of attention was extremely tiring. What he wanted most now was to draw his sword and start practising. When he finally looked around, he saw that the smaller ballroom was filled with young guests, from children under the watchful eye of their nannies to almost adult teenagers. Servants, soldiers and guardians gathered near the entrance and along the walls, ready to serve those in their care at any moment.
-I advise you not to let your guard down,- James muttered quietly. -It may be more dangerous here than in the main hall.- He looked around and suddenly smiled slightly. -Come on, I've found a few familiar faces.
The dragon merely nodded and allowed himself to be led further. As they went deeper, more and more heads turned in their direction, but it was mainly older teenagers. It seemed that Draco and the elf were becoming the main topic of conversations.
In the meantime, they had reached a group gathered right next to the exit to the terrace. It consisted of five people of similar age. They looked about seventeen and must have belonged to the poorer aristocracy or wealthier merchants. The first boy, slightly taller than Draco, had chestnut-coloured, short-cut hair, thin eyebrows, light green eyes and a square jaw. The dragon had the impression that he did not smile very often and that a gloomy expression was his natural face. He was dressed in a modest light blue mage's robe with purple elements. The coat of arms embroidered on his shoulder depicted a brick tower and crossed banners, and schematic griffin wings sprouted from the sides of the coat of arms.
The second was a tall, half-smiling blond-haired elf with a handsome, symmetrical face crossed by a wide white scar running straight from his right temple to his left jaw joint. His mustard-coloured eyes quickly scanned the entire surroundings, almost never stopping in one place for more than a moment. He was dressed in a dark orange tailcoat with a white shirt with a stand-up collar. On his left lapel was a coat of arms depicting a chest overflowing
