Chapter 17
Tess
I hung up the phone, my heart racing with excitement. I quickly scribbled the details of my upcoming meeting with Councilor Elara Windmere onto my calendar, barely able to contain my grin. The date was circled twice, just days away from my scheduled visit with Garanth Kreel.
"I can't believe it," I whispered to myself, tracing the circled date with my finger. Things were finally falling into place.
Kane needed to hear about this. Sure, he might not always seem enthusiastic about the Oral History project, but he'd been showing up consistently to our Tuesday and Thursday meetings. And it was his contacts that had helped me secure this meeting with the Councilor. I couldn't wait to see the look on his face when I told him.
I hadn't mentioned my upcoming meeting with Garanth Kreel to Kane yet. That was going to be a surprise. I smiled to myself, thinking about how impressed he'd be when he found out I'd managed to arrange both meetings in such a short span.
I couldn't help but feel a wave of gratitude wash over me. In the months since I'd started working here, this job had become so much more than just a position. It was like all my childhood dreams had suddenly sprung to life around me. Every day, I walked through halls steeped in dragon lore, breathed in the history of the Library, and felt like I was part of something truly magical.
Sure, there were challenges—Valen and Selena made sure of that—but they couldn't dim the joy I felt when I helped one of the applicants find just the right book for their research project. Especially when that applicant was Mason. Reconnecting with him had been unexpected and wonderful, a bright spot in my days here.
His quiet determination to learn, to become a Dragon Rider, was inspiring. I loved watching him pore over ancient texts, his large hands carefully turning delicate pages, his deep voice softly asking questions.
Every time Mason left the library, I'd find myself standing there, caught between pride in his progress and admiration for his resilience. There was also this warmth that spread through my chest, something I couldn't quite define. His presence not only brought back fond memories of our childhood friendship but also stirred something new, something that made my heart beat a little faster.
This project, this job, it was everything to me. And I was determined to do my absolute best, not just for myself, but for people like Mason—to prove that we belonged here.
Without wasting another moment, I sprang from my chair and hurried out of my office. As I rounded the corner, I nearly collided with Wesley, who was carrying a stack of papers.
"Whoa there, Tess!" Wesley chuckled, steadying himself. "Where's the fire?"
"Sorry, Wesley!" I said, catching my breath. "I'm looking for Kane. Have you seen him? Or any of the dragon rider applicants?"
Wesley's expression shifted, a hint of concern crossing his features. "It’s Friday, so they're at the Outdoor Training Area for Applicants. But Tess, I don't think you should—"
"Thanks, Wesley!" I called out, already halfway down the corridor. I missed the worried look on his face as I disappeared around the corner.
I burst out of the library, my feet carrying me swiftly down the familiar path towards the training grounds. The sun warmed my face as I rushed past the carefully tended gardens, their sweet scent barely registering in my excited state.
Kane's going to be so impressed , I thought, picturing his surprised face. I was so caught up in my own little bubble of triumph that I failed to notice how the air grew strangely still, or how the usual chatter of birds fell silent.
By the time that prickle of unease crept up my spine, it was already too late.
"Well, if it isn't the human pretending to be important," a cold voice cut through my thoughts.
I froze, my heart sinking as I looked up to see Valen and Selena blocking my path. Valen's red eyes gleamed with malice, while Selena's perfect features were twisted into a sneer.
Of all the applicants I'd encountered since starting this job, most had simply ignored me, treating me as part of the furniture in the library. But these two—they were different. They were the worst, by far. Ever since that first encounter in the dining hall, they'd made it their personal mission to torment me. It was as if my very existence offended them, and they took every opportunity to remind me of my "place" in their world.
"I... I'm just passing through," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Excuse me."
Valen stepped closer, his imposing frame towering over me. "Passing through to where, little librarian?"
I felt a flicker of fear in my chest. My hand instinctively went to my throat, fingers brushing against the pendant necklace hidden beneath my shirt. For a moment, I wished desperately that I knew how to use it, that I understood what powers it held. But it remained cool and inert against my skin, offering no help.
Selena laughed, the sound like shattered glass. "Oh, Valen, maybe she thinks she's special enough to be a dragon rider now. Is that it, human? You think you belong with us?"
I straightened my spine, trying to summon some courage. "I have every right to be here. Now, please let me pass."
"Every right?" Valen's voice dropped dangerously low. "You seem to have forgotten our last encounter. I don't like being made a fool of, especially by a pathetic human."
The memory of crawling on the library floors flashed through my mind, and I instinctively took a step back. But Selena was suddenly behind me, her cold hand gripping my arm. My heart raced, and I silently cursed my fear.
I was a grown woman, for heaven's sake! A fully-fledged adult with a respectable job and responsibilities. It was ridiculous to feel like this, to be reduced to a trembling mess by these two.
