Drake's eyes widened, his grip on the book tightening as though it were some sort of lifeline to some hidden truth. "What is this author trying to achieve-venturing into research books of all things?" he mumbled under his breath, the curiosity gnawing at him like an insistent whisper.
His reaction did not go unnoticed. Mark tilted his head as his voice took on a hint of intrigue. "Is there something wrong with the book?"
"Nothing. Never mind," said Drake shortly, returning the book to Freya with an air of negligence that ill-concealed the wheels within wheels of his thoughts.
They continued on their way through the district, their footsteps merging into the busy weft of life humming around them. As they walked, Mark couldn't help being very conscious of the magnetic attraction emanating between Drake and Xena, some unspoken understanding between them glinting like sunlight upon water.
Sensing the need for privacy, Mark and Freya exchanged a knowing glance. "Freya and I have something to attend to. You may continue without us," Mark offered, his tone deliberately light.
He eyed them with a flicker of suspicion but decided not to push the issue. "Alright, take these." He handed each a small, delicately wrapped package. "Let's meet at the auction house this Friday." They said their goodbyes to each other and disappeared behind waves of people through the noise of the district.
The week was unfolding like some well-choreographed dance, with merchants and customers together in a symphony of trade. The following Friday loomed as the crescendo: the day when those particular treasures hidden in plain sight would take center stage at the grand auction.
As twilight painted the sky in hues of amber and violet, Drake and Xena completed their tour of exploration and headed toward the estates of inns. A cluster of multi-floored inns stood as sentinels with their windows aglow with promises of rest and camaraderie.
Inside, the inn was alive with the cacophony of mercenaries and merchants, the air thick with clinking cups of wine and hearty laughter at a good trade or drunk to forget.
Drake came to a round table-seated for five-where three chairs were taken by men who wore the grime of the road on their faces. "Hello, may we share the table with you?" he asked with calculated politeness.
One of the men slammed his hand onto the table with a loud crash, his chair shrieking as he stood up. "No. Sit somewhere else."
The man's outburst drew a ripple of attention, silencing nearby conversations. Drake remained calm, though a shadow of irritation flickered in his gaze. "No cause for alarm. I only asked if we could join," he said evenly.
"And I said no," the man growled, his tone sharp enough to cut through the room's noise.
Xena bristled, ready to intervene, but Drake shot her a subtle look-a silent command to hold back.
"Hey, you can join me here," was said from the second floor, and it was as warm and inviting as an unseen beacon. Drake looked up to see a rotund, old man in a golden garment gesturing at him with an air of magnanimity.
"Thank you," Drake said with a slight bow of his head in appreciation. He turned to the boorish man, his eyes slicing with contempt, before turning his back and walking away. His deliberate calmness was a challenge in itself.
Downstairs on the second floor, the air was different; it was much quieter, more sophisticated, a sharp contrast to the rowdiness downstairs. Drake and Xena approached their host.
"Thank you for the warm welcome," Drake said; his tone carried a ring of gratefulness in it. The man cleared his throat. "No need for formalities. Just have a seat; we're all human, after all."
Drake pulled out a chair for Xena before taking a seat himself. "I am Drake, and she is Xena," he said, nodding towards her. "We're students at the Diamond Mage Academy, and thank you again for your kindness."
The man waved his hand dismissively. "No need to do that." He raised a hand, calling out with practiced authority, "Bring three cups of beer and your finest dishes."
"Coming right up!" a cheerful voice replied from somewhere beyond sight.
"I'm Mr. Owo," the man introduced himself, his voice carrying the cadence of one who had seen much and traded more. "A merchant, like many others around here."
They dined together, the conversation flowing easily as they shared stories over steaming plates and frothy mugs.
Drake and Xena retired to their room, bidding their benefactor goodnight. The memories of the day hung heavy in the air, but sleep would not come to Drake. He rolled on the bed, the residual strains of the vacuum room showing up as protests of his body.
Xena was at the window, her profile surrounded by the pale moonlight. Her eyes were fastened on a mother bird urging her fledglings to their nest, a sight bringing up something deep within her.
Then, she had it. Xena whirled, her feet silent but deliberate in her motion. She drew Drake to his feet, the smile weirdly enigmatic.
"Where are you taking me?" he asked, curiosity lighting his face.
"Just trust me," she whispered, her tone low but full of assurance.
And with that, she launched herself out the window, leaving Drake's heart to jerk in alarm. He rushed to the sill, his breathing hitching at what lay before him.
Xena began to change, her body stretching and quivering as her red scales shimmered in the moonlight. She was a great, powerful creature of grace, her 21-meter-length glinting like molten ruby across the night.
"What are you waiting for? Hop on," she called, an inviting playful edge to her tone, though the unspoken challenge beneath was unmistakable.
Drake was taken aback, the majesty of her form too much for a second. But the glow of the reverse crystal in his chest stabilized him and lit a fire in his brain. Then with a running leap, he lightly landed upon her back.
The people below them tried to see what was happening, but the whirlwind of dust and wind obscured their vision and left them only with feelings of astonishment.
They pierced through the clouds, soaring effortlessly into the heavens. The rush of wind whizzed around them in a cacophony of freedom and exhilaration. Drake sat cross-legged upon Xena's back, his hands locked tight around her scales as they plummeted and flipped across the sky.
"Woohoo!" Xena shouted in delight, unbridling her spirit as they embraced the spaciousness of the night.