feed on dragons

25 pearls thanks!But I really didn't expect to rush so fast XD....

So today I don’t cut the paragraphs and go directly to 4400 words!

(But it's gone tomorrow...should be...)

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With the consent of the guardian and food provider, Julian's trip to Olsen finally took place steadily.Although he was also a little worried about his special "eating habits", since Hal had already given up his guarantee, Julian was basically not worried...

In other words, he was too busy to worry about anything.

It's not about being busy with school, but about various chores that need to be prepared before going abroad.Both he and Damon went to the headmaster to ask for a month and a half of leave. The headmaster looked at the leave form and then at Julian.

"The summit is only one month old, do I need to ask for two more weeks?" Julian muttered when he walked out of the principal's office with the leave slip, "Won't my semester be a waste of two weeks? These two weeks Can I apply for a refund of the tuition fee?"

"You're so poor, anyway, you didn't pay for your tuition yourself, so what's the matter?" Dai Ning rolled up the fake slip and hit him on the head, "What's more, it's not for fun for two weeks. You have to do it There are a lot of procedures, and you have to learn formal etiquette lessons, don't underestimate those, it will make you feel uncomfortable."

"Etiquette class?" Julian looked at Dai Ning foolishly, "Forget about the formalities, does the etiquette class need to take so long?"

Dai Ning gave him a complex look of pity and sarcasm.

"You'll know when you've been there."

——Julian quickly understood the meaning of Dai Ning's words.His etiquette class was taught directly at the teacher's house, and the First Prince arranged for him a well-known etiquette instructor among the nobles, so that he could teach Julian who was born in an orphanage to be able to take the class with him in just two weeks. International occasions; and that Mrs. Anne also lived up to the expectations of the eldest prince, there was no transition period, and Julian was trained strictly from the beginning.

So, when he crawled back to the dragon's lair that night, Julian just wanted to go straight to his room and collapse on the bed.

Why do you have to have a fixed posture when eating?There are so many uses of knives and forks?Do spoons and spoons have different uses?There are so many details in greeting?He has even been reprimanded many times for his walking posture, and he has to keep his chest up and his stomach in a natural way...

Julian felt that he had never been so tired in his life.Although the body is very tiring, what is even more tiring is the spirit. No matter what he does, he is tied up. He has made mistakes almost all day today. For Julian, who is always talented and does not take much time to learn anything. , It was a huge blow, he seemed to recall the period when he had no magic power and all magic could only be talked about on paper.

"It's going to be another two weeks..."

Thinking of this, he buried his face in the quilt in despair, and for the first time he did not expect the sun to rise the next day.

But while the etiquette lessons were painful, there were some happy moments during the two weeks.The thing that made him most happy was that he finally returned to the orphanage.

In the past, because the orphanage was far away from the school, it was impossible for Julian, who was financially strapped, to scrape together the car money to go home and then go back to school, so he simply lived in a small utility room even during vacations.Later, after living in Hal's Dragon's Lair, although the financial problem was solved, the schoolwork became heavy, and he didn't take the time to go back.This time he went back to the dean to get the documents needed to apply for a pass to go abroad. Azibel knew his situation and originally wanted to send someone to send him back, but Julian thanked the prince for his kindness and took out With the pocket money I had saved for a long time and Hal gave me, I happily hired a driver for the first time and went home.

The carriage ran from early morning to afternoon before arriving at the orphanage.It was a low two-story bungalow on the side of a mountain, with a small square in front, and small vegetable gardens on the left, right, and rear.There are some younger children playing in the small square while the older ones work in the nursery.

When the rare carriage stopped in front of the door, all the children looked at the door suspiciously.And because Julian's appearance was a little different from before, when he got out of the car with a lot of local products, he should be quite familiar with him, and the children didn't even recognize who it was right away.But when the boy stepped into the courtyard gate and called out their names one by one, the group of children immediately cheered and rushed towards him, surrounding him like a frying pan.

"Brother Julian!" "Brother Julian is back!" "Brother Julian has become so beautiful!"

"I'll come back to see everyone!"

Julian happily hugged the children for a round, and took out the candy he had prepared earlier to distribute.These children who lost their parents and were lucky to have food were happy, and they automatically lined up to wait for Julian to deliver candy.

