ello (⁠ㆁ⁠ω⁠ㆁ⁠) I'm back and as always special thanks to u/jcb112 and u/Tigra21 for their original works so without further ado I give you

Flase dragon Chapter 2: the other side

Transgracian Academy for the Magical Arts

The Foyer

Professor Vanavan

Professor Vanavan watched the arriving students alongside his companions: Professor Mal’tory, dressed in black robes, and Professor Belnor, whose robes were a bright shade of red.

They watched as students stepped through portals connecting the academy to the realms they called home. Today, the Nexus had welcomed two new realms, and Vanavan was expecting one of their representatives to arrive soon.

As students continued filing into the Foyer, another portal opened.

Unlike the others, this one was unusually stable for a newly connected realm. Such occurrences were not unheard of, but they were certainly unexpected.

Before long, a white-and-blue Draconian stepped through.

The newcomer wore intricate robes with a metallic sheen, accented by shades of blue and outlined in black. Their attire suggested someone of considerable standing, but what truly caught Vanavan's attention were their wings.

The Nexus was familiar with sapient beings capable of flight, of course. However, this was the first time its inhabitants had encountered a being with four limbs and a pair of wings on its back.

The newcomer paused, looking around with an unmistakably confused expression.

That was Vanavan's cue.

The professor stepped forward to greet the new arrival.

---

Soren Bizmati

Soren stepped forward, and there he was.

Another dimension.

He had expected something more dramatic, perhaps a light at the end of a tunnel or the sensation of passing through a cloud. Instead, it felt more like stepping into another room.

{Well, that was anticlimactic, wasn't it? (–ᴗ–)}

Soren reluctantly agreed with the voice.

He was now in another world, another dimension, beyond the very boundaries of space and time. Looking around, he noticed numerous students emerging from similar-looking portals.

Then, a blue-robed biped approached him, accompanied by two other beings.

Well, this isn't what I was expecting.

Soren glanced at the one in black robes. From a distance, the man's skin appeared dark purple. He might have mistaken him for a Darkling, but something about his appearance was too different from the ones Soren had seen before.

“Hello there! You must be the new realmer.”

The blue-robed man smiled before suddenly straightening up.

“Oh! Pardon my manners. I am Professor Vanavan, assistant dean of the Transgracian Academy and professor of Mana-field Studies.”

He gestured toward his companions, allowing them to introduce themselves.

“Ah, yes. Introductions.”

The man in black robes stepped forward.

“I am Council-Appointed Professor Mal’tory. I am in charge of administrative duties, relaying matters I deem significant to the Privy Council and His Majesty the King himself. As a professor, I oversee the Arts of Perception and Light.”

He finished with a nod, his gaze sweeping over Soren. There was something uncomfortable about it. Soren felt as though the man were probing him, examining him in ways that went beyond ordinary observation.

Was it magic?

He couldn't say for certain, so he chose to ignore it for the moment.

The woman in red robes stepped forward next.

“My name is Professor Belnor. I am in charge of the potion department and am a professor of potion crafting.”

Her voice was grandmotherly, sweet as candy.

Potions, huh? That could be useful. And Mana-field Studies might help me understand this world's magic.

Soren remained silent for a few seconds, contemplating the possibilities.

Then the voice in his head reminded him of something.

{You're forgetting your introduction, dear. And judging by the look on that black-robed professor's face, I'd say he's not particularly pleased about it.(ᐛ )}

Soren quickly realized his mistake.

“Ah, forgive me.”

He straightened his posture.

“I am Lord Soren Bizmati, the eldest of the Great Bizmati House, heir to the city of Bizmati, and an appointed representative of my world and its people, the Dragonettes and the Dragons, by the Union of Crowns themselves.”

He spoke with pride. There was no reason to be shy in front of potential allies.

“Dragons…” Professor Mal’tory repeated.

He mulled over the word for a moment before quickly composing himself.

