Before the war began.
Before the first orders were given.
Before the dragons turned against the empire…
There was the Academy.
***
The stone courtyards of the Dragon Academy were bustling with life. Young apprentices trained, laughed, and competed with one another, and the scent of fire and magic hung in the air.
Valdor was twelve years old at the time.
He was quiet. He stood on the sidelines, watching the others, his hands in his coat pockets, as if he wanted to disappear into the crowd.
— Hey, look who's here. — said one of the older students, stepping closer.
— It's the new kid. — added another, grinning crookedly. — They say he's supposed to be the king's heir.
— He doesn't look like it.
They blocked his path.
Valdor remained silent.
— What's the matter, cat got your tounge?
The first one gave him a light shove.
Valdor took a step back, but said nothing.
— Maybe we should see what he's really worth?
— Leave him alone.
The voice was calm but firm — it was Arok.
He was thirteen years old. He stood straight, confident, with his arms crossed over his chest.
— Arok… — muttered one of the boys. — I'ts none of your business.
— It is now. — Arok replied.
There was a moment of silence. No one wanted to mess with him.
— Hmph… whatever. — one of them grumbled.
They walked away. Arok turned to Valdor.
— Are you okay?
Valdor was silent for a moment.
— Fine... thanks...
Arok smiled slightly.
— Good. Because next time, you'll be able to stand up to them on your own.
Valdor looked at him in surprise.
— On my own?
— Of course. I'm not going to watch over you your whole life.
Nebuko appeared behind him.
— You finally found him, — she said, leaning against the wall. — I told you he'd be somewhere on his own.
She looked at Valdor closely.
— Is this the new guy?
— Yeah, and he's joining us, — Arok replied.
Valdor furrowed his brow.
— Joining you?
Arok held out his hand.
— Yeah. With our gang.
Nebuko smiled slightly.
— We don't have a name, but we're still the best.
Valdor looked at Arok's hand. At their confidence. At something he himself had never had. After a moment… he shook Arok's hand.
— I'm Valdor… Nice to meet you. — he said with a smile. And that's how it began. Months passed. Training, fights, laughter, rivalry. Arok was always at the forefront. Strong. Confident. Popular. Always surrounded by people. But despite that, he always came back to Valdor and Nebuko
— Hey, Valdor! — he shouted once from a distance. — Hurry up, fencing practice starts in a minute!
— I'm coming. — he replied calmly.
Nebuko sighed.
— Seriously, how can you be so calm?
Valdor looked at her.
— Someone has to be.
— You're boring. — she snapped, but smiled to herself.
— Come on, Arok is waiting. — said Valdor, and they went to training
Those were good days. Simple. Real. But then everything changed. Arok was appointed. God of Death. From that moment on, his gaze changed. It was colder, he was selfish, and he started acting more rude.
— We can't operate like we used to anymore. — he said one day, standing in front of Valdor and Nebuko.
— What do you mean!? — asked Valdor.
— Everyone goes their own way. — replied Arok. Silence.
— Why… — asked Nebuko.
— We're not getting in each other's way; I have other things to do now. — replied Arok
Valdor frowned.
Nebuko looked at Arok; she had tears in her eyes.
— I understand… — she said sadly.
Arok walked past them and headed toward his house.
— Do something, Nebuko! We can't lose him! — said Valdor.
Nebuko just stood there in silence.
— Goodbye. If any of you follow me, I'll kill you… — Arok said coldly.
A few days later, Valdor was walking down the hallway when he overheard a conversation
— They've left. — someone in the hallway said.
Valdor stopped. — Who…? — He stepped closer
— Arok and Nebuko. They've left the capital. — the person replied.
Silence fell. Valdor froze, and a moment later, the person grabbed him by the shoulders.
— When… did they leave…? — Valdor asked.
— I last saw them at the inn; I think they were waiting for a carriage…
He turned and ran out of the school, rushing toward the inn. Along the way, he bumped into people, knocking them over without meaning to.
— Why… are you leaving me behind? — he said to himself.
When he reached the inn, the carriage was already pulling away.
— Arok! Nebuko! — he shouted.
He rushed after the departing carriage, but couldn't catch up to it. Halfway there, he stopped and sank to his knees, overcome with tears.
Nebuko looked out the carriage window.
— Why are we leaving without saying goodbye…?
— We can't see him anymore. — he replied.
— I understand… you must have your reasons… — she said quietly.
— We'll see him again. — he added.
The carriage disappeared around the bend, and Valdor knelt in the middle of the street, tears in his eyes. People around him whispered to one another. After a moment, guards patrolling the area appeared and approached him.
— Prince Valdor… — said one of the guards.
The other guard began to disperse the crowd, pushing them away from Valdor and clearing a space around him.
They escorted Valdor to the castle.
When Valdor returned to the castle, he threw his bag on the ground and headed toward the garden, but on his way there he passed Elen, his mother.
Elen noticed that Valdor looked downcast.
— What's wrong, son?" she asked Valdor
— Nothing much… Mom… — he replied
— You can tell me anything… she said with concern
— I want to be alone. — Valdor replied and headed toward the garden
Valdor entered the garden and sat down behind his favorite tree. Valdor sat under one of them. Hidden. Far away from everyone.
— I knew you'd be here," said Sylphia.
She walked over calmly and sat down next to him.
— What happened? — Valdor was silent for a moment.
And then… — They left me. — His voice was quiet.
— Arok… Nebuko… they just left. — He clenched his fists.
— I thought… that we were…
He didn't finish. Tears began to flow on their own.
Sylphia didn't say anything for a moment. She was just there beside him.
— That hurts. — she said finally.
Valdor nodded.
— it does…
Sylphia stroked his head to calm him down.
— But this isn't the end of your journey… You'll definitely meet them again someday.
Valdor closed his eyes.
— I know…
— And you're not alone. — Sylphia said.
He lifted his head slightly.
— You have me.
Valdor looked at her.
For the first time in a long while… he felt at peace.
***
Raindrops began to fall from the sky, splashing against the stone floor of the arena.
Valdor and Arok stood facing each other. They were silent. Water ran down their faces.
Valdor looked at him differently. Now he knew.
— Arok… Now I remember where I know you from...
Arok looked at him calmly. The rain was getting heavier. And the past returned.
Nebuko raised her head and squinted her eyes.