by Koren Rabe
And,-asure-aenough,-aas-aDrago-asnuck-aaround,-ahe-asaw-aa-afew-aarmored-afigures,-ahiding-aatop-aa-acouple-anearby-arooftops.-aWhen-ahe-anoticed-athem,-ahe-apaid-acareful-aattention-ato-anot-astep-aany-acloser,-ahiding-aout-ain-athe-adistance.-a
He-abegan-ato-amentally-amark-athe-alocations-awhere-ahe-asaw-aeach-aguard,-akeeping-aa-atally.-a
As-ahe-ascanned-athem-aall,-aDrago-asaw-aa-afigure-ahe-arecognized.-a
Even-ain-athe-adark,-awhere-aonly-athe-aslim-amoonlight-alit-aup-athe-aarea,-aDrago-acould-astill-amake-aout-athe-aimperious-afigure-aof-athe-asame-avampire-aWizard-athat-ahad-agrabbed-aonto-aone-aof-aJeriah,-aforcing-aher,-aand-aClarence,-ato-alob-aaccusations-aat-ahim.-a
The-aWizard-awas-asitting-adown-awith-ahis-ahands-afolded,-apatiently-awatching-athe-aAeth-aMerchant's-ahome.-a
Drago's-aeyes-ahardened-aat-athe-asight.-aHe-asaw-aseveral-aother-aguards-anear-athe-avampire,-aall-astaking-aout-athe-aresidence.-aHe-athen-asmiled,-aand-asettled-adown-aon-aa-adifferent-ahouse's-aroof,-aa-aslanted-aone-athat-ahad-aa-asmall-acubby,-aperfect-afor-aa-asmall-abody-ato-ahide-aon.-a
When-ahe'd-alived-ain-athe-aforest,-athere-awere-aseveral-atimes-ahe'd-asat-astill-afor-ahours,-ahunting-adown-aRed-aSalamanders-aor-aother-asmall-aprey.-a
Patience-awas-aa-avirtue-athat-ahe-adid-anot-alack.-a
The-aWizard-awould-aneed-ato-asleep-asometime.-a
His-aeyes-acarefully-awatched-athe-aWizard-aas-ahe-abegan-ato-await,-aresting-ahis-atired-abody-abut-astaying-aalert.-a
..
Meanwhile,-amany-amiles-aaway-afrom-aDrago,-aacross-aa-alarge-agap-ain-athe-aoceans-aof-anothingness-athat-aspread-aaround-aTaprisha,-aanother-aWorld-aBridge-acould-abe-aseen,-aconnecting-adown-ato-aanother-atall-aisland.-a
This-awas-athe-aWorld-aBridge-afrom-athe-aLesser-aWorld-aBantor.-a
This-aiteration-aof-aa-aWorld-aBridge-awas-aa-along,-adrawling-aforest,-awith-aa-apath-acut-athrough-ait-afor-atravel.-a
The-aisland-athe-aBridge-aconnected-ato-ahoused-athe-anearly-a30-amiles-awide-aCity-aof-aMorn,-aone-aof-athe-a23-aCity-aStates-aon-aTaprisha.-aIt-awas-aa-asprawling-acity-awith-aa-alarge-apopulation.-aAnother-aisland-aquite-aclose-ato-athe-aone-athat-ahoused-aMorn-acontained-aa-ahuge-aDarkiron-amine-aspreading-amore-athan-aa-ahundred-amiles-adeep,-amaking-athe-aCity-aof-aMorn-aone-aof-athe-amost-apopular-aplaces-afor-aWizards-athat-astudied-aanything-arelating-ato-aEarth-aMagic-ato-alive-aon-aTaprisha.-a
About-atwo-athousand-amiles-aup-athe-aWorld-aBridge-athat-aconnected-ato-athe-aCity-aState-aof-aMorn,-athe-afigure-aof-aa-alarge,-aglowing-adragon-acould-abe-aseen,-aflying-ahigh-ain-athe-asky-aof-athe-aWorld-aBridge.-aThe-adragon-agave-aoff-aa-anear-ablinding-alight-aas-ait-aflew,-aits-awings-ablasting-aout-awith-aa-abright-aorange-agleam.-a
