The Enchanted Warriors (Dragon Riders AU)

78❤️

The grand hall buzzed with hushed whispers as students gathered, their dragons shifting uneasily on their shoulders. The Headmaster stood at the center, absolute silence. When he spoke, his voice resonated with an ancient power woven into the very stones of Draconis Academy.

"From this moment forth, no student shall step beyond these walls until the academy is deemed safe. The shields will rise, and you all know-magic does not take kindly to those who test its limits."

As the Headmaster's voice echoed through the grand hall, a deep rumbling filled the air. A sudden gust of wind swept through the open

A hush fell over the hall. Then, a low, guttural hum filled the air-ancient, deep, alive. It rumbled through the floors, sending vibrations up the students' spines.

From the tallest spires of the academy, the Elder Dragons took flight. Their massive wings unfurled, catching the light like molten gold and liquid sapphire. One by one, they opened their jaws-not to breathe fire, but something far older, far greater.

Ribbons of pure energy poured forth, twisting and curling like celestial serpents. The sky darkened, not with storm clouds, but with magic thick as mist, coiling and knotting itself into an unseen force. Crystalline runes flared to life in the air, shifting and merging, ancient symbols binding the spell together. The dragons wove their power in perfect harmony, singing in a language lost to time.

A dome of shimmering light unfolded over the academy, translucent yet unyielding. Colors bled through it-deep violets, glacial blues, ember-reds-moving like a living tapestry of the elements themselves. Where the magic met the ground, the earth pulsed, accepting the barrier's embrace.

The moment the shield locked into place, a resonant boom echoed across the land, as if the world itself acknowledged its power.

The Headmaster turned, eyes glowing faintly with the residual magic in the air.

Headmaster: "Draconis Academy now stands sealed by the will of the dragons. The sky itself will burn before it falls."

As the students dispersed, returning to their classrooms, an uneasy tension hung in the air. Y/N glanced around, noticing how the professors moved with an unusual sense of urgency.

Professor Willow clapped his hands, drawing the students' attention. "Back to your lessons. No one is to wander the halls alone, and curfew will be strictly enforced."

Y/N frowned, leaning toward Tori. "Why is everything so... tight?" she whispered.

Tori shrugged casually. "No idea. But whatever it is, the professors are being extra cautious."

Y/N's gaze flickered to the hallway, where she saw another professor quietly counting students as they entered their dormitories. Even the Headmaster had been unusually stern.

She exhaled sharply. "They're being too strict. And what's with the Ember Tree and Professor Willow?"

Tori smirked, stretching her arms behind her head. "The tree will tell Professor Willow if students aren't in their rooms. It watches everything."

Y/N shuddered. "Creepy."

Tori chuckled. "Yeah, but it's been doing that for centuries. No one sneaks past the Ember Tree."

Y/N glanced out the window at the ancient, glowing tree. Its ember-like leaves flickered softly in the evening light, as if listening. She had a strange feeling that whatever was coming... the Ember Tree already knew.

Y/N sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Did you solve the riddle? We only have two days left to figure it out."

Tori huffed, crossing her arms. "Nope. I didn't solve mine yet."