Dragon Rider

Chapter 3

When my last Instructional of the day finishes at 2 p.m., I make my way toward the cafe for a snack because I am slightly hungry. Entering the cafe, there is roughly ten others here, and two are in the food area grabbing themselves something to eat, drink, or both. Looking over the options before me, I decide on blueberry juice and nachos with refried beans, cheese, and sour cream. Paying for my items, I sit at a two-person table with my back toward the wall, and begin eating as I people watch.

"Hello, may I sit with you?" Mercy asks, stopping near my table.

"Hi," I reply after swallowing my bite, and nodding. "Please join me."

Mercy sits down across from me with a bowl of mixed fruits and a water with a smile; "Thanks. How were your Instructionals?"

"Tiring, but good," I answer with a tired smile. "How about yours?"

"These were good," she answers with a small nod, and we chat while we eat, cleaning up our trash, and exit the cafe.

"I heard you kept your own against the Instructor this morning during your Saber Instructional," she comments as we head toward the exit of the building, and she sounds impressed.

"I, uh, I guess I did," I shrug, feeling embarrassed. "How did you hear about this?"

"Someone from your Saber Instructional is in my Alchemy Instructional, and mentioned this event," Mercy answers with a shrug of her thin shoulders.

"Huh," I mumble, mostly to myself, and it seems as if Mercy things this because she does not comment.

"Your sister is lovely," Mercy praises with a small smile as we exit the building.

"I hope she is not giving you a hard time?" I worriedly ask while we step to the side of the door.

Mercy shakes her head, firmly stating; "No, she truly is lovely. I would not sugar-coat how she is with me, or in general about her behavior I see."

Giving her a nod with a thankful smile; "Thank you, I appreciate this."

"Anytime," she replies. "I am going back to my rest quarters for a short nap. Have a good afternoon, Larken."

"You as well, Mercy," I murmur, and we part ways to our quarters.

Laying on my back on top of the made bed, starring at the ceiling, deep in thought. Wondering if what River said is correct, should I consider being a Warrior or Scout for my career? Rolling to my feet, I grab my communication device off the desk to message my parents.

'Hi. Um, quick question,' I send to them in a group message before sending another message, fully explaining what happened in Saber Instructional this morning. 'Should I choose between Warrior and Scout as a career?'

'Larken, love, we cannot tell you if you should choose between those two careers. That is something only you can decide,' papa sends back with dad saying he agrees with papa's answer.

'We will be happy for you with whatever career you choose. We want you and Laria to pick what makes you happy,' dad sends.

Groaning at their answers, but honestly I knew they would say something like this, so I am not surprised. Lying back on my bed, deciding a nap sounds great at the moment.

"Computer, set an alarm for an hour from now, please," I call out as I roll onto my stomach with my right arm bent under my chest, and slip my left thumb into my mouth as I fall asleep. Yes, I am a 17-year-old who sucks his thumb, do not judge me because doing this is a comfort action for me.

An hour later, I am awake, and have changed from my jumpsuit to a short sleeve, shorts jumpsuit with my level color to head to the training center to workout. Grabbing my blue refillable water bottle that I have filled with water before leaving my quarters for the training center. Entering the large building that is one level with many training items such as weights, machines, yoga mats and balls, jump ropes, punching bags, and targets for weapons. No one is in here currently but me which is nice.

"Computer, play music by the 'Black Veil Brides,' please," I request, raising my voice slight to activate the computer system.

The music fills the air at a comfortable level as I make my way to the treadmill to start off with a run to warm-up. I run to the beat of the music and Andy Biersak's voice. Twenty minutes of running, I slow down to a walk for a few minutes before deciding that I am efficiently warmed-up, and stop the machine. Heading over to the hand weights searching for the ten pound weights, and being lifting once I find these. I complete my circuit of the machines before deciding to use the targets for the weapons, mainly the Saber, but I will work with my Blaster as well. Before I can start this though, a male voice tells the computer to turn down the music, and I snap my head toward the entrance to find River, and two of Instructors just inside the building.

"Computer, turn off the music, please," I request with crimson cheeks, and it is not from my workout. "Sorry about the music, Instructors."

"You did not need to turn your music choice off, Larken," Instructor Ronning states with a slight frown.

Unsure how to answer, I remain silent, and pull out a Blaster from the metal locker. Checking the Blaster to make sure it is correct working order, which it is, and I focus my attention on the targets designed for the Blasters. The computer makes different targets appear in different locations for you to blast. By the time I finish this run through, I have completely forgotten about the three Instructors being in the building until they clap. Dropping my arms to my sides as I relax my stance, and turn to face them with dark crimson cheeks.

"Very well done, Larken," Instructor Boyd compliments with a smile.

"Thank you, Ma'am," I reply bashfully as I walk to the table to clean the Blaster before placing it away in the locker, and locking this.

"Have you done Saber yet?" River questions with a raised right eyebrow toward me.

"No, Instructor Vincent, I was planning on Saber next unless you would like the training center to yourselves?" I reply.

"You may finish as I would like to see how much your Saber skills have improved since I had you in Instructional," Instructor Boyd states with the two men agreeing with her.

Nodding in reply, pulling my Saber from my belt, and say; "Computer, please run 'Larken Sawyer Saber Program'."

"Begin program," the computerized voice replies just before a holographic humanoid figure of 6'4" appears in front of me a foot from me.

The holographic humanoid figure is dressed in black, loose legged pants, black Military boots, a black, long sleeve shirt with the hood pulled up, and a black cloth covering his nose and mouth, leaving his red eyes visible. The holographic image also has a saber, and the blade is red.

The program that I designed to be extremely difficult to help me become better with the Saber. The hologram glitches for a moment before correcting, and the holographic image lunges forward, driving the blade through my right shoulder. Letting out a painful scream as I can feel everything in the location of the wound snaps and breaks. When the program glitched, the safe guards must have been deactivated, and I become damaged.