Draco walked down to the dining room mending the lapels of his coat. He had had time to take a quick bath and change when he returned from his training, so he was refreshed and full of energy. In the room Oscar and one of the maids were waiting for him. The dragon looked around seeking his master, but he was nowhere to be found. He looked at the clock standing behind the top of the table-it had just struck eight-thirty.
-Please don't worry young master.- Oscar followed Draco's gaze and guessed what the young mage was thinking about.- Earl... rarely comes punctually to breakfast if he has the morning off.- It sounded as if the older man was complaining, but the dragon picked up hints of nostalgia in his voice. The majordomo signaled for him to sit down in his seat and get started on his food. Draco looked at the clock once more and, feeling a suction in his stomach, followed Oscar's advice.
-I've heard that young master has found common ground with the soldiers.- Oscar spoke after a moment's silence.
-I think... somehow we managed to get along.- Draco looked at the majordomo.-I think... we can become friends.
-I hope so, young master.- The older mage nodded almost imperceptibly. It was obvious that he was hiding a smile under a studied mask.
-Oh, who do I see.- Draco almost sprang to his feet when he heard that familiar, sweetness-filled, charming voice. Gizel entered the dining room in complete silence.-I see that, unlike your master, you are a morning bird.-The elven lady crossed the room with innate elegance. The dragon stood up when she approached him and kissed the hand given to him.
-I didn't know that mada...- A harsh look closed his mouth. He smiled apologetically, trying to remember that addressing Gizel per madame could end badly.-I didn't know you had also come to Atlantis.- He corrected himself under the elven woman's watchful gaze. Oskar did not seem surprised by the lady's reaction. Well, he must have been through this before. The dragon sent the majordomo a curious look. The man read it unmistakably and merely nodded. His eyes blazed with amusement.
-One of my friends is holding a ball soon, to which I am invited.- Smiling alluringly, the elf gently stroked the dragon's cheek. She giggled gracefully and walked past him, heading towards the left side, from the top of the table, where the guests were seated. Draco, mindful of his aunt's teachings, hurried after the elf to move her chair away. Once he was back in his seat Gizel continued without taking her eyes off him,- I decided to take the opportunity to visit Darius. I think he won't mind if I stop at Ed'heere.- She threw a brief glance at the silent Oscar.
-I think the earl would not dare to have anything against it.-The majordomo replied and bowed.-On the contrary, he is probably extremely pleased by this fact.
-As tactful as ever, Oskar.-The elven woman seemed satisfied with such an answer. She focused on the dragon again.-Before I came in I managed to hear that you were already getting along with the soldiers.-She sent the dragon a curious look.
-I went to get some exercise this morning.- Draco preferred not to find himself in a situation where Gizel would start pulling on his tongue. Answering of his own accord was more comfortable.
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Darius had overslept as usual. He was well aware that the servants had woken him up at least a few times, but he couldn't bring himself to roll out of bed. Only when he remembered that, after all, he now had a apprentice with whom he was supposed to have breakfast did he quickly pull himself together. Of course, he was already late, for which he expected cold stares from Oscar. When he reached the dining room door he was just finishing buttoning up his coat.
-I hope Draco won't think I was trying to avoid him, -he said to himself while placing his hand on the doorknob. He took a breath and brought an apologetic smile to his face.
-He's really fast.- Draco was excitedly talking about something.-I wasn't expecting it, so it was really hard.- The dragon shrugged his shoulders slightly and looked away from his interlocutor. Her. Thought Darius recognising Gizel's profile.- Good morning, master.- Draco brightened up even more when he noticed Bleist. He evidently wanted to get up to greet him, but Oscar put a hand on his shoulder. Majordomus measured Darius with a cool gaze and glanced at the clock.
-Good morning and apologies for my tardiness.- He glanced at Oscar, but could still see traces of displeasure on the old man's face.
-You don't change, do you Darius?- Gizel smiled gently and returned to the interrupted meal.
-I did not expect you to honour us with your presence at breakfast.- Bleist tried to bite back.-I remember the difficulty you have getting up in the morning.
-I'm working on myself.-The woman sent him a somewhat weary look.-Unlike some.-The gentle pin hurt, as usual, but the elven beauty didn't give Darius time to retort.-So it appears you had a busy morning, Draco.-She smiled at the dragon.