"What? Slow down, slow down, don't rush...Julian?"

Several children who had already received candies ran into the house and pulled the adults out.The middle-aged woman who was preparing dinner wiped her hands and was dragged out of the door by the children. When she saw Julian, she was stunned for a while, rubbed her eyes, and looked up and down for a long time before finally seeing the shadow of the skinny boy from before.

"You are...Julian!"

"Aunt Hannah!"

Julian just finished distributing candy, and seeing the teacher who took care of him before, he ran over excitedly and gave her a big hug.

"Oh my god, it's really Julian! I can't even recognize it... How is the school? Didn't your letter say that you just left yesterday? Why did you arrive so soon?"

Hannah stroked his hair and rubbed his cheek with loving care.Julian smiled and said, "Because the time is running out, I hired a fast horse to come back. Is everything okay here?"

"Very good, it's even better than before you went! Donations have suddenly increased in the past few months, food and daily necessities are fully prepared, and some children have even been adopted. You don't have to worry, study hard, and you will have nothing to worry about. Never mind..."

"Donations suddenly increased?"

Julian tilted his head suspiciously.Orphanages are able to continue relying on state subsidies and the support of some nearby residents, but generally speaking, residents donate quilts, old clothes or flour at most, and occasionally bring some bread over, and donate directly. After all, life is not easy for everyone; the sudden increase in donations sounds a bit strange...

Julian suddenly thought of Hal.

...No way, I think too much.

He immediately rejected the idea.

Probably where the kind-hearted people came from, there are still many kind-hearted people in this world.

"I want to ask why it's so lively outside, so it's Julian."

An old but energetic voice came from behind.It was an old man who looked about six or seventy years old. He walked down the stairs steadily and walked towards the gate.The old man has a short white mustache, wears a plain robe, and a necklace of solar charms around his neck. He looks like a priest.

"Dean Luther!"

Julian originally thought he could hold back, but when he saw this old man who was like a father and a teacher, he still choked up his voice for an instant.He ran over and threw himself into the old man's arms. Luther touched his head with his wrinkled and callused hands and said with a smile, "Welcome home, Julian."

"I'm back, Master."

Julian's voice muffled from the old man's chest.

"It seems that you are really doing well. I was worried that you said it in the letter to reassure us, hahaha."

After dinner, Julian and Luther chatted while drinking warm black tea in the dean's room.Although he would write a letter back to the orphanage to report his life every month, Julian couldn't help but repeat what he had written in the letter.The old man smiled and listened as he beamed as he told about the things he had learned, the people he had met, and even the chance to go to an important summit recently...

Just when Julian finally had a dry mouth and stopped to drink tea, Luther sighed and said, "It seems that you are really doing well, so I am really relieved. After all, your child reports good news but not bad news. , me, Hannah, and the others are all worried that you lied in the letter to reassure us."

"I... I didn't."

Julian's eyes wandered.It has to be said that before he met Hal, he did this all the time.

"No, no wonder." Luther laughed a few times. "Forget it, you look fine now, and there is nothing to pursue. But the one who took care of you, who does it remind me of..."

"Huh? Is it someone the headmaster knows?"

"It doesn't count as an acquaintance. This matter has to start from that time... a long time ago, about... 30 years ago? Anyway, when I was still working in the priesthood, I dug up a ruin in the mountains in the north." Luther looked out of the window and said slowly while thinking back, "It seems to be a magical relic, so the magicians on the tower formed an investigation team and went to investigate in a mighty way. I am one of the priests accompanying the team. one."

"Magic ruins?" Julian blinked, "The mountains in the north...are the ruins of red lotus?"

"Ah, Red Lotus, that's what the mages called it at that time. Anyway, we stayed there for more than half a month before the head of the magic court figured out how to open the door. After the door opened, there was a long corridor , the wall next to it is engraved with incomprehensible runes, and there is a staircase at the end of the long corridor... I was supposed to go down the next day, but everything suddenly stopped."

"Suddenly stopped?"

Julian listened intently.The ruins of Red Lotus are mentioned in the textbook, but it is only said that because the damage is too serious, the runes cannot be interpreted, and it cannot be repaired; and because the magic fluctuations inside are very unstable and too dangerous, the ruins are still being used by the Magic Court. Locked off, no outsiders are allowed to enter, except for researchers with a permit.

