Contents
Chapter 13
Overview
Tension explodes at Bloodwing when blightborn students harass Dani after a Mortis highblood publicly feeds on her. Medra confronts the mob, centering consent and unity amid rumors of a highblood plague. Challenged to summon a dragon she cannot command, Medra is rescued by Florence, who asserts Nyxaris will heed her.
Summary
Medra senses rising hostility at Bloodwing under Headmistress Regan’s new policies as she waits for Combat in a dilapidated gym. She tries to dismiss fears about Blake’s changing eye. Across the corridor, a Mortis highblood brazenly feeds on Dani, leaving the dwarven girl glazed by thrallweave and exposed.
When the highblood departs, a group of blightborn students, led by Lochlan and a braided-hair girl, surround Dani, hurling insults and ripping her Mortis-colored dress. Medra pushes through, condemns the attack, and reframes the issue as consent and coercion, warning they risk expulsion for interfering with a highblood’s thrall.
The crowd turns on Medra, accusing her of siding with highbloods and demanding she use “her” dragon. Rumors surface of a spreading highblood plague, splitting the students further. Lochlan shoves Medra and dares her to summon Nyxaris; Medra refuses, insisting violence among blightborn helps the oppressors.
As the confrontation peaks and Professor Stonefist remains absent, Florence arrives and declares that while Nyxaris won’t heed Medra, he will listen to her. Medra recognizes Florence’s latent resolve but moves to de-escalate, choosing protection over provocation as the chapter closes on the brink of further conflict.
Who Appears
- MedraNarrator; intervenes to protect Dani, argues consent and unity, refuses to weaponize Nyxaris.
- DaniDwarven student; publicly fed on by a Mortis highblood, then harassed by blightborn peers.
- LochlanBlightborn from House Avari; leads harassment of Dani, shoves Medra, demands she summon a dragon.
- IshaBlightborn student in blue; pressures Medra to use a dragon, dismisses her defense of consent.
- FlorenceQuiet student bonded to Nyxaris; publicly defends Medra, states the dragon will heed her.
- Mortis highblood boyHighblood who openly feeds on Dani, provoking the blightborn crowd’s backlash against her.
- Braided-hair blightborn girlAssaults Dani, ripping her dress and escalating the mob’s harassment.
- AlainStudent who raises rumors of a spreading highblood plague, fueling debate.
- Professor StonefistCombat instructor; absent arrival heightens hallway unrest and emboldens the crowd.
- Blake DrakharrowHouse Leader referenced by Medra; his changing eye worries her privately.
- NyxarisDragon bonded to Florence; invoked by students as a potential weapon against highbloods.
- Headmistress ReganHer harsh policies fuel blightborn anger and the charged atmosphere in the halls.