Miri’s POV

I could barely sleep last night. Alira made sure of that. She spent all night interrogating me about my day out with Ryden, and I answered everything accordingly, but she wanted to go in-depth into how I felt and went crazy when I told her about Draven and his little declaration.

And just when the interrogation finally ended and I wanted to go to bed, Ryden’s words kept ringing in my ear. What did eshkara even mean, and why did he call me that while looking at me with those eyes? Those eyes that looked like I was his world.

I’d heard Dragonians only love once and that the person they love, they love forever. Could it be me? Could I be his forever love?

No. What the hell am I even thinking? How can that be? I’m overthinking things. This has never been my style. I’ll just face things as they come, one day at a time.

“Wake up, our very famous and legendary Miri.”

I am currently being annoyed by Alira, in what she believes to be an attempt to wake me up.

“What the hell are you talking about?” I reply to her groggily.

“After your attack on your first day of lectures and the scene Dad made that kept you out of class for over a week, you became famous because this is the first time both things have ever happened.”

“I’m confused. What things?” I ask, now very much awake.

“First time someone has been attacked on academy grounds, and first time they have a student out of class for over a week without any implications. You broke two records in one go.”

“Are you crazy? Are any of those things a good way to be remembered? The management might see me as a thorn in their side now.”

“Ohh, sorry, I didn’t think that far. But you do have to get up. We have classes now, and I think if you miss another day, the headmaster might personally come to take you to class.”

She leaves my side to head to the bathroom. I get up as well because she’s right, I have missed way too many classes. With that, I run after her so she can help me with my hair while she’s still in there, and also to get ready.

As we head into the main building for our first class, which happens to be Ancient Languages, I can see the judgmental stares and whispers of everyone. But we pay them no mind and make our way to the designated space for the lecture.

Just as Alira and I take a seat in an empty row, Aeren plops down close to Alira, and someone takes the empty seat beside me. I turn to see it’s the daughter of the shadow general, the one I fought on my first day. I think her name is Nimara.

“Hello, Princess. My name is Nimara. We met on the first day of physical training class. Do you remember me?”

I smile at her. I did get the name right.

“Of course I remember you. You did make quite the lasting impression last time.”

“So did you. After that day, I wanted to befriend you, but after that incident and your brothers always protecting you, I could never get close. I do hope you’re okay now,” she asks.

“Yes, I am much better, and I would love to be friends with you,” I say to her before shifting a bit to expose Alira and Aeren. “This is my brother Aeren and my sister Alira.”

“It is my pleasure to meet both of you, and I really admire you, Alira,” she says to Alira.

“Really? You admire me?” Alira asks, sounding a bit skeptical.

“Yes. A human who can hold her ground physically against a race that is physically advanced is truly worthy of anyone’s respect,” Nimara says, which earns a blush from Alira as she pushes me aside to hold Nimara’s hand.

She’s always been a big softie, especially for compliments.

“I like you, and I can tell we’re going to be really good friends from now on, Mara.”

“Mara? Did you just give me a nickname?” Nimara asks Ali with a slight laugh.

“Yeah, that’s what she does. She even gave me Riri and gave herself Ali,” I reply, laughing, which earns a punch from Ali.

But just as I’m about to attack back, the instructor walks in, and we all quickly straighten up.

“Hello, future pillars of the empire. I am your instructor for Ancient Languages. This is a course closely related to our history and will make you feel closer to your initial roots. Today, we shall focus this class on the Dragonian Empire.”

And I actually stop paying attention because I’ve never been a fan of Ancient Languages, and it isn’t even the Shadow Empire. So I simply stop listening until Alira nudges me in the waist.

“Girl, look up.”

At her words, I looked at the instructor.

“This word ESHKARA was used for the dragon’s mate. It meant she was his goddess of fire and his reason for existence. The word ESHKARA, which originally meant ‘fire deity’ or ‘divine breath,’ later became an endearment used by those of the Dragonian Empire who believe they have found their forever person. It holds a lot of value to them and isn’t used lightly because once you term a woman ESHKARA, it becomes kind of like a silent promise of eternal loyalty.”

I am left dumbfounded, and I turn to see that Alira is equally as shocked as me.

“Riri… when did it become that serious?”

“I have no idea.”

Aeren notices our expression and asks what happened, but we simply shake our heads to tell him that we’re alright. I remain dazed throughout the rest of the class. It’s only when Nimara pokes me that I realize the class has ended and that I’m supposed to meet up with the rest of the guys for lunch.

I head over, dreading how I’ll have to confront him, but as if the sacred four have different plans, he isn’t at the table. He and Renn had a faculty meeting.

So I eat with Lior, Malric, Aeren, Alira, and even Nimara joins us. For the first time, I don't even have an appetite.

As soon as I’m done, I walk out to find Ryden. I need to talk with him. I need some sort of explanation as to what is actually going on.

I head over to the faculty wing and walk around until I hear a voice from behind me.

“Are you looking for me, Eshkara?”

I turn around and cover his mouth.

“Can you please not say that word?”

“You’ve learned the meaning, haven’t you?”

“I have, and I have to ask… why? You tagged me your forever partner. Why would you do that? What if I reject you?! What if I don’t share your feelings, or my father doesn’t approve, and I choose not to fight him about it? What will you do then? Will you remain alone forever, or will you hate me and stop speaking with me?” I ask him, simply confused by all of this.

“I don’t care. Even if you reject me or marry someone else anew, I actually don’t care. And as to why… Well, when I saw Draven ask for a chance, I couldn’t help it. Call it instincts or me being insecure, I just wanted to tell you how much I loved you. I just didn’t expect you would find out the true meaning so soon.