Occasionally,-athe-ascattered-aspace-aat-athe-aedge-aof-athe-aWorld-aBridge-awould-asend-aout-asmall-aspatial-atears-atowards-athe-adragon.-aThese-atears-awould-aslam-ainto-athe-adragon-aand-athen-afizzle-aout,-ahaving-alittle-aeffect.-a
If-aone-alooked-aclosely-aat-athis-adragon,-athrough-athe-abright-alight-aits-awings-aemitted,-athey-awould-anotice-athat-athe-abody-aof-athe-adragon-aseemed-aalmost-aincorporeal.-aIts-asnarling,-avisage,-aits-ahuge-awings,-aits-along-atail.-aThis-adrake-awas-anearly-a50-ameters-along,-awith-aa-amassive-awingspan.-a
Orange,-aluminescent-aflames-aseemed-ato-afall-aoff-abehind-athe-adragon-aeach-atime-ait-aflapped-aits-awings,-aleaving-aa-atrail-aof-afire-ahigh-ain-athe-asky.-a
Out-aof-aits-asnarling-avisage,-aif-aone-alistened-aclose,-aa-adim,-adrawling-atune-acould-abe-aheard,-asung-aby-aa-avoice-awith-aa-adeep,-ariveting-atimbre.-a
"Oh,-aweeeeelll,-afire-ais-afun-aand-afire-ais-afree!-aWhat-ado-aI-alove,-awhy-ait's-afire-afor-ame!"
"The-aclosest-athing-ato-agod-ais-aflame!-aAnd-athat-ais-awhy-aI-aspread-amy-aname!"
"Born-athe-aeleventh,-awith-athe-afigure-agod-adevised!-aThe-aprettiest-aflame-athat-agod-ahad-aprized!"-a
"To-ahunt-afor-aperfection,-athe-aultimate-aflame-aimagined!-aThat's-awhy-aI-awill-afind…"-aIts-avoice-atrailed-aoff.
The-adragon-aseemed-ato-afreeze-ain-amid-air,-aits-aeyes-aopened-awide-ain-aanger,-a
*ROOOOOAAAAAAAAAR*
It-alet-aout-aa-amassive-aroar,-aunleashing-aa-afurious-awave-aof-aorange-afire-aon-athe-aforests-abelow.-aThousands-aof-atrees-aexploded-ainto-aa-astorm-aof-ashrapnel-aand-aflames,-amelting-ainto-athe-arocky-aearth-aof-athe-aWorld-aBridge-abelow.-a
A-afirestorm-awhipped-aup-athe-aair,-asending-aout-ahuge-agusts-aof-awind-afor-amiles.-aSeveral-athousand-amore-atrees-awere-aknocked-aover-afrom-athe-aimpact-aof-athis,-asnapping-ainto-ashards-aof-awood.-aThe-ashockwave-afrom-athe-aforce-aof-athe-adragon's-aroar-aknocked-atens-aof-athousands-aof-aleaves-ainto-athe-aair,-amost-aof-awhich-acaught-afire-ain-aa-agrand,-amassive-astorm-aof-afire-athat-aspread-aout-afor-amiles-abeneath-athe-adragon.-a
"Imagined…-aImagined…"-aThe-adragon-aseemed-ato-acalm-adown,-agetting-aahold-aof-aits-arage-aas-ait-acontinued-aflying.-a
"Such-aa-astupid-aword.-aOf-acourse-anothing-agood-awould-arhyme-awith-ait."
"…"
"Oh-abeautiful-afire,-awhy-aI-asearch-afor-athee!-aTo-afind-aperfection,-aI-amust-anow-asee!"
It-awent-aback-ato-aits-asinging,-ameandering-aits-away-atowards-athe-aworld-aof-aTaprisha.