Professor Vanavan, seemingly unaware of the brief shift in Mal’tory's demeanor, turned back to Soren with his usual polite smile.

“Now then, Lord Bizmati, we should get you to the Grand Reception Hall. The orientation is about to begin, and the other students are gathering there.”

He turned toward the Foyer's entrance.

“Professor Chiska will accompany you. She's one of our Physical Education professors, and I'm sure she'll be happy to help you get acquainted with the academy.”

A cheerful voice called out from behind them.

“Did someone say my name?”

A feline woman stepped forward, wearing a broad, welcoming smile. Her ears perked up as she looked Soren over with undisguised curiosity.

“Ah! You must be our new arrival! Welcome, welcome! I'm Professor Chiska, and I'll be showing you around. Come along, then! There's plenty to see, and I promise I don't bite!”

Well, that's reassuring. Though, technically, she does have fangs.

Soren kept his expression composed. His own teeth were certainly sharper, and her fangs were nothing compared to a dragon's.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Professor.”

“Likewise, Lord Bizmati! Now, let's get you settled in!”

With that, Chiska turned toward the entrance, her tail swaying behind her as she walked.

Soren followed, leaving the three professors behind. He couldn't help noticing Mal’tory's lingering gaze, or the way the man seemed to be turning something over in his mind.

Dragons…

Soren wondered why the professor had reacted that way.

{Oh, don't mind him, dear. People in robes are always hiding something. Sometimes it's a secret. Sometimes it's just terrible fashion.(·•᷄‎ࡇ•᷅ )_/¯}

Soren decided not to dignify that with a response.

For now, he had a new world to explore.

---

The Walk to the Grand Reception Hall

Soren Bizmati

Soren walked through the academy's halls, following Professor Chiska.

The floor seemed to pulse beneath his feet with every step, a strange sensation that made him glance down in curiosity.

He then turned his attention to the feline professor, tilting his head slightly as he studied her.

Chiska noticed and turned to look at him, her expression still cheerful.

“Is something the matter?” she asked.

“Ah, nothing. Please, continue.”

Soren looked up at the hallway around them.

Its sheer size reminded him of the Grand Palace back home, a sprawling structure so immense that even dragons could walk its halls comfortably. This place certainly possessed a similar grandeur.

{Hmmm. Interesting. The mana here seems to permeate the very air itself. It's so abundant that it's practically as common as the air you breathe. (⁠•ω⁠•)}

The voice paused, seemingly contemplating something.

{Soren, do you still have your goggles? Mind putting them on( •.• )?}

Soren nodded and retrieved his goggles, slipping them over his eyes.

What greeted him was a bewildering flurry of colour.

Mana filled his vision like a rainbow-coloured miasma, swirling through the air in countless shifting hues. He blinked, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.

Then he noticed something else.

A field surrounded Professor Chiska. The other students he could see had similar fields around them.

And so did he.

{So this is the mana field. Σ(･o･ )}

{Well, look at that! You're practically swimming in the stuff. Try not to drink it, dear. I imagine the academy would have some very awkward questions if you started choking on the ambient mana.

(˃ ∇ ˂)}

Soren ignored the comment, too fascinated by what he was seeing to bother responding.

He adjusted his goggles, examining the field around Chiska more closely as they continued down the hall.

Unfortunately, his fascination did not go unnoticed.

“Well, well. What have we here?”

A young noble dressed in finely tailored robes approached from the opposite direction. His eyes settled on Soren's goggles, and a mocking smile spread across his face.

Before the noble could say anything, a voice drifted in from behind Soren.

“Hah, look at that. The new realmer needs spectacles just to look around. Is your mana sense so weak that you need goggles?”

The remark came from a student passing by. He didn't even slow down, much less bother to stop and see whether his words had landed. By the time Soren turned his head toward the voice, the student had already disappeared into the crowd.

A few nearby students snickered.

{Oh, dear. Your very first admirer! And here I thought you'd have to wait at least five minutes before someone made an ass of themselves. How exciting!( ˙ᗜ˙ )}

Soren took a quiet breath.