And this ruin, has actually been opened?

"Yes. I don't know what happened, but the chief who took the lead that morning came back empty-handed, and then gave the order to retreat. The leaders said they were going to leave, so we naturally followed; but we left The whole day, but still did not go out of the forest."

"It's a miasma. The miasma that came out at some point spread across the entire mountain forest. Everywhere I went, it seemed to be turning in circles. I couldn't find my way at all. And the miasma was not produced naturally, it was driven by magic... Although Things born of magic must be deciphered by magic, but at that time a group of magicians tried many times and could not solve this situation. Not to mention ordinary magicians, even the chief was helpless. I couldn’t even find the way back to the ruins. Just when everyone thought they were going to die, a strange man appeared.”

"Strange...man?"

Julian's heart skipped a beat, and the hand holding the cup unconsciously clenched a little tighter.

"It's been a long time, I can't remember the face, but I still remember that he is tall, with red hair, and just looking at him has a kind of pressure, I am very impressed. At that time, he suddenly came out of the miasma like this. Walking out, the aura scared us all...then he told us to hand over the things."

"thing?"

"Well, at first I thought he was here to rob, and he rushed over to protect the mages..." Luther laughed, "Oh, don't be surprised, I was a martial priest back then. I can't tell I haven’t practiced for a long time...Anyway, I found out later that it was someone from our team who took the things in the ruins.” Having said that, Luther’s eyes darkened. "It's the enchanted gems embedded in the wall of the ruins. One or two priests and mages saw that the gems were not embedded very tightly, so they secretly picked them out and took them away. I didn't expect that the miasma would be caused by activating the trap in this way."

Hearing this, Julian was dumbfounded.

Priest... actually...

"The chief is very angry, because he has explained that the magic circle here is very strange and very complicated. You can't touch things randomly, and there are still people with dirty hands and feet. After handing over all the gems, that person turned around and left. .At that time, I thought it was very strange, how did this person know that someone from us took things? And he also looked like those gems belonged to him? So although I was very scared, I still asked him under the pressure who he was, and the gems were taken away. Can you let us out?"

Having said that, Luther smiled nostalgicly.

"He turned his head and showed a very impatient look, and said, "I am the owner of this place, what do you think you are, it's not your turn to question me!" At that time, the pressure was even heavier, as if someone As if a stone hit my shoulder suddenly, I knelt on the ground as soon as my knees softened. And at the same time, a bright white fire suddenly ignited around us. Before anyone could react, our entire team was blown away by the flames. swallowed..."

The old man stopped here temporarily.He took a sip of the cold tea and let out a sigh of relief.

"What about later?" Seeing that the dean stopped talking, Julian hurriedly asked nervously, "You can still tell me stories here, so it should be... all right?"

"Hahaha, it's okay. When we opened our eyes, we were already at the foot of the mountain. The chief was chanting "This is space movement... that person is too powerful!" and wanted to rush up the mountain, but was stopped by the team members , we just went back home. Afterwards, the royal family sent someone to seal up the ruins, and I don’t know the details

. '

"It turns out that something like this happened..."

After the story was finished, Julian also seemed to wake up from a dream, talking to himself as if he still had something to say.

(The ruins of the red lotus... so it is also related to Mr. Hal?)

Julian was sure that the person the dean saw must be Hal who hadn't run away.Red hair, strong magic ability, feel pressure when you see it... Who else but the red dragon?

"I heard you say that the person who took care of you reminded me of the one I met at the time. If it's the same person, it would be an interesting fate. But little Julian..."

The old dean put his hand on his, and Julian looked up, just in time to see the old man's deep eyes.

There's a lot of past in there, a lot of worry, and a lot of dark stuff that he wants to take with him in his grave.

"I say this, not just to tell you a story. You, a person out there, be careful, remember to be suspicious of everything - especially, those who you think in their capacity, can't do something something."

"Including priests, including magicians, including nobles...everyone."

"Especially if you're going out now, you're going out with the royal family, and there are so many nobles going out together...Be careful in everything, child."

Julian pursed his lips and looked at the old man in silence for a while.He seemed to be able to feel the weight of those words.

Finally, the boy put the other hand on the wrinkled hand, nodded cautiously,