The Incoming Hero

New Hope

Percy and Eragon exited the tent and walked back down to the open training area where Saphira could land. Five minutes later, they reached their destination and found Saphira already waiting for them. She was standing up straight with her chest puffed out in a regal stance.

Percy admired her beauty and magnificence. Her gleaming blue scales reflected the light to add a little luster to them. Her strong jaws were set with many smaller horns running along her chin with two pearly white horns stucking out of the top of her head. Scaly, but also feathery, wings sprouted from her back, and all in all, she was very awe-inspiring.

Of course, not as much as Maelstrom but pretty close. He actually felt something in the back of his head that he thought felt like a coo or something and he wondered if Maelstrom was listening to his thoughts.

He felt a brush to his mind, and knowing it was Saphira, lowered his barriers.

"Hello, Percy. My name is Saphira. It is nice to meet another dragon rider." Percy responded with a slight bow and stretched out his mind.

It felt different than how he spoke to Maelstrom. Speaking to his dragon took no effort at all. It was almost like another conscious in his head. Saphira felt like a foreign presence, though not unwelcome or anything.

Percy responded respectfully. "It is nice to meet such a magnificent dragon. Hopefully you'll be able to meet my dragon, Maelstrom, soon too." He felt another foreign presence requesting entry, and going off suspicion, he looked towards Eragon and received a nod.

After letting another through, Percy could actually tell the difference between the separate telepathic waves. Saphira had stronger and regal feel while Eragon had a light, smooth feeling.

Percy responded in his head, "This feels really weird, you know?" All of the sudden he felt a very familiar feeling in his head and didn't even have to open his mind for his dragon's presence.

Percy could tell Saphira and Eragon felt the new mind, and Percy was interested to see that they stiffened noticeably. "I agree with you, Percy. It almost feels like an intrusion, not bad but not exactly pleasant either."

Saphira seemed to gather herself first. "It is nice to speak to you, Maelstrom. One day we will have to fly together." All three of them could feel a nod from the faraway dragon. Saphira spoke up again, albeit a little hesitantly. "I also agree. Percy's mind has a very subtle, dignified air to it, but it seems almost suppressed so it can be looked over. However, your presence makes me think of ... a king of sorts. A noble leader that deserves to be respected and listened to. Just like Percy's but with it out in the open for all to feel."

Both Percy and Maelstrom could feel Eragon's silent agreement and they contemplated in silence for a moment. The only thing Percy could think of was his demigod status which he now knew he shared with Maelstrom when they bonded.

Most people could feel a god's aura and couldn't help but bow down to it. Percy never really cared for any of that and would prefer people didn't treat him differently. However, Maelstrom was very proud and most likely wouldn't mind people bowing to him.

To break the silence, Percy chuckled and said, "Thanks for stroking his ego, not like it was big enough already or anything." Percy knew Maelstrom was glaring at him without him even needing to feel it.

Eragon and Saphira were still adjusting and he really wondered what his and Maelstrom's minds felt like. He inwardly shrugged his shoulders. Not like it really mattered and it would probably help gain respect.

Eragon seemed ready to talk judging by his open smile. He spoke out loud, "Maybe it's because you're more powerful than other riders or something?"