The Night Rider

Chapter 20 - Challenger

Nivara couldn't help but feel nervous for the first contestant.

She fidgeted within her seat as she watched Prime put on a brave face for the audience but his dragon was jittery and unfocused. Nivara's heart lurched as she was reminded of Kaldra all alone in her room and vowed to visit her once the first few applicants had gone through her trial. The official results wouldn't be fully announced until much later but that still didn't mean the nobles couldn't have their say. 

Perched on their own separate railing were a rainbow of different coloured Soundboom dragons, awaiting orders from the different houses and Masters they represented. There were twelve in total and some were more well known than others from all around Opalis. There was even a representative for the Tinker Moles since they had recently added another of their Gadgeteer guilds to help with manufacturing and transportation of goods. Not even the nobles would argue against it but that didn't mean they couldn't attempt sway their vote in their favour. Their Master had failed to arrive after all.

Each Soundboom dragon would deliver a scroll to Nivara and she would count whatever score was the majority before announcing it. But Nivara did not have to agree with such a verdict. She had the power to overrule them as Regent and go against the majority in favour of her own ruling. However, this would cause major friction within the crowd after hearing such a result and the nobles could easily go against her opinion and authority even if her explanation was justified. It was probably what Domino was after and Nivara wouldn't have been surprised if Kamikaze showed her face just to cause a riot with her lack of security. 

She may not have been from Opalis but Nivara couldn't help but overhear the rumours that people were hoping to relocate to Tarragon in favour for her leadership and Order. A vote of no confidence against their hesitantly appointed Regent wasn't what she wanted right now but it was a necessary risk she had to take to combat whatever Chimera and the other clans intended to do.

"Candidate Prime Castillo with my Agar, Tahir Stonepass. I am an Earth Traited contracted to a Rockerfella dragon. I represent House Willowridge of Opalis. I am prepared for the challenge of the Terratwist."

Nivara quickly checked his form and noted Prime's determined voice, the Soundboom that hovered beside him now flying back towards her to return to their post. Willowridge was one of the more docile noble houses, their land remaining on the outskirts of the border near the large peaks of the Opalis Ruins which had been cut off by the Divide's range. Whereas the Tinker Moles were forced by Lady Aria to relocate to other territory, those in Willowridge had taken what land the Tinker Moles had deserted and tried to increase their workforce to match. Whether they had achieved their goal remained to be seen but the rivalry between the two groups was certainly there.

Nivara distracted herself from the thought of endless negotiations and politics by giving a quick glaze upwards and a swift nod of acknowledgement towards the Soundboom dragons as they shuffled along to allow another one of their kind to settle down for a rest. Prime's voice had been heard. It was time to start. 

"Begin!" Nivara commanded, the Terratwist changing the illusion with a single word.

The sawdust training area began to warp and elongate into the sharp incline of a mountainous range which was more a long piece of rocky ground than anything else. It led into a series of caves where Nivara's mist provided a leering backdrop and a convenient way for the onlookers to see within the caves despite the darkness. Prime had to rely on his sight alone.

"Look, it's just like home!" Tahir cried out as his Agar stayed silent, his unsure footing betraying the need to run headfirst towards security.

Prime and Tahir took and uncertain step forward while Nivara's Trait quickly gathered around the area, conjuring semi translucent screens similar to the one she used to convince Ethros of the break in. She had no doubt there were some here from Thundreign now thanks to the tell tale golden scales of Boltstrike dragons hidden within the masses. But it didn't matter now. Those terms had been set. It was time to deal with a new kind of threat.