Greetings, Shur'tugalar

Stop it. You are making my scales tingle.

Hmm?, Eragon inclined as Saphira batted her eyelids at him.

You worry too much. This is not your first time…

Yes. But what do I say to them? This is not like the previous years…

No it is not, his dragon agreed but Eragon was lost in his own thoughts for a moment.

Shades and shadow wyrms have appeared out of nowhere, people in Alagaesia mysteriously disappear, one egg was stolen and two were damaged beyond repair, dragon riders appear to be no match for this dark power and finally I might have cast a spell that makes all of you unworthy of being dragon riders.

I think you should start by welcoming them first, his dragon suggested and Eragon shook his head and smiled politely.

He looked at the dragon riders behind him, all twenty six of them and their dragons. Eragon knew each one by name and origin. He knew their stories and their struggles, their dreams and hopes.

For the four new riders in front of him, he knew nothing. Saphira let out a loud roar and he opened his hands widely.

"Atra esterní ono thelduin, Shur'tugalar" he said in the words of the ancient language but realised that none of them would know what he had just said. He switched to the common tongue.

"Welcome, young dragon riders to Dis Atilan"

He then paused and took a few steps forward. The riders regarded him with excitement and respect apart from the human female who seemed cautious. He studied all four of them and the dragons carefully.

The purple dragon was sitting close to the human female but it was obvious they did not share the same closeness that was characteristic of a dragon and its rider.

I think you should examine their minds, Saphira advised.

You are right. Both have very tall boundaries around them though and I don't want to break them without their approval first and especially not in front of everyone here, Eragon said.

Indeed… Just make sure you do it and do it soon because we have to get to the bottom of this. if a dragon egg hatched but the girl isn't the intended rider we have to take certain measures...

Agreed, Eragon replied and went to examine the rest of the riders.

Next to the female rider, was a tall human boy, with dirty blond hair and a grey-blue dragon with silver wings which very much reminded him of Saphira when she had been young. The boy seemed excited but relaxed and he thought he saw himself in him. Maybe that's how he would have behaved at that age if a dragon had hatched for him and he didn't have to worry about the Ra'zac, Galbatorix, the Empire or the Urgals.

But think of all the adventures we had!, Saphira said, lighting his mood and he smiled.

The dwarven boy seemed just that at the moment. A boy, with few patches of facial hair and a bright orange dragon. Last, was the tallest rider of the four, but Eragon could feel himself stalling so he decided to begin his speech.

"It is a great pleasure to see four riders this year. It is true that we expected more dragon riders by now but instead our numbers have been decreasing. It is an honour and a responsibility to be picked as a rider. There are dark times looming ahead and you have to be prepared for whatever may come. This island will become your new home, at least for the next few years and we hope that you think of us, as your new family but without forgetting your heritage. You are going to train to become the best that you can be. This is important if we want to succeed in the fight against the dangers that roam in Alagaesia and protect the people. I strongly suggest you take your studies seriously" Eragon said and briefly saw himself from Saphira's eyes.

I look so responsible and mature.

You are responsible and mature, his dragon replied. He shook his head and continued.

"No racism shall be tolerated. We are all equals here. Sparring, fighting and mind duels are allowed but only when they are part of your training and you are observed by a master or an elder rider "

Eragon quickly introduced the five masters of trainings and the six elder riders. The six elder riders had been riders no more than seven years so he always found it amusing that he called them this. Compared to everyone else, they were indeed elders and the best of the bunch but still it was peculiar to him considering that some were actually younger in years than some of the young riders. The five masters of training had been riders for more than fifteen years and were again the best he could have hoped for. They were good riders indeed but also skilled swordsmen and capable magicians often due to their heritage. Stoic was the son of Theon who was the head of the Kull territory in the East of the dessert and he had been trained from an early age to become the best. There was also Idel, who was an elf and very powerful and skilled with her magic.