Great. Here I was, thinking things might be different here. Seems noble tendencies are extradimensional after all.

He adjusted his goggles and continued walking.

Let's see how this goes.

---

The Grand Reception Hall

Soren Bizmati

The Grand Reception Hall was even more imposing than Soren had imagined. It reminded him of the Union Court back home, and he removed his goggles to take in the full grandeur of the place. Dragons and dragonettes sat comfortably alongside one another, discussing matters of state. Yet while the Union Court's grandeur reflected the unity of its people, this place seemed to exist for grandeur's sake alone.

The moment he entered, he found himself looking down from an elevated landing onto a vast hall lined with white marble and smoky grey quartz. Intricate patterns ran through the floor, pulsing beneath the footsteps of the students gathered below.

Rows of tables filled the hall, surrounded by students from realms Soren had never even heard of. Reptilian beings like himself, beast-like creatures, and all manner of other sapient species mingled beneath the academy's grand architecture.

For a moment, Soren simply stood there, taking it all in.

Then he noticed a diminutive, scrawny biped standing nearby, dressed in fine attire and holding an enormous scroll.

{Poor thing. That elf looks scrawny.(• ᴖ •)}

Elf?

{Yes, that's what their race is called.(–ᴗ–)}

Wait, wait. You can read my mind?

Soren decided to test the theory by forming the question in his thoughts rather than speaking aloud.

{Yes, I'm an extradimensional being. It's not that hard to read your mind, dear. Keep up with the program.(¬_¬)}

Okay, that's a serious breach of privacy. You'd better keep your claws out of my mind, or else–

He paused.

Wait, scratch that. In exchange, I'm gonna call you Voicey.

{Oh, how creative...(¬_¬)}

The voice practically dripped with sarcasm.

{Fine, fine. However, would you rather be labeled a maniac?(¬ᴗ¬)}

Soren fell silent.

...Fair enough.

The elf unfurled his scroll and cleared his throat.

“And now, joining the esteemed ranks of this year's first-year class, representing a newly connected realm!”

He paused, his eyes scanning the scroll.

“Lord Soren Bizmati, of the Oka Realm!”

The announcement echoed throughout the Grand Reception Hall.

Every head seemed to turn toward the newcomer.

Soren stood there, dumbfounded.

Was I supposed to give a speech?

He glanced at Professor Chiska.

Her expression answered his question.

Great.

Soren took a steadying breath before descending the grand staircase. He could practically feel the gazes following him as he made his way onto the hall's main floor.

Well, there was no hope of entering quietly.

He straightened his robes and approached the gathering of students.

"Good morning, everyone."

His voice carried through the hall, though he made no effort to shout.

"My name is Soren Bizmati, eldest of the Great Bizmati House and heir to the city of Bizmati. I've been appointed by the Union of Crowns to represent my people, the dragonettes and dragons, in this new realm."

He paused, briefly gathering his thoughts.

"I come here as a student and as a representative of my home, Oka. I hope that, in time, we may come to understand one another, learn from each other, and perhaps even form friendships that would otherwise have been impossible."

He offered a polite bow of his head.

"I look forward to the days ahead. Thank you for welcoming me."

There. That hadn't been so bad.

Soren straightened and continued down the steps.

{Not bad at all, dear! Humble, dignified, and just the right amount of noble pomp. I'm almost disappointed you didn't mention your entire family tree.(¯ᗜ¯)} Voicey said in mock sarcasm.

I'll be sure to include it in my next speech.

{Please don't. I might die of boredom.(¬ᴗ¬)}

Soren suppressed a smile.

Unfortunately, his brief speech had done little to settle the room.

If anything, the students seemed even more interested in him now.

And thanks to the gift he'd received before crossing dimensions, he could hear them.

Not just the people standing nearby.

Everyone.

At first, the overlapping voices were an incomprehensible mess. Then, as he concentrated, individual conversations began to stand out.