-No, not really.-The boy just shrugged his shoulders.-I did a bit of exercise and that was it.
-Did you exercise today?- Darius took an interest.
-I went out for a run in the morning, and then I did a bit of practice with the sword.-The dragon became visibly livelier when he started talking about exercise. Darius found it a bit puzzling.-I met Trace at the training ground...I mean lieutenant Eghart, and he suggested I practice with the soldiers.-It seemed that Draco was in a good mood and really enjoyed how he spent his morning.-I met four younger guardsmen. They didn't seem much older than me, a few years at most. We trained together and I think we got along pretty well.
-I think I know who you're talking about.- The mage smiled pleased that his apprentice, who had not had many acquaintances so far, had started his life on Atlantis by making friends with Jams and Matheo's sons, and now met more people who could become his friends in the future. Darius did not mind at all Draco's acquaintance with the soldiers serving in the Ed'heere forces, and was even grateful that the dragon had found common ground with them so quickly. Additionally, it seemed that not only the younger members of the formation, but also the older ones had somehow taken a liking to the energetic young mage. If it had been otherwise Trace would not have allowed Draco to practice with the others. Darius looked at the student. Either everyone already knew what had happened at Matheo's, or something happened this morning. He didn't quite know what to think about it, but he was sure he'd hear about it from one of the officers at the earliest opportunity. Anyway, he suspected that one of them would be quick enough to find an excuse to interrupt his earl's work and inadvertently, in passing, mention something.-I'm glad you're enjoying the estate,- he added with which he triggered the appearance of delicate flushes on his protégé's cheeks. An additional reward for this one sentence was a long, alluring look from Gizel.
-How could I not like it, master?- Draco lowered his eyes obviously a little embarrassed, which, however, could not erase the smile from his face.-For the first time, everyone is nice to me and I don't have to be afraid that someone will beat me up.- He said it very quietly, so that Darius barely heard him. And Oscar heard it as well. The sound of breaking porcelain echoed in perfect silence. Bleist looked around the dining room and was relieved to see that the maid must have left some time ago.
-Excuse me, I think I'm getting old...- Oscar grunted. Darius looked at his face and was alarmed to see a stony mask with that one and only terrifying aura. He had only seen it once before, when the old majordomo had to inform Darius of the death of his father, General Bleist.-I guess I'm getting a bit clumsy in my old age.
-Nothing wrong with you, Oscar?- Draco seemed to have no idea that this minor accident was the reaction, how unexpected in the ever-controlled majordomus, to that one quietly spoken sentence.-I will help.-The boy eagerly stood up wanting to help the old man, but the majordomus stopped him with a gesture.
-Thank you for your help young master, but you should not be troubled.-The man brought a friendly smile to his face.-Don't worry, nothing happened.
-But...
-We'll just serve dessert in the playroom.- VetSalus kindly nodded towards the exit.-I'll have chocolate cookies brought.- He added in a conspiratorial whisper with which he dispelled any logical arguments of the dragon.
-We're both in the mood for something sweet, aren't we, my dear.- Gizel didn't even have to exchange communicative glances with Darius or Oscar, she immediately figured out the situation.-Let's leave your laggard master to finish alone as punishment and not have a chance to taste the sweets.- The elven lady smiled defiantly while sending the dragon an amused look. Draco smiled too, the vision of chocolate marvels probably won the battle against etiquette.
-I think I deserved this punishment.- Darius spread his hands with feigned regret, while Gizel and Draco did not wait for further acquiescence. Surprisingly they disappeared behind the door heading towards the promise of awaiting treats.
-I don't have to ask, do I? - Oscar, immediately after giving instructions to the quickly summoned maid, heavily sat down in the seat vacated by the dragon.
-I didn't want you to find out like that. I'm sorry.- Darius didn't look the majordomo in the eye.- You see... Draco didn't have a very happy childhood.- He began, not really knowing how to put the dragon's story into words.- Black dragons are not given much sympathy in Dagos.- He sighed.- Though that's an understatement....
He told the story slowly, trying to convey the truth in as tangible a way as possible. He didn't know if he had succeeded until he looked into the older man's eyes. Oscar understood everything and did not question any part of the story. He accepted with calmness the news that the boy was not only a skilled mage, but also a talented and strong dragon, but it was clear that he was very concerned about what Draco had gone through.