His feet touched the grass. Izrun was still wearing his uniform. If he were killed, it would be easy to identify him as a student, which would help future investigations, it would be easier to identify him...
With that sudden thought, Izrun stopped while frowning, but soon his attention returned to the environment he was in. The sound seemed to be moving away, and without overthinking, he started to chase whatever was running from him. This lasted for a while. Then, almost tired and thinking about giving up, in front of him came a thud followed by some moans of pain and a slightly childish voice.
Izrun reached the noise source, finding a boy with black hair. As soon as the boy turned to face him, Izrun realized that the boy was descended from the kingdom's east, just like Huanxue. The boy stared at him dazedly, his black eyes probing him curiously.
Izrun looked away and soon noticed a small wound on the boy's knee. On a small impulse, he approached to help the boy, but the more he looked at him, the narrower his eyes got. Izrun kept avoiding his eyes and, while observing the wound, asked – Are you okay?
The boy didn't answer his question, but Izrun heard him mutter – You're a boy.
Hearing what the boy had said, Izrun looked at him in astonishment. That way, the boy had his confirmation, suddenly becoming very talkative.
– You are a boy! Why are you wearing girl's clothes? Wait, isn't this the Silverleak uniform? Do you study there? I thought only girls could study there. Is there a way to get me a place? – His questions scared Izrun. They were in the middle of a forest. The boy was hurt and didn't seem to care a bit about his bleeding knee.
– You are an ice dragon. Your hair is nice, gleaming. What's your name? My name is Long – Long outlined an excited smile. His euphoria still scared Izrun, but somehow, Izrun felt comfortable with his presence.
– My name is Izrun... – Izrun answered the question automatically, completely forgetting his disguise. As soon as he noticed his slip, he closed his mouth in a hurry, thinking afterward, maybe this boy didn't know, after all, few knew his name, they just knew that the guardian had a male child...
The boy was suddenly silent, and Izrun felt this was scarier than when he'd been peppering him with questions.
– The Guardian's s... – Izrun quickly covered his mouth, and the boy looked delighted at the discovery. As soon as he noticed the sparkle growing in the other's eyes, Izrun feared that he would use it against him to get something, but his worries were all in vain.
Long took Izrun's hand away from his mouth and started – Your eyes are identical to his. I don't know why I hadn't noticed before. Wow, it's an honor for me to meet you. You must be strong, right? – Long was excited to meet him finally. His father said that one day, Izrun would be his friend. He thought he would meet him in the palace, so he asked, confused – But… why are you here? Shouldn't you be in the frost palace?
Izrun froze, sensing something suspicious in Long. Who was he?
– How do you know I look like my father?
The boy smiled even wider. Instead of denying the other boy, Izrun again confirmed another truth about himself. Izrun ignored how slow he was to let this information be discovered so easily because now, what interested him was the boy's identity – Who are you, and what are you doing here? This is a girls' Institute. Boys are prohibited here.
Long didn't answer his questions, he had already said his name anyway, but he decided to comment on the last sentence told by Izrun – I know, but you're here too.
Izrun pursed his lips, avoiding Long's playful expression – I have my reasons, were you invading or… – Izrun stopped, moving quickly away from the boy – How did you get in here? There are barriers to ensuring the safety of the students. It is impossible to enter here without the permission and knowledge of the headmistress of the Institute.
The boy got up and brushed off his clothes, completely ignoring the wound on his knee, Izrun patiently waited for his explanation. Still, before Long could explain his reasons for being there, a noise came from the forest, followed by voices and lights, Izrun looked where the sound was coming from, they were the Institute's guards, skilled mages chosen by the queen herself to ensure the safety of the students if there was a possible invasion of the barrier.
Standing before the cause of the barrier invasion, Izrun looked at Long, who suddenly approached. Izrun took a step back in response when the boy grabbed his wrist and pulled him to the opposite side where the guards were coming from. Come on. If they catch us, we're screwed.
Izrun was pulled into a run through the forest. Long seemed to know the way well, turning and passing through the trees without hesitation. The noise they made as they ran attracted the guards' attention, and the footsteps of people running toward them grew louder and louder. And even more came, the number increased rapidly.
When Long stopped running and pulling him, Izrun could reason for a moment. They were after Long, not him. Why was he here? Long pulled him in front of him, and Izrun saw where they were. The path ahead of him was a long descent. If Long hadn't stopped before, they would have fallen and rolled downhill the rest of the way.
Long spoke as he tried to analyze the distance between them and the Silverleak guards – Use your power!
Izrun looked at Long confused – What? – What would he use his power for? Would they fight?
Long stared at him while breathing quickly due to euphoria. It was visible that both were tired – Ice, it will be easier to slide down – He explained. Then, seeing that Izrun was still looking at him astonished, he spoke again – They'll catch up with us, hurry up!
Izrun looked back at the descent, biting his lip as he muttered – I can't.
