The Supreme Guardian. Dmitry Chernykh

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      – Ah, greetings, Guardian! – the sorcerer cheerfully announced – And what have you forgotten in our alma mater?

      This was troubling. Exposed on my second day? What kind of Guardian does that make me? Yet, the worst part was still not knowing what to expect from this peculiar individual.

      – Whom do I have the honor? – I inquired, carefully concealing my own curiosity.

      – Oh, you haven’t figured it out yet! Well…

      Oh dear, seems like I shouldn’t have asked. The professor’s eyes yellowed, teeth growing rapidly, and his already large nose started to resemble a medium-sized squash, his skin turning scaly and blackened. A sight no one would wish to see. But then it all became clear. A dragon. An ancient dragon in human disguise. How could I have not realized? And what was this oversized lizard doing in our world?

      – Our world is closed to dragons, – I calmly stated – In the name of the Guardian, I command you to return beyond the veil.

      – Make me! – the sorcerer laughed with a roaring chuckle.

      I despise dragons. Wise, nearly immortal, incredibly powerful, yet they act like children! Well, time to show my true power. Grasping my staff firmly, I threw a portal spell without looking. In the middle of the wall, where the blackboard once was, a shapeless black spot appeared, shimmering like gasoline in the sun. The thin fabric of our reality tore open, paving a way to the spirit world.

      Now, just a small matter of pushing the mighty dragon into the portal. What is he doing, by the way? Ah yes, spells of the upper astral – a dragon’s favorite magic. In the next moment, my desk burst into flames, turning to ash. A pity, I had taken such good care of it.

      The next weaving seemed intended for me. Falling to the floor, I let the lethal spell pass over my head. One of the shelves melted into the ground as a murky green sludge. Hmm… I wouldn’t want to be in its place.

      Rolling to the side, I quickly sprang to my feet and raised the most powerful of my protective weavings – a dome of shadows. The entire space around me was cloaked in a dark, semi-transparent smoke. Timely, as several of the dragon’s spells shattered against the shield, showering me with bright sparks.

      The situation became a stalemate. The sorcerer couldn’t break through the dome of shadows, and I couldn’t attack, as I was spending all my energy maintaining the shield.

      – Why are you here? – growled the dragon, momentarily ceasing to hurl combat charms at me.

      – Ley lines have shifted, the tension point is above the academy. I’m investigating the causes, – I replied truthfully, dragons have a keen sense for lies – And what are you doing here?

      – You came to expel me? – the teacher expressed genuine surprise – I’m actually working here! Kazimir and I are old friends, he asked me to substitute as the sorcerer this year. She’s on maternity leave. And I don’t want to go back to the spirit world, I’ve only got three years left until retirement!

      A dragon nearing retirement? That was new. But I still needed to get out. I couldn’t hold this shield forever. Well, I could, but I didn’t want to.

      – I propose a truce! – I shouted – You help me with my investigation, and I’ll cover for you with the other Guardians!

      The sorcerer pondered. For a long time. He seemed quite keen on killing me. Dragons don’t like Guardians. But it’s not our fault! Protecting the world from intelligent magical beings – that’s our job!

      – Alright… – the professor grumbled – We shall aid each other. Without my knowledge, you’d hardly cope.