Dragon Rider Academy Book 1

Chapter 10: The Dragonmount

After Soren flew over the city wall on Crosell, he got a look at the city he would be living in for the next few years. Alovale was the biggest city in the world and it wasn't hard to see why. There were thousands of people of all races walking walking around and this was just one part of the city. Soren wanted to stop and take a look around, but he had to make it to the Dragonmount to get Crosell lodged. Alovale was a very big city, but it wasn't hard to figure out where Soren needed to go. In the very center of the city, was a large mountain. And I do mean, large. The Dragonmount was the largest mountain in Telesia, second only to Langra Mountain in the dwarf kingdom.

Soren could see hundreds of dragons flying around the mountain. A few had people riding on their backs. Some were exiting and others were flying in and out of the mountain through tunnel entrances located all over the mountains surface, each one had a landing pad of rock. "You see that mountain, Crosell. That's where we need to go. Head there", Soren said.

"Really? The place with all dragons coming in and out? Gee, I had no idea", Crosell answered.

"Alright. No need to get snippy. Just head there. You said you wanted a chance to meet other dragons, right? Well, this is it", Soren responded.

"Oh yeah! You're right. What are we waiting for? Let's go!", shouted Crosell.

"Don't worry, Crosell. There's no need to ru....WOAH!!!"

Crosell flapped his wings to pick up speed and race towards the mountain.

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An elf standing at the entrance to one of the tunnels in the mountain, waved the dragon and it's rider, who just landed at the entry way through. This elf had been working as a Dragon Keeper at the Academy for about 200 years. Dragon Keepers worked at the Academy as those who fed and cared for the dragons during their time at the school. Given that elves had the longest lifespan in the world, apart from dragons, he had the appearance of a young 25 year old. He'd seen so many different colors of dragons that he could name each color he'd seen by heart. He could even count how many dragons were of the same color he'd seen in all his time as a Dragon Keeper. However, after all his years as a Keeper, nothing could prepare him for the dragon that was landing in the entryway he was observing. The dragon that landed in his doorway was a color he only heard about in legends. The only people called the Sacred Color. A gold dragon. The elf couldn't believe what he was seeing. In all his years, he'd never seen a gold dragon before and neither had any of the other Keepers. 

Given the size of the dragon and how young the boy on its back was, he could only assume that they were new students and this was their first year. The dragon was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. The boy hoped of his dragon and both of them walked forward. "Hello, sir. My name is Soren and this is my dragon, Crosell. Can you direct me to where I'm supposed to register him?", the boy asked.

The elf couldn't here what the boy was saying because he just couldn't stop looking at the beauty of his dragon. "Excuse me, sir? Are you alright? SIR!"

The elf shook his head from the boy's yell. "I'm sorry. Did you say something?", he asked.

"I asked if you could direct me to where I could register my dragon?", the boy asked.

"O-oh yes, of course! Just take your dragon up to the tone desk over there and they will find a space for him", said the elf, pointing to a young woman sitting at a stone table.

"Thank you very much. Cochi Crosell!", said the boy.

The boy and his dragon walked by the elf. The elf just stared as the dragon and his rider walked away. He knew that this would be a very interesting year for him and his fellow Keepers.