Even though I hadn't seen Collin in days, I couldn't stop replaying that night in my mind. The look in his eyes when I told him about the night of my ball, I felt bad for being so harsh, but I couldn't hold back how frustrating this whole experience has been and he has played such a major role. I guess I should apologize to him the next time I see him, whenever that will be. I rolled my eyes and rolled over in my bed, since that night I hadn't left my room, too nervous to run into him or anybody else. What if I was just walking down to breakfast and the Queen just rounded a corner and summoned me to see the egg? Staying in my room, isn't any better really, the large room was starting to drive me crazy.
I shifted in bed again, before giving up on finding comfort, standing up I crossed the room to the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, I shuddered, I looked like I always did: ugly and gross. I can fix the gross part, I thought while stripping to take a shower. The steam and hot water helped some of my tension, not only was I having stupid typical teenager problems, but I also had to deal with the fact that I might be the Rider of not one, but two dragons. Just the thought of the egg, rebuilt all my stress instantly. I got out of the shower and opened the door to my bedroom to find Etra shuffling around my bed.
Even though I had a towel, I glanced down to make sure I was all covered before calling out to her, "Ertra?"
She continued to straighten my blankets, but smiled and made eye contact," Hello, Rider Alyson. I thought I could finish tidying up before you exited your bath. My apologies."
"No, it's okay. Thanks, but you don't have to make the bed."
I heard her chuckle lowly," You say this everyday, but as I have already explained, this is my primary duty."
"To make my bed?"
"No, Rider Alyson. My duty is to ensure your comfort while you are here. Is there anything else I can do for you? Perhaps some clothes need washing?"
"Uhmm.., yeah. I have some laundry in the bathroom", I turned to retrieve it.
"Quite alright, Rider Alyson," she scurried in front of me. She picked up all my dirty clothes in a whirlwind of speed. "Is there anything else I can do for you today?"
I smiled, "No, thank you Ertra. I'm alright. You should go and enjoy your day, just relax and unwind."
"There is still much to be done, Rider Alyson, and since there is nothing further for me to assist you with, I have a message for you."
"A message? For me?," my body stiffened and a chill ran through me.
"Yes, Rider Alyson. Your presence has been summoned at..." Ertra words seemed to slow and my heart stopped.
My presence? SUMMONED? By the Queen most likely!? TO SEE THE EGG?! OH NOO!
"Rider Alyson? Are you alright?," Ertra leaned forward worried.
I shook my head and blinked rapidly," Me? Yeah, I'm fine."
"Very well, and since your dragon is already there-..."
"Luna's there!," my eyes widened.
"Yes, she is there, so transportation will be provided for you by a fellow Rider, or you could be escorted by the guards of the castle."
"Where exactly am I going, Ertra," I asked while trying to suppress the fear.
Ertra's brows furrowed in confusion for half a second before she straightened them and smiled," Thrífa Du Kenna is just on the outskirts of Ilirea. It should be a very short journey."
"Thrifa Du Kenna?"
Ertra paused a second before asking, "Miss, are you alright?"
"Yes, Erta," I closed my eyes. Why would they put the egg in the Academy? There are so many dragons and Riders around, so many things could go wrong...
"You should be not be nervous, from what I hear, many Riders excel quickly in their training, even the Earth Riders."
What? Training? "Ertra, do you know why I have been summoned to the Academy?" My heart sped up in excitement, maybe it's not for the egg?
Ertra again looked confused," I am not told the premise of your summons, but Thrifa Du Kenna is not a place of council, it is a place of knowledge."
So I could be just going there for something else... but what? Maybe something for Luna? What if she learned to breath fire! OH! That would be amazing!
"Which transportation would you prefer, Rider Alyson?," Ertra asked again, visibly concerned about my behavior.
"Uhm.. oh yeah. Transportation. What were my options?"
"A fellow dragon rider could give you a ride or the guards of the castle could escort you."
"Uhm, a fellow Rider is fine, thank you, Erta." Flying would be faster.
"Yes," Ertra replied. "I will inform you when they have arrived."
"Thanks, Ertra," I called as she left the room.
I bet Luna is flying circles around the trainers. The trainer lady will be like 'How is she that good?' and I'll be like ' She was just born the best'. And now that she knows how to breathe fire, she has probably the fastest learning dragon they'e ever seen. They'll probably want to study her and want answers to her brilliance. What should I wear to this? I scanned the barren wasteland known as my closet. No, No, God no, not terrible, no, no. How could they have gone to Earth, seen all of our advancements and not decided to update their entire wardrobe!?
I chose a pair of black leggings and a flowy formal periwinkle colored tee shirt. I put on my gray vans and sat a my makeup desk, a lot of the products used on the night of my ball were left for me, but many of them were a mystery. They all looked like face primer or lotion. I chose a small gray tin with purple cream and rubbed some on my hands, arms, and face. It smelled flowery and felt heavy on my skin, but moisturizing. I dug into my own backpack and pulled some concealer to cover some of my redness and newly formed pimples, and finished with some mascara. I didn't look completely atrocious, but I didn't want to put on a full face of makeup just to sweat it off in two seconds. I brushed my wet hair and tried to fluff it up a little so it could dry faster.
After I examined myself and deemed my look presentable, I sat on the couch with my leg bouncy with anxiety. What if this is just a diversion? They could be tricking me? What if I get on the dragon and they take me somewhere else? To that stupid do they care so much! I don't understand why they want they egg to hatch, let alone why they think it could be me to hatch it! I am nowhere near qualified. They should send everyone else and then me, because I bet it would hatch for Collin... or maybe Serena. I can definitely see Serena as the dragon lady. It could be Matthew too, but not Ashley. No way, but better her than me. Oh god, how long are they going to make me sit here and wait!
