I Married A Dragon (Prime Mating Agency)(57)

“Greetings, Headmaster Aldyr. This is my Ejaya, Kaida Daigo. She works as an Enforcer with the United Planets Organization and is investigating the surge in ‘accidental’ portals summoned by off-worlders. She has a few questions for you and your apprentices.”

His eyes widened in shock, and he cast an intrigued look at my Ejaya. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Daigo!”

“The pleasure is all mine, Headmaster,” she said with a polite smile.

“Please, let me take you to my office where we can discuss this more at ease,” he said, his glowing silver eyes contrasting sharply with his midnight-blue scales.

At one-hundred-and-three years of age, Aldyr was fairly young to be holding such a prestigious position. But he had a stellar reputation, not only as a Gate Master but also as a mentor to young aspiring minds. Many of said minds were lurking around, trying to glean some information as to what had brought us here.

The sizable Headmaster’s office spoke volumes about his status. A wide bookshelf lined the back wall behind his desk. Along the left wall, three pedestals respectively displayed a statue representing a jagged section of shadow obsidian from the mines, a giant version of a marked shadow obsidian stone hovering a few centimeters in the air, and a holographic display of an animated portal, occasionally folding in on itself. On the opposite side, large glass doors led to a balcony overlooking a yard where apprentices were training with their masters.

Kaida stared with curiosity at what the pedestals displayed.

“They represent the three disciplines taught here at the Conclave,” Headmaster Aldyr said in response to her unspoken question. “We train the Master Miners that people hire at the mines, although many citizens come for some occasional personal training to improve their own techniques. We also teach young Scribes how to perfectly mark obsidian stones so that the consumers always arrive safely at the intended destination etched on the stone. And then, we mentor the future Gate Masters, both to open and close portals for rescue and emergency services, as well as to alleviate the burden on Shadow Lords in keeping us all safe.”

“I didn’t realize you trained the miners as well. Can anyone become an apprentice in any of these fields?” Kaida asked, as Aldyr gestured for us to take a seat on the stools facing his desk.

With our tails and wings, it was common for very few seats to have backrests. Kaida settled in the one on the left—the stool much too wide for her—and I sat beside her. Under different circumstances, I would have been jealous of the way she studied the older male’s admittedly handsome face. But she was focusing on his horns. She opened her mouth, hesitated, and gave me an uncertain sideways glance.

I smiled and turned my attention to the Headmaster. “My Ejaya is curious about your horns.”

Aldyr chuckled as Kaida blushed while glaring sideways at me, which only made me chuckle as well.

“I didn’t mean to be rude. I couldn’t help but notice that you and the other apprentices have six horns,” she said carefully. “Aside from the Shadow Lords who have eight, I believe everyone else only has four.”

Aldyr beamed at her. “That is correct. And it is not rude at all to inquire about things you don’t know or don’t understand. The answer to that also answers your previous question. No, we do not accept just anyone who applies for our programs. Candidates must have six horns or at least a burgeoning crest,” he said, pointing at the dark shape in the middle of his forehead between his horns.

His was much smaller than Cedros’s, but was also obsidian, whereas ‘regular’ citizens only had an empty area there. His fifth and sixth horns matched the smaller shadow horns that the Shadow Lords possessed right above their ears.

“I’m guessing it grants you some additional powers?” Kaida asked.

Aldyr nodded, a glimmer of approval in his silver eyes. “Yes. We are Kwesars, the polite way of saying failed Shadow Lords.”

I frowned and gave the Headmaster a stern look. We always found it offensive when people would demean the Kwesars with such insensitive comments.

He chuckled and gave me an amused look. “It’s okay, Shadow Lord Cedros. If we cannot laugh at ourselves, then we take life much too seriously.”

While I understood his meaning and intention, his words didn’t mollify me. “You shouldn’t make light of what mean-spirited people say. And least of all, normalize it through humor. Those words never should have been spoken or the thought even crossed anyone’s mind in the first place. You are what the Gods intended you to be—a gift to our people. The services only you can provide are essential to the good functioning of our society. You are not ‘failed’ anything.”

A strange expression settled on Aldyr’s face. “I stand corrected, Shadow Lord Cedros. Your words honor me and every other Kwesar.”

“They are merely the truth, Headmaster,” I said in a gentler voice.

“Which is why they honor us so much,” he countered, then turned to my Kaida, who was looking at us slightly confused. “Are you familiar with the Shadow Trail that young Derakeens must travel when they reach the age of five?”

“Yes. Cedros told me about his journey,” Kaida replied.

“Good. Kwesars like me are the children who didn’t leave the void within ten days because we began to embrace the shadows. But our transformation stalled at some point. As you can see, I have both of my lesser shadow horns and a third of my crest. It took thirteen months before I knew they would grow no further, and that it was time for me to leave the void,” Aldyr explained in a gentle voice.