###-aChapter-a38-a--aTarget
"Damn."-aRalf-aslammed-ahis-ahand-adown-aon-athe-aroof,-acracking-athe-aslate-aroof-atiles-ain-aanger.-aHis-aeyes-aemanated-aa-acold,-ablood-ared-alight.-a
"An-aentire-anight-awasted,-aand-anothing-aof-ait."-aHe-asighed,-arunning-ahis-ahands-athrough-ahis-ahair.-a
He-aand-ahis-amen-aand-astaked-aout-athe-ahouse-athe-awhole-anight,-awaiting-afor-athe-aTitan-ato-ashow-aup.-aThey'd-agotten-azero-aresults,-aand-ainstead-aleft-ahim-aexhausted.-aRalf-arubbed-aat-ahis-aeyes,-afeeling-athe-afatigue-abehind-athem.-a
"Randall,-aBorranger."-aHe-acalled-aout-atwo-anames-aquietly,-awaving-ahis-ahand-aforward.-a
Immediately,-atwo-aof-ahis-atrusted-asubordinates-ain-athe-aguard-aappeared.-aOne-aof-athem-awas-ahuman,-awhile-athe-aother-awas-aa-avampire.-a
While-athis-aplanet-awas-aunder-athe-acontrol-aof-athe-aAurelius-aFamily,-athe-avast-amajority-aof-aits-ainhabitants,-aand-amost-aworlds-acontrolled-aby-athe-aFamily,-awere-anot-avampires.-a
Vampires-awere-aa-apowerful-arace,-awith-astrength-athat-acould-agrow-ato-ahigh-alevels-awithout-aeven-atraining-ain-amagic.-aIt-awas-aa-alaw-ain-athis-auniverse-athat-athe-astronger-aor-amore-apowerful-athe-abloodline-aof-aa-abeing-awas,-athe-aharder-ait-awas-ato-ahave-aoffspring.-a
Therefore,-awhile-athe-ahand-aof-athe-aAurelius-amay-astretch-afar,-athe-anumber-aof-avampires-ain-athe-aFamily-awas-anot-aat-aall-athat-alarge-awhen-acompared-ato-ahumans-aor-athe-aAeth,-aor-aother-apopulous-araces.-a
"Maintain-athe-astakeout-ajust-ain-acase,-abut-amake-acontact-awith-athe-ageneral-aguard-ato-aswitch-aover-aand-alet-athe-amen-arest."-aSince-athe-aTitan-ahadn't-aappeared-aimmediately,-ahe'd-aneed-ato-ado-athis-aone-aby-athe-abooks.-aAnnoyance-aand-aworry-afilled-ahim,-aalongside-aregret.-aIf-ahe-aknew-athis-awould've-abeen-aso-amuch-atrouble,-ahe-anever-awould've-aframed-athe-aTitan.-a
"Yes-asir."
"Yes-asir!"-a
The-apair-aresponded-awith-asharp-anods,-aand-aset-ato-awork-ainforming-athe-arest-aof-athe-aguard.-aRalf-asighed-aagain,-aand-athen-avanished-afrom-athe-arooftop,-aslinking-aoff-adown-athe-aside-aas-adawn-abegan-ato-abreak,-aheaded-ahome.-aHe-alived-aonly-aa-ashort-adistance-aaway-afrom-ahere.-aFlying-ain-athe-acity-awas-astrictly-aoff-alimits,-aand-ait-awould-abe-aa-abit-atoo-amuch-ato-acall-afor-aa-acarriage,-aso-ahe-adecided-ato-awalk.-a
..
