Page 28 of The Scars Within
Although every rider I could see was vastly different, they worked side by side in a community of harmony. The idea of that sense of belonging that could possibly lay ahead filled me with anticipation and a deep, childlike want.
Like History of Warfare, first-year cadets shared the same fire-wielding classes until their elemental magic developed. I heard from whispering cadets over the past few days that Intro to Fire Wielding was absolutely boring because it must be taught with extreme caution. So, most of what we would be doing was… observing, which doesn’t seem boring to me.
I was too busy drooling over the sight before me to notice that the group of first-years was starting to divide into two groups. Tatum grabbed my arm and pulled me over to the left as I turned to see a woman walking through the crowd. She walked with her chin up, shoulders back, and hands behind her, demanding respect with her presence.
She made her way to the front and turned to face us all.
“Cadets,” she began, her voice resonating with a natural authority. “Welcome to Intro to Fire Wielding. I am Professor Maksimov. For now, I am your guide. If you harness the prestigious power of fire-wielding, I will become your mentor. I will be by your side every step of the way, but I will also be the most demanding mentor you’ll ever have. Fire-wielding may seem fun and badass, but it is also the most deadly of the elements.”
She raised her hand, and a flame danced at her fingertips, flickering and swirling as if alive. And then, in a blink of an eye, she hurled the flame over the group of cadets standing in the opposite group from us. Some leapt out of the way as others raised their hands for protection. I saw Pehper fall to the ground and choked on my laughter.
“Here, in Dragon Valley, you will learn to harness the raw power of the flame. To control and command the element that breathes life into dragons and forges the strongest of warriors. Fire is both a creator and a destroyer. It demands respect and discipline. It can warm your heart or consume you in its fury. In this class, you will learn to walk that fine line, to become one with the fire, and to channel its element with precision and purpose.”
She paused, letting her words sink in, her gaze sweeping over each of us. Professor Maksimov’s expression softened slightly, and a grin spread across her face.
“Remember, cadets, fire is not just an element but a living force. It responds to your emotions, your will, and your spirit. Embrace it, and it will serve you well. Fear it, and it will become your damnation. Now, who is ready to ride a dragon?”
Hands shot up from cadets around me, including Tatum’s. Was Maksimov being serious?
A gust of wind above us interrupted my thoughts. Darkness covered us, and the sound of wings beating drowned out my chattering classmates. I threw my arm over my head and ducked as the most beautiful, most extravagant red dragon swooped down close to us before landing next to Professor Maksimov.
“How about now?” Maksimov asked as the dragon nudged her hands with its snout. “Meet Roux,” she said, turning to pet Roux’s scaly chin.
Every one of the hands that were raised lowered.
The corner of Maksimov’s lips turned up again. “Let’s begin.” She waved her hand for us to follow her towards the right side of the valley entrance, where some second-years were getting dressed in their flying gear.
Flying gear at Mageia consisted of thicker leathers than the usual cadet attire. Each bonded dragon goes through the process of being fitted with a custom saddle that is comfortable enough to wear at all times. Thesaddles have a leather strap to help keep dragon riders in their seats and saddlebags on each side for the rider’s needs. No sheaths or special packs are made for weapons because cadets are trained to survive with only their fire element.
I wasn’t sure how our riding leathers differed from Tyria. All that is known to the public is that Tyria has significantly fewer fire elementals. Rumors say this is because the Mareki Gem sees their people at fault for the Battle for Mareki, so it channels less and less of the fire element into their generations. However, we know they have at least some gray dragons that steer toward the north once hatched. It is said these specific dragons are ruthless and less loyal to their bonded elementals.
The second-years were all dressed as they walked in our direction. Maksimov introduced them all to us since the entire first-year group was here, and we were only familiar with our team leaders. Davis was front and center with a cocky grin on his face while his green dragon, towering behind him, eyed us all as if we were his midday snack. Other second-years were standing near their dragons, whom I hadn’t officially met but had seen around the college this week. No sign of our team leaders yet.
A male professor, likely in charge of the second-years, came out from the sea of dragons, pointing at cadets and giving orders. Four cadets immediately jogged to and mounted their dragons with ease, using the spikes along the back of the dragon’s arms as a makeshift ladder and leaping up to grab the saddle’s pommel, then heaving one leg up and over. Damn. If I channel fire, I will surely have to build up my core strength.
The mounted cadets burst into the sky and demonstrated an exercise of two-on-two. In the sky was a brown, a blue, and two greens. The pairs first flew away from each other and then stopped to face the opposite pair, their mounts flying stagnant in the air close enough to each other that the cadets could discuss their plan. The second-year professor blared a loud horn a few moments later, and the demonstration was on. The pair on the right made an approach with one rider scaling higher than the other while the pair on the left stayed at the same level side by side.
“Alpine is on the right while Beech is on the left. Both sets of cadets were told to show us beginner-level techniques that one will learn within the first few months of fire-wielding,” yelled the professor through a horn to broadcast his voice to us all.
Once the pairs neared each other, you could see the lower dragon of Alpine open its jaws wide, a bright glow of dragonfire starting to ignite within its throat. It was only a diversion to distract Beech while the higher dragon released the flames down on the pair. The two Beech cadets barrel rolled in opposite directions to avoid the flames. The massive beasts twisted mid-air with surprising agility, narrowly avoiding the attack, while the green dragon in Beech let loose a stream of flames while mid-roll that connected with the underbelly of the lower Alpine. Another horn went off in the field.
Alpine’s hit descended as the professor yelled, “Once a dragon or its rider is hit with a flame during practice maneuvers, that cadet is out of the game. Leaving the others to finish the lesson.”
I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to find Shayde smiling down at me, fastening his riding jacket. He eased his way through the first-years when the professor called him out.
“You’re late, Wylder.”
Shayde threw up his hands in protest. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I had a private lesson run longer than scheduled.”
Private lesson?
The professor rolled his eyes and turned his gaze back up to the sky, where Alpine and Beech still squared off. Flames burst from every angle as the dragons did a mixture of rapid diving, bobbing, and weaving in the air.
I felt my skin prickle and took my eyes off the aerial battle to see Rhodes walking out of a darkened shadow made from two large boulders as tall as the dragons. His eyes were locked on mine, his chin lowered as he zipped up his jacket. Where had he been? Surely, I would have noticed him amongst the crowd of second-years on and off their dragons in the field. Rhodes turned to face his black dragon. Between his body movements and the dragon’s puffs of air, it appeared that they were somehow…communicating.
Another horn went off as the second-year professor signaled the end of the maneuver. The dragons made their descent and landed peacefully on the practice field. The riders dismounted, their faces flushed with what looked like adrenaline.
“Well done,” their professor said, his tone approving. He walked towards the final three cadets from the demonstration.
