CHAPTER 27: THE DRAGON ARRIVES
POV: Alen
Noon brought deceptive clarity to Virginia sky—brilliant blue canvas unmarred by clouds while autumn sun painted Salvatore School courtyard in golden hues that suggested peace was possible despite weeks of supernatural warfare. Students moved between buildings with cautious optimism, emergency protocols relaxed enough to allow normal foot traffic while faculty maintained vigilant patrols.
Alen sat in Advanced Magical Theory, half-listening to Professor Vardemus discuss defensive ward construction while scanning approaching weather patterns through tall windows. His enhanced senses detected nothing unusual—bird song from surrounding forest, distant hum of protective barriers, ordinary sounds of educational institution struggling to maintain normalcy.
The shadow fell like eclipse delivered through supernatural malice.
Massive wings blotted out afternoon sunlight as something impossible descended from clear sky with grace that defied aerodynamic principles. Ancient reptilian silhouette stretched across courtyard stones while displaced air carried scents that spoke of primordial power—sulfur and smoke, ozone and eternal flame, magic older than human civilization.
"Dragon. Actual, literal dragon. Not Malivore construct or dimensional parasite but genuine mythological creature that should be extinct."
The beast landed with impact that cracked foundation stones, talons gouging furrows in reinforced concrete while serpentine neck extended to reveal intelligence that burned behind reptilian eyes. This was no mindless monster hunting supernatural prey—this was apex predator with specific purpose, ancient wisdom focused on singular objective.
Dragon fire erupted across courtyard with temperature that turned protective barriers into molten slag, emergency shields disintegrating under thermal assault that exceeded their design parameters. Students scattered in every direction while alarm systems screamed warnings that seemed inadequate against mythological threat.
"Everyone fights or everyone dies. No middle ground with something this powerful."
Alaric emerged from administrative buildings with crossbow designed for supernatural warfare, enchanted bolts that could pierce vampire hide or werewolf bone. Faculty deployed with coordinated precision while students grabbed imbued weapons Alen had distributed during Monster Week—magical batteries that might provide edge against impossible odds.
The dragon's attention fixed on Hope with laser focus, massive head tracking her movement while nostrils flared to catalog supernatural signature. "TRIBRID!" it roared, voice carrying authority that made ancient stones tremble. "THE APPOINTED HOUR ARRIVES!"
Alen positioned himself between predator and prey, siphoning fire magic mid-flight as dragon breath streamed toward Hope's position. The thermal energy felt like swallowing molten metal—power beyond normal magical classification, elemental force that belonged in cosmic mythology rather than contemporary reality.
He redirected absorbed heat as crystallized ice, dragon fire transformed into frozen projectiles that struck scaled hide with satisfying impact. The creature roared confusion, ancient mind struggling to process thermal reversal that defied natural law.
Hope shifted into full tribrid form—vampire fangs extending while werewolf claws sprouted from elegant fingers, witch magic blazing around her like aura of unleashed potential. This was mythic clash between legendary creatures, ancient power meeting modern evolution in battle that would reshape supernatural understanding.
Josie and Lizzie coordinated from opposite flanks, their twin synchronization more fluid than ever before. Ice spears and fire lances struck dragon scales with precision that spoke of enhanced abilities, power amplified beyond normal siphoner limitations through methods Alen couldn't immediately identify.
"Josie's using something. Dark crystal or amplification artifact. Her magic is too strong, too effortless. But analysis can wait—dragon first, corruption second."
Alen crafted chains of pure force on supernatural instinct, binding spells that wrapped around massive wings like cosmic restraints. The dragon crashed into courtyard stones with impact that sent shock waves through school foundations, mythological grace reduced to earthbound struggling.
He approached for killing blow, stake materializing in enhanced grip while tactical assessment crystallized around necessity. Ancient creature this powerful would resist normal methods—required precise strike through heart or complete magical drain that left no residual animation.
The dragon spoke with dying breath, reptilian voice carrying prophecy that made protective wards hum with increased resonance.
"I seek only the boy. The key. Malivore's child."
