Chapter 32: The Three Dragon Bond
Reynold’s breathing was becoming fast that each one of the breath felt hard and his throat was becoming dry. His legs were also aching and ready to give up, but he kept running and throwing himself up the hard and rocky face of the mountain.
He jumped from one high stone to the next, his boots catching on the slippery, mossy top of the mountain. He did not even dare to look down but only forward. The big spaces between the cliffs and the thoughs of locking down and falling over was scaring the hell out of Reynold.
Thump-Thump-Thump.
This one was not his fast breathing or his his heart rasing but it was the loud beat of wings right behind him. He quickly looked back to see how close they were.
It was the same dragons. Black, dark red, and brown.
They were coming after him and Reynold could swear that they look so terrifying. The black one which was the biggest was leading the other two. The roaring of the black one was so loud that it even felt like a punch to Reynold’s bones. The dark red and brown dragons flew beside it.
They are real. They are real and they are hunting me. He thought and panic but he still kept running.
He could feel them getting so close and ge started to climbed faster, his nails scraping on the rock. The fear should have made him stop or maybe fall but it somehow made him to run even faster.
He jumped again, but this time it was too far, and he landed badly. His leg slipped on a loose small rocks, and he felt a horrible drop as he desperately grabbed for something to hold. His fingers held a sticking-out stone, his body swinging over the huge drop below.
"No, no, no!" he gasped, as he tried to pull himself up but he was hurting badly. He finally scrambled onto the flat rough top, his body shaking from being so tired, but he did not stop. He ran toward the next jump.
But then, he stopped abruptly. There was nowhere to jumped to. It was the end.
The mountain stopped completely in a straight drop. No other peak or stone to jump to. He tripped, his feet sliding out from under him, and he fell, landing hard on his backside, hitting his butt on the rock.
He moved back against the cliff, raising his head to the sky. They were not not far from him anymore but were coming down.
Reynold stayed still as he could not move. He shut his eyes and ready to accept whatever it was. He waited for the burning heat. Waited and Waited.
Five seconds. Ten. No fire. Nothing hit him.
Only the sound of wings flapping, and then a heavy CRASH as the dragons landed close enough to Reynold. He could hear and feel their heavy breathing like the bad-smelling air from their noses touching him on his face.
Reynold slowly opened his eyes only to see them just staring at him.
The three heads were right in front of him. The black dragon’s eyes were strong and made it hard to look away. The brown and dark red dragons watched with a strange, look. Their eyes looked strange but not in angry kind of way, but deeply interested.
Just then, the sky went dark, and a sound like thunder echoed and immediately different deep and strong voices boomed out, chilling Reynold completely.
"He is worthy..."
"He is worthy..."
"He is worthy!"
...
Reynold woke up fast in his bed, breathing fast. His whole body was covered in cold sweat. And his breath was caming out in a quick gasps.
It was a damn reals with always the same dragons.
He threw the wet blanket off and rushed into the small bathroom. He splashed cold water onto his face, leaning over the sink, and his hand gripping the sides tightly.
"Damn it!" he muttered, water dripping from his face. "It’s the same fucking three dragons! What was that supposed to mean?"
He looked at his reflection on the bathroom mirror, his face was pale..
Worthy of what?
Then, a loud bell suddenly rang. It was the signal for all first-year cadets to gather.
He groaned, his voice and face full of frustration. "Fyck it.." he muttered. He had overslept again.
He did not brush his teeth, he just quickly washed his mouth and face, and pulled on the all black first year cadet uniform. Two minutes later, he ran out the door and down the hall.
He arrived at the main field. It was already buzzing with excitement.
The first-years were lined up far on the left, with some looking nervous in their black uniform. On the right were the dragons waiting and willing to bond this year. Maybe a hundred of them, all big.
Reynold quickly looked over the dragons, his heart beating fast with fear as he scanned them.
No black, no dark red, no brown.
Strange. He felt a little relieved, but the dream felt too real to forget.
"Reynold!"
He looked up. It was Gwyn, sitting with the other Magic Users in the audience seats. She looked serious but gave him a quick hand wave. He nodded and awkwardly raised his hand a little before quickly finding the back of the first-year line and slipping into his spot.