And yet, even the best of the best can so easily fall…, Eragon thought remembering the recent events that had occurred, when he had sent some riders to follow the trail of a shadow wyrm.

He sighed turning his attention to his students, fifteen of them so far, nineteen including the new four.

"You will be taken to your race dorms later tonight. Housing this way allows for different race needs to be fulfilled. There are dragon spaces in each dorm as well as an individual structure just for dragons. You will report to the head of your race dorm every morning so that training can commence. You will have different lessons and timetables. Sometimes you will train with your dragons, sometimes not. Once a week there will be a meeting to discuss progress and the matters in Alagaesia to which you have to attend to. Of course you shall have hours for recreation and island exploration if you wish, but please stay near the periphery of the island for both our safety and yours. If you wish to return to Alagaesia you will have to speak to one of the elder riders for permission. Dis Atilan is quite far away …" he continued but Saphira interrupted him.

Eragon saw the perplexed expression of the four riders and smiled.

"You might be confused by the term Dis Atilan. It is the name of this island and in the ancient language it means island of the ocean. Brasungr is another name for it but as you already know names have power, so we prefer giving it an alternative one, in case one wants to use it for his own needs", he explained and then paused once again.

Am I being too serious?

One can never be too serious. Especially when dealing with teenage riders and young dragons. You know how they can get. It's due to their excessive hormone production, I believe, his giant, sapphire dragon said.

Eragon contained a chuckle and went to continue but then the dwarf boy raised his arm in the air and the elder rider nodded, giving him permission to speak.

"Can we see and talk to our family? We are quite far away from them…" he said and looked on the ground.

"Of course you can but that depends solely on you. As Idel will teach you, there are words you can say in the Ancient Language that will allow you to converse with your family and see them" Eragon said pointing at the female elven rider on his right. "It is up to you to make the spell work"

"You will be introduced to the rest of the riders, masters and elders in due time but for now I suggest that you head to your dorms with your dragons and rest. Tomorrow we can have a tour of the island. For now follow your dorm masters and settle in"

The four dorm masters, elf, human, dwarf and urgal, walked forward and Saphira blinked.

There are two humans and one dwarf. I do not know to which race the last rider belongs to.

I shall speak to him.

His gaze moved to the tallest rider, who had an elven built but broader shoulders and goat horns above his ears. His dragon was a massive creature, quite big even for his age and his colour was black apart from a few golden highlights here and there. The rider's expression was serious and comprised but Eragon felt there was something he was hiding and his alien appearance left much room for guesses. He nudged slightly the rider's consciousness and he wasn't surprised to find tall boundaries.

Eka aí fricai un Shur'tugal. I am a rider and a friend., he said in the young man's mind. He didn't try to disperse the boundaries but waited until the rider did so himself. Eragon wasn't sure if the other rider understood the ancient language but then he felt the boundaries lowering.

It is an honour to speak with you, Shadeslayer, the young rider said. Eragon nodded.

This is a delicate matter but I would rather have your opinion before any decisions are made. Which dorm would you like to be placed in?

The young rider seemed thoughtful.

I was raised in a human community so I know their ways better.

So it shall be then, Eragon said and turned his attention to the remaining riders, retreating from Laer's – he now knew the name – mind.

"Atra esterní ono thelduin. Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr. Un du evarínya ono varda. May good fortune rule over you. Peace live in your heart. And the stars watch over you!" he shouted loudly, smiled and jumped on Saphira. The elder riders and masters jumped on their dragons, following his lead. For a moment the riders said some words in the ancient language and momentarily sparks and fire illuminated the sky, turning night into day as he flew towards the base of the island. He could feel the gaze of the four new riders on his back and he let out a loud breath that only Saphira felt.

Four more lives I am responsible for. If something goes awry it shall be on me.

A/N: Happy September everyone! A month has passed since I started writing this fanfic and I have had more than 4000 views and more than 1000 visitors! Thanks to everyone for your reviews, interest and support :)!