Listening to Winters' words, Vyter's emotions barely stirred. No feeling at all! Indeed, Vyter didn't believe this issue would cause him any significant trouble. Compared to the reality that he couldn't use magic, "face blindness" was hardly worth worrying about.
Vyter lowered his head and flicked his tail, maintaining an air of complete calm, as though the matter Winters had just mentioned had nothing to do with him. Winters, noticing his indifferent expression, couldn't help but pause.
"You don't think this is a problem?" she asked, furrowing her brow in mild concern.
Vyter casually smiled and gave a light flick of his tail, his posture remaining relaxed. "Winters, I've known I was different from the start. This little issue doesn't bother me at all. Besides, even if I can't recognize others, they'll recognize me, right?"
Winters sighed softly, a trace of helplessness in her expression. She turned to Boke, who stood nearby, her gaze seeking some kind of affirmation. Boke shrugged with a small grin. "I told you, Vyter's much more mature than you think. You really don't need to worry about him so much. He's quite exceptional."
Hearing Boke's praise, Vyter scratched his head awkwardly, attempting to seem unaffected. Yet the subtle wagging of his tail betrayed the happiness and pride he felt inside.
Winters, seeing this, finally allowed herself a sigh of relief, her lips curving into a gentle smile. "Well, in that case, let's call it a day for our lessons. I'm sure you're exhausted after spending the entire morning agonizing over the differences between Frost Dragons and Holy Dragons."
She paused for a moment, as if something had just occurred to her, and her tone brightened. "Oh, Vyter! Speaking of Holy Dragons, it reminds me, there's only one at the academy right now, and that's Celine. Even if you can't recognize the others, you'll definitely be able to spot her."
At this point, Winters waved a paw toward Boke, signaling that she would take her leave. "I'll take Vyter back first, and then I'll come find you. In two years, Vyter and the others will start learning potion-making, but the academy's storeroom hasn't been checked in ages. We should take inventory now, just in case."
Boke sighed with resignation. "Fine. It looks like the potions I planned to make will have to wait. I only hope the storeroom still has enough materials. Otherwise, we'll have to go hunting for them. I really wish Karen would return soon. If she were here, then…"
Winters quickened her pace slightly, clearly not eager to listen to Boke's continued grumbling. She and Vyter soon left the room behind.
…
After Winters dropped him off, Vyter wandered through the winding corridors of the dragon lair, his thoughts drifting toward what Celine and the others might be doing. They were probably practicing magic at this very moment.
But as he ventured deeper into the lair, a strange noise interrupted his musings. It wasn't the usual murmur of magic spells being cast, but rather something more primal—a low growl, punctuated with an urgency that piqued his curiosity.
"Weren't they supposed to be practicing magic?" Vyter muttered to himself, his brow furrowing slightly. Determined to investigate, he crouched low and leaped into the air, his powerful wings snapping open. With a few powerful strokes, he soared through the cavern, his flight now smooth and effortless compared to when he was younger.
In no time, Vyter reached the heart of the lair, where the source of the noise came into view. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw Celine and Oak engaged in fierce combat. The two dragons clashed mid-air, their bodies twirling in rapid, aggressive motions as their wings beat furiously against the wind. However, Celine's larger and stronger frame was giving her the upper hand; Oak was clearly struggling to keep up with her swift attacks.
"Hey, Vyter! Over here!" A familiar voice called out from a nearby ledge.
Vyter turned and saw Billy and Dinette lounging on a rocky outcrop, eagerly watching the aerial battle. After a moment's hesitation, Vyter swooped down to join them.
"What's going on?" he asked, landing with a soft thud that kicked up a small cloud of dust.
Billy, ducking his head to avoid the dust, didn't seem particularly bothered. With a grin, he replied, "You forgot? On our first day here, Celine and Oak agreed to have a battle, and today's the day!"
Vyter, noticing he had unintentionally disturbed them, offered a sheepish smile. "Sorry, I'll be more careful next time." Then, turning his gaze back to the ongoing fight, he added, "I thought you all were practicing magic."
At this, Billy rolled his eyes and let out a dramatic sigh. "Magic practice is impossible! I've been at it all morning, and still, no progress. Sometimes, I wonder if my elemental affinity is even real. The others aren't doing much better either. Celine's probably the furthest along—she's managed to connect with light elements, but she still can't cast a proper spell. So, Oak suggested they have this fight, and here we are."
Vyter chuckled at Billy's complaints, feeling a pang of empathy. His inability to use magic was a constant reminder of how disconnected he felt from the magical world, and Billy's frustration was something he could relate to.
"So, why are you back so early?" Dinette asked, her eyes filled with curiosity as she looked up at Vyter.
"Nothing special, just a minor issue," Vyter replied, stretching out on the ground to rest. "Winters had some business to attend to, so she brought me back early."
As soon as he finished speaking, Billy, always brimming with curiosity, thrust his head forward, startling Vyter. For a moment, Vyter almost swiped at him instinctively, but he quickly relaxed. Seeing Billy's eager eyes, he sighed and continued, "Alright, alright. I had another issue with my body…"
After a brief pause, he asked, "Have you ever heard of 'face blindness'?"
Billy tilted his head, clearly confused. "Face blindness? What's that? Can you eat it?"
Vyter gave a half-exasperated, half-amused look. "It's a condition. Dragons who have it can't recognize other dragons' faces. For example, if Dinette were also a red crystal dragon, I wouldn't be able to tell you two apart."
Billy scratched his head as if trying to wrap his mind around the concept. "Oh, I see. But that doesn't sound like a big deal."
Vyter's tail flicked softly, his smile growing wider. "Well, Winters thinks it's serious. That's why she took me to see Boke. But I know she's just looking out for me."
Billy's eyes sparkled with mischief. "You know, I think Winters likes you a lot more than the rest of us. She treats you differently."
Vyter blinked in surprise at the remark, feeling a warmth spread through his chest. Thinking back, he realized Winters' attentiveness to him had been more constant than toward the others. Yet, he shook his head, not wanting to dwell on the thought. "I don't think so. Winters cares about all of us equally. Like you, for instance."
"Me?" Billy seemed genuinely puzzled.
Vyter grinned, mimicking Winters' serious tone, "Billy, you still haven't taken my words to heart. Billy, you always get yourself into trouble with your silly antics. Billy…"
Billy's cheeks flushed slightly, clearly embarrassed as he mumbled, "Okay, okay, I know I've done some dumb things. But, hey, they were fun at the time! Let's just watch the fight—it's about to end."
Just as he said this, Celine, having maneuvered Oak into a vulnerable position, took advantage. She caught his tail in a powerful grip and, with a fierce motion, slammed him into the ground. A thunderous crash echoed through the cavern as Oak's body hit the earth, sending a cloud of dust into the air.
Vyter, Billy, exchanged glances, and in their eyes, the same thought was clear—That's got to hurt!
…