Chapter 3:

The inside of the building was just as impressive as the outside. After they cataloged that I had the only other dragon familiar, and spent the next few moments gawking at Nova, they finally let me through the doors, and I stopped in my tracks. I had never seen a building so large. This room alone could have easily fit Nova at her full size with room to spare. Two staircases led up in opposite directions, all carved from the same stone as everything else. It was all so elaborate compared to the little farmhouses I was used to. I honestly don't think I've ever had to climb that many stairs in my whole life, but now I was informed that some of our classes and all of our rooms were up those stairs.

Slowly, I started to move forward once more, following the other students over to where they were handing out temporary uniforms along with a map of the grounds. It was surreal. Making my way up to the table, the two women who worked there quickly took my measurements before looking over Nova and stopping for a long moment. They looked at each other, then back at Nova. "We don't have anything that would match her scales for when you fly. Do you have a preferred color instead?" One of the women asked me, and I just looked at her for a long moment. Was I supposed to match Nova's scales? But everyone on the stage was wearing black. And what was that about flying?

'Tell them to make your armor black, and it's still up for debate whether we will be flying or not. I'm not sure if I can carry you.'

"Black," I told the women before looking at Nova. So you mean to tell me that if you can carry me, that we're going to fly? I asked in pure fear. As cool as that would be, just the idea of it had my stomach churning. What if I fell? 'And why black?'

'Yes, of course I'd fly you, and I wouldn't let you fall. But, black is just in case I can't fly you because then Bane would. He can carry far more than I can, and even with his current rider, he would still be able to carry you as well. Not to mention that he is a far more experienced battle dragon than me, and he's always been better at being able to defend his rider than I can.'

'You can't just assume that just because you're bonded that he's going to just take to me like that.'

'He's offered it to me every time he's been able to carry my rider as well as his own when we're together, and our bond only grows stronger each time we recreate it. Not to mention the little fact that we're both in our true forms right now, making this bond even stronger than the rest. He would do anything for me, and that ends up extending to you as well, considering that if you die, then I do as well. It's the same reason I protect his rider. Although that one looks more than capable of protecting himself.' Her head swiveled towards the door just as one of the women handed me a backpack filled with four sets of our everyday summer uniform, a tight-fitting black undershirt, riding pants, socks, undergarments, bedclothes, and a pair of tall lace-up riding boots. I took the bag from her with a quick thanks before turning and following Nova's gaze. I already knew who she was looking at far before I actually laid eyes on the man, but I still couldn't help but to have to look once more too. 'I have a feeling that the two of you will get along just fine, especially if you keep thinking and looking at him like that.' Nova teased, and I felt my cheeks heat.

'I don't need you calling me out like that.'

'I've never seen you this distracted by a male before.'

'It's not my fault. They don't make them like that in the village. If they had, then I would've been more inclined to look.' I rolled my eyes, but caught sight of that man walking towards me with purpose. Bane was draped over his shoulders, in his smaller form now, much like how Nova was draped around mine, but he took up every single inch of the male's wide shoulders. The tip of his tail flicked back and forth in a lazy pattern all the way down by the man's thigh. Even in his small form, he was huge, and that was saying something considering the man carrying him seemed to get larger with every step he took in my direction. That piercing gaze was on me once more, and it took every single ounce of will I had not to back away from him the closer he got.

The hilts of two swords that were strapped across his back stood up over Bane's tucked wings, and I had to crane my neck to look up at him as he got closer. Granted, I was a little on the smaller side for a human, but I wasn't that small. I was at least a good two inches or more shy of coming up to his shoulders, and the back of my head pressed against Nova's wing just so I could continue to look him in the eye. That gaze felt even sharper now than it had out in the courtyard, and I swallowed hard, trying my damnedest not to run screaming from the pure lethal energy that seemed to roll off him in waves.

"We need to talk." He said in a low tone that had every single nerve in my body standing at attention, considering with the look he was currently giving me, I wasn't sure if he wanted to chuck me off the tallest roof of this castle and just be done with it, or actually have a somewhat civil conversation. Even Nova shifted back away from him slightly as he crossed his well-muscled arms over his wide chest. The man could probably snap me in two if he wanted to.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself before I spoke. "Okay... I'm assuming about them?" I asked, because at least if he was going to chuck me out of some window, I wasn't about to go down as a coward. This was my new beginning, and I was damn well going to start it off right.

"Yes, now let's go." He left zero room for argument as he simply turned on his heel and started walking.

"Aren't I supposed to be figuring out my classes and things? This doesn't seem like a great time to be doing this." I called after him, sending a quick apology to Nova as I slung the bag they had given me over my shoulder and instantly drooped with the weight of it as I practically ran to catch up to him.

"Your class schedule will be in your room, and you can get your room assignment after we're done. You don't have anything else to do today other than wander around to figure out where your classes are, and I really hope you're smart enough not to need an entire afternoon to do that." My mouth fell open for a moment as I tried to think of something to say to that. So much for being civil.

I'm starting to think that pretty to look at is all this one has going for him in that category. Nova said to me, making me smile because I was starting to think she was right.

I'm going to be nice and give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he's just irritated, considering I just walked in and made both our lives a whole hell of a lot more complicated. I told her, and she just laughed at me.

'For your sake, I hope you're right.'

"So, then are you like a teacher or something? I mean, you were standing up there with the officers, but it's not like we were really given much instruction." I asked as he turned a corner and started up a flight of stairs that I hadn't seen when we walked in. How many of these damn torture devices did this place have? I just gawked at his back as he didn't even slow his stride, climbing the stairs like they weren't even there, and leaving me completely behind.

"I'm an assistant for certain classes, not a professor. Which is a good thing, because this would be a whole hell of a lot more difficult if I was." He called down to me as he stopped at the top of the staircase and looked down at me, watching as I struggled up them with obvious annoyance. He crossed his arms over his chest, watching me struggle up a couple more before tipping his head to the ceiling as he leaned back against the railing as if praying for patience. Maybe I should be the one praying for patience with his attitude... The second I got to the top, he led me into what looked like an office, shutting the door behind us before walking over to a huge window and pushing it open. He really was going to just chuck me out a window, wasn't he?

'I don't think this window is for you, Ari.' Nova snickered at me before moving to where she was perched on my shoulder, ready to leave me with this jerk.

'You're not actually going to leave me with him, are you?! What if something happens?'

'I trust Bane's decisions. While his riders aren't always the most friendly of people, they're all brave and honest. I highly doubt that he's actually going to hurt you, despite the rather... prickly... exterior.' With that, she leaped off my shoulder and flew out the window with Bane.