How was your flight?

Zaria’s POV

Move over. He is my dragon, Astrid said, shoving me so hard that my shoulder hit the rough scales of the dragon beside us. I reeled, catching myself against the creature’s massive side. Its golden eyes flicked to me, unbothered, but its presence radiated a quiet power, as if it was sizing me up. Embarrassment burned in my cheeks as Astrid glared. Find another.

Astrid, Malacar said from behind me, Zaria is pairing with him today. I asked him; he is experienced, and she’s human.

She threw me an angry look and moved to another dragon. Malacar walked up to me.

The strength is in the legs. Today’s exercise is to hold on, just with your legs. In real battles, riders have to stay mounted while swinging a weapon or casting spells, and if you lose your grip, you fall. Learning to balance and trust your hold is the first lesson. For now, focus on staying on the dragon.

I took a deep breath and climbed on his lower neck. My arms hugged him as he took flight, and I yelped, excited and scared. As everything else, this also seemed unreal to me. But the feeling was extraordinary.

He roared as he dipped, then his flight kept steady as I released his neck, trying to hold on with my legs.

Thank you, Valerian, I said. Hopefully, he could hear me. His wings turned, and he headed back.

He landed in front of the platform and went down. I turned and touched his face. I watched them fly away, then turned to face Malacar. Everyone else was gone.

How was your flight? he asked with no particular emotion.

It was great, for a human like me, but I still couldn't quite believe it was real. My mind kept grasping for logic as my senses spun, my lungs were full of crisp, dragon-scented air, and my legs still tingled from clinging to Valerian's neck. The memory of wind rushing past, the ground so far away, made me both dizzy and giddy.

Part of me was terrified I might wake up and lose all of this in a blink. Maybe I talk too much, I thought, but for some reason it was easy to speak to Malacar, despite his stern face. I could still feel the echo of a dragon's roar in my chest, and as he took a step closer, my heart throbbed so hard I had to hold my chest to steady myself, uncertain whether it was excitement, fear, or just awe that made me tremble.

Go on, get back to the class, then he turned and left. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Yeah, he was a very hot specimen. I have to admit that my brain kept circling the thoughts of him.

The next class was more of a magic beginner's class; I just watched as an observer. As the dean said, I’m bridging between humans and factions.

Malacar’s POV

I was hoping it was an illusion, but now I have just confirmed it: she makes my old heart beat for the first time in a century. A human? No way, something is different about her. My body is betraying me. For twenty years, I have hidden the demon that lives inside me, a power inherited from a forgotten line, feared and hunted by each of the other factions, a secret I have kept to survive among them. Now, for the first time in decades, he has stirred inside of me.

The war that killed our queen left us as the bottom feeders, and the king in extreme pain. They took advantage of her kindness. She trusted them, was betrayed, and died a warrior on the field.

We all felt the pain. She kept the kingdom flourishing, and the realm was envied. My thoughts go back to Zaria. Her black hair, her dark green eyes, but the innocence and the humble questions tell me she doesn’t know anything.

I feel connected to her, and it shouldn’t have happened if she were human. That thought terrifies me, in more than one way.

Malacar, tomorrow we have the council meeting, you’re in charge.

The dean was a paid warlock, all pompous, full of himself. He doesn’t know my strength, because I never show it. I could squash him before he blinks.

I smiled politely. Of course, sir, you do not have to worry. Then walked away, descended the steps, and walked in the back.

Tell me, I said, staring at him.

I felt something, his head lowered, I want to believe…once more before I turn to dust.

Do not speak of it again, then I left as I sensed a chill running along my back. Walked to the class she was supposed to be in, looked through the window. Her face lit up as she watched them practice spells.

Inside my office, I sat in the chair and covered my face at the knock on the door.

Come in, I said, as I composed myself. Astrid walked inside. She sat across from me and purposely showed her legs. She repulsed me, completely. Desperate and slimy.

" What can I do for you?" I said, pressing the button to start the camera's recording of our conversation. The red button is flickering.

Master Malacar, the human, is giving me a hard time…

It's her first day, and we have to show her we are behaving factually. Not aggressive. Each faction here, dragons, warlocks, fae, and humans, has its own history and longstanding rivalries, but we keep the peace to avoid war. Zaria represents the human faction, here to bridge the gaps between us. If anything, you should lower the bar on aggression.

She stood up, angry. My father funds this school and pays you…

Be careful how you talk to me, Astrid. I’m not your peer. Now, if there is nothing else, leave before you cause more damage.

Astid slammed the door. I pulled the recording and sent it to the dean. He can deal with her. Spoiled rich girl, thinks everything belongs to her.

Walked to the class, the weapons, I have to teach her to fight. Zaria is strong; she doesn’t know it.

Already, let’s start this class. I will pair you today. In purpose, I left her last and paired her with me.

Master Malacar, she said, “I never held a weapon? I don’t even know how to fight.

That’s why I’m here, you’ll learn, let’s start with a stance. Your arm…I walked to her and touched her shoulder. The jolt shocked me. Her eyes grew bigger, but she said nothing. I continued, pretending nothing had happened.

She can’t be human, I thought to myself, “Then what is she?