All the way back, Darius watched silently as Draco intently studied the first page of the book he had taken from the treasury. The mage really did not expect his apprentice's family to be in possession of their own dragon cipher. This meant that even though he thought he had gathered all the available information about the Ignis family, there was still much to discover. Especially since the code his student was deciphering did not belong to the publicly available version popular among large reptiles. Theoretically, there was no law in Dagos prohibiting the creation of new versions of the dragon cipher, but the truth was that only very influential families and high-ranking military personnel could do so.
There is no point in thinking about it now. Everything will become clear in time, and for now, we should be happy that everything is going well. The magician looked out the carriage window and watched with slight weariness the bustling crowd pouring through the commercial district. For a moment, he took his mind off his daily worries and enjoyed the journey in the company of his student.
Darius really wanted the rest of the day to pass in such an unusually peaceful atmosphere, but as soon as they arrived at the door of the house, he knew that peace and quiet were nothing but a dream. The moment they got out of the carriage, Bleist was approached by three servants who half-pulled, half-pushed him towards the apartment, listing all the important guests at the evening ball, presenting what the duchess had prepared for the earl to wear and what the plan for the reception was. The mage only had time to glance over his shoulder and notice that Draco was being treated much more gently and was walking slowly with Oscar, talking animatedly about something. Darius met the gaze of his butler, who meaningfully ignored the silent pleas for help from the busy servants and focused on his conversation with the young master. Darius had no choice but to resign himself to his fate.
An hour later, refreshed, dressed in a heavy, embroidered robe and privy to all the intricacies of Gizel's plan, Darius finally descended to the hall. His head was spinning a little from listening to three servants talking over each other and the amount of information they had given him. As soon as he reached the ground floor, the mage put on a haughty, aristocratic expression and stood up straight. He scanned the hall. Captain Forth and Lieutenant Retter were waiting in their ceremonial uniforms. They looked very dignified, and the fact that they were to be Bleist's assistants and bodyguards that evening added to their gravitas. Near them stood four younger guards who had become friends with Draco. Ari and Cassius were to assist the dragon during the ball, so they were also wearing ceremonial uniforms. Kei and Vincent, on the other hand, stood slightly fidgeting and adjusting their ceremonial half-armour with the coat of arms of Darius engraved on their chests. It seemed that Lieutenant Eghart had assigned them to the honorary escort.
-Is everyone waiting?- Draco came down, adjusting his stiff collar. Darius immediately understood that it was not only his attire that the Duchess of laVerture had interfered with. Bleist was sure that the dragon was wearing a snow-white shirt with a high, stiff collar embroidered with gold thread in flames, blue trousers with puffed legs tucked into high cavalry boots made, surprisingly, navy blue leather with gold buckles in the shape of flames. Over the shirt, he wore a sleeveless tunic made of extremely thin and durable blue silk, reaching approximately to the middle of the thigh at the front and to the calf at the back. On top of all this, the dragon had to wear a thick blue caftan with short sleeves, stitched with gold thread and embroidered with a dragon on the left side of the neck and a griffin on the right. Around his waist, he wore a belt made of engraved gold plates with a Gler'thys attached to it. Darius noticed that with every movement, the caftan reflected light caught by tiny sapphires set at each intersection of the embroidery lines. The ensemble was completed by a blue cape with a coat of arms on the right side, draped over his shoulders and fastened at the neck with a gold chain with fire-shaped links and clasps in the form of a dragon on the right and a griffin on the left. Draco looked truly magnificent. In addition, he gave the impression that he was accustomed to such attire.
-Gizel really knows fashion,- Darius simply stated.
-Are you sure? I still think the collar is wrong.- The dragon stood next to the mage and tried to adjust the collar again.
-No, everything is fine.- Bleist adjusted the fabric under Draco's neck himself.- It really is perfect.
-If you say so, master.- The boy nodded calmly and put his hands behind his back.
-If everyone is ready, it's time to go.- Darius took a deep breath and walked briskly towards the door. The dragon walked right next to him, followed by the designated soldiers.