"Finally."-aDrago's-aeyes-agleamed-aas-ahe-awatched-athe-avampire-aWizard-abreak-aoff-afrom-athe-arooftop-aafter-ahours-aof-aobservation.-aHis-apatience-ahad-abeen-astretched-athin-aby-athis-apoint.-a
'Ausra,-ahow-amuch-atime-ado-aI-ahave-atill-athis-aform-afinishes-aadapting?'-aHe-aqueried,-achecking.-aHumans-aonly-ahad-atwo-aGrowth-aStages,-aand-ahe-awould-amaximize-atheir-agrowth-aimmediately,-atransforming-ainto-aan-aadult.-aHe-adid
n't-aexactly-ahave-athe-aclothes-afor-ait,-aand-awith-adaylight-aunfolding,-ahe-acould-abe-aleft-ain-aan-aunpleasant-asituation.-a
'9-aminutes-aand-a12-aseconds.'-aAusra-aresponded-acoolly.-a
Drago-anodded.-aHe-acould-awork-awith-athat.-aHe'd-aprobably-awant-ato-amaintain-ahis-ahuman-aform-atill-ahe-agot-aout-aof-athe-acity,-aall-athings-aconsidered,-asince-athe-aguards-awere-alooking-afor-aa-aTitan,-aand-ahis-aother-aforms-aweren't-areally-aapplicable.-a
He-akept-ato-athe-ashadows-aas-ahe-atrailed-aafter-athe-avampire-aWizard,-akeeping-ahis-adistance.-aThe-avampire-aseemed-asupremely-aunconcerned-awith-aanyone-afollowing-ahim,-amost-alikely-afor-agood-areason.-aAusra-ahad-ahim-alabelled-aas-aa-aGrandmaster-aClass-aWizard.-aThe-ainnate-abarrier-aof-aa-aGrandmaster-aClass-aWizard-acould-anullify-athe-aimpact-afrom-aa-athousand-apound-ablow-awith-aease,-alet-aalone-aany-athieves-aor-aattacks.-aThat,-acombined-awith-ahis-aown-aphysical-astrength-aand-adurability-aas-aa-avampire,-agave-aconsiderable-acause-afor-aconfidence.-a
According-ato-aAusra,-astudying-amagic-acould-aaccelerate-athe-agrowth-ato-amaturity-aof-aany-acreature-awith-aa-abloodline-athat-ahad-apotential-ato-agrow,-athrough-athe-alaws-aof-athis-aworld.-aIt-aworked-adifferently-afor-adifferent-araces.-a
The-amoment-ayour-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix-abroke-athrough-ato,-asay,-athe-aGrandmaster-aClass,-ayour-abody-awould-aimmediately-astart-ato-agrow-aand-aadapt-ato-athat-alevel-aof-apower.-a
He-ashook-athe-astray-athoughts-afrom-ahis-amind-aas-ahe-astalked-athe-avampire-athrough-athe-abarest-agleaming-aof-adawn.-a
Around-ahim,-athe-acity-awas-aslowly-acoming-ato-alife.-aHe-acould-amake-aout-aseveral-afigures-astarting-ato-awalk-athe-astreets.-aHunters,-aheading-aout-aof-athe-acity-ato-ahunt-abeasts-aon-athe-aWorld-aBridge,-aor-ato-across-aover-ato-aother-aislands.-aMiners-acrossing-ato-aany-amines-awith-aresources-ain-athe-avicinity,-atraders-areadying-atheir-atrade-aor-apreparing-ato-aleave-aon-aexpeditions.-a