Long looked at Izrun, thinking maybe he was scared, asking automatically – What you can not?
Izrun was tired of this question. If it's to be answered, he will answer it, irritated he shouted – I can't make ice! I don't know how to use my powers! – Long was startled by the sudden shout, but after he reasoned what Izrun had said, he changed his look to bewilderment. Izrun's scream also ended up attracting the group that was chasing them. The noise of footsteps was getting louder. If they didn't get out of there now, they would be caught.
Long didn't want to be caught. Holding Izrun's wrist, he asked, still perplexed – How come you don't know how to use your powers? You don't have to know how to use it, just use it!!
Izrun tried to pull his hand away – I can't use them. Let go of me!
Long looked at the forest again, and without hesitation, he pulled Izrun down, making him sit on the ground. His hand began to glow, and Izrun felt something pass from Long's hands to his body. The veins on his arm glistened, and his body started to cool. While Izrun was distracted by this sudden sensation, Long lifted Izrun's hand and slammed it down hard on the ground.
Izrun saw for the first time ice being created from his touch. The area where they were was utterly frozen, Long sat behind him and pushed the two down the slope.
As soon as Izrun realized what he was doing, he yelled – Wait!
Long held Izrun's wrist forward as the two descended the hill at high speed. A long path of ice appeared in front of them as they descended. Long was controlling Izrun's hand in the direction he wanted the ice to form.
Turning his attention to the path they were traveling, Izrun saw a cliff just ahead of them. Sensing that Long had no intention of stopping, he shouted – L-long! There's a cliff!
Long narrowed his eyes – I know!
Izrun saw the cliff getting closer and closer. Closing his eyes, Izrun thought of everything that could happen, his short life flashed before his eyes, and fear took over his mind.
Long didn't know what was happening to the boy in front of him. Unlike Izrun, Long enjoyed the adrenaline and the moment he was confident, facing the cliff while smiling excitedly, but his smile didn't last long as he felt the power in Izrun's pulse suddenly weaken, leaving him desperate. Seeing that they were reaching the cliff, Long pulled Izrun's hand up, forming a small ramp so that they could jump the cliff.
This move was made at the right time. As soon as the ramp was made, the ice stopped being created, and the cold aura that left Izrun's body disappeared completely.
The two slipped on the ramp, almost as if they were flying. Their bodies were thrown to the other side of the cliff, rolling a little when they hit the ground.
Feeling the grass under his hands, Izrun opened his eyes, breathing hard in fright as he turned his gaze back to the path they had taken.
His eyes sparkled when he saw the ice that glistened under the moonlight. A smile crept onto his expression that slowly brightened with the feat, he looked around as he searched for the person he wished he had seen this, finally remembering where they were, Izrun lowered his head a little wearily, his smile still not leaving his face, which made him look awkward.
Hearing laughter next to him, Izrun lifted his head, looking at the boy beside him. Long was lying on his back, with an arm over his eyes as he laughed. His laughter managed to remind Izrun of what they had just done. Feeling a new sensation, Izrun started to laugh too. Long then got up and looked at him excited – That was amazing, Izrun, you are very powerful.
Izrun got up too, a little embarrassed – But it was you who… – Izrun stopped suddenly, thoughtful, was it Long who… strengthened my powers…? What was that exactly?
Long knew what he was thinking, laughing lightly – His power was already there. I just forced him out, you did everything else.
Izrun looked at him, noting a strange word in his speech – Forced? How did you do it? – He asked as he approached.
Izrun's eyes sparkled as he approached the boy beside him. Long was shy because of his expression, stuttering – I, oh, I don't know, I just did it, I don't think much about using my powers – Taking a step back because of Izrun's approach, he continued – As I said, I just use it.
Izrun was still breathing hard. Because of the adrenaline, his mind was euphoric, thinking about what Long had said – Just used it? How do you use power without thinking about using it?
Long scratched his head – I don't know, I just do – As Izrun was still looking at him with doubt, he raised his left hand, and a silver glow came out of his hand. Long didn't want to attract attention, so the glow was weak.
Izrun looked at Long's hand for a while – Are you a dragon of luminescent magic?
Long laughed – I'm half-breed, I'm almost a lunar dragon – Long didn't want to spoil the moment, but they couldn't waste all the effort they had made until that moment, erasing the glow he grabbed Izrun's wrist again – Come on, we have to leave quickly.
Izrun was pulled for a few seconds before realizing he had gone too far from the Institute. Looking back, he saw some of the Silverleak towers in the distance – I can't. I have to go back.
Long released him, looking at him confused – Do you really study there?
– My tutor is from there. I don't study with the other girls – Izrun explained. The look that Izrun had for the boy changed drastically because of what happened before. He had a certain respect and admired him a little.
Long nodded slightly, looking past Izrun he patted his shoulder – Oh, right, see you later then.