Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 123: My Way ()

It was already lights out in the royal keep, yet the lights of the healer hall still shined brightly, speaking of activities still ongoing within the hall.

Most of the healers, both trainees and otherwise had already taken their leave for the day, only a few were still left behind and even they rounded up their activities and prepared to take their leave.

"Addie...can you not leave that for another day? We have to report back to the healer’s academy at dawn and it is already so late in the night, even flight patrols have departed."

"We should head back now, I can barely keep my eyes open after all the activities of the day, I dearly need my beauty sleep lest I am converted from a healer to a patient requiring medical attention." Rosalie complained in an exhausted tone as she leaned her head against the back of her chair.

Celia also sat somewhere to the side, her head buried in a medical record while Adrienne hovered over a heating slab, preparing a tonic in a methodical and concentrated manner.

Her perfectly arched brows were furrowed into a frown as she added a strange liquid into the tonic in droplets, the boiling liquid emitting a sizzling sound.

Her concentration was unchanged even with all of Rosalie’s noisy complaints and laments in a bid to get Adrienne’s attention.

"You speak as though you do not know how devoted Addie is to the healing arts? She is a fae by birth, as the fae’s are born with an affinity for nature... they are also natural born healers." Celia spoke up from where she stood, educating Rosalie on what she already knew.

"I do know. Whenever we are given a topic which will be treated on the next guidance, Addie gathers all related herbs and practices ahead of time...for hours and hours and sometimes all through the night." Rosalie grumbled in a sour tone.

"Since you already know, is there any need to make a fuss? I reckon we shall not leave here till Addie gets the tonic right, that way... Duncan doesn’t claim the highest scores again, that rank is rightfully Addie’s." Celia replied with a shrug.

"I also do not like the idea of a nobody ranking above us, but we are ladies of nobility Addie...we have greater concerns than just being excellent at the healing arts." Rosalie reminded.

"You can afford to be excellent only at the few things you chose or nothing at all and do everything just for fun, but Addie is not like us," 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"She is born to the royal line of the fae, she has to excel at everything... great expectations rest on her...far beyond what we can comprehend, how can you understand?" Celia said back, passing a glance to Rosalie.

"I do not need to understand, all I know is Addie is the perfect woman and her true achievement will come when she becomes rider to one of the Lord Dragons, why bother with all of these?" Rosalie asked with a sigh.

Rosalie’s words gave Adrienne pause, it seemed something that could catch Adrienne’s attention had finally been said and so her actions were halted unconsciously before she resumed again.

"You know that isn’t a topic you should speak so easily of." Celia interrupted, passing Rosalie a stern look.

"I am sorry, Addie. I should not have brought it up." Rosalie apologized, there was a look of guilt on her face.

"Sorry? Why should you be?" Adrienne finally spoke as she added another ingredient to the tonic and picked up a silver rod, dipping it into the boiling tonic, she stirred slowly.

"I was born to be a rider and raised to be one. My sister and I both... just because I have not found my Lord dragon yet does not mean I shall not." Adrienne continued in a calm tone.

"It is no fault of yours Addie, it is difficult for the mate bond to be discovered between two species... especially one like the dragons were the mate bond reacts only to a touch of skin to a dragon’s most treasured scale." Celia comforted, passing Rosalie another glare.

"It is difficult indeed...such proximity is required when there is nothing a dragon detests more than anyone untrusted approaching too close, not to mention they guard their reversed scale with their lives." Rosalie huffed wistfully.

"It is difficult but not impossible... before one thinks to the mate bond, one must first gain the absolute trust of the Lord Dragon."

"My sister took two decades to earn Lodenworth’s trust and she was blessed by the Creator for her efforts were not in vain, when she was allowed a touch of Lodenworth’s treasured scale... their mate bond was proven true." Adrienne murmured.

"But if it turned out the mate bond was not true...the heart of Lodenworth already belonged to my sister."

"Hence one must bear in mind that to conquer a dragon, conquering his heart is greater than any mate bond... I do not await to find a true mate amongst the Lord Dragons, not everyone can be as blessed as my sister."

"But mate bond or not, I shall claim the heart of one of the Lord Dragons for myself... bond with him and join the ranks of riders, only then will I have fulfilled the expectation of my family." Adrienne said with a small smile.

"Then, you have yet to set your sights to any of the Lord Dragons?" Rosalie asked eagerly, her eyes wide with interest.

"Oh... I have. Why else have I come to the Dragon Keep if not for he who commands it?" Adrienne said with a smirk.

"You mean...?" Rosalie asked with a gasp.

"The most prestigious dragon of them all...with scales of gleaming gold, that is the heart I want, my sisters." Adrienne replied.

Rosalie choked on air, her hand shooting up to her mouth as she glanced around the hall to ensure no one else heard Adrienne’s words.

Celia had also placed her book aside, though she tried to maintain a neutral expression, it was obvious that she also was shocked at Adrienne’s revelation.

"Close your mouths...you will catch flies." Adrienne advised and both girls snapped their mouths shut.

"To do that, is it okay to spend your days toiling over tonics in the healer hall? Should you not think of ways to get closer to the Dragon King?" Celia asked in confusion.

"A way... I did think of that before coming here. What healer? This is my way." Adrienne replied with a smirk.

"How so?" Rosalie asked in bafflement.

"What fun would it be if I were to reveal it all in one sitting? All you must know is that every tonic I brew, every guidance I excel brings me a step closer to my goal." Adrienne replied, shaking her head slightly.

"Telling us all this, your trust in us is touching." Rosalie said in a warm tone.

Adrienne chuckled quietly as she tilted her head to the side.

"You both have been by my side for such a long time, when the time comes, I shall still require your help... naturally, there is nothing to hide... why?"

"Because in a moment, you shall remember nothing of all I have said." Adrienne finished with a smirk as she glanced over her shoulder, her eyes glowing brightly.

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"When did you finish with the tonic?" Celia asked, a quiet yawn escaping her lips as she lifted her head from off the table she rested on.

"How did I even fall asleep?" Celia asked again in bafflement.

"The day was hectic, it is natural you are tired. Wake Rosa up, we must retire to our quarters now." Adrienne said as she stored away the tonic she made.

It was only then Adrienne’s eyes caught a pile of books that were left behind by royal healer Iden.

"Those books are treasured medical records, we cannot leave them lying around here lest the attendants destroy them during the morning clean up." Celia said, coming up to stand beside Adrienne.

"Perhaps we should take them into the hall of His Eminence?" Adrienne asked with a shrug.

"Of course not! We aren’t allowed in, especially not in his absence." Rosalie reminded quickly, the dregs of sleep fading away at the mention of doing something dangerous.

"Calm yourself Rosa, we know better than to venture into His Eminence’s private study. Healer Iden must have forgotten to shelf the books in his hurry, we shall just leave them in the outer library and leave." Celia replied with a roll of her eyes.

Adrienne did not speak further but headed over to the table, picking up a few of the books and leaving the rest to Celia and Rosalie as she made her way to the inner hall.

"Is this truly okay? I do not think this is a good idea." Rosalie said uncertainly but she did comply, picking up her share of the books and following after Adrienne into that hall.