He-aalso-asaw-aa-afew-abeggars,-alying-aon-athe-aside-aof-astreets-aor-aalleyways-aresting.-aIt-aseemed-apoverty-awas-aa-acurse-ain-athis-aworld,-ajust-aas-ait-awas-aback-aon-aEarth.-a
The-aworld-aaround-awas-astarting-ato-acome-ato-alife.-a
No-aone-apaid-aattention-ato-aa-apoorly-adressed-astreet-aurchin,-amoving-aoff-ato-athe-aside.-a
After-aabout-afive-aminutes-aof-awalking,-athe-avampire-aWizard-aturned-ainto-aa-adifferent-aresidential-aarea,-aone-athat-awas-aentirely-afenced-ain.-aA-agate-ablocked-aoff-aany-anormal-aentrance-ato-athis-aexclusive-asection-aof-athe-acity.-aSeveral-araised-ablack-awalls-ablocked-aoff-apassage-aaround-athe-aarea,-aleaving-athe-aonly-away-ain-aover-athe-awall-aor-athrough-athe-agate.-a
The-agate-aitself-aseemed-ato-abe-amade-aof-asome-atype-aof-agolden-ametal-aand-agave-aoff-aa-afaint,-ayellow-alight.-a
Past-athe-agate,-aDrago-acould-asee-aseveral-aluxurious-amansions,-aat-aleast-aten-aof-athem,-amany-aof-athem-averitable-apalaces-adue-ato-atheir-asheer-asize,-aspread-aa-ahundred-ameters-aout-afrom-aeach-aother.-aTrees,-aa-asmall-ariver,-aand-aa-afew-agardens-astood-abetween-aeach-ahome,-agiving-athe-aarea-aa-anatural,-acomfortable-alook.-aNot-aat-aall-aas-aif-ait-awas-ain-athe-amiddle-aof-aa-apopulated-acity.-aIt-awas-athe-amost-aluxurious-asight-ahe'd-aseen-ain-athe-acity-ayet.-a
The-avampire-aDrago-awas-awatching-acast-asome-asort-aof-aspell,-aand-athe-agate-ashivered-aand-athen-aopened-aup,-aallowing-ahim-ato-apass-athrough.-aMoments-alater-ait-aclosed-aoff,-asealing-athe-aplace.-a
Drago-afrowned-aas-ahe-asaw-athis.-aHis-aeyes-atrailed-aup,-alooking-aat-athe-awalls-aand-aabove-athem.-a
Just-afaintly,-ahe-acould-amake-aout-aan-aodd-adistortion-ain-athe-aair.-a
He-aguessed-athat-aif-ahe-aflew-aover-ait,-ait-amight-aset-aoff-asome-asort-aof-aalarm.-aThe-agate-aappeared-ato-abe-asome-atype-aof-amagic-aobject,-alocking-aout-athe-away.-aHe-adidn't-asee-aanyone-aelse-amoving-ato-aor-afrom-athe-agate,-ait-aseemed-alike-aan-aexclusive-acommunity-athat-apeople-awould-ararely-aenter-aor-aexit.-aAt-aleast,-anot-ain-athe-aearly-ahours-aof-adawn.-a
There-awere-afew-apeople-amoving-aanywhere-anear-athis-astreet.-aThe-ahomes-aoff-ato-ahis-aleft-aor-aright-awere-astill-aclosed-aup,-aand-athe-astreet-aitself-anearly-aempty.-aThere-awere-ano-ashops-aor-aanything-aof-athat-akind-ain-athis-aresidential-asector-aof-athe-acity.-a
As-ahe-awas-aconsidering-awhat-ato-ado,-aan-aidea-apopped-aup-ain-ahis-ahead.-a
