"How are you settling, Nagan?" Master Dagmire began once his apprentice had sat across from him. Nearly a week and a half had passed before the headmaster and his apprentice could sit and talk. Both had been busy after the Dragon Choosing Ceremony, and Nagan was now proudly sporting his new red uniform.

Nagan shrugged. "I'm doing alright. I don't mind a few extra classes, and Az won't stop praising the elva teaching method. Figures he'd prefer twice the amount of books and diagrams. But who knew an egg had so much maintenance! At least, mine requires a lot of maintenance. She's much more finicky than Az's egg."

"How are you so sure yours is female?" Master Dagmire asked with a raised brow. He was a dragon expert. As far as he knew, there was no way to tell a dragon's gender until it hatched. He watched as Nagan's expression shifted from sure, hesitant, to confused.

"The dragon said so," he said but spoke with little confidence.

It happened again, Master Dagmire noted to himself. The moment Nagan tried to recall what had happened, it was as if something had blocked the connection between him and those specific memories. Unfortunately, the boy was no stranger to being the victim of malicious magic. At first, Master Dagmire thought it to be exactly that. Yet when he had sent the boy to Marvi for a check-up, the report returned normal. If dark magic wasn't to blame, then that left only light magic and the boy himself.

"Tell me what you remember then. Even the vaguest detail." Master Dagmire leaned forward in his seat, intent on absorbing every word.

Nagan pressed his lips together in concentration, trying to gather his thoughts, before starting carefully. "I was taken to two locations. One was dark, and the other was...endless? Well, both felt endless. I was floating in the dark, and the other had a ground. That was where the stone...silver? Dragon was. Her eyes were stone. She talked to me and said my core was resilience. She was also the one who said my dragon was calling to me, and that she soared above the rest. After that, I was sent to the chamber where you get your dragon egg, and all that was there was the one egg."

Nagan stopped and gazed absently at the dip pen that was always on Master Dagmire's desk. Master Dagmire drew him out of his thoughts. "Is there more about the dark location?"

"Yes. Something was with me, and it was a bit eerie, but nothing felt evil." Nagan suddenly locked his gaze with Master Dagmire's in absolute clarity. "There was a scream. It wasn't human, it was an emotion. Pain. Something was screaming in pain. I was taken to the other place after I heard it."

It was several moments of silence before Master Dagmire sighed heavily. "Why does everything strange happen to you?"

Nagan laughed dryly. "You tell me."

"But you're sure it was nothing malicious or dark magic?" Master Dagmire asked in concern.

"I'm sure," Nagan nodded. "It didn't feel heavy or oppressing at all. In fact, it felt nearly pure."

"How odd..." Master Dagmire mentally ran through what he was told. The scream still concerned him, but Nagan seemed otherwise unharmed by this. For now, he would assume everything was alright.

But how wrong was he to assume everything would remain alright.

It was early in the morning when a messenger burst through the doors of his office. Instantly he was on his feet, and he heard Nagan drop a book in surprise to the side.

"Master Dagmire," the messenger began, slightly out of breath. "Urgent message from the Council."

Nagan silently picked up the book and slid it back into the shelf before heading to the door. The messenger stopped him. "You might as well stay. This will need to be announced to all of Carvolier Academy."

"What's going on?" Master Dagmire asked evenly.

"By executive orders of the Council of Thirds, Carvolier Academy, along with all other mage schools, are to be shut down and every student sent home immediately. A group that calls themselves the Kinsmen of the Dark has declared war on the entirety of light mages and has begun aggressive attacks on smaller countries. As of now, Loam has fallen and Dijik is under heavy fire. We have yet to receive an estimate of casualties.

"Their method of attacks consist of forbidden spells and wild dragons they have manipulated. Several reports have stated the use of the Codex of Drakarmir, though it has yet to be officially seen. No one knows the identity of the one leading the Kinsmen of the Dark.

"Master Dagmire, your presence has been specifically requested by the Council. Being one of few who hold three battle specialties, caster, infiniti, and dragon expert, you have gained the title of general. The Council will provide further information."

The messenger bowed briefly. "I will take my leave. There are other places I need to be." He paused and looked sympathetically to both Master Dagmire and Nagan. "I'm...sorry this is so sudden. But at the rate the Kinsmen of the Dark are overtaking us, we need all the help we can get. I wish you luck."

Without another word, the messenger left as quickly as he came, leaving the office silent once again.

"Master Dagmire?"

When he turned to look, he knew something was wrong. Nagan kept his eyes glued to the door, standing stiffly. It wasn't until he realized the boy was trembling did he go to stand by his side.

"This is all my fault," Nagan said brittly. "I was the one who gave them the Codex. If I hadn't--"

"You are not to blame," Master Dagmire said firmly. "You were being used against your will--"

"No!" Nagan spun on his heel to face Master Dagmire, a single tear streak running down the side of his face. "I wasn't forced to! All I got at the beginning was a cut along my palm, not the threat of my tongue being cut out! I could've tossed the letter or burned it or done something to it before it was too late! But the only reason I went through with it was because he said he'd tell me where my father was! Don't you see? I followed him willingly and out of stupid curiosity! It is all my fault!"

Nagan leaned heavily against the shelves and refused to look Master Dagmire in the eyes. Because of one stupid mistake, all of Norvea was at risk. People were dying because of him. Maybe...it would've been better if he had stayed on the streets.

He heard Master Dagmire sigh before he stood in front of him, resting both of his hands on Nagan's shoulders. "Look at me, Nagan."

Stubbornly, he kept his head down, yet Master Dagmire was even more persistent. They stood in silence until Nagan huffed and met the headmaster's eyes, though still kept his head ducked.

"Do you honestly think simply discarding a letter would've stopped him?" The thought chilled Nagan to the core. No. He wouldn't have. "No matter how hard you tried or what you did, he would've forced you to do his bidding one way or another. You would've been forced to follow him in every scenario."

They were far from reassuring words, but the truth was what Nagan needed to hear. "War was inevitable...but it's a shame you were caught in the fire."

Classes were canceled for the day, and every parent and guardian of the students were told to be at Carvolier by evening.

Nagan refused to tell Az a word when he entered their dorm with obvious signs of tears.

All too quickly did evening arrive.

The Great Hall was arranged the same way it had been the first day he had arrived at Carvolier. The stadium seating and teachers platform. But now, the room was even more crowded than before, as almost every Carvolier mage family was present.

Once everyone had settled, Master Dagmire stood and raised a hand. A hush fell over the hall.

"Thank you all for joining us as this is very last minute, though I'm afraid it is for nothing good. If fact, some of you may already know the situation of Norvea.

"A group called the Kinsmen of the Dark have declared war on mages, wielding dark magic and a book called the Codex of Drakarmir. With it, they have used countless forbidden incantations and formed an army of wild dragons which they do not hesitate to use to their disposal. Loam has already fallen, and Dijit may soon be next.

"I do not know for how long this will last, but by the executive orders of the Council of Thirds, Carvolier Academy, as well as all other mage schools, will be shut down until further notice. All students are to return home. You all have until tomorrow night to pack and leave Carvolier."

Master Dagmire paused before continuing. "I will be here to answer questions, as will all other teachers. That is all for now, and I wish you safety for the times ahead."

Nagan had already said his goodbye to Master Dagmire. They did not see each other again, even as he and the Arclovens left Carvolier.

END OF BOOK ONE