According to what I read, fire dragons are considered the most perilous among the dragon cast. They have a hard character; they don't know how to communicate, but immediately fight, they're impatient and take everything by force and fire. And I have already seen from afar how this dragon humiliated and clamped the poor and frightened necromancer. Yes, and I'm wary of him, too. He's huge. He has a physique composed entirely of solid muscle, wicked eyes, razor-sharp claws instead of nails, and a volatile temperament. What was I thinking about dragons? That they're friendly? Well, they're not. Not all of them, especially the young ones.

"Yeah? Can I help you with something?" I attempt to maintain a calm and polite demeanor as I smile at him.

"You're quite the polite one," the dragon says, leaning down and gripping the back of my chair.

"Didn't your parents teach you any manners?" I squint my eyes. Mother, I'm shivering. I'm trembling inside, but I don't give up under the dragon's heavy gaze. I really want to run away, but I'm a Lua, and a Lua would never let anyone talk to him like that, much less a dragon. His dislike for them stems from the fact that the fire dragon, who was his servant, would constantly bother him until I created a potion to stop it. Soon after, the servant remained oblivious to his presence, and both Lua and I were filled with a sense of calm.

"Piros, leave him alone," Fima orders, but the dragon doesn't care. He licks his upper lip with the tip of his split tongue and smirks.

"You are my slave now. And I demand that my slave be very obedient, understand? Rewrite all these notes for me. Got it, Lua?" A heat rushes over me, making even my face beads of sweat.

"Piros, I'm going to report you to the headmaster. You'll be punished again," Morrick hisses angrily.

But the dragon doesn't care at all. Apparently, he's the most dangerous one here, not the "golden trio" from my level.

"Do you understand me?" He growls, and I open my lips to let the hot air out. He affects me. My blood starts to boil, but I imagine I'm jumping into water, icy river water at the height of summer. The fever instantly recedes.

"No. And I'm not your slave, and I certainly won't be. You're disgusting, Piros, and you can't frighten me," I rise from my chair, and the dragon straightens up, perplexed, apparently wondering why his powers didn't work on me. "You'll rewrite your own notes, so at least that will help you get a little smarter. Also look for books in the library on how to show your sympathy for another creature. Need I tell you what books look like? They're these heavy things that you use instead of toilet paper. But now at least look at what you're wiping your ass with. Judging by your temper, your ass is already bloody. If you need a cure, you'll find it in your notes."

I forcefully push the shocked dragon aside and make my way towards the exit of the dining hall, now engulfed in a horrifying silence that was once filled with conversation.

"My ancestral mother, Lua, you were beautiful!" Fima, laughing, catches up with me.

"Lua, Piros won't let go of you now," Morrick says excitedly. "You better go to the headmaster right now and let him know that Piros will probably kill you soon, or suck out your power, or..."

"Oh, come on," Fima tsks. "Piros pissed off? Yes, pretty badly. Is he humiliated? Definitely, yes. Lua told him to go to hell in front of everyone? Uh-huh. But Piros isn't a fool. He's the first son of the future dragon king. Lua was able to resist his magic. Even I got bad, and so did the others. Piros uses fire and hurts everyone to make them do what he wants. It didn't work on Lua, and Piros noticed that. So Piros is unlikely to hurt Lia, but he'll stalk him. He's a psycho, worse than the elves. I'm sorry, Lua."

"It's okay, I'm not offended. I'm not scared," I shrug, like I really don't care. I'm scared out of my mind. Why did I do that? Why did I humiliate him? I could have done it differently. But in that moment, my power resented the attempted subjugation. It rebelled on its own, even without my realizing it. It's like I'm a slave to my power and it scares me.

"I'm going to my room. I need to study to pass the material I missed," I mutter, quickening my step.

"We could help."

"No, you don't need to. I'll be fine. See you tomorrow." I go into the now familiar corridor and then turn around. I sigh in relief and walk slower toward my room.

I hope, to the last hope...

"And here he is our hero of the day," comes a drawling voice.

My hope is a complete failure. A 'golden trio' stands at the door of my room, two leaning imposingly against my door and the elf against the door opposite. And all three are smirking.

"To what do I owe the honor?" I ask them dryly, cocking my chin proudly. I'm a Lua. I'm as good as they are. I can't keep my eyes down. Lua always said I may be a servant, but I'm not fearful like the others. I can't be broken. And now I repeat his words like a mantra, praying they're true.

"And speaks well," the fairy's voice shimmers with a soft ringing, and I have to admit, it's beautiful. And the fairy's appearance is unusual. He has fair skin resembling that of elves, with warm blond hair intricately braided and secured with a golden hoop on top. The eyes, a mix of violet and pink, resemble poisonous blooms that can either be lethal or invigorating, but only if used in precise proportions.

"Hey," the elf snaps his fingers in front of my face, and I blink quickly, realizing I've been staring at the guy.

"I'm sorry for staring at you," I say more softly, turning to Ailes. "It's just that I've never seen your kind before. You remind me of the deep forests, where everything beautiful and dangerous lurks. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude."

For a second, I think Ailes is going to hit me. His body is tense, so tense that his muscles are taut as springs beneath the thin material of his white shirt. Though he's tall and slender, not as athletic as Seraphus... or Vox or Morrick or Piros, elves and fairies alike have their own sensual grace and beauty.

I'm preparing to defend myself when Ailes takes a step in my direction, and the other two just watch, apparently at a loss for words from my insolence. But suddenly Ailes's gaze softens, and he smiles at me, displaying a white-hot smile.

"We thought you'd be rolling on the floor and thinking you're a mop, Lua. Turns out you're normal," he says in a friendly voice.

"That's what everyone here thought, apparently. Like the fact that I'm an elf, or look like one."

"Short hair is sexy," Vox smirks, giving me a hot look that makes me gulp.

"Skin is also beautiful," I flinch when somehow Stellare appears behind me. I turn around with a puzzled look and meet his light green eyes.

"My father despises my deliberate tanning, my intentional haircut, and even my mere existence. So I don't think he'd be thrilled with your reaction. I think he wished for me to be taught submission by force here, because he hasn't managed to do it." I grin with disdain. "And neither will anyone else. What do you want from me? Surely you're not just standing at the door of my room for no reason?"

I watch as Stellare walks over to his friends and all three of them smile weirdly.

"We had a bet," Vox pronounces.

"And what was the point of the bet?" I ask them in surprise.

"You," Ailes licks his lips, then bites his lower one.

"Who will be the first of us in your bed? Or three of us at once? No one minds," Stellare adds cheekily.

Here we go again. I roll my eyes and shake my head. No longer afraid of getting beaten up, I push Ailes aside and open the door to my room, then look at them.

"Don't waste your time. I'm not interested in either of you, but I agree to be friends."

"Lua, no rush to refuse." Vox rests his hand on my door, not letting it close.

"I already did," I smile. "You better start doing something else, like studying, or practicing, or reading books. That would turn me on, but not this way. I don't like those who think they should be admired and desired just because they were born into a rich family."

I glance at the door, and Vox pulls his hand down, hissing from the pain. Seizing the opportunity, I shut the door, only to hear Vox's furious whisper.

"Meet me in your dreams, Lua."

When I locked the door, I pressed my back against it and closed my eyes.

Mother of Everything, this is unbearable. It's only been one day, and somehow I've pissed off most of the students.

Vox won't be able to enter my dream, right? I've never met an incubus or a demon in one creature. And I know what incubi can do, I've read about them.

I'm shuddering at the thought. I have to stay up tonight, because I don't want to test Vox's threat.