Ancient eyes fixed on Landon with unmistakable recognition, intelligence that suggested cosmic knowledge rather than random targeting. This wasn't hunting expedition—this was retrieval mission, dimensional prison calling its wayward creation home.
POV: Alen
Landon stepped forward with expression mixing confusion and dawning horror, foster system background providing no context for mythological accusations. "Me? Why?"
"You are golem," the dragon pronounced with absolute authority. "Created, not born. Malivore's spawn, shaped from primordial clay to serve dimensional hunger. The appointed hour arrives—return to your maker."
"Finally. Public revelation I couldn't provide. The Entity's curse prevented me from explaining Landon's nature, but dying dragon faces no such restrictions. Truth exposed without my violation of cosmic law."
Alen watched Landon's biology shift in real time—phoenix abilities manifesting as fire immunity activated, rapid healing cycling through enhanced systems, fundamental nature asserting itself against artificial constraints. The transformation was subtle but undeniable, human facade dropping to reveal supernatural creature designed for specific purpose.
Rafael moved closer to his foster brother with protective instinct that transcended species boundaries. "What's happening?"
The dragon lunged for Landon with final burst of strength, ancient predator recognizing opportunity to complete retrieval mission before death claimed mythological existence. Hope intercepted the assault with tribrid speed, claws finding structural weak points while vampire strength tore through scaled hide.
The creature died with Landon's terrified question echoing through courtyard air: "I'm not human?"
"No," Alen said, finally able to confirm aloud what cosmic barriers had hidden for months. "But that doesn't make you a monster."
POV: Alen
The aftermath brought revelations wrapped in emotional complexity that would reshape every relationship in their supernatural family. Alaric ordered Landon quarantined for testing while Hope struggled with recognition that her growing attraction carried supernatural undertones—dimensional forces drawing tribrid toward Malivore's creation.
"His nature isn't his fault," Alen said, finding Hope in empty classroom where she could process implications without witnesses. Her distress radiated through enhanced proximity, Hollow stirring restlessly in response to emotional turmoil.
"You knew." Hope's voice carried accusation mixed with understanding, pieces assembling into picture that explained months of subtle tension. "I saw how you acted around him. Suspicious from day one, like you knew something we didn't."
Alen nodded, relief flooding through systems that had carried impossible secrets for too long. "I couldn't say. Every time I tried to warn you about Landon, the words twisted into gibberish. Future knowledge dies on my tongue."
"That's why you speak nonsense sometimes." Hope's expression softened as recognition replaced accusation. "You're blocked from revealing things. Some kind of curse?"
"Cosmic curse. Prevents me from sharing knowledge that would change predetermined events." The admission felt like confession and justification combined. "It's hell. Watching disasters unfold while being unable to prevent them."
Hope pulled him closer, understanding finally bridging gap that supernatural restrictions had created between them. "Future knowledge. That's why you're always prepared, always seem to know what's coming. You're fighting a war where you know every battle but can't explain the strategy."
They held each other while Virginia afternoon faded into evening, ancient curse partially exposed without revealing transmigration source. The Entity's restrictions remained absolute—Hope understood Alen carried foreknowledge but not where that knowledge originated or how comprehensive it truly was.
"Progress. She knows I have cosmic awareness but not that I'm reincarnated transmigrator with complete knowledge of canonical timeline. The curse preserves core secret while allowing partial honesty about supernatural restrictions."
"But Landon's revelation changes everything. His golem nature is public knowledge now, phoenix abilities manifesting, connection to Malivore confirmed. The timeline accelerates whether I can warn people or not."
Dragon corpse contained immense magical energy that Alen harvested into emergency batteries, mythological power converted into strategic reserves for future emergencies. Two resurrection coins rested secure in hidden storage while school defenses rebuilt around new threat parameters.
Malivore's nature grew clearer with each revelation, but the dimensional prison's ultimate plan remained hidden behind cosmic barriers that no amount of foreknowledge could circumvent.
The real war was accelerating toward crescendo, and Alen could only react to disasters he saw coming but couldn't prevent.
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