The queen's decision (2)

It seems I won't be able to escape now.

"Well, as Ragni already said, it was a series of fortunate coincidences. It just so happened that a month ago, I started reading a book about a combat style suitable for fighting dragons in human form, especially those who struggle to control their human body. The main principles are to deflect the dragon's direct attacks with your hands and to stand firmly on the ground to execute a throw when counterattacking. Of course, slamming a dragon to the ground wouldn't cause significant damage given their endurance, but I would expend much less energy, and the opponent would tire out before me."

"And why did you assume that I struggle to control my human body?" Ragni squinted suspiciously.

"Well, I guess because while we were walking through the forest, which should have been familiar to you, you stumbled several times on almost level ground. And I don't think there's any HUMAN in the world clumsier than my companion," I teased.

"Hmph," Katrina pouted her cheeks cutely in response to this insult.

"This is all nonsense!" growled the dragoness. "If I hadn't taken on human form, you would have ended up as my dinner!"

"And indeed, how could I trap a DRAGON in its own LAIR?" I emphasized the key words and continued, mocking Ragni's arrogance and foolishness. "I probably just angered you enough to lead you into the right room with the only exit that you promptly closed to prevent my escape."

"That's no trap!" the dragoness tried to defend herself. "If it weren't for the stalactites falling on my wings, I would've incinerated you!"

"Oh yes, I couldn't possibly knock them down from the ceiling with those pebbles I stupidly threw at your eyes. After all, those stalactites have been hanging there for hundreds of years. But, of course, if someone had cut them down in advance, let's say with a wind blade, one strike would've been enough."

"I could've still incinerated you with my breath in any form; I just wasn't given a chance to finish it!" Ragni didn't give up until the end.

"Do you know what happens when you ignite flames in a very humid space? Didn't your head start spinning with that?" I teased.

Ragni clicked her teeth angrily. All the teasing from that pathetic little human added up to an unpleasant picture where HER, a noble DRAGON, was deceived by a pitiful student!

"But when did you realize that I was a dragon?"

"When we had just left your hut in the village. Where did that well-trodden path in the forest leading to the dragon's lair come from, I wonder? And of course, you seemed to know too much about them. But you provided the final proof yourself by saying that you came to this village to study the dragon living nearby. However, the elder said that the first time a dragon was spotted here was only two years ago, and the healer with whom you underwent training died three years ago. Therefore, you could've only learned about the dragon if you were one yourself. And of course, unlike my Guild Master, I knew that dragons can live in human form."

Katrina simply shrugged, implying her complete innocence in all of this.

For a moment, silence hung over the group of four people, and you could almost hear the two princesses' brains working intensely, trying to fully comprehend everything that had happened. But the silence was broken by the joyous laughter of the carefree queen:

"Haha-haha-haha! My dear, it seems he got you. None of your suitors before him had enough brains to lure you into a trap in your own home."

The shame that engulfed her daughter only amused Ignis.

"Well, now that we've cleared everything up, it's time to reward the winner."

"Mama! You can't give me away to a mere mortal!" Ragni shrieked.

"And I wasn't planning on getting married anyway," I needed to calm down the hyperactive queen.

"Hmm. What a pity, but in any case, my daughter is yours, and since you don't want to marry, here's your contract."

"What contract?"

"For lifelong servitude. She will have to obey all your orders," the queen handed me a paper on which a few lines were written in an unknown language.

"And what does it say here?"

"These are words of an ancient oath. They're written in the language of ancient gods, but you probably won't be able to read them. So just sign it, and your agreement will be sealed."

"Hmm, maybe I can," although the language was unknown to me, the words looked familiar, as if I had read them before, "By the power of the ancient gods, I invoke. Unite our souls in eternal union with this dragon," it turns out it was a rather straightforward oath.

After saying these words, I felt a searing pain on my right hand. Just below the elbow, a strange tattoo appeared, resembling a dragon's head, and the same mark appeared on Ragni's left hand.

"Huh!? What did you just do? Did you really read the contract? Mama, what does all this mean?"

"Well, well, I didn't expect any mortal to be able to read it. You'll have to explain it in more detail when we get to the Academy."

"And are you going to the Academy too?" Katrina's eyes widened in surprise.

"Of course, my daughter will now be living with you. Dragons used to not go to the Academy because it obligated graduates to fight on the side of the king in case of war in exchange for tuition fees. But if you're going to fight, then my daughter will have to as well. The rector is an old acquaintance of mine; I'll arrange for her enrollment."

"Mmm, so you'll be coming with us? Katrina, how much money do we have left for the return journey?"

"Huh? Money?" Katrina's face began to twitch. She didn't forget, did she? "Well, about the money, I think I forgot. Hehe."

YOUR SILLY LAUGHTER WON'T SOLVE ANY PROBLEMS!

"Then why didn't you take some money from the elder for the return journey at least?"

"Well, I just didn't think about it."

"She didn't think! And now we have to trudge back to the Academy on foot for days!" I wanted to strangle her on the spot. How could she forget about such basic things!

We had reached the checkpoint, and it was too late to return to the village. Our first task had gone badly.

"Don't worry so much," Ignis reassured us, "after all, you have one of the fastest beasts in Verania with you. I'll give you a lift."

With those words, the queen leaped several meters back and almost instantly transformed into a dragon. Upon closer inspection, in dragon form, she wore a full-fledged golden crown on her head.

"Wow! We'll be flying on a dragon. I've always dreamed of this," Katrina seemed to have switched to a childishly dreamy mode again.

"Just don't tell me you didn't take any money for this either."

"Mama, how can you!" The dragon princess seemed to be in deep shock. "You're a queen; you shouldn't allow people to ride on you like a horse!"

"I think it's fine if it's my daughter's owner and the princess of Verania."

"How do you know me?" it was unexpected for Katrina.

"Well, I am the queen, so I've attended your birthday parties when your father used to host them. You can consider it my gift for everything I've missed."

"Thank you very much," the princess blushed, "Let's go back to the Academy!"

The feeling of flight was exhilarating; Ignis was flying not too high, and from the air, we could see everything happening in the kingdom. People, upon spotting the dragon, got scared and hid in their homes, but the children continued to look at the noble beast with delight. Throughout the journey, Katrina sat on Ignis's neck, extending her arms to embrace the wind. I had to hold her to prevent her from falling, but she didn't seem to care. The little princess's dream of flying over her kingdom and seeing it from the bird's-eye view had come true. She resembled a bird released from its cage, experiencing true freedom of flight. Her face expressed excitement, but somewhere deep in her eyes, hidden for a long time, there was sorrow. What had happened between her and the king that even the queen, Ignis, didn't see her from a young age?

The sun was setting when a massive shadow appeared over the Academy. Panic-stricken students scattered, seeking refuge in the buildings, occasionally peering out of the windows. Only the rector boldly stepped forward to greet the approaching behemoth.

The dragon of immense size landed on the alley in front of the main building. Three human figures descended from it, and it immediately transformed into a beautiful woman.

"Ignis, long time no see. I wonder why you decided to scare my students this time?"

"Oh, come on, I was just joking back then. But now I have some serious business; I'd like to enroll my daughter for education if you don't mind," Ignis said as if it were a common thing in Verania.

"Well, this might cause some political difficulties, but I'm sure we can discuss them all. I think she can start her studies as early as tomorrow, but for now, she can stay with her friends," the rector nodded in our and Katrina's direction and went with Ignis to his office for formalities.

"They are not my friends!" the dragoness raised her voice but immediately slumped down, "But I guess I have no choice."