​...A whole new realm. Only imagine the lucrative trade monopolies we might secure...

​

...Should we forge an exclusive alliance with him, we would hold an undeniable leverage over our fellow peers...

​

...Those exquisite wings... I must admit, I have never witnessed a specimen quite so remarkable...

​

...Perhaps a discreet, private invitation is in order. A noble of his apparent stature surely appreciates refined hospitality and once ensnared by our generosity, he shall be deeply in our debt…

Some were merely curious. Others were already considering how to approach him, what to offer, and what they might gain from him and subsequently his world.

A few were considerably less subtle.

...Oh, spare me. What could a newly discovered realm possibly yield beyond a meager handful of gravel and dirt?...

…Ingenuous little creature. Yet, what nobility ought one truly anticipate from an uncultured newcomer?...

….Hmm. I do wonder if his wretched stock might prove suitable for “bonded” servitude…

​

...His mana field is rather potent... Perhaps this realm isn't entirely devoid of value…

Soren kept his expression neutral.

Well, this should be interesting.

{Sheeeesh. Looks like you've become quite the celebrity. And you've barely been here five minutes!}

I'm beginning to miss the relative peace of home.

{Oh, don't be dramatic. You haven't even been offered a suspiciously generous business proposal yet. (>∇<)}

Give them time.

Soren scanned the hall for somewhere to sit.

Most of the tables were already occupied, with groups of students gathering around them. Some were chatting enthusiastically, while others appeared to be sizing up their potential companions.

Then he spotted a circular table with five empty seats.

It wasn't tucked away in a corner, nor was it right in the middle of the room. It seemed like a reasonable compromise between remaining approachable and avoiding becoming the centre of attention.

More importantly, nobody was sitting there.

Perfect.

He made his way over and took a seat, folding his hands neatly on the table.

For a brief moment, he could simply observe his surroundings.

Then a tall, armoured figure entered the hall.

Soren's attention immediately shifted toward the newcomer.

The figure was clad in thick blue armour, every plate seemingly designed to withstand a tremendous amount of punishment. Their faces were concealed, and their posture carried an unmistakable sense of discipline. The figure was accompanied by the three professors who had greeted him earlier.

A knight?

Perhaps. Though if they were, they were taller than any knight Soren had ever encountered.

In fact, the figure was certainly taller than Ingrid.

That thought amused him more than it probably should have.

{Ohhhh! What's this? Could it be what I think it is?

Σ(･o･)}

What?

{Is it just me, or have you noticed that very interesting person over there?🔍(╹ - ╹)}

Soren glanced at the armoured newcomer again.

What is it about that person that's gotten you so interested all of a sudden?

{Oh, nothing. It would ruin the surprise. Just watch, dear. Maybe you'll figure it out.(˵ ¬ᴗ¬˵)}

Soren remained sceptical.

Still, he decided to pay a little more attention to the newcomer.

Something told him the day was about to become considerably more interesting.

---

Emma Booker

I had a feeling today was going to be a long day.

Between the unfamiliar surroundings and the academy's rather questionable approach to introductions, I was already looking forward to finding somewhere quiet to sit.

Unfortunately, quiet didn't seem to be on the menu.

The moment I entered the Grand Reception Hall, I noticed that the students had already gathered around the tables. Their attention, however, seemed to be focused on a particular newcomer.

A white-and-blue reptilian humanoid dressed in elaborate robes sat at a circular table with five seats. He had a pair of wings extending from his back, a long tail, and an appearance somewhere between a dragon and a person. He practically shone with his polished white scales and silvery metallic robes.

A dragonkin?

Well, that's at least is intresting.

I'd seen plenty of strange things since arriving at the academy, but a literal dragon person still managed to stand out.

I followed the professors toward the elevated entrance, my power armour's heavy footsteps echoing throughout the hall. The room itself resembled the grand dining halls of old European palaces, with white marble and smoky grey quartz covering the floor. Intricate, lightning-like patterns pulsed beneath the other students' feet, though they remained conspicuously dormant beneath mine.

