Page 15 of Ava’s Love of the Dragons (Of Dragons, Love, and Destiny #2)

Time went by, and Ava would rise daily just before dawn. She regularly reminded herself why she had begun training with Master Clark and therefore took it seriously. Although she hadn't encountered him again, this didn't dampen her determination.

She would have breakfast with the other combat students—except for Magg, who was the first on the training field in the morning and the last to leave in the evening because she trained late into the night—and kept her distance from them for the rest of the day to run.

During breakfast, she would talk with Ralph, but only briefly, as he constantly encouraged her to focus on herself.

At lunch, he would just nod to her and sit with the others.

She enjoyed dinner with Lilly and Marcus and tended to her wounds.

The blisters on her feet had blisters, and her leg muscles were so cramped that she had to massage them daily just to be able to stand up after eating.

Everything hurt.

Lynn joined them for dinner, which Lilly did not like at all. But the lessons seemed to be good for her, as she looked happy and lively. Her cheeks were becoming rounder from regular sleep and ample food, and the hunted expression in her eyes was visibly disappearing with each passing day.

"How long do you plan to keep running around?" Marcus asked over his plate of steamed vegetables and rice. "What happens if word gets out that you're here? If the mages discover you?"

"I'm staying." Ava didn't say more, as this wasn't the first time they'd had this conversation. Somehow, he reminded her of Aunt Helen. To change the subject, she nudged Lilly in the side. "So? How are the lessons going?"

She grumbled, "Booooring!"

Lynn snorted in amusement. "Nonsense, you just have to keep up appearances. In reality, we're working on an extremely exciting project, and Lilly voluntarily comes to the library for two extra hours after lunch."

The girl pressed her finger to her lips, and then Lynn winked at her and turned back to Ava. "But let's hear more about you. Have you conquered your inner demons yet?"

Did everyone really know about her task?

Ava massaged her cramping calves. "I jog every day and know why I'm doing it. It probably won't be long before Master Clark recognizes my determination. At least I hope so, because time is running out."

Lilly nodded seriously. "Because Kilian has to marry the princess soon. We need the solution before that!"

There was a stabbing sensation in Ava's stomach, but she ignored it by flicking her hair out of her forehead and jutting out her chin. "I'm primarily concerned about the dragons."

"Of course." Lilly rolled her eyes demonstratively, while Marcus smiled at Ava.

"I'm glad you're not thinking about the dragon fighter anymore. Your destiny is with the dragons, and as soon as you're ready, we'll go to our people and—"

Lilly groaned, but it was Lynn who interrupted him. "Ava doesn't belong to your people, Marcus. You can tell that at first glance."

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously, his mischievous expression now only half-hearted. Ava had never seen him so dismissive. "What do you know about my people, Lynn?"

She smiled calmly. "Everything. That's why I also know that it's in your genes not to fight.

You're peaceful and good-natured, which is why all the guardians used to come from your people.

But times have changed. Nowadays, a guardian needs different skills.

Just look into Ava's eyes, and you'll see that she's cut from a completely different cloth than you. "

He glided his gaze admiringly over Ava. "As if I hadn't recognized that from the first moment. It was love at first sight."

"That's laying it on a bit thick." Laughing, Ava patted his hand to lighten the mood—although she certainly understood that he meant it seriously.

But she wasn't ready to be in a relationship, to trust someone and let them get close to her.

She probably never would be. Moreover, the feelings she had for Marcus were just as a good friend.

She quickly turned to Lynn before Marcus could speak about the tiresome topic again. "Do you have any idea who I might be descended from?"

"What do you know about your parents?"

The lump she usually felt in her throat at this topic of conversation didn't have a chance to form this time, since she waved it away with the utmost composure.

The jogging seemed to be working. "Nothing.

I told you everything yesterday..." ...she kept it short and sweet, because the others had kept asking, and she wanted to finally put the matter to rest.

Marcus stroked her hand. She withdrew it resolutely and grabbed the tray with her dishes. "I should head to bed soon."

Lilly's eyes widened in disbelief. "Already? But the sun has just set!"

Ava winked at her. "True, but unlike you, I get up before daybreak."

"And she jogs several kilometers every day," Marcus added.

Nodding tiredly, she stood up. "Exactly. I'll see you tomorrow. Good night."

Marcus immediately jumped up from his chair. "I'll walk you to your room."

"That's not necessary."

"Yes, it is! I need to discuss something with you alone."

Lilly rolled her eyes demonstratively. "We all know you're in love with her!"

Even Lynn let out a laugh, but Marcus felt no shame. He winked mischievously at Lilly. "Well, and yet she's never kissed me. So I can't give up yet, don't you think?"

The girl just shrugged and leaned towards Lynn.

The two seemed content to talk alone, as they immediately delved into a conversation.

Ava observed this with approval. It was good that Lilly had someone else to relate to.

Perhaps it would even make sense to leave the girl here once her training was complete, in order to keep her out of danger.