I will never pressure you to say anything or do anything you don’t want. I just wanted to be a bit selfish and let my true feelings be known to you.

I will continue showing you through my actions as I have been doing. All you have to do is think, ‘Is this boy good enough for me to spend my forever with or no, he isn’t?’ That’s all you have to do. And when you can make a decision without any hesitation, then you can tell me. And I’ll respect it and stay by your side, protecting you forever, no matter what title you give me.”

I almost cry at his words. This man here… this man loves me. Like, he truly loves me, not a little minor infatuation, not out of curiosity, but truly loves me. All of me.

And just as I’m about to give him a reply, I hear Nimara screaming my name.

“Miri! Where are you?!”

“Mara, what is the problem? Why are you screaming my name?”

“Something happened. Ali… Ali, she—”

I start to see red.

“What happened to Ali?” I ask, my voice dropping dangerously low.

“Ali is surrounded by a group of Dragonian girls and is being beaten by all eight of them in the auditorium. If you don’t help her now, she just might die.”

At her words, I stop hearing. I stop thinking. Humming. I just walk. I start with slow, deliberate steps, then my pace increases rapidly with each breath, and I find myself full-blown out running toward the auditorium as Mara’s words echo in my head:

If you don’t help her, she might die.

I ignore the stares, the whispers, even Ryden shouting at me, as I run faster to the point that even he can’t catch up.

The path that used to feel too short now feels like it stretches for a mile, even at this speed. Any bit of composure long gone.

And just as I reach there, I see the sight that makes me see red: Ali sprawled out on the ground, protecting her vitals and face as eight girls kick her and laugh, even as she coughs up bouts of blood.

Every single bit of my rationality breaks as every ounce of my power and energia comes to the surface. The grounds and the whole academy start to shake. There is chaos now as everyone turns to look at me, but I pay them no mind.

And before anyone could predict it, I use the power of Blaze Walkers and attack them in a coordinated strike to burn them enough to leave them in ashes, without burning Ali.

The barrier that protected the academy long shattered but still a bit in place. But before they could burn, another set of fire blocks it, it envelops them and keeps my attack at bay.

I turn, my eyes darker and already knowing the red is no longer concealed, to see Ryden using Dragon Breath to protect them.

“WHY?!” I ask. “Can’t you see what they did to Ali?” my voice dropping dangerously low.

“I know. But if you kill them, you shall die as well. So I have to stop you.”

And before I can say anything, my spell is redirected into the sky, and I turn to see that it was the work of Draven. He redirected my attack.

“BLOODY ROYAL!” I shout in frustration as I prepare to attack the girls once more, but with them now trembling on the ground.

Only to hear a small, pleading voice:

“Miri… please don’t. I don’t want to implicate you. We will pay them back later. Please… come to me. It hurts.”

It’s Alira, talking with small streaks of tears falling across her cheeks.

And I regain my composure as I drop to the ground to cradle her limp body, my own tears freely falling and the girls who did this to her long gone.

“Ali, I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry. It’s all my fault. I brought this upon you. I shouldn’t have left you alone. You can blame me, okay?”

“I don’t blame you, alright?” She reassures me as she wipes away the tears from my eyes.

But before anything else can happen, we hear a loud, authoritative voice.

“Miri Velmorne, what have you done?”

“What did I do?”

“Did you just ask me that?! The barriers built by ancestors of the strongest, you just destroyed it, and you’re asking what you have done?”

And it finally dawns on me that I did just use energia in the auditorium, just as my brothers run toward the commotion.

“Miri and the rest of the Velmorne royalty to my office, along with Mr. Ryden and Alira. Go there, stay there, and wait for my instructions.”

After giving his instructions, he rushes off, and the speakers come blazing, issuing an emergency notice and closure of the academy until repairs are made and completed. Everyone should pack lightly and make their way to the ship.

While we make our way to the office, we sit for several hours until Father and the rest of our brothers come rushing in alongside the headmaster.

They take one look at me and then at Alira before all their eyes darken as they ask Alira:

“Who did this to you?”

But before either I or Alira can respond, the headmaster does it for us.

“The girls who did it have already been taken care of by your daughter, who, to the surprise of everyone present, not only destroyed an ancient barrier but also used one of the demon powers to do so. So please, Mr. Velmorne, will you sit so we can speak?”

At his words, all my brothers’ eyes dart toward me as my father takes a seat in the chair opposite the headmaster.

“Headmaster, is there a way we can settle this amicably? She just doesn’t—”

“Mr. Velmorne, I know what you want to say, but for the peace of the empires, this will be taken to an empirical council meeting with the subject of expulsion. And I’m sure you understand what that means. I advise you to go and make plans for it already.”

I look between both men, confused, as my father stands and walks out, jaw clenched, and all of us in tow.

No one says a word as we board the ship that will take us home. But out of curiosity, I do. I break the silence.

“Dad… please, can you explain what happened? Being expelled is not such a big deal, right? I mean, I don’t know… my brothers can just help. They’ll be the ones to educate me, and you can teach me about my powers. It doesn’t have to be a big deal, right?”

Everyone stays quiet, not even meeting my eye.

Thankfully, Ryden decides to answer me.

“If a member of the current ruling family is expelled for misconduct in an imperial court, the current ruling family will be dethroned and replaced by a member of the branch family.”

“What?!” I scream. “What the hell does that mean? Are you trying to say if I get expelled, Dad and my brothers will no longer be princes?! What can we do?” I stammer out the last part.

“We need to go to the ancestral home and meet your grandfather before deciding which of the two empires we have to win over.”

My dad’s words register late as I scream in exasperation.

“I have a grandfather?!”

Alira joins me in my shock as no one says anything.

What have I actually done?