I nodded, suddenly too exhilarated for words.
"Lean forward and shift your legs forward as well."
The dragonia responded instantly, her powerful muscles tensing beneath us. As she crouched, I instinctively gripped the saddle handle, and then with a mighty spring, she launched us into the air, dropping like a stone down the cliff before her enormous wings snapped open to catch the wind and surge up.
My stomach had dropped with the initial plunge that preceded our ascent, a moment of free-fall before Xathsia's wings fully engaged. Then we were soaring upward at a steep angle, the Citadel roof shrinking beneath us with astonishing speed.
The sudden acceleration and altitude change should have terrified me, but instead, it filled me with joy. The wind rushedpast, cool and clean, carrying the scent of the mountains and something else—something elemental that I suspected was unique to dragons. Beneath me, Xathsia's body radiated heat and power, her wings beating with a rhythm that somehow felt as natural as my own heartbeat.
We leveled off several hundred feet above the Citadel, joining the other dragons in a loose formation. The view was beyond spectacular: mountain peaks stretching in every direction, the ocean not too far below, and above us, the auroras painting the sky with ribbons of color.
"Incredible," I breathed, the word inadequate for what I was experiencing.
"Nothing quite like it," Lieutenant Marbuk agreed from behind me. "Now, shift your weight slightly to the left and see how Xathsia responds."
I did as instructed, making a subtle adjustment to my position. Xathsia immediately banked left, executing a turn so smooth it felt like we were simply redirecting the flow of the wind itself.
"Perfect," the lieutenant praised. "Now to the right."
For the next several minutes, we practiced basic maneuvers—turns, gentle climbs, shallow dives. Each movement of my body translated into Xathsia's flight path with a precision that seemed almost magical. She was incredibly responsive, yet I never felt I was controlling her; rather, we were collaborating, my intentions becoming her actions through unspoken understanding.
"You have good instincts," Lieutenant Marbuk commented as I guided us through a series of S-turns. "Some cadets try too hard, which only frustrates the dragon. You're letting the communication flow naturally."
"It doesn't feel like I'm doing much of anything," I admitted. "She seems to know what I want almost before I do."
"That's the essence of rider-dragon cooperation," Talila said. "The best partnerships require minimal effort from either party—just mutual trust and respect. When you bond with your own dragon, you will find that your minds work in perfect synergy, building upon each other. You will be able to see through her eyes and hear what she hears."
It was easy to understand why riders became so devoted to their dragons. The connection was powerful, transcending ordinary human experience.
I thought of Kailin, with her debilitating fear of heights, and felt a renewed sympathy for her predicament. To be chosen for this life yet terrified of its most fundamental aspect seemed a particularly cruel joke of fate.
"Let's try something a bit more advanced," Lieutenant Marbuk suggested. "See that cloud formation ahead? I want you to guide Xathsia in a complete circle around it, maintaining a consistent altitude."
The maneuver required more concentration, but Xathsia responded beautifully to my subtle cues, executing a perfect circumnavigation of the towering cumulus cloud. As we completed the circle, I spotted the Citadel below us, looking impossibly small from our height.
"Excellent work," the lieutenant praised. "Most first-time fliers struggle with maintaining consistent altitude during turns. You're a natural."
"Thank you."
There was something profoundly liberating about soaring above the world, viewing it from a perspective few ever experienced. I understood now why the Dragon Force inspired such awe and devotion among Elucians—and why it was considered such a threat by the Shedun.
The strategic advantages alone were staggering.
Dragons could access terrain impassible for conventional forces, deliver devastating attacks with their fire, and retreat to safety before the enemy could effectively respond. With enough riders, they represented a military power unlike any other on Aurorys.
This realization only reinforced the importance of my mission. A dragon force of our own was crucial for Eluria's security.
58
KAILIN
"Fear dissolves when you let yourself truly see."
—Shaman Saphir Fatewever
Istood frozen against the cliff wall, watching as the first five dragons launched into the sky with their riders and cadets. My eyes tracked Alar on the back of the purple dragonia, his posture relaxed and confident as they soared upward. There was no hint of fear in his bearing—only excitement and even joy as the massive creature carried him higher.
The sight filled me with equal parts of envy and admiration. How could he embrace this experience so completely when just days ago he'd been struggling with altitude sickness? Meanwhile, I, who had grown up in these mountains, stillcouldn't stand near a ledge without my knees threatening to buckle and bile rising up to my throat.