As soon as they had put away their used dishes, Marcus linked arms with her and led her out of the room as if they were on their way to a rendezvous.

Because the day had indeed exhausted her—okay, not just that day, but all the past days combined—she allowed his arm to remain at her side as they left the dining hall.

Once they had climbed the stairs to the sleeping quarters and were in the corridor where her and Lilly's rooms were located, he stopped. "Ava, I overheard something and I need to talk to you about it."

He looked serious and not at all like he was trying to charm her, which made Ava take notice.

"What was it about?"

Glancing furtively to the side, he made sure they were alone, pulled her a few more steps away from the stairs, and lowered his voice. "You probably remember what I told you about why Master Clark no longer teaches the king's dragon fighters."

"Supposedly he's able to use magic."

Nodding, he looked down the hallway in both directions again before continuing. "This afternoon, I observed one of the cooks doing something... unusual." He was hemming and hawing. He usually wasn't at a loss for words.

"What did she do?"

He grasped her by the shoulders and looked at her intently. "She sprinkled a powder from a small bottle into the dirty pot, and after that, she only had to rinse it once with water, and it was clean."

Somehow, she had been expecting him to tell her about something more alarming than housework. She furrowed her brow in confusion. "What are you trying to say?"

"She used magic!" He covered his mouth, startled by his loud words, and lowered his voice again. "Don't you see, Ava, magic isn't viewed here for what it is: dangerous!"

"But maybe it wasn't magic at all, just a cleaning agent. Baking soda, for example. Aunt Helen uses it all the time for cleaning."

He shook his head. "I'm one hundred percent sure."

Her limbs felt heavy again, and she shifted her weight from one leg to the other. She shrugged casually. "So?"

"This is a serious matter!"

She was about to reply that she didn't think it was all that severe, until she suddenly remembered that Kilian had warned her to be cautious when discussing magic with others. "What are you implying?"

His grip on her shoulders tightened. She hadn't thought he'd that much strength.

"Don't you see? If one person in this area uses magic as a tool, the others are certainly not opposed to it either. Maybe they're trading with the mages, maybe they're their allies, maybe Master Clark is stalling you until you exhaust your powers, only to then hand you over to the mages."

His considerations weren't completely far-fetched. Uncomfortable, she rubbed her arms, still unsure what to think of magic itself. Lilly was magically gifted, she had noticed that, but the girl kept it secret. And she wasn't evil. Wasn't a power always as good or bad as the one who wielded it?

"Is it possible that you're exaggerating a bit? Not everyone who uses magic has to be malicious."

He gaped at her, aghast, as if she had suggested he should face Magg in the arena, but then he shook his head.

"You didn't grow up here and don't understand.

It's only because of magic that dragons were almost completely wiped out.

It's only because of magic that our world is on the brink.

Anyone who can use it or uses it as a tool is allying themselves with the mortal enemies of our realm.

With those who threaten peace, who have all these beautiful dragons on their conscience.

It's only because of those gifted with magic that dragons no longer reproduce.

Don't you see? Magic is fundamentally evil! "

If she hadn't met Lilly, she might have been able to share his opinion, but she knew the girl and knew she had a good character.

However, she couldn't bring up this argument, since she didn't know how he would treat Lilly afterward.

Besides, she would never carelessly reveal her secret.

She needed another reason to prevent him from overreacting. He was overreacting, wasn't he?

"If magic destroyed the dragons, why do two mountain dragons fly in from the mountains every day to practice with Master Clark's students?"

Marcus pressed his lips together and ran his hand through his curls. Wonderful. The argument hadn't missed its mark. But suddenly he snapped his fingers.

"They probably don't know what's happening inside the buildings." He quickly rubbed the back of his neck, which could only mean that he himself knew how flimsy his answer sounded. Reason enough for Ava to harp on it. After all, she had to stop him from jumping to conclusions.

"But wouldn't they sense it? Perceive it somehow?"

He looked at her seriously, with no trace of uncertainty left. "Back then, when Thalgor destroyed the dragons, they didn't perceive it either."

Damn, how do you argue about magic when you don't understand anything about it? "Since then, though, the dragons have become smarter—or rather, more suspicious."

He shook his head emphatically. "Ava, no, you don't understand."

"Yes, I do understand. You mean well and want to take me to your people because you think you can protect me there. But that's not the reason I came to this realm."

His gaze revealed the pain he felt. "Ava, you need to give yourself time.

Get to know our world first, and do the combat training later when you understand what's going on.

I promise you, I'll always be by your side to help you.

Ava, please..." He took her hand and looked at her imploringly, but she shook her head.

"I didn't come back to hide. Good night." She smiled at him encouragingly before releasing her hand from his and running to her room. Before he could follow her, she closed the door behind her, leaned her back against it, and took a deep breath.

She stood by what she had told Marcus, yet she remained haunted by the question of whether she was approaching things correctly. Whether this monotonous, strange training would ever lead to any results. And whether she would ever be strong enough to take on Rob or Elora.