The Five Realms

Chapter 48: Joey X

Chapter 48: Double Trouble at the Door

A week in Dragon City, and Joey still didn't feel like his boots touched the ground.

Every day since the Council had passed like a blur stitched together by awe, lectures, and the scent of dragonhide oil. They'd toured each district. Watched Rohan race sunlight across the rooftops. Gotten a crash-course in realm history from his mother, who taught timelines like someone who'd lived them—because she had. Chyna's vision had spread like wildfire across command halls and mess tables. The word "Vicefall" had started appearing in patrol updates.

Tension brewed beneath the city's gleaming surface like thunder behind glass.

And through it all, Joey held onto the dragon-eye stone Beanca had given him. Smooth, carved obsidian—cool to the touch, warm when he needed it. He kept it in his jacket pocket, never far from reach. He didn't talk about it. He didn't have to.

That rock had become his anchor. His secret. His treasure.

He found himself replaying that balcony moment more than once—her hand brushing his as she passed it to him, the way the wind caught her braid, the softness in her voice when she said, I need real. And he hadn't even known how much he'd needed to hear that until she said it.

But thoughts like that were easy to dodge when the world kept moving this fast.

And it was moving fast.

Orientation was today. The official start of Rider training. Squad sorting. Uniform issue. Combat trials.

"Fun and mandatory," Joey muttered as he tugged his covers higher.

A sharp knock split the air.

Three knocks, deliberate—just loud enough to shatter the fragile hope of a morning sleep-in.

Steven groaned somewhere in the kitchen, probably mid-chew. "That better be Eragon or Arya."

"Or my mom," Joey added, dragging himself out of bed and toward the door. "Or Murtagh."

It was none of them.

Two identical girls stood on the doorstep, framed by Dragon City's golden morning. Tall. Blonde. Ponytails snapping in the wind like twin banners of judgment. One wore a cobalt tank top, the other a blazing orange. Both had fingerless gloves, knee-strapped boots, and the kind of energy that could either lead a parade or detonate a small building.

"Good morning!!" the one in blue chirped, grinning. "My name's Sophiana, but you can call me Sophie."

Joey blinked. "Uh... okay?"

"Sophie, you're going to scare him," said the orange-topped twin, stepping forward with a mild eye-roll. "I'm Analiese. We're your orientation guides."

"Escorts," Sophie added cheerfully.

"To training," Analiese finished. "You're the Earth Riders, right?"

Joey scrubbed a hand over his face. "Unfortunately, yes."

"Perfect!" they said in perfect unison—and stepped inside without waiting.

"Do we always get visits from magically-synced Valkyries before breakfast?" Beanca asked from the couch, her voice dry as desert stone.

"Get used to it," Analiese said. "Day One of Rider training starts now."

Joey blinked, unsure whether to laugh or bolt.

Sophie's gaze flicked across the room like a radar sweep. "You've got fifteen minutes to get dressed and armed. Meet us outside or we're dragging you."

Steven emerged, bleary-eyed and powdered with flour from yesterday's baking war. "This is a lot of energy for sunrise."