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Draco was a little distracted after visiting his own treasury and finding a fascinating book. On the one hand, he was weighed down by the finally confirmed truth about his parents, and on the other, he was consumed by his immense interest in Dark Speech. It was only when he came down dressed in rich robes that he realised what was really going on. Everyone was dressed up and standing at attention with indifferent, somewhat haughty expressions. They were ready for their roles. The dragon breathed deeper as he and the others moved towards the exit. Mentally, he was ready for a pompous carriage ride, but when the doors opened, he stood frozen.
A gold and blue carriage was parked in the driveway. It was dripping with splendour. In addition, it was drawn by four silvery besses with shiny, brushed coats. The majestic creatures looked around with little interest. However, that was not what surprised the dragon. In front of and behind the carriage stood what appeared to be an entire cavalry company of soldiers in heavy, richly decorated armour riding stately besses. The impression was truly amazing.
-I see you're surprised,- Darius smiled. -The first time you see this, it always takes your breath away.
-This...- The dragon looked around again, but couldn't find the right words. He just shook his head and caught up with his master.
Together with Captain Forth and Lieutenant Retter, they got into the carriage, and Ari closed the door behind them. The young soldiers took their places in the back of the vehicle.
-It's going to be a pleasant ride,- the captain said as soon as they set off. Despite their size, the besses made almost no noise when moving, so only the monotonous clanging of heavy armour could be heard from outside.
-It won't be that long, and then a tough battle awaits us,- sighed the lieutenant, glancing wistfully out the window.
-You're predicting disaster before anything has even happened.- Darius stretched a little.- Maybe it won't be so bad.
-You must be joking, sir.- The senior officer raised one eyebrow in surprise. -The entire ball was organised by the honourable Duchess laVerture, so I expect anything but peace and quiet.- He finished and turned back to the window as if nothing had happened.
-Oh, let me dream,- Bleist whispered desperately.
-How are you feeling before your debut, young master?- Seth tried to change the subject.
-Debut?- Draco suddenly tensed up, realising a few things. Only now did it dawn on him that this would be his first official appearance as Darius's student, and that he would therefore be the centre of attention for all the guests. Secondly, from what he had managed to gather, the whole ball was intended to clearly show that Earl Ed'heere supported Master Vittoro, and thus many of the master's enemies would be there. The third thing, which was probably obvious to others, was that the invited guests were certainly the creme de la creme of Atlantean society. The dragon felt the blood drain from his face and his heart begin to beat faster.
-Calm down, Draco, calm down.- Darius quickly realised what was happening and grabbed the dragon by the arm. -You won't be alone there. Ari and Cassius will be with you the whole time, and I suspect James will keep you company as well. - He smiled encouragingly. - I can't promise that I'll be with you the whole evening, because I know exactly what these parties are like. Anyway, Gizel has probably planned everything so that you won't feel uncomfortable.
- I... I don't know... - Draco stammered, shaken.
-Relax,- Bleist repeated. -You're a well-mannered young man. Your aunt taught you all the rules of etiquette, and I know you can behave in social situations,- he said with conviction.
The dragon looked into his master's eyes and tried to calm down. My master believes in me. My aunt taught me everything. I won't be alone. He repeated to himself, trying to breathe evenly.
-I... I'll try to stay calm,- he said when he was able to form a coherent sentence.
-Remember that no matter what happens at the party, I will always be on your side.- Darius squeezed his shoulder a little harder. - Don't worry about anything and just be yourself.
Draco just nodded and tried to smile. After a moment, Darius let go of him and leaned back in his seat. However, he kept glancing at his pupil. Meanwhile, the dragon turned to the window, wanting to occupy his mind with something. He did so at the right moment, because they had just left the walls of Rithien, a villa district. The carriage began to slowly climb a road that had an almost vertical stone wall on one side and a steep slope with well-kept vineyards on the other. Draco had not noticed before that the wealthy neighbourhood where he now lived was located on a hill. Only now, from this higher vantage point, did he see the intricate layout of the city of magicians. Below the vineyard were smaller estates surrounded by hedges or low fences. Further on, the buildings became denser. Instead of manors, there were single-family houses, and parks were replaced by small gardens. Further on, tall tenement houses rose, separated by wide streets. The closer to the city walls, the narrower the side streets became and the less regular the buildings. Draco had really good eyesight, but even he found it difficult to see any details on the outskirts of the city.
