Aurora.

  The reserved area was filled with all the Academy’s professors and invited guests. Nodding to deans and faculty as if they were old friends, Maximilian confidently led me to a distant corner of the hall.

  “Don’t lose your composure or be rude, Aurora. My father is eager to meet the daughter of Artef Winder, and I’m sure you won’t disappoint him,” he murmured softly, stopping near a group of tall men.

  I recognized Dominik Terragon almost immediately.

  He and his son shared many features — the same black hair, cold gray eyes, straight nose, and an air of arrogance permanently etched into their expressions.

  The Emperor’s advisor and head of the Terragon family scrutinized me with a sharp gaze, squinting slightly, before his face unexpectedly broke into a smile.

  “So, this is the daughter of Vir Winder himself. I must say, you’ve changed, young dona. When I met your father at the palace years ago, you could barely see over the table,” the stately man remarked, discarding formalities.

  His greeting caught me off guard. The dragon’s tone was friendly, even welcoming. Lowering into a curtsy before the advisor, I delivered a formal greeting, which only made him chuckle.

  “And she has manners too! That’s rare for northern mages,” the elder dragon declared with amusement.

  “Stop embarrassing her, Father,” Max growled, taking my hand and soothingly running his thumb over it.

  The gesture didn’t escape the advisor’s keen eyes, and he raised a curious eyebrow.

  “Have you found your Amatrix?” he asked, his tone turning more serious as he glanced between us.

  “NO!” Max and I blurted out at the same time.

  Dominik laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender.

  “My apologies, young dona. It seems you’re not fond of the title, just as my son warned me.”

  He glanced again at our joined hands, his expression shifting to one of gravity.

  “Now then, tell me—why the Department of Urban Development? How exactly do you intend to serve the Empire?”

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  The advisor deliberately raised his voice, and the men he had been speaking to earlier stepped closer, as if obeying an unspoken command.

  “Allow me to introduce you: Vir Serpens Ventus, the fifth junior advisor to the Emperor in the Department of Urban Development, and Vir Gillian Purgato, who oversees the domestic mages in the Department of Innovation,” the advisor said sternly. The men nodded in acknowledgment of my greeting.

  “So, what new ideas has the daughter of our esteemed mage brought us?” Vir Purgato asked with a slight smile.

  I briefly described my idea of talking Portalsinger, watching as their eyes widened in surprise.

  It was almost amusing to imagine their thoughts — why hadn’t anyone come up with this before?

  Judging by the concerned glance Vir Ventus cast toward his colleague, they seemed to like the idea. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Department of Innovation tried to develop the spell before I did.

  But I wasn’t worried. Without the key element — which I had deliberately withheld — they wouldn’t succeed.

  “Well, it’s a decent idea,” the Emperor’s fifth junior advisor said, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

  “Indeed, very intriguing. If the young dona manages to create the spell before our department does, she will have certainly earned her place in His Imperial Majesty’s service,” added Vir Purgato with a smile.

  It seemed he understood the intentions of the other dragons — or perhaps he was the one who had ordered them to take advantage of a naive young mage.

  Maximilian realized the trap too. He tightened his grip on my hand, but what could he do?

  As our professors constantly reminded us in lectures, we all work for the good of the Empire.

  I ran my finger along the inside of Max’s palm, signaling that everything was fine. His grip loosened slightly.

  Let them try. If anyone knew this idea would lead nowhere without the missing piece, it was me.

  “It would be an honor to serve the Emperor,” I said, bowing my head.

  Having achieved their goal, the dragons lost interest in me entirely.

  “I take it Aurora can count on your recommendation if she succeeds?” Maximilian asked, his tone sharper than before. The advisor frowned and turned his gaze toward his son.

  “She doesn’t need it,” Dominik growled at him. “I’ve done more than you asked, boy. I introduced your companion to two key dragons who will remember her — don’t doubt that. If Aurora Winder succeeds with her spell, she is guaranteed a position in the Department of Innovation. That’s my word, and it carries far more weight than any stamped paper with fancy seals.”

  With a curt nod in my direction, the advisor turned sharply and left, once again ignoring all decorum.

  Alone with Max, I found it easier to breathe.

  Adult dragons were intimidating, especially when they studied me with their piercing gazes.

  “Sorry, he can be overly harsh, but we really got more than we could’ve hoped for. My father never breaks his word,” Maximilian whispered in my ear as he subtly led me away from the reserved area.

  “Thank you — it wasn’t so bad,” I replied, trying to steady my breath. “Where are we going?” I asked, noticing that we were heading back toward the dancing couples.

  “To dance. It’s a ball, Aurora — what else are we supposed to do here?” Max grinned before expertly pulling me into the center of the hall, merging us seamlessly into the flow of spinning students.