He-aknew-ahe-awas-aable-ato-aabsorb-aenergy-afrom-amagic-aobjects,-aand-aadd-athat-ato-ahis-aown-astore-aof-agrowth-aenergy.-aHe-ahadn't-afully-atested-ahis-aability-ayet.-aNow,-ahowever,-aseemed-alike-aa-aprime-aopportunity.-aHe-awasn't-ajailed-aaway-atrying-ato-aescape-aor-ain-aany-adanger.-aIf-asomething-awent-awrong,-ahe'd-abe-aable-ato-adeal-awith-ait-asafely.-a
Drago-asmiled,-aand-athen-ashuffled-aup-ato-athe-afront-aof-athe-agate.-a
He-atook-aone-alast-asurreptitious-alook-aaround-athe-astreet.-aThe-agrey-aand-awhite-apaved-astone-aroad-awas-aempty-afor-athe-amost-apart,-athe-anearest-apedestrians-aat-aleast-aa-ahundred-ameters-aoff-ato-ahis-aright.-a
Slowly,-ahe-aput-ahis-aright-ahand-aon-athe-agate.-aHe-afelt-aa-aslight-atingling-afeeling-aas-ahe-atouched-ait,-aand-athen-anothing.-a
'Ausra,-agot-aany-atips-aon-aabsorbing-aenergy-afrom-amagic-aobjects?'-aA-aquestion-ahe-afelt-ahe-ashould've-aasked-afar-asooner.-a
'It-ais-aa-anatural-atalent-aunique-ato-ayour-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix,-aand-alike-aother-askills-aor-aAbilities,-ayou-asimply-aneed-ato-awill-ait-ato-ahappen.'-aAusra-areplied-apunctually.-a
Drago-anodded-aand-athen-aturned-ahis-afocus-ato-athe-agate-abefore-ahim.-a
He-astared-aat-ait,-aand-athen-aslowly-aconcentrated,-awilling-aany-aenergy-ain-athe-agate-ato-aflow-ainto-ahim.-a
Gradually,-ahe-afelt-aa-awarm-afeeling-asettle-ain-aon-ahis-aright-ahand.-aThis-afeeling-abegan-ato-abecome-awarmer-aand-awarmer.-aHe-afelt-aalmost-aas-aif-aa-aconnection-awas-astarting-ato-aform.-a
Mentally,-ain-ahis-ahead,-ahe-afelt-aa-agreat-abig-aglowing-alight-aappear.-aA-ahuge,-amassive-aorb,-afloating-aabove-ahim.-aAlmost-awithin-areach.-a
Drago-astared-aat-athe-aorb,-aand-athen-awilled-ait-ato-acome-ato-ahim.-a
And-ait-adid.
All-aof-aa-asudden,-ahis-aentire-abody-awas-asuffused-ain-aa-amassive-agolden-alight,-afor-athe-abriefest-ainstant.-aHis-aentire-abody-afelt-aas-aif-ait-awas-aabout-ato-aimplode,-aa-ahuge-astore-aof-aenergy-ablasting-ainto-ahim.-aThis-afeeling-alasted-abriefly-abefore-adisappearing-awithout-aa-atrace.-a
A-asplit-asecond-alater…-athe-agolden-agate-ain-afront-aof-ahim-afell-aapart,-acollapsing-ainto-adust.-aThe-ashimmering,-aalmost-ainvisible-ashield-athat-acovered-athe-awalls-aand-athe-aair-aabove-athem-ashivered,-aand-athen-avanished.-a
Just-aafter-athis,-aDrago-ainstinctively-apulled-aup-ahis-agrowth-astatus.-a
-
-Human-a--aGrowth-aStage:-a(1/2)-aHuman-aChild-a-
Growth-aProgress-a–-a59,794/300-a-
-
Drago's-aeyes-aopened-awide-ain-ashock-aas-ahe-achecked-athe-avalues,-aand-athen-achecked-athem-aagain-ain-aastonishment.-a
"I-aabsorbed…-aaround-a55,000-aunits-aof-aenergy?!"-a
..
