The Aerial Corps. The third military flank of every nation. While the Navy defends the sea and the Army defends the ground, the Corps patrols the skies on the backs of dragons. Some are only big enough to hold a single man and are tasked with the delivery of mail; others are bigger than fifty tonnes, fighting tooth, nail, and wing to keep their cities safe.
Unfortunately, the English Corps are regarded with suspicion and disgust by the general population. Already separated from the rest of society by the needs of and opinions towards their scaled companions (regarded as barbaric monsters by any 'proper person'), the Corps further distance themselves with their different beliefs, ways of acting, and lifestyle that, while common to them, are downright scandalous to the normal English person.
However, this also causes the members to be protective of their own, and the dragons especially won't stand for any mistreatment of their crews, or even more so, their captains. And thus, the Aerial Corps care not one bit for the opinions of the 'pretentious, close-minded ass of every-class'.
Children are still submitted for acceptance into the Aerial Cadets Recruitment Academy by relatively well-off families though. Some in hopes of getting rid of their child, others in anticipation that perhaps where their son could not succeed in the Army or Navy, they might be able to in the Corps. Unmarried women in the Corps (the most closely-guarded secret of their ranks) are expected to bear children as well, but it is in no way a requirement.
And then, of course, there are those children who choose to submit themselves. They beg and plead with their families, because the wonder of the dragons is like a drug to their young minds. All they want is more. They will even go against their parent's demands, just for one more glimpse.
Sora stared up in awe at the formation of dragons that circled overhead, dancing shadows the only things connecting them with the ground below. Only seven years old and the brunette already knew that he wanted to be up there with them, riding the wind to heights only they had seen. It had shocked his parents; after all, the Aerial Corps weren't exactly treated with the highest regard. But Sora had been determined, had refused to accept any other path. He'd more than insisted, he'd grovelled, spellbound by the size and beauty of the beasts that worked so hard to protect them from enemies during the war. He was convinced that the sailors and the soldiers were just jealous that they didn't get to fly so high, that they'd only ever stand with their feet firmly on the ground.
Reluctantly, his parents had enrolled him in the Academy, and he was scheduled to start next month. It was exciting. His wish was already on its way to coming true, and Sora couldn't help but dream of the day when he'd have a dragon to call his own.
-Sable