The Twins of Fire and Ice

Chapter Twenty-Four

The field was insanely crowded when Nix finally went down the steps with a bag in her hand. Oddly enough, it was organized because there was no way that about a hundred dragons could land next to their Rider in this chaos.

Nix stumbled as she tried to find her designated spot to wait for Clara, but that turned out not to be necessary.

Nix, Clara called out with her mind, a whoosh sounding as she circled over her Rider. Reach to me!

The Frost tipped her head up, her expression incredulous, but obediently raised her hand as high as possible.

Clara somehow managed to go down without leaning her body in a different direction and reached one talon to her Rider, hooking Nix's hand and then flapping her wings to raise herself.

Now safely in the air, the dragoness bent her leg as much as possible and twisted her head to watch her Rider pull herself up and scramble on Clara's unsaddled back.

"You know that it's frowned upon if a Rider rides her dragon without a saddle," Nix called out to Clara over the wind.

Yes, I am aware. But anyone who frowns upon you is a fool because they obviously don't realize the benefits of riding your dragon bareback, Clara sniffed indignantly.

Nix chuckled, leaning down to wrap her arms around her dragon's neck. Clara drifted calmly and almost lazily before flicking Nix's mind to warn her that they were going to land.

She sat up and tensed as Clara landed in a the seemingly-identical patch of grass that was theirs. Luckily, it was right next to Flamma and Ignis, Leo and Glacies, and Jaydon and Caligo.

"Hey, Nixie! Couldn't find your spot without Clara," Flamma said, giggling when Nix nodded sheepishly.

"'Designated spot' my ass," Jaydon muttered. "This is much worse than last year."

"Weren't there the same amount of first year students last year?" Leo inquired.

Jay nodded. "There were, but the dance was only open for the first year Riders. No mages or older Riders, except for the Headmaster of course."

Nix tilted her head at him. "The Headmaster? I didn't know he was a Rider. I've never seen his dragon."

He glanced at her while fiddling with something in his hand. "Yeah. He doesn't really need his dragon because of his wings, but flying over long distances really isn't ideal for him, so he uses his dragon."

Clara arched her neck and narrowed her eyes at Jaydon. "Use his dragon?" We are not simple-minded animals, Jaydon, and you would do well to remember that.

Jay respectfully inclined his head in her direction. "I am aware that dragons are not 'simple-minded animals,' as you called them. But you will see what I mean when Obliviscatur."

Nix opened her mouth to say something when a horn sounded from somewhere in the northern end of the field. Fortunately, that means that Nix and her friends could hear it perfectly because they were at the northern end of the field.

Unfortunately, they could hear it a little too perfectly. Being a Rider means that they have enhanced hearing and smell and everything else, really. So a loud horn meant for hundreds of people to hear blaring when they were right next to it? Not good.

They each groaned and clasped at their ears, as did a lot of the people around them. The dragons growled and flattened their ears against their heads in annoyance.

"Hello, everybody! I apologize for the horn, I simply needed to gain everyone's attention. I will now read the names of the mages and the dragons from which they will ride upon."