a Vanc

my routine had shifted entirely

ary containment matrix for the next iteration of the Ignis Core. Yet, one

rt, the court had granted me the honorary title

zzle. For five years, I had deliberately dumbed down my thermody

n, while I was forced to sit in the corner-a quiet, Dragonless prop meant to prove the King's ben

r that muzzle fo

d established an encrypted visual channel with the c

es Foster, the Chief Crown Scrivener. He straightened his stiff woolen coll

professional. "I am transmitting an official document to you

gnation document into th

the parchment, materializing the

e. "A formal resignation? From the Royal Sanctuary advisory board? Your Maj

ine mark," I interrupted, my voice dr

ly vacate their post upon written declaration. I have relinquished a

mered, intimidated. In the palace, I had alw

l purview. Log the document into the public registr

ering the link before he

e, my intellect belong

Drako

tern border lay sprawled across the long stone table. The air was th

tap came at

mmanded witho

shield. He bowed low, trembling under the weight of my passive aura. "Forgive the interrup

here,"

notice of resignation from the Royal Arcane

through my nose. "She resigned f

"She demanded it be logged imm

ing bark of laughter from across the table. "The

w she discards the only dignified title your court charitabl

ed deep in my chest

a creature of passive-

ities, I would feel her absence. She thought I would be forced to seek her out

he world of dragons functioned. We

ered, tossing the parchment back to Foster. "Approve it. Log the vacancy

" Foster bowed and

rasing the foolish woman from my mind. Let the co

When her coin ran out and the freezing reality of her own incompetence set