Ralf-achecked-ahis-aappearance-ain-ahis-aentryway-amirror,-amaking-asure-ahis-acollar-awasn't-aset-atoo-ahigh.-aEven-athough-ahe-awas-ahome,-ait-awouldn't-ado-ato-alook-apoorly-adressed.-aMaintaining-aone's-aappearance-awas-aimportant,-aespecially-awhen-ayou-athought-ano-aone-awas-alooking.-a
He-ahad-afinally-amade-ait-ahome-aafter-asuch-aa-agrueling-aevening,-aand-awas-aready-ato-ago-ato-asleep.-aHe-amoved-apast-athe-aentrance-aof-ahis-alarge-amansion,-alooking-aat-athe-aornate-astaircase,-awhite-astone-astatues-athat-aadorned-ahis-awalls,-aand-aantique-awhite-ateak-awooden-afloor.-aHis-ahumble-aabode-awas-ahis-aplace-aof-arefuge.-a
"Master-aTornstrew!"-aBefore-ahe-acould-aeven-amake-ait-ato-athe-agrand-astaircase,-aone-aof-ahis-asubordinates-acame-arushing-ain.-aA-avampire-awarrior-adressed-ain-ablack-aleather-aarmor,-aone-aof-ahis-aguards.-aFavian-awas-ahis-aname.-a
"Yes,-aFavian?"-aHe-aasked,-astruggling-ato-akeep-athe-airritation-aout-aof-ahis-avoice.-aThe-amen-athat-a
guarded-ahis-amansion-awere-atrained-awell-aenough-ato-aonly-adisturb-ahim-aif-ait-awas-aurgent.-a
"It's,-auh,-ait's-aMolf-asir."-aApparently-athe-aman's-aname-awas-aMolf.-a
"And,-auh,-asir!-aThe-aProtection-aSpell-aField-aof-athe-a12-aPalaces-ahas-acollapsed!"-aThe-avampire-acontinued,-ahis-aeyes-awide.-a
Ralf-astared-aat-athe-aman,-aincredulously,-a
"It-acollapsed?"-a
"Yessir,-ait-acollapsed!"-aThe-aguard-areplied,-anodding-ahis-ahead.-a
Ralf-akneaded-ahis-aforehead,-afeeling-aa-aheadache-atrying-ato-aforce-aits-away-ain,
"Favian-"-a
"It's-aMolf,-asir,"
"Molf,"-aHe-abegan,-aglaring-aat-athe-aguard-afor-ainterrupting-ahim,
"The-aProtection-aSpell-aField-acannot-ajust-a'collapse.'-aIt-awas-aput-ainto-aplace-aby-aa-acommissioned-aLord-aClass-aWizard,-ausing-a12-aEarthen-aEnergy-aCores.-aA-ameteor-alobbed-aby-aa-aLord-aClass-aFire-aWizard-acouldn't-aput-aa-adent-ain-athe-aSpell-aField,-alet-aalone-acause-ait-ato-acollapse."-a
Molf-asquirmed,-alooking-auncomfortable-aas-ahe-aresponded,-a
"Well,-auh,-asir-aI-aknow."
"But,"-ahe-acontinued,-agesturing-atowards-athe-afront-adoor,
"It,-auh,-awell,-ait-adid."-a
Ralf-aturned-atowards-athe-afront-aentrance-aof-ahis-ahouse.-aHe-ablinked-aand-athen-awalked-aforward,-astalking-aoutside,-ahis-aanger-abuilding-ato-aa-acrescendo-aas-ahe-araised-ahis-ahands-aup.-a
"What-ain-athe-aname-aof-athe-aheaven's-ado-ayou…"-aHis-avoice-atrailed-aoff.
Ralf's-aeyes-awere-atrained,-aable-ato-asee-aand-adetect-afaint-atraces-aof-amagic.-a
And-athe-asky-aabove-ahim-awas-aon-afire,-arandom-amagical-awaves-aexploding-aback-aand-aforth-aoverhead-aerratically.-a
The-aperfect-aimage-aof-aa-acollapsed-aSpell-aField.
His-ajaw-adropped,-aand-ahis-ahands-araised-ain-aanger-aslowly-afell-aas-ahe-astared-aat-athe-adying-asky-aabove,
"..."
"…what?"
..
"Ulp!"-aDrago-aburped,-aa-asatisfied-afeeling-ain-ahis-astomach.-aAbsorbing-athe-aenergy-afrom-athat-agate-ahad-agiven-ahim-aa-anice-aand-awarm-afull-afeeling.-aHe-asmiled-aas-ahe-awaltzed-ainto-athe-awalled-aoff-aarea,-aglancing-aaround-aat-athe-amansions,-azeroing-ain-aon-athe-aone-athe-avampire-aWizard-ahad-awalked-ainto.-a
