Dragon Rider

Chapter 2

Today our Instructionals start, and even though I have been attending this academy since I was 4-years-old, I always have nervous butterflies in my belly on the first couple of days of Instructionals. My first class is at 8 a.m., and is Saber lesson.

A Saber is like a sword, but instead of metal or steal, a Saber has a metal tube that press a button, and a beam of colored light emerges. Every person who has a Saber chooses their colored light, but not everyone takes this Instructional or has a Saber. Mine is a sky blue color.

Yawning, I stretch on the bed before climbing to my feet to grab clean clothing, and my shower supplies for a quick shower. When I have these items, I leave my quarters for the shower unit that is down the hall, and it has twenty showers. Wandering back toward my quarters, I am lost in my thoughts, and walk right into something hard. I land hard on my ass with a grunt of pain before quickly grabbing my fallen items, and then stand to find myself standing in front of a handsome man.

He looks to be around 6'1" with white-blond tousled hair, blue eyes, lean, muscular build, and spring green skin. I wonder if he is from Sunev since people from this planet have varying shades of green skin depending on what region the person lives.

"I am sorry, I was not watching where I was going," I quietly apologize, chewing on my lower lip in embarrassment. "I hope I did not harm you?"

"No, you did not harm me," he lightly chuckles, his accent sounding Sunev while his eyes roam my body from head to toe and back up to my eyes.

"What level are you?" he asks, his voice making my belly tremble in happiness. "What is your name?"

"I am level twelve, and my name is Larken Sawyer," I reply, fidgeting under his intense gaze.

He smirks at me, saying; "Nice to meet you, Larken Sawyer. My name is River Vincent."

"Nice to meet you, too," I shyly reply, a blush coating my cheeks, and I am secretly happy that he will probably be in some of my Instructionals since he looks to be around my age. "I hope to see you around, but I need to get back to my quarters, so I can make my first Instructional at eight."

Arriving at the Saber Instructional location by 7:50 a.m., I stand about a foot away from the other students as we stand in one of the many outdoor training centers. So far, I am one of nine here waiting for the Instructor to arrive, and any other students that may arrive. About ten minutes later, four more people arrive, and River is one of the new arrivals. I find it strange though that River is not dressed in the colors of a student. Everyone, Instructors, too, all wear black jumpsuits with a stripe of color on the sides from shoulder to ankle. Instructors have gray stripes, level ten are purple, level eleven are dark blue, level twelve are black, and level thirteen are white.

Glancing at the strip on River's jumpsuit to make sure I saw correctly, and up, he has a gray stripe. Fuck me without lube! River is a damn Instructor. I fucking flirted with a damn Instructor. This is gonna be a long fucking year.

"Good morning," River greets, projecting his voice so all of us can hear him. "I am your Instructor, River Vincent. I hope everyone brought their Sabers because we are starting off Instructional by pairing up for a sparring activity. Nothing hard because I want to see where everyone is on their Technics, although you all should be equal with one another being this is your third year in this Instructional."

"Um, Sir, question?" a female tentatively says, raising her left arm as she fidgets on her feet.

"Yes, what is your question?" River replies with a neutral expression.

"There is an odd number of students, so how will we do pairs?" she questions while looking around at all of us, and there are thirteen of us students.

"One of you will have to spar with me," River answers with a grin as he looks at all of us. "I have looked over your school records, and I will partner with the one who has the best Saber score thus far."

Everyone nods in understanding as most look at each other in wonder, but me because I am sure that I am not that person.

"I will start pairing you off now," River states, and begins pairing people together, and the students move to stand next to their partner once their names are called off.

When there are three of us left, I figure I am paired with one of the two other students, but I am shocked when the two other students are paired together. Snapping my attention toward River in shock because we are not told our standings until just before we graduate, and need to decide on a career.

Fuck, I have to spar against River.

Slowly making my way over to him as the other students stare at me in shock. I know the feeling quite well right now. Standing near him with my hands clasped in front of me, I wait for River to finish his instructions.

"Are you ready, Larken?" River asks once he is finished, and he grins at me while pulling his Saber from his utility belt from around his waist, and the Saber was clipped on his right hip.

Pulling my Saber from my left hip, hitting the button with my thumb without a verbal reply. The light blue blade extends, and I Grin at him as I move in my defensive stance. River presses his Saber button, and his beautiful emerald green blade extends. He moves into his defensive stance, and we spend the next twenty minutes sparring. He actually is challenging me slightly, and I appreciate this.

When we spar during Instructionals, there are protective spells and crystals casted, so no one is injured, or worse, killed, so that is one of the reasons why River is not fully paying attention to the others. The other reason he is not fully paying attention to the others is all Instructionals are recorded by a Drone for the Instructors to review later.

Thrusting the Saber forward, gaining a "kill" strike on River, and he drops his arms to his sides in shock, and his mouth drops open. He clicks his Saber off as do I, and grin at him. We are breathing heavily, and sweating horribly.

"To all that is holy, have you given any thought to your career after graduation?" he asks, breathing heavily, and he truly looks impressed. "You are bloody excellent."

Blushing at his compliment while my breathing returns to normal; "I want to follow in one of my parent's careers. They are a Warrior and a Scout?"

"Who are your parents?" River questions with his breathing returning to normal, too.

"Afra and Dametri Sawyer," I answer with raised eyebrows at his excited expression.

"Your parents are fantastic in their careers!" he excitedly says, awe dripping from his voice.

Well, this is a little weird with his admiration of my parents, and the looks the other students are giving me.