And yet... they had magic, and I didn't. That simple fact made me feel small and powerless.
Selena's eyes lit up with a malicious gleam. "You know, Valen, I have an idea. Why don't we give our little librarian a chance to prove herself? After all, she claims she has 'every right' to be here."
Valen raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What did you have in mind?"
"Today's Compatibility Challenge," Selena said, her voice dripping with false enthusiasm. "Wouldn't it be... educational for her to participate? I'm sure the dragons would love to meet her."
My stomach churned at her words. The weekly Compatibility Challenges were notorious among the staff for their unpredictability and potential danger. Even the most skilled applicants approached them with caution.
Valen's cruel smile widened. "Oh yes, especially that large gold and black one. He's been particularly... temperamental lately, hasn't he?"
Selena nodded, her grip on my arm tightening. "Indeed. I heard he nearly scorched an applicant last week during the agility test. Wouldn't that be exciting, little librarian?"
I tried to pull away, but their grips were like iron. "Wait, you can't—"
"Oh, but we can," Valen purred, his eyes glowing with anticipation. "After all, you said you have 'every right' to be here. It's time to prove it."
Before I could protest further, they were moving, half-dragging me towards the Training Grounds. My feet stumbled over the uneven stones, and my mind raced, trying to find a way out of this nightmare.
"I wonder if she'll even make it past the first obstacle," Valen mused, his voice laced with cruel amusement.
"If she does, the dragons might make quick work of her," Selena added with a chilling laugh.
As we approached the Training Grounds, the roars of dragons grew louder. My heart pounded in my chest, and I silently prayed for someone, anyone, to intervene. But the courtyard remained empty, and with each step, my fate seemed more sealed.
The pendant at my throat remained frustratingly inert, offering no magical solution to my predicament. As we neared the entrance to the grounds, I realized with growing dread that I was on my own, about to face a challenge that even seasoned applicants approached with caution.
Valen and Selena's grips loosened slightly as we reached the massive gates, their attention momentarily diverted by the spectacle beyond. I blinked, my own fear temporarily eclipsed by the sight before me.
My eyes widened, drinking in the details. The grounds stretched out before us, easily the size of a dozen football fields. Various obstacle courses and training equipment dotted the landscape, each looking more daunting than the last. But what caught my eye was the far end of the area.
A line of dragons stood there, each one more magnificent and terrifying than the last. Their scales glittered in the sunlight, a rainbow of colors from deep crimson to shimmering silver. And there, in the center, was the gold and black dragon Valen and Selena had mentioned. It was massive, easily twice the size of the dragons on either side of it, with eyes that seemed to glow with an inner fire.
As I took in the scene, Mason's words from one of our recent conversations echoed in my mind. He had explained that the Compatibility Challenges happened every Friday, each week bringing a new set of tests designed to push the applicants to their limits.
"It's not just about skill, Tess," Mason had said. "These challenges are the only time each week that we get to work directly with the dragons. It's their chance to evaluate us, to see if we might be compatible as riders."
He'd gone on to explain that dragons don't allow anyone to ride them until they've formed a bond, which made these weekly interactions all the more crucial.
"The challenges themselves are tough enough," Mason had continued, "but add in unpredictable dragons? It's intense. Some weeks it's all about agility, others it's about magical prowess or problem-solving. And the dragons... well, they can be downright aggressive sometimes. It's all part of the process, they say. They're testing us as much as we're trying to impress them."
Now, standing on the edge of the training grounds, I understood the weight of his words. This wasn't just a test; it was a grueling, potentially dangerous ordeal that could reshape both human and dragon lives. It was a delicate dance of trust and power, with the dragons holding the ultimate decision in who they might one day choose as their rider.
Valen and Selena steered me towards a group of their friends, effectively hiding me from the instructors' view. I craned my neck, desperately searching for a familiar face—Kane, Mason, anyone who might help me. But they were nowhere to be seen.
The lead instructor stepped forward, his voice booming across the grounds. "Welcome, applicants, to today's Compatibility Challenge. Today, you’ll complete the Barrier Test."
He went on to explain the challenge in detail—how the applicants would need to work with a dragon to overcome both physical and magical barriers, demonstrating their ability to work as a team.
"Remember," the instructor concluded, "allow the dragons to approach you. They will choose their partners for this challenge. You’ll only have fifteen minutes to complete the challenge. Don’t mess up."
As the dragons began to move, my heart raced, pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat. Their massive bodies glided across the ground with an impossible grace, muscles rippling beneath iridescent scales. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the sight, drinking in every detail I'd only ever read about in books.
The gold and black dragon's tail swished, creating a gust of wind that ruffled my hair even from this distance. A small gasp escaped my lips. This was the stuff of my dreams.
