I Married A Dragon (Prime Mating Agency)(59)

I sighed and nodded in concession. “Yes, you would.”

“Which brings us right back to square one. We’re missing something,” Kaida said, sounding dejected. She cast a glance out the glass doors where the apprentices were summoning, then gave Aldyr an assessing look. “How do novices train exactly? Right now, these apprentices appear to be using shadow obsidian.”

Aldyr perked up. “Ah yes! Miner and Scribe Novices start on onyx. For the Miners, it is merely to first develop their cutting technique and precision without wasting the very precious and expensive shadow obsidian. For Scribes, it is to allow them to hone their skill at gathering the shadows and channeling it precisely into a finicky stone before moving on to the real thing.”

“Right, shadow obsidian is expensive. The Conclave would want to avoid wasting them on beginners,” Kaida said pensively.

“By the Gods! We do not provide the shadow obsidian to our pupils,” the Headmaster exclaimed, as if my Ejaya had said something outrageous—which she had. “We’d be bankrupt within a month or only able to train one person of each profession at a time. Students have to provide their own stones. The minute younglings return from the void as Kwesars, their parents start stockpiling stones for when they will enter the Conclave.”

“Oh wow! But what if they don’t have enough stones to continue their training?” Kaida argued.

“Then they will buy more or pause their education until they have acquired more during their respective turns at the mines,” I answered softly.

Kaida frowned, her displeasure taking both Aldyr and I aback. “Basically, what you’re saying is that the rich kids get a fast-track to a career, but commoners and poorer people could drag on indefinitely before they can finish?”

“Not necessarily,” I said in an appeasing tone. “Granted, nobles can buy more stones and hire highly skilled Miners to maximize their harvest during their time in the mines. But they also consume far more of them for their leisure travels and to raise the level of their plateaus. More importantly, how many stones you need to master your profession comes down to individual skills. Someone with greater shadow power who becomes a Scribe or Miner instead will likely require a lot fewer stones.”

“That is correct,” Aldyr chimed in. “Your shadow power will play a huge part in the speed at which you learn, but also your natural talents—neither of which has anything to do with the apprentice’s family wealth. Some people are simply more gifted than others. In fact, this cohort has a handful of superstars of humble means. Their progress quite literally leaves the nobles behind to eat their shadow dust.”

“That’s good to hear it doesn’t disadvantage them,” Kaida said, although not fully mollified. “Well, I guess we’ve taken up enough of your time, Headmaster. Thank you so much for taking the time to enlighten me.”

“It was my pleasure, Miss Daigo. Do not hesitate to come back at any point if you have further questions. I will be glad to assist you in any way I can,” Aldyr said warmly.

After exchanging our goodbyes, I led my Ejaya out of the Conclave. She tried to put on a brave front, but her disappointment was palpable. Aldyr had indeed been her best hope of some kind of trail. Even I couldn’t think of where to go next to move her mission forward.

“Let’s take a break from all these serious things, my Kaida,” I said in a soft voice, cupping her face between my hands. “I would like to take you to a place I haven’t visited in a very long time and for you to meet someone special.”

“Sure,” Kaida said, perking up with curiosity. “Who is it?”

“That’s a surprise,” I said, beaming at her.

I picked her up in my arms, kissed her lips, and took flight. I opened my portal in the air. I usually did this when in a public area to avoid random people nearby walking into it, whether or not accidentally. This was especially true when my destination was a special location or someone’s private residence.

I flew through the portal, collapsing it behind me as soon as we emerged on the other side. My hearts leapt, and an overwhelming flow of emotions surged within me at the sight of the three adult Derakeens on the plateau below. Sitting at the table on the terrace while sipping fermented drinks, they were engaged in an animated conversation. After all these years, they still observed the gathering ritual on the eleventh and twenty-second days of every month.

“Cedros, who are these people?” Kaida whispered as I began my descent.

“My mother and my siblings,” I said, my throat almost too constricted to speak.

As if she’d heard my words, my mother suddenly looked up. Her shocked expression drew my siblings’ attention. Their jaws dropped as they all rose from their seats to watch me land a few meters away from them, as was standard for Shadow Lords.

“Cedros!” my mother exclaimed, her voice shaking as she stared at me in disbelief.

“Greetings, Mother,” I said while carefully putting Kaida on her feet. “It’s been too long. You are even more beautiful than in my souvenirs.”

Her lips quivered, and her eyes filled with tears as she hugged her midsection. My brother and sister slipped an arm around her while looking at me with affection.

“I wanted to present to you my Ejaya, Kaida Daigo, a human Enforcer of the UPO,” I said, my voice still unsteady. “Kaida, this is my mother Oshtara Kendriz, my younger sister Caldri, and my baby brother Roldren.”