As My Worlds Collide

CHAPTER 1

A Dragon without its rider is a tragedy.

A rider without their dragon is dead.

—Article One, Section One

The Dragon Rider's Codex

I sit in General Melgren's office in silence, like I had been for the past 2 hours. He sat across from me, working through the stack of paper that seemed to be added to every 5 minutes by a scribe that always left quickly, reports from the war no doubt, and I hoped that it was good news. I was so caught up in my own head that I didn't notice my father had set down the pen he was using, and now was watching me with unreadable eyes.

"Are you ready for today?" he asks.

I know it's a trick question, I have to be ready, there isn't a choice. "Of course, if anything I'm looking forward to it," I respond, shoving any fear I have into a box in the back of my mind, I can deal with it later. I already know where I'm going, it was decreed by my father that anyone with a rebellion relic had to go to Basgiath War College, even the girl the general raised as his own.

He dismisses me and I walk out with my pack, almost running into Violet and Mira. "She didn't change her mind?" I ask, looking towards Mira.

"No, she's standing by what she said," Mira growles, "bitch," she adds under her breath as she grabs my pack from me.

I glance at Vi, "while it sucks that she can't choose, I have no doubt that she will get through this, and while she may not have grown up training like we did, she did occasionally work with us, and have some faith Mira."

Vi shoots me a small smile, no doubt glad to have someone standing up for her, especially if it was one of her childhood best friends.

"Let's go. We only have an hour before all candidates have to report, and I saw thousands waiting outside the gates when I flew over." Mira starts walking, leading us down the stone staircases and through the hallways to Vi's room.

We arrived and Mira pushed the door open, revealing the room to be stripped bare with all of Vi's belongings packed into crates that were stacked in the corner. I glance over at her quickly, and I see the hurt in her eyes.

"She's fucking efficient, I'll give you that," Mira mutters, turning to face Vi, silently accessing her. "I was hoping I'd be able to talk her out of it. You were never meant for the Riders Quadrant."

"So you've mentioned," Vi says, raising an eyebrow.

"Sorry." she winces, dropping to the ground and emptying her pack.

"What are you doing," I finally ask.

"What Brennan did for me," she says softly, grief washes through me and I can tell the words affected Violet similarly. "Can either of you wield a sword?"

Vi shakes her head, "too heavy, I'm pretty quick with daggers through." She was selling herself short, I had watched her train, and she was far more than "quick".

Mira glances towards me, waiting for an answer. "Yeah, usually dual wield short swords, but I like having daggers on me in case I get disarmed."

She nods thinking to herself. "So I was right. Good. Now drop your pack and take off your boots." She grabs two pairs of boots and black uniforms. "Put these on, and yes Lia, I know you have rider's boots, but I consider you my sister so I'm making sure you're safe too."

I allow a small smile and drop my pack, letting her do a quick look through.

"What's wrong with my pack," Vi asks, letting hers fall to the ground. "Mira! That took me all night!"