....
The air in the big open arena was tense. Fifty first-year cadets stood straight, trying to look brave.
A powerful woman stepped onto the stage. It was Sergeant Veridian, the same silver-haired Rider Dean that read out the names of the fallen Riders yesterday. Beside her was her own large black dragon.
Her voice was clear and loud.
"Cadets," she started, looking over the line. "Some of you think this is too fast. That you are or may not be ready. The truth is, you are here because you are ready. And you deserve it." She pointed to the waiting dragons. "These dragons are ready. They can not wait to pick their riders."
Sergeant Veridian started to walk slowly down the line, her voice quieter now, making the students listen closely.
"Listen well. Do not show your fear. A dragon bonds with your soul, not your body. They can feel your fear, and they hate it. They will not bond with someone they think is weak or not good enough." She stopped, her eyes shifting from one cadet to another. "So be worthy."
ROAAAR!!!!
Just as she reached the middle of the line, a sudden, huge sound sounded in the sky.
It was not the sound of the dragons waiting to pick their riders.
Sergeant Veridian stopped talking, her mouth slightly open, her eyes staring up the sky.
Every single person, both first year cadet, Professors, Rider, and Magic User all looked up in the same direction. Reynold’s heart stopped dead.
Black dragon. Reynold was completely shocked. The same black dragon from his dream.
In the stands, Nymeria gasped, covering her mouth. During the fight on Saturday, she thought she had mistaken the black dragon for another but it was not a mistake. It was him.
It was Aurion, the Black, the strongest and oldest dragon alive. The dragon everyone talked about in old stories. He had not flown the sky in decades, not since his Rider died in the Great War, except that Saturday during the Aetherclaws attack when he was out to help Reynold and Nymeria. Aurion had refused to choose a new Rider since the death of his last rider.
And right now, he flew low, his huge wings just clearing the high arena walls, and he was heading right for the line of first-year cadets.
"Back! Get back!" Sergeant Veridian finally screamed, her voice replaced by pure fear. She ran backward, trying to get away.
The cadets panicked. They broke their line, pushing, falling, and running. Even the waiting dragons, the ones supposed to bond, backed away to the edges of the arena, crouching low maybe in respect.
Aurion the Black stopped, hanging in the air for a moment, his huge body blocking the sun. Then, he landed.
BOOM!
The ground shook. Dust flew up.
The dragon was right in front of Reynold.
Reynold was the only one left standing where the line had been. His feet felt stuck to the ground that he could not even move.
Aurion the Black lowered his head, his huge eye studying Reynold for a long moment that felt like forever. Reynold could feel the heat coming off him. Then, a low deep approve sound vibrated in the dragon’s chest.
And then shocking every single person watching, the oldest dragon alive slowly bent down, putting his massive, scaled head on the dirt right in front of Reynold, lowering his neck.
A trembling voice from the audience sounded "Did... did Aurion the Black just pick the Starweaver boy?"
Before the cadet could finish, two more loud roars suddenly blasted through the air.
Dark red and brown.
Reynold’s eyes almost popped out. Pyreus is the Dark Red, and Thornox was the Brown. It was the other two dragons from his dream, the ones chasing him with the black one. What the hell is happening?
Before anyone could move, the two dragons flew down fast, landing with loud crashes next to Aurion.
For a brief moment, everything stopped. The three dragons faced each other, heads low. Aurion let out a roar, and the other two answered with roars of their own. It was like a argument was going on between the dragons. Even the other dragons in the arena waiting started roaring too, joining in the strange discussion.
Then, just as quickly, the roaring stopped. The dragons went quiet, as if they had decided something important.
Pyreus and Thornox turned their huge attention to Reynold. They let out a powerful roar before they slowly bent their necks and lowered their heads to the dirt beside Aurion, their eyes showing a clear sign of giving in.
The silence was instantly shattered by a sudden burst of noise. As every one in the arena was filled with disbelief.
"What the fuck? All three dragons picked him?"
"Someone tell me what in the actual flame is going on?"
"Bonded to three dragons? By the flame, this has never happened! It can’t be!"
"Is this Starweaver boy some kind of Dragon King or maybe a reincarnated ancient gods?"