45. First Class #2
Nyra’s tension continued to rise as the formation moved closer. Most of the students wore serious expressions, though one or two had a more friendly aura about them, as did Mistress Jara. A low grumble of discontent rumbled in Nyra’s throat, which was most unlike her.
“Steady, girl, we’ll be okay,” Aeden said, but Nyra didn’t seem to take notice of him.
Mistress Jara’s Aer-Kin towered above them like a cliff made of blue stone.
The sunlight caught along its ridged edges, which cast a large shadow over Aeden and Nyra.
Up close, the cerulean dragon was ginormous, at least matching the size of Master Storm’s Vegar – easily three times the size of Nyra, maybe more, and every inch of it seemed built with quiet authority.
This Aer-Kin, however, had a level of calmness about it that contrasted with the aggression Vegar had shown.
Its head lowered slightly, angling towards Aeden with a slow, deliberate movement.
A broad and angular snout tapered into a slightly hooked, beak-like nose, and its jaw was lined with rows of tightly set ivory teeth.
They were not bared in threat but visible enough to make Aeden sit a little straighter in his saddle.
In the same moment, Aeden could sense Nyra trying her hardest to be brave, but she was shrinking into herself like melted ice.
Short, backwards-curving horns crowned the Aer-Kin’s head like jagged ridges of coral, and between them sat a pair of tall, narrow ears that twitched at the slightest sound.
It was alert, listening and watching. Its pale, silver-blue eyes locked onto Aeden at first before settling on Nyra, not hostile, but sharp enough to make Aeden’s stomach drop.
If Mistress Jara willed it, her Aer-Kin could swallow Aeden in one go and take a hefty chunk out of Nyra for good measure.
The Aer-Kin’s chest rose and fell slowly, like it had no reason to rush, no reason to be tense. That was the worst part for Aeden. It wasn’t even trying to intimidate either of them, yet it didn’t need to.
“Thalmaar,” Mistress Jara said, patting the Aer-Kin on the neck from where she sat. Her flight cloak was dark blue, to match Thalmaar. She smiled at them both. “He doesn’t mean to intimidate. He’s a gentle giant, believe it or not. We’re Scout riders. He forgets sometimes that he’s so big.”
Thalmaar let out a huff of warm air through his large nostrils, which landed on Aeden. It wasn’t a pleasant smell, but he managed to hold the temptation to gag. Thalmaar took a step back, allowing Aeden and Nyra some breathing space, while the other Aer-Kin stood in formation behind.
“This class is a mixture of Support and Scout riders,” Mistress Jara said.
“Lessons with me, as you know, are about cartography. It’s one thing to be able to read and draw a map, but it is another to be able to use that knowledge when you’re in the sky.
” She patted Thalmaar on the side again.
“Thalmaar, heel,” she said in a firm but assertive tone.
Thalmaar lowered himself to the ground, bending his knees until he was low enough for Mistress Jara to climb down from his back. She took three slow steps towards Nyra, her hands raised to show her she wasn’t a threat.
That didn’t help Nyra, who let out another warning grumble, this one slightly louder than the last .
“ Nyra ,” Aeden said, reaching out through the Weave, “ she won’t hurt you. Mistress Jara is one of the good masters at the academy .”
Nyra’s tension lifted but only slightly. She was on edge but not ready to retreat. Instead, she was ready to fight, despite the size difference between her and all of the Aer-Kin in front of them. Aeden more than admired that; maybe she was more like him than he realised.
“Relax, young Aer-Kin,” Mistress Jara said.
“I can assure you that you’re in no danger from this group.
I was aware you would be in attendance today and have taken measures to ensure the two students that attacked you are carrying out other duties.
Until they can learn to control themselves and not be led by their Aer-Kins’ impulses, they have no place in my classes. ”
That reassured Aeden somewhat, but as he studied all the faces of the second years behind her, he didn’t believe that all of them shared the same sentiment.
“Now, shall we begin?” Mistress Jara said.
Aeden looked around at all the Aer-Kin, then looked down at Nyra. She was so much smaller than the rest. That was okay, as she was younger than them all, but they could all fly, and she couldn’t.
Mistress Jara gave Aeden a warm smile, something that Aeden was not used to seeing from the faculty at the academy. “Do not worry, Harrington. Although I haven’t trained a rider in your position – I can’t say many have – I can tell you that the principles of riding will remain the same.”
This wasn’t what Aeden was used to. For the first time he felt as though a member of the faculty other than Lyric actually understood their situation.
His mood lifted, like a boulder had been removed from their path.
He could sense that Nyra, although not fully trusting, appreciated Mistress Jara’s sentiment as well.
“Now, if you would please fall in line with the others, it’s time to show you how it can feel to be a rider.”