We went back to the table, and Xilarion poured more tea. I could feel my spirits reviving with every sip.
“I know that you come from another world,” Xilarion said. “And I know that, in time, you wish to return. But I want you to consider another option, for now at least. The Radiant Dragon Guild has few high-ranking members, only those who teach and a handful away on missions in the world. In time, you could become one of them, inspiring others to follow your path. You could be the symbol this guild needs to regain its greatness.
“You have the power to make this world a better place. Use it wisely.”
“I will, Guildmaster,” I said. I went to stand and noticed an open scroll on a drawing board. I paused to look at the arcane symbols glowing on its surface when Xilarion spoke to me from behind his desk.
“It’s a spell scroll,” he said with a smile. “Only good for a single use, but it’s quite powerful.”
“What spell does it cast?”
“Summoning of Greater Fire Golem. I’ve been perfecting it all day.”
“How do scrolls work?” I asked, intrigued by this new revelation.
“You wouldn’t have learned about them yet. An introduction to scrolls normally occurs during Outer Disciple training. They function as an enchanted item. An Augmentor can infuse his Vigor into a specially prepared scroll, and it allows even the weakest to produce a powerful martial technique.”
Connections formed in my mind, and I realized how the Sundered Heart Sword could be both a weapon and a dragon spirit. It had seemed confusing to me at first, but now, I understood. Nydarth was a dragon, and the entirety of her spirit must have been sealed to a magical sword, much like the Summoning of Greater Fire Golem had been sealed to this scroll.
“Thank you for explaining,” I said to Xilarion.
Xilarion nodded, and I figured our meeting had ended. I left his office and returned to the practice yard to inform Kegohr and Vesma about the conversation.
“We’re not kicked out of the guild?” Kegohr asked.
“Nah, we’ll be sticking around,” I replied. “Hope you guys can—”
Vesma plowed into me, and her arms wrapped around me. It was an unexpected reaction, but I didn’t mind. We had grown closer from our adventures in the Ember Cavern, and I found myself increasingly attracted to her. We embraced for a few seconds more than I’d anticipated, and she hurried away.
“That was strange,” Kegohr commented. “You think she might—”
“Maybe,” I cut him off as I shrugged. “I’m going to get some sleep.”
I returned to my bunk for a much-needed rest. I’d passed all my initiate-level classes, so I had no scheduled lessons for the rest of the day. My eyelids closed, and I drifted to sleep.
When I awoke, it was evening, and everyone was asleep in their bunks. I waited a few moments before I retrieved the Sundered Heart Sword from the chest beneath my bed. I took out the weapon, and Nydarth’s presence entered my mind.
“Ethan,” she said. “I am overjoyed to be in your hands again.”
“I’m glad to have you back. I have questions.”
“Ask them.”
“What does it mean to become a Swordslinger? I haven’t had any straight answers from anyone.”
“The Swordslinger? Who told you of this person?”
“Tolin,” I said. “He’s the caretaker at the Unwashed Temple.”
“Caretaker? He has stooped so very low. I can hardly believe he still lives.”
“You know him?”
“In a way, yes,” she said before changing the subject. “A Swordslinger can wield blades like the Sundered Heart Sword.”
“Not everyone can wield them?”
“No.” Nydarth giggled. “I have more substantial answers for you, but they will come in time. For now, you must become stronger. You have great potential, but your channels are still too weak to contain what I want to give you.” She purred, and I wondered whether she was intentionally trying to arouse me. Just the sound of her voice was making the heat rise in my cheeks.
“I want to get stronger,” I said.
“Then, focus on your wood and fire techniques. They will be useful for our quest. The prize I have will give you a great advantage in the coming tournament.”
I grinned at the thought of kicking Hamon’s ass in front of the entire guild. If Nydarth could provide me with a superior edge, then I’d train harder than ever before.
I stashed the Sundered Heart inside the chest and went to sleep.
Chapter Sixteen
The weeks rolled by as our training continued. For leaving the guild and entering a Vigorous zone without permission, I was given a token punishment, a week’s duty sweeping the practice yard, but everybody understood that I had gotten off lightly. While the masters never acknowledged what I had done, word soon got around the guild that I had led a dangerous journey into the Ember Cavern and come back with a bag full of cores.
Things started to change. Hamon and his cronies still watched me with open hostility. They had plenty of scathing words whenever I did less than perfectly in a lesson, and even worse words for Vesma and Kegohr. But the attitude of others around us was different. Initiates we had barely spoken with before came to sit with us at lunch. When Hamon made racist comments about Kegohr’s parents, there were as many voices rising in my friend’s defense as their were joining in the cruel laughter. Despite the shorter days and colder nights, the atmosphere in the guild seemed somehow brighter.
By the time I ended each day, I was exhausted, and I talked to Nydarth for a few minutes. I didn’t want to doze off while clutching the sword and have someone discover me with it in the morning, so I was careful not to speak for long. Nydarth remained close-lipped on all questions I asked her, so I took the chance to detail my experiences of the world so far. Even though I didn’t discover much about her, I felt myself growing closer to the dragon spirit inside the sword
