Chapter Title: A Mission Beneath the Surface
Morning sunlight streamed through the high dormitory windows, illuminating motes of dust dancing lazily in the air. Birds chirped merrily outside, a stark contrast to the chaos reigning within one particular room. Scattered training scrolls, discarded plates, and a pair of half-burned boots littered the floor – evidence of a recent, and not entirely successful, attempt at breakfast.
"Asher, I swear – if you burned my blanket again, I'm going to smother you with it," Nick groaned, sitting up and tossing a charred piece of fabric aside. The smell of singed wool still hung faintly in the air.
"It was an accident!" Asher yawned dramatically, stretching as if he hadn't just caused a minor fire hazard. "I sneezed, and – well, Blaze Fang flared a bit in my dreams. What can I say? The sword has attitude."
Ethan, ever the pragmatist, was already dressed, methodically adjusting the straps of his twin Spellmirror Daggers, their polished surfaces gleaming in the sunlight. "Let's just get to the mission hall before Asher sets something else on fire."
"Agreed," Nick muttered, brushing ash from his sleeves. "Besides, today might be the day we get something interesting. A real mission, not another cleaning detail."
"As long as it's not another 'clean the alchemy lab' assignment. I'm still coughing up fumes from the last one," Asher added, slipping into his boots, his grin wide and mischievous.
The trio left the dormitory and strolled across the academy's sun-drenched courtyard, where banners bearing the sigil of the Dragon-Blooded flapped proudly in the gentle breeze. Students bustled around, engaged in training exercises, sparring matches, or running errands, their movements a flurry of activity. The Dragon-Born trio's presence drew inevitable stares – some curious, some respectful, but others, sadly, still laced with the familiar undercurrent of resentment.
"You'd think people would be used to us by now," Ethan murmured, his gaze sweeping across the courtyard, his senses alert.
"They're used to fearing what they don't understand," Nick replied softly, his tone laced with a quiet understanding.
"Or maybe they're just jealous I look this good with a flaming sword," Asher smirked, striking a dramatic pose.
"Right," Nick rolled his eyes, his amusement evident. "That must be it."
They reached the mission hall – a grand structure carved from obsidian and polished marble, its every column adorned with intricately carved dragon motifs. Inside, the atmosphere buzzed with a controlled energy. Students clustered around the large mission board at the center, poring over the available assignments, while others patiently lined up to speak with the mission clerk.
And there she was – Elina, the embodiment of organized chaos in a crisp clerk's uniform. Her short, messy auburn hair seemed to possess a life of its own, her glasses perpetually askew on her nose. Her smirk was infectious, an unmistakable sign of her mischievous nature, her attitude capable of giving even Asher a run for his money.
"Well, well, well," Elina drawled, her eyes twinkling with mischief as the trio approached. "Look who decided to finally grace the mission hall with their dramatic dragon presence."
"Nice to see you too, Elina," Asher replied, executing a mock bow, his usual bravado undimmed. "We figured today was the day to rescue the academy from boredom."
"Oh, how noble," she chuckled, her amusement clear. "Good thing I've got something juicy for you three."
She waved a hand, producing a parchment scroll sealed with the academy's crest. "Escort mission. A group of human explorers have been granted permission to investigate an ancient cave on the outskirts of the Bleakroot Forest."
"Sounds simple enough," Ethan said, his voice neutral, his expression cautious.
Elina snorted, her amusement evident. "Simple? The cave is ancient, enchanted, and most likely cursed. Also… you'll be joined by another academy group. Humans."
The trio exchanged knowing glances, a silent communication passing between them.
Nick raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Why both groups?"
"Politics," Elina said with a roll of her eyes. "The Council wants to keep things balanced. Can't have the Dragon-Blooded stealing the spotlight, after all." Her words were laced with sarcasm, her disdain for the academy's political maneuvering clear.
"So they're sending a bunch of egotistical, dragon-hating humans to babysit the same people we're supposed to protect?" Asher scoffed, his disbelief evident. "This is going to be a disaster."
"Exactly," Elina said sweetly, her eyes twinkling. "Which is why I picked you. Because I like watching chaos."
"You're a menace," Ethan stated flatly, his assessment succinct and accurate.
"And you love me for it," Elina retorted, her grin wide. "Now off you go – cave's a few hours west. Try not to die."
With reluctant grumbles and a tightening of their gear, the trio set off – through the academy gates, across open plains, past meandering rivers and towering cliffs. The journey was relatively uneventful… until they reached the cave entrance.
There, already assembled, stood the human group – five students clad in polished armor and weaponry, their posture stiff and arrogant, posing as if for a formal portrait. One of them, tall and sharp-jawed, with a long sword strapped across his back, sneered as he saw the Dragon-Born trio approach.
"So these are the dragon-worshippers," he announced loudly, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Yup," Asher replied, his tone equally sharp, his eyes glittering with amusement. "And we bite."
The explorers – three men and two women – looked nervously between the two groups, their apprehension palpable. These were scholars, not warriors, their primary concern being knowledge and discovery, not combat.
The human leader stepped forward, his voice laced with an attempt at authority. "Let's get something straight. We're here to do the job right. You three just stay out of our way." His words were a thinly veiled threat, a blatant attempt to assert dominance.
Nick frowned, his patience wearing thin. "We're on the same side."
"Tell that to the ancestors you betrayed," the boy spat, his contempt undisguised. "You gave up your humanity." His words struck a raw nerve, a painful reminder of the prejudice they constantly faced.
That struck deeper than any blade.
Asher's grip tightened on Blaze Fang's hilt, his anger simmering beneath the surface. "We chose to be strong enough to protect people like you."
"Enough," Ethan cut in, stepping between them, his voice firm, his presence imposing. "We have a job to do. Let's just focus on that."
The explorers, clearly sensing the simmering tension, wisely remained silent, their faces etched with concern. The dark maw of the cave loomed nearby, silent and foreboding, a tangible symbol of the unknown dangers that lay ahead.
One of the scholars approached them cautiously, his voice calm and reasonable. "We don't care about sides. We just want to finish this safely."
"You will," Ethan said, his eyes steady, his gaze unwavering. "As long as *they* don't get you killed trying to prove something."
With that, the party moved into the cave's shadowed mouth, swallowed by the ancient stone and the oppressive weight of old grudges and simmering rivalries.