Free Vitiosi Dei (Heritage of the Blood Book 2) by Brent Lee Markee Page A

Shawnrik asked.
                  “Smith,” Verrian nodded, before adding a bit defensively, “it is my father's last name.”
                  “Pleasure to meet you then, Verrian Smith. I'm Shawnrik Larston.”
                 

 
     
     
    Chapter 3
    Origins
     
    Year: 3045 AGD
    Day of New Beginnings
    Serenity Valley
    Institute of Learning
     
                  “You have really never been to school before?” Verrian asked.
                  “I never really needed it before. I never even thought I would have much need to read or write until I met Victor.” Shawnrik sat on the edge of his bed, telling himself to be patient with his new roommate.
                  “Who is Victor? Is he a new student here too?” Verrian sounded excited at the prospect.
                  “No, Victor is a very good friend that I met in Safeharbor, he...” Shawnrik sighed, “... has other duties.”
                  “Duties,” Verrian said, his disdain for the word obvious. “My dad is always talking about duty, but the way you say it almost makes it sound like we are at war.”
                  “We are at war, Verrian, of that there can be no doubt. We will be at war for as long as the Blood Mages and the Dracair continue to send unprovoked attacks against the Protectorate.” Shawnrik spoke with a passion that he had not known that he possessed before that moment, but as each word came forth his voice became firmer and more confident with each syllable.
                  “The Dracair?” Verrian squirmed a little on his bed, obviously skeptical, but still curious. “I thought those were just monsters from bedtime stories that parents use to scare their children." They sat for a moment staring at each other, and Shawnrik realized that he must have been scowling when Verrian lost some of his skepticism and said, “You mean they aren't?”
                  “No,” Shawnrik's tone matched his mood, and it was clear that that he wasn't happy. “They are not a myth, or a bedtime story. For all I know, they are killing my friends right now as I sit here having this conversation. Is this the kind of thing that they teach at this school?!”
                  Verrian looked towards the door, obviously considering if it might be safer to be on the other side of it. “I don't know. I mean, I don't think so, but I've never really heard anyone ask about it. They may teach about it in some of the higher classes, especially history, but I am sorry to say that the history courses have never been very popular here at the Institute. The instructors make sure that you select a wide range of studies to begin with, but as long as you have a language or two, and math, science, or philosophy, they don't really bother you with other choices.”
                  Shawnrik sighed again, before mumbling, “Is this what all of these people have been doing for three thousand years, while the men and women of the Protectorate fight and die?”
                  “What was that?” Verrian asked, leaning towards his new roommate, trying to hear what had been said.
                  “I was just wondering how I could have gone from a place to where even a street rat knows about the Dracair, to here.”
                  “I really couldn't tell you, Shawnrik, but I would also like to know the answer to that question.”
                  Looking into his roommate's face, Shawnrik knew that the young man was speaking the truth; he might have just found an ally in this foreign place. Letting out a final sigh, Shawnrik picked up his course list and began to delve into it with renewed vigor. Well, if they aren't going to teach people about the Dracair, I will.
                  “Shawnrik?” Verrian whispered.
                  “Hmm?” Shawnrik