I pulled my feet up on the couch and stretched out, well there is a way to tell if Luna is safe. I opened up my mind, reaching out through our private link while simultaneously building up my defense.
"Luna?," I waited for a second before calling put again. "Luna? Are you okay?"
Seconds later I felt her warm presence with me and relief washed over me. "Yes, my rider. I am fine. Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm okay. I just wanted to check in with you. See how it's all going."
"As of now, I am sparing with a large dragon named Galvic, he is fierce, fast, and unbeatable. I believe that-..." she was interrupted and I felt a flash of pain.
"Luna! Are you okay! Luna!," I sat up abruptly.
"Yes, he struck me in my moment of weakness."
"Wait, so you're fighting him like right now? While we are talking?"
"Yes," she replied bluntly.
"Oh, am I distracting you?"
"Yes, but it is good. I need to learn how to talk through my link and battle."
"Uhm.. okay. So this Galvic dragon, why are you fighting him?"
"Sparing," she corrected me. "We are sparing to increase strength, speed, agility, and defense."
"I thought you said he was unbeatable?"
"He is which makes him the perfect sparring partner, I can learn his tricks and slowly build a tolerance to pain."
"What if he knocks you out or something!," I stand and begin pacing.
"I have been unconscious many times, my young acorn. I block it from our link to not alert you."
"WHAT! Why!?"
"I did not want you to worry, as I am aware you are doing now," Luna grunts. "YES! I landed a solid blow to his front right leg!"
I sat down again, holding my arms to my stomach to stop it's uneasy. I'm not being called to the Academy because of Luna's exemplary achievements. Why do they want me there?!
"Rider Alyson," Ertra calls from the hallway while knocking. I get up and open the door to see her smiling with a pile of clothes in her hand. "I have your linens back and your escort to Thrífa Du Kenna has arrived."
"Alyson, are you alright?," Luna asks.
"I'm fine, I'll leave you to your battle. Give him hell."
"Oh, I intend to," she says before pulling away from our link.
"Rider Alyson, are you alright?" Deja vu rings in my ears as I turn to face Ertra.
"I'm fine," I say while exiting my room and shutting the door.
"Your escort is out in the main garden," she points down the hall, towards the direction of Matthew's room.
"Thank you Ertra," I smile and head down the hall.
I vaguely remembered how to get outside, with only a few wrong turns I made it outside. After blinking rapidly to adjust to the sun, I saw a large light blue dragon sitting in the grass. Erea?, I asked myself, but without my mind block she heard and turned.
"Rider Alyson, how lovely to see you again," she stood and turned to me completely.
"You're my escort? Where's Quinten?" Oh god, why did they pick Quinten, I haven't seen him since the quest.
"He is went to get a drink of water. We had been waiting for a while, so he believed he could drink and return before you arrived."
"Sorry, I got a little turned around on my way here," I looked to the ground. I bet he told her everything, how terrible it was.
"You need not worry. This castle can be quite a perplexing maze of hallways and I know all to well how easy it is to get lost," she gave a throaty gurgle which I interpreted as a chuckle.
"Hey Erea," I looked up to the massive dragon," Luna tell me you have been very kind to her at the Academy. Thank you for that."
"Luna is quite a ambitious soul, she is so smart and very respectful. I know that we will be dear friends. Ah, there he is," Erea said while sitting up. I turned and saw Quinten walking over to us. He was wearing a green tunic with black boots. I tried to study his face, was he still angry? Was he going to make this awkward... well more awkward than me. "I was worried that you had gotten lost," she said and winked to me.
I let out a small laugh and Quinten looked to Erea and then back at me. "Am I missing something?"
Erea chuckled again," No, you are not missing anything."
"Shall we go," Quinten said with no hints of emotion. Erea is being so nice, but I have no idea what Quinten is doing.
I nodded, fearing my voice and was surprised with Quinten's outstretched hand. I took it and boosted myself onto Erea's back, Quinten followed effortlessly. I admired Erea's beautiful dark brown saddle , which was very comfy and had several compartments for storage. Without warning, Erea starts flapping her wings and takes off from the ground and without thinking, I wrap my arms around Quinten to prevent myself from sliding off. I felt him tense under my grasp, but I couldn't let go while Erea ascended into the sky. I closed my eyes and squeezed my legs to her saddle, Erea was much faster and her flying was not what I was used to. Once I felt her level off, I left go of Quinten and even slid away to give him space. I found the handles on the saddle to grip onto and held them tightly, I found my bearings and got brave enough to peak over the edge to the ground below. We we nearly at the Academy, but my eyes were drawn to Ilirea. I was caught off guard by how stunning the city was, even though I had seen it several time before, it was one of those sights that never gets old.
As Erea slowed down and lowered herself to the ground, I had to close my eyes again, the queasiness in my stomach as too much already. Erea landed smoothly and Quinten jumped off without a hitch whereas I struggled to climb down gracefully. Once I was off, Erea sauntered away towards the school, leaving me alone with Quinten.
Should I say something? Apologize? He deserves it, he has been nothing but kind to me. God, I hate apologies.
"I bet you are wondering why you are here," Quinten said while facing the enormous building. Is he talking to me?
I swallowed the lump in my throat," Do you know why I'm here," I asked in a low voice, scared he knew the answer.
"You're here for the same reason everyone else is here," he said, looking over his shoulder to where I stood. Everyone else? I'm here to... train? "Let's go."