King Scorvius looked at the horizon where the sun was setting. His face remained stoic, but his clenched hand gripping the railing betrayed his inner turmoil.
"Why hasn't she arrived? Is she alright?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Grandmaster Lysander observed the king's proud back, noting the uncharacteristic worry and vulnerability. He hesitated, considering the possibility he feared to voice.
"My king, perhaps she has not yet found her dragon and is still wandering in the Dragon's Keepsake," he said, his voice low and hesitant.
"Uncle Lysander, I don't care whether she has bonded with her dragon or not. I just want her safe... by my side," Scorvius said, closing his eyes painfully. He mumbled, "I will protect her..."
A small smile appeared on Grandmaster Lysander's face. "You're right, my king.
We should go towards the front. The time to summon all the remaining candidates has arrived."
The king nodded and walked toward the front where his throne stood, elevated for a clear view of the platform.
Grandmaster Lysander stepped forward and, in a booming voice, addressed the crowd. All attention was on him as he stood high on the platform.
"Within minutes, the sky will be dark, and the time of the Dragon's Keep trial will be over. All the remaining candidates who have not found their dragons will be summoned here."
The anticipation was palpable as the crowd fell silent, eyes turned towards the horizon. The last rays of sunlight disappeared, and darkness began to cloak the land.
The anticipation was visible as the crowd fell silent, eyes turned towards the horizon. The platform glowed with a faint, shimmering light, and the atmosphere buzzed with the expectation of something extraordinary.
Grandmaster Lysander stepped back, and four more members of the council joined him, positioning themselves at the corners of the platform. They stood solemnly, their faces etched with concentration. In unison, they began to mumble the incantation for the magical teleportation array. Their voices harmonized, creating a low, resonant hum that resonated through the courtyard.
The light on the platform grew stronger and more profound, pulsing with an otherworldly energy. The crowd watched in awe, their eyes wide with wonder. Magic was a rare and admirable force in their kingdom, and witnessing it firsthand was a momentous occasion.
The light intensified, enveloping the entire platform in a radiant glow. The figures of the council members were barely visible through the brilliant luminescence. The hum of their incantation grew louder, reaching an apex
that sent a shiver down the spines of everyone present.
Suddenly, the light exploded outward, bathing the entire courtyard in a blinding flash. When the light subsided, the remaining candidates stood on the platform, materializing as if out of thin air. They appeared dazed and disoriented, blinking in the aftermath of the powerful magic.
King Scorvius leaned forward, his eyes scanning desperately for the one person he was most concerned about. His expression changed drastically when he didn't find her. If she were there, she would undoubtedly stand out with her striking silver-white hair, as Grandmaster Lysander had mentioned.
Nearby, Mirael, Eamon, Kaelan, and Alaric shared a similar sense of dread. They frantically searched the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of Isabel, but she was nowhere to be found. Their worry turned into panic as they saw the other candidates being reunited with their families and friends, many looking dejected and weary.
Princess Thalassa stood there, her regal posture crumbling under the weight of her failure. The shock and disheartenment in her eyes were quickly replaced by a simmering rage. "I... I couldn't find one," she whispered, her voice trembling. The disbelief in her tone was evident as she tried to process what had happened.
Her extreme arrogance quickly resurfaced, fueling her anger. "This is impossible," she hissed, her eyes narrowing as she looked around for someone to blame. Her gaze settled on Grandmaster Lysander, who had orchestrated the summoning spell.
"You!" she spat, marching toward him with a furious expression. "You summoned me back too early! How dare you interfere with my trial? I was so close to bonding with a dragon, and you ruined it!"
Grandmaster Lysander maintained his composure, though his eyes reflected a hint of sorrow. "Princess Thalassa, the summoning spell was conducted as it always has been. The time allotted to each candidate is the same. If you were summoned back, it means your time in the Dragon's Keepsake had ended."
Thalassa's face contorted with fury. "Lies! This is all a ploy to undermine me. You conspired against me!" She turned her wrathful gaze toward the dragons. "And those wretched beasts! How dare they not acknowledge my superiority? I am a princess, destined for greatness. They should have flocked to me!"
Her rant drew the attention of the gathered crowd, who watched in a mixture of shock and discomfort. Thalassa's usual composed and haughty demeanor had shattered, revealing the true extent of her arrogance and entitlement.
Kaelan, unable to contain his frustration, stepped forward. "Princess Thalassa, blaming others won't change what happened. The trials are meant to test our worth, not our status. If you couldn't bond with a dragon, maybe it was because they saw something in you that wasn't worthy."
Thalassa's eyes blazed with hatred as she whirled around to face him. "How dare you speak to me that way? You have no idea what it's like to be me, to carry the weight of expectations and legacy. I am not some commoner like you!"
Princess Elysia, seeing Thalassa's verbal onslaught escalating and drawing the horrified attention of the entire high society, quickly stepped forward. "Thalassa, enough!" she hissed, grabbing her arm firmly. "You're making a scene."
Thalassa, still seething, tried to pull away. "Let go of me, Elysia! They need to know how unfair this is!"
Elysia tightened her grip and started dragging Thalassa away from the crowd. "You're embarrassing yourself and the entire royal family," she muttered through gritted teeth.
Thalassa looked at Elysia with bewilderment. "Are you blaming me?"