Beside the entrance stood a scrawny, well-dressed elf holding an enormous scroll.

“And finally, the last to join the esteemed ranks of the first-year class of 29,019, Miss Emma Booker, of Earthrealm!”

The announcement received a rather underwhelming response.

I stared at the crowd.

They stared back.

For a brief moment, I wondered whether I was supposed to give a speech, curtsy, or perform some other medieval social ritual.

Thankfully, Professor Vanavan leaned toward me.

“Emma, you're welcome to take whichever seat you deem suitable.”

Relief washed over me.

Then Professor Belnor added, “Of course, being the first representative of your realm, there are certain expectations. You may give a speech if you wish.”

Oh, you've got to be kidding me.

I cleared my throat, adjusted my suit's speakers, and addressed the room.

“H-hello. I'm Cadet Emma Booker of the United Nations' Reserve Officer Training Corps, North-American Sector, Homeworld Command.”

I paused, trying to figure out how to phrase the next part.

“I'm here representing humanity and the United Nations. I hope to learn from everyone here, share our cultures and ideas, and see what this world has to offer.”

Silence followed.

Then came the whispers.

My suit's audio sensors picked up conversations from across the hall, and judging by what I was hearing, my arrival had given everyone plenty to talk about.

I let out a quiet sigh.

Well, at least that's over with.

As I made my way toward the tables, my attention returned to the dragonkin sitting nearby. I looked around. Most of the seats were filled, by the looks of it.

I guess I'm sitting next to a guy or a girl?

He or she appeared to be watching me, too.

Huh.

Guess I'm not the only one who's new here.

---

Soren Bizmati

EARTH?!

Soren practically screamed inside his head.

And what was that about being a representative of humanity? Have humans figured out how to cross dimensions the same way we did? But that doesn't add up. They could have figured that out a long time ago, unless…

He paused as a possibility occurred to him.

Was it the gods? Yes, that could be a possibility. Tomas Hansen did introduce the wonders of industry to them, so… was it divine intervention?

Soren's thoughts were quickly interrupted as the lone armoured figure walked towards him.

He just stared at the visor of the blue-armoured figure.

A moment later, the figure sat in the chair beside him, noticeably groaning, probably because of the armour's weight.

Both of them just stared at each other awkwardly.

Soren opened his mouth first, but before he could let out a single word, he noticed new figures entering. They were in a hurry, and his ear twitched as he turned toward the direction they had come from.

It was a bipedal, avian-like figure, a wolf, and a blue, wingless dragonette.

Whatever the last one was, it sure looked pitiful.

All three came to a dead stop. They looked around as if desperate for another option, but when none appeared, they resigned themselves to their fate.

Soren was offended by their reaction, but he couldn't blame them. If he were in their predicament, he would choose another option rather than sit with newcomers.

He looked at the blue-armoured figure, trying to read her. He had experience with their types back when his mother took him to a meeting with one of the crowned rulers of the Union of Crowns, mainly the Crown knights.

It was a fool's errand trying to read their faces. Instead, he had learned to read their body language.

Unfortunately, that proved to be another fool's errand, as the figure didn't even move a single bit.

He also noticed that they seemed to have become the centre of attention, with multiple gazes directed toward their table.

He looked back at the now dejected group and saw the bipedal wolf sizing him up, but the wolf quickly turned toward a new prey: the armoured figure.

The sorry excuse for a wingless dragonette sat down with a disgruntled grumble before taking an interest in Soren, looking at him with a questioning expression.

Then the bird person or bird people? spoke in a barely audible tone.

Soren could feel—no more like sense the air around them change and form a bubble.

{Interesting. So that's how they cast a spell.(╭o_•)}

---

---

There you have it folks chapter two of my story. Also should I keep the emoticons for voices or would it be better if voices has no emoticon or a mix of both?

Bye bye (≧∇≦)/

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