticipation. Dragon Magic—a power distinct from human magic, something beyond mere spells or incantations. It was raw, primal, something only the dragons truly understood.
Tenebris finally stopped in an open clearing where the ground was littered with broken pillars and carved symbols. He glanced at Noah, his golden eyes gleaming under the moonlight.
"Before we start," Tenebris began, "tell me—what do you think magic is?"
Noah frowned at the question. "Power," he answered simply. "The ability to bend the world to your will."
Tenebris smirked. "Typical human answer. That's why you fail."
With a wave of his hand, a surge of darkness coiled around his fingers, taking shape without any chant or catalyst. "Magic isn't just power. It's instinct. It's not about controlling mana—it's about letting it flow through you, making it a part of you."
Noah watched closely. Unlike human mages, who had to recite spells or form complicated circles, Tenebris manipulated the very essence of mana as if it were an extension of himself.
"Dragon Magic doesn't obey logic. It doesn't follow formulas like your human spells. It's alive."
Noah clenched his fists. He had always known dragons were beyond human capabilities, but seeing it up close made it even clearer.
"Enough talking," Tenebris said. "Let's begin."
Noah took a deep breath.
This was it. The start of something entirely new.
Noah's training began brutally. Unlike human magic, which relied on structured spells and formulas, Dragon Magic demanded something deeper—instinct, willpower, and raw intent.
Tenebris didn't teach with words. He attacked.
Noah barely dodged a dark spear made of pure magic before it shattered the ground behind him. "Move faster," Tenebris ordered.
Noah gritted his teeth. Bastard.
Each lesson pushed his body and mind to their limits. He had to sense mana, not control it. He had to command it like a dragon. The first time he tried, nothing happened.
By the third day, he was barely dodging Tenebris' attacks.
By the fifth day, something clicked.
A flicker of golden energy surged through his veins. When Tenebris attacked again, Noah raised his hand on instinct. A barrier formed—not a spell, not human magic—something raw, untamed, powerful.
Tenebris stopped. He grinned.
"You finally get it."
Noah stared at his own hand, golden energy crackling around it. This wasn't human magic. It felt wilder, more alive—like it wanted to roar.
Tenebris nodded in approval. "You've taken the first step."
Noah exhaled sharply. Only the first? He already felt like he'd been through hell.
"Now, make that power yours," Tenebris continued. "Until then—" His golden eyes flashed. "You're still prey."
Noah barely had time to react before a dark tendril of energy lashed toward him. Instinct took over. His golden aura flared, and his body moved.
A boom echoed through the training ground as Noah countered the attack—his first real use of Dragon Magic.
Tenebris smirked. "Not bad."
Noah clenched his fists. "Not enough."
To be continued -