He had read earlier that Atlantis was a very large city with a diverse terrain. However, after a month of living in the kingdom of light, he had not even seen a fraction of the metropolis. He had got to know Soeren, Rithien and the commercial district of Dorvus a little, but in reality, even there he had not seen even a glimpse of what they had to offer. What does one need to do to get to know Atlantis?
The carriage took a sharp turn and the dragon saw the peak he assumed they were heading for. Terraces had been built above the next vineyard, on which gardens had been planted. They were approaching slowly, so Draco could see various shrubs, trees and flower beds that would have delighted his aunt. Above the terraced gardens, solid foundations had been built, and the palace had been erected on top of them. Although it would be better to say that it was one huge ballroom. The entire structure seemed to have no walls, and everything was supported by intricately carved columns. From the outside, the entire palace was encased in crystal panes, spaced a few segments apart to allow air to circulate inside. The building was lit by huge chandeliers that looked like ice sculptures. Another stunning sight.
As they got even closer, the dragon saw crowds of guests flowing inside. The closer they got, the more Draco became convinced that Atlantis fashion equalled diversity. He suspected that the colours of the outfits corresponded to the guests' family colours.
-I think we'll be the last ones.- The dragon adjusted himself in his seat and tried to calm down.
-Luckily, I'm not the main organiser, so I didn't have to be here from the beginning.- Darius seemed pleased that he didn't have to take care of the preparations himself. However, his expression quickly soured. -Gizel organised everything, which means I have nothing to be happy about.
-It won't be that bad.- This time, Draco tried to cheer up his master, but he knew all too well that there was no point in deluding himself.
-Thank you for your efforts. - Bleist smiled crookedly.
The carriage and its escort pulled up in front of the main entrance, causing a general stir among the guests. Ari and Forth jumped down from their seats and immediately opened the doors. The captain and lieutenant got out first, followed by Draco and Darius. The master immediately straightened up stiffly and put on a mask of seriousness and dignity. The dragon tried to do the same, but he wasn't sure if he had succeeded. They moved towards the entrance, and the soldiers followed a few steps behind them.
-Remember, stay calm, - whispered Darius before they entered. - Everything will be fine.
The crystal doors were opened by footmen in green livery. They bowed low as they passed, and Draco felt a little uncomfortable. He had already grown accustomed to the behaviour of the servants at Ed'heere, but now he had mixed feelings. Almost immediately, he forgot about his feelings.
-The Grand Master's military advisor, Colonel of the Azure Guard, Earl Ed'heere Darius Bleist. Earl Bleist's first student, young master Draco Ignis.- The chamberlain's loud voice echoed throughout the palace.
Everyone who had been pretending to be busy with something else turned towards the entrance. The dragon, now more tense, had the opportunity to take a closer look at the guests. In the colourful crowd, he could immediately recognise the servants, assistants, private soldiers and aides accompanying the aristocrats and invited officers. The guests wore a wide variety of outfits. From rich, voluminous robes similar to those worn by the master, to those similar to those Gizel had prepared for the dragon, to outfits resembling Atlantean uniforms. The women wore long dresses in various styles, from fitted to flowing and frilly. The only common element of the ladies' attire was the wide shawls draped over their shoulders.
-Finally, you are here, Darius.- Gizel emerged from the crowd and approached them with a seductive gait. She was wearing a bottle-green dress that emphasised her shapely figure and flowed freely to the floor. With every movement, the entire creation gently shimmered with the light caught by tiny emeralds. A green shawl trimmed with silvery fur rested on her shoulders. The elf wore no jewellery except for a delicate tiara holding her intricately styled hair in place. - I thought you weren't coming.- She extended her hand towards the man.
-How could I miss the opportunity to spend an evening in such pleasant company, Gizel?- Darius kissed her hand without stepping out of his aristocratic role.- You look wonderful, as always.
-Oh, you're so sweet, as always.- The elf smiled warmly and shifted her gaze to the dragon. -I was right that you would look good in this, my dear.
-However, it is your creation that delights and intimidates.- Draco bowed courteously, following all the rules of Atlantean etiquette.
-Thank you, my dear.- The duchess smiled a little wider. -You should learn compliments from your student, Darius.- She said, offering her arm to the mage. -And now, gentlemen, if I may.