The Enchanted Warriors (Dragon Riders AU)

76💙

The next day arrived quickly, and all the first-year students stood on the training grounds, clad in their battle gear. The fitted bodysuits were reinforced with lightweight armor, allowing agility while protecting vital areas. A leather harness secured weapons, and their high-collared design shielded the neck.

Strapped to their backs crafted from dragon-hide and woven metal, shimmering with hues that reflected their dragon affinity. Their boots had clawed grips for traction, and their gloves were embedded with runes for magic control.

Tension filled the air. The Hollow Hunt was about to begin.

The students moved in a line as Headmaster Alderic stood at the front, with Professor Willow and Professor Sylas beside him. Numerous other professors were present—some familiar from classes, others only occasionally seen, and a few whose names remained unknown.

Suddenly, every student's watch began to beep, the signal echoing across the field.

Professor Willow’s voice rang out, “Follow the lead.”

Tori squeezed Y/N’s hand lightly. They had been holding hands, a silent show of support. Y/N looked up at her and grinned. “All the best.”

Tori returned the smile. “Be careful,” she said before the watch beeped again. With a nod, they released each other and began moving forward, following the watch’s command.

Y/N’s watch guided her forward, beeping steadily until she came face-to-face with two girls and one boy—classmates she recognized but wouldn’t call friendly.

The first girl had long, sleek brown hair, her sharp eyes scanning Y/N with barely hidden disdain. She always carried herself with an air of superiority, her words often laced with mockery. The smirk on her lips wasn’t warm—it was calculating, like she was already sizing Y/N up.

Beside her, the second girl, with a softer expression, offered a small smile. Y/N smiled back, though the tension between them was undeniable.

As the beeping continued, students hurried to form groups, realizing that their watches were guiding them to their assigned teammates.

Y/N noticed a black-haired boy approaching. He wore glasses, his expression calm and unreadable. Without a word, he stepped up beside her, his presence adding to the tension in the group.

Headmaster Aldric's white dragon let out a loud growl, echoing through the training grounds. The sound commanded immediate silence as all eyes turned toward him.

On the balcony above, the upper-class students stood watching, their expressions unreadable as they observed the scene below.

Headmaster Aldric’s voice echoed across the field as he spoke in Dragon Tongue.

"The rules are simple. If your teammates are still alive but fail to cross the finish line within the given time, your entire team will be eliminated. It doesn’t matter if you make it in time—if your teammates don’t, you’re out."

Every student's watch beeped in unison, signaling the start of the challenge. As they looked down, the timer displayed their goal—five hours to cross the forest.

The countdown hadn’t begun—each watch remained frozen at five hours, the numbers glowing steadily. A tense silence hung in the air as anticipation built among the students.

Then, one by one, the bonded riders called for their dragons.

A sudden gust of wind rushed through the training grounds, kicking up dust and rustling the surrounding trees. The distant sound of powerful wings beating against the sky grew louder.