But the trembling in my hands and the cold sweat on my brow reminded me that I wasn’t here by choice. I was an unwitting participant, without any preparation or protection.
The instructors' voices rang out, signaling the start of the Barrier Test. A ripple of anticipation swept through the crowd of applicants. I craned my neck, trying to see past the sea of bodies in front of me.
"Who would like to attempt the course first?" an instructor called out.
Without hesitation, a familiar voice responded, "I volunteer." The crowd parted as Kane Ellesar strode confidently to the front. His white hair gleamed in the sunlight, a stark contrast against his dark attire. He stood tall, his posture relaxed yet alert, as if this were nothing more than a casual stroll.
A massive storm dragon, its scales shimmering with hues of stormy gray and electric blue, approached Kane. The beast's eyes, swirling with miniature tempests, locked onto Kane's. For a moment, they stood motionless, human and dragon, sizing each other up.
Then, with a grace that belied his size, Kane bowed slightly to the dragon. The storm dragon inclined its head in return, and just like that, they were paired.
As they made their way to one of the barrier courses, I realized with a start just how few dragons there were compared to the applicants. I counted quickly—no more than thirty dragons for the nearly two hundred people waiting. Maybe the dragons go more than once?
"Of course Kane goes first," a voice grumbled nearby. "Always has to be the center of attention."
"Shh," another voice hissed. "You know his father's probably watching."
A loud gong sounded, and Kane and his dragon partner sprang into action. It was like watching a perfectly choreographed dance. Kane's movements were fluid, his magic manifesting in bursts of elemental energy that complemented the dragon's own abilities.
The first barrier was a towering wall of solid ice. Kane's eyes narrowed in concentration. He raised his hands, and I felt a shift in the air. Heat shimmered around his palms, and suddenly, a concentrated beam of fire shot towards the ice wall. As the ice began to melt, the dragon unfurled its wings, creating a powerful gust that accelerated the process, carving a path through the barrier.
"Fire and air in one go," someone muttered. "Show-off."
"Wait for it," another voice chimed in. "He'll use all four before he's done."
The second obstacle was a chasm too wide to jump. Kane knelt, pressing his palms to the ground. A soft green glow emanated from his hands, spreading outward. The earth groaned and shifted, rising to form a narrow bridge. But it wasn't enough. The dragon, understanding without words, used its tail to smooth and widen the path, its own magic reinforcing Kane's work.
"And there's earth," the same voice said, a note of begrudging admiration in their tone.
"How is that even possible?" someone else asked. "I thought Fae could only master one or two elements at most."
"Three is rare enough," another applicant added. "But four? It's unheard of."
That was what a true dragon rider looked like. He made it seem so effortless, like he was born to do this.
For the final barrier, a magical storm materialized, wind and rain lashing at them furiously. Kane turned to the dragon, a silent understanding passing between them. He raised his arms, and I could see the strain on his face as he wrestled with the chaotic energies of the storm. Slowly, a pocket of calm formed around them. The dragon then spread its wings wide, channeling its innate connection to the storm. Together, they pushed back against the magical tempest, creating a path through the heart of the storm.
"And water makes four," someone said. "No wonder he's the golden boy."
"It's not fair," another grumbled. "How are the rest of us supposed to compete with that?"
"All that flashy magic doesn't mean he's actually skilled," a third person chimed in.
But I couldn't tear my eyes away from Kane. This was the first time I'd seen him use his magic, and it was... breathtaking. The ease with which he wielded multiple elements, the way he seemed to anticipate the dragon's moves—it spoke of talent that went far beyond mere nepotism.
As Kane and his dragon partner returned to the starting area, a commotion erupted from one of the other courses. A pained cry pierced the air, causing my head to snap in its direction. I'd been so focused on Kane that I'd completely forgotten about the other two courses running simultaneously.
My stomach lurched as I saw a female applicant being carried off the field by a team of healers. Her face was contorted in agony, and even from this distance, I could see the unnatural angle of her leg. The sight sent a chill down my spine. The dangers of this challenge seemed suddenly, terrifyingly real.
Valen's grip on my arm tightened, his breath hot on my ear as he leaned in close. "See that, little librarian? That's what's waiting for you out there. Maybe worse." His lips curled into a cruel smile. "Who knows? Maybe one of those big dragons will decide to make a snack out of you."
I swallowed hard, my mouth dry. The urge to run, to slip away unnoticed, grew stronger with each passing second. My eyes darted around, searching for an escape route. Maybe if I moved slowly, carefully, I could edge my way out of the crowd without anyone noticing.
Just as I was about to attempt my escape, a deep, resonant voice echoed in my mind, stopping me in my tracks.
“Stay, little one.”