Chimera Ryder

Chapter 7 - A Professional

The road to become a professional rider at any level was hard. It had been about a week since Jessa raced at the abandoned harbor. Her father grounded her, not for racing, but for coming home late. He heard about Jessa and Ryder's spectacular run from their neighbors, but it was still hard for him to process what happened that night. And it was even harder for him to process what was about to happen right now. Then again, it shouldn't be that big of a surprise, since the clues were laid out to him from the beginning.

"I want to be a professional rider."

Mr. Hiltsmith continued to work behind his desk, trying to mask his emotions. Jessa gathered her courage and asked again. She slid the tryout flyer in front of him this time.

"At least let me try it out. I think this is something I'm actually good at. Ryder enjoyed it, too!"

Ryder looked up. Realizing they didn't need her, she went back to sleep.

"Professor Marwall said I should spend more time with Ryder, to help her develop her processing functions. This is the best way to do that, right? If I go to a boarding school next year, you'll be the one to take care of her."

Mr. Hiltsmith kept his mouth shut and continued working.

"I know you think racing is dangerous, or it's gonna cost a lot of money. But I'm trying out for the Humble League. It's a professional league! If I get in, I get a salary. Probably not that much... But it won't be like the Amateur League, where I have to pay to race. AND, you don't have to carry Ryder's food anymore! We'll find sponsors, and there are special deals... and..."

Jessa didn't address the part about the race being dangerous. She didn't know how to justify that.

"...You said you want to support me in whichever track I choose, right? Well... I choose racing."

Her father finally set down his wrench.

"Okay," he said.

"Okay?"

"Let's try it out, and we'll see," he said. "I'm here to support you. If not you, then who?" Jessa didn't think it was going to be this easy! She hugged her father, and her father kept her tight in his arms. His little girl was growing up fast, too fast. He looked down at the flyer and saw the tryout date.

"You're still going to your graduation," he said. "And if it becomes too dangerous, I'll drag you out of the racetrack myself."

Jessa hugged her father again! She was all fired up and ready to train!

"Come on, Ryder--"

"Don't forget," her father added. "You're still grounded."

Jessa paused. She reluctantly nodded and walked back upstairs.

Her training started immediately the next day. Even though she was only going to her school, this was precious time she could not afford to waste. She mounted on top of Ryder and secured her goggles.

"Ready?"

The timer on her dial glove ticked. Her father fixed that glove as an early birthday present. Tick, tock. Six minutes before school. They could make it in four! Ryder leaped onto the roof, and a different sight caught Jessa by surprise. There was a man on the other side of the roof. It was hard for Jessa to see with the sun shining down on her face. Ryder pinched her pupils into vertical slits, adjusting her sight to the morning sun. The man walked over with his peryton.

"You're wasting your time," said Rand Ironwood. "You need to focus on training yourself."

Jessa could not believe her eyes! The former captain of the Ivory Wings was standing in front of her! Ryder was curious of the peryton, too. She moved closer towards the peryton, trying to sniff its unusual scent.