Omega's Rebirth

"Woah..." Neveah steered her horse to a stop as they arrived the Raven’s summit.

There, the rider’s academy of the Asvarian Stronghold stood in all it’s glory.

A center of learning where all riders were mandated to receive training till they perfected their riding craft.

Neveah had heard from Davina that the academy was built right after the uprising and every dragon rider since then had been trained at this very academy.

Neveah let her gaze wander for a moment, if asked, Neveah would say it appeared like a fortress than an academy of learning.

What they first rode up to were the massive iron gates that served as entrance to the vast academy.

These gates were barred shut, and Neveah raised a single brow at this.

"I shall take it they were not expecting us?" Neveah asked Lord Rodrick who had also stopped beside her.

"Nothing of the sort, word was sent of your arrival the moment My Liege declared you were to join the ranks of riders." Lord Rodrick assured.

"Yet the gates are barred shut? With not a single guard in sight?" Neveah asked with a raised brow, wondering how she was expected to get in.

"Well, you were meant to arrive at dawn. And most dragon riders arrive with their dragons, hence the gates would not matter." Lord Rodrick replied.

"Hmmm." Neveah hummed, she did not enquire any further as the gates to the rider’s academy came open slightly.

"Hand this note to the rider who receives you." Lord Rodrick said, dismounting his horse and heading over to Neveah to hand her the note.

"My Liege orders to assure you that Lord Menarx will be properly seen to till your return. He also instructs that you are to execute the order given to you." Lord Rodrick relayed.

"I can do that." Neveah murmured in response, glancing down at the note Lord Rodrick gave to her.

"Go on then." Lord Rodrick encouraged.

Neveah nodded and stirred her horse forwards, riding into the academy with a slow trot.

The moment Neveah was through the gates, the gates banged shut all on their own and Neveah glanced back at the gate with a raised brow.

Just as Neveah moved her attention back to stare ahead of her, she sensed a shift in the air and her eyes narrowed.

Neveah leaned to the side just in time as a glinting sharp dagger came whooshing by, right where her head had been.

Neveah lost her balance due to her sudden movement and tumbled off her horse. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Rolling over, Neveah landed in a crouch, lifting a hand to her shoulder which had received the most impact from her fall.

Neveah’s gaze first settled on the dagger that had embedded itself in a pillar behind her and her gaze narrowed slightly as she sucked in a breath to hold down her rage.

"Show yourself... I will not ask twice!" Neveah hissed, her gaze settling on the pillar behind which she knew her attacker was hidden.

Neveah could sense the presence, she had also picked up the scent, but neither was familiar to Neveah.

"You must be Neveah." A voice said as a young woman stepped out from behind the pillar, walking down the path to Neveah.

Her hair was an inky black shade and she was dressed in a rusty brown rider’s suit, with a waist belt that stashed at least ten daggers much like the one she had just hurled at Neveah.

The sound of her boots clicking against the ground and the innocent expression on her face displeased Neveah but Neveah swallowed down her rage.

This was to be her first day in the academy, if only for Menarx’s sake, Neveah did not wish to cause any trouble.

"I am, and you are...?" Neveah asked as she got up to her feet, moving her shoulder around in a circle to ease the discomfort.

The woman did not respond immediately, instead she walked past Neveah to the pillar and retrieved her dagger, storing it away in her belt before she returned her attention to Neveah.

"I was tasked with receiving you. I am the Lady Elina, rider of Lord Rexon of the Second Squadron." The woman introduced proudly.

Now, Neveah had heard King Jian make mention of the twelve squadrons but Neveah knew nothing of their significance or what was to be the rank of a dragon lord on the second squadron.

However, from the prideful tone of this Elina, Neveah could guess the second squadron was likely a high ranked title.

’What does that matter? It is nothing compared to the King’s guard.’ Neveah’s wolf thought to her and Neveah could not disagree.

"Elina..." Neveah began but was cut off.

"Lady Elina." Elina corrected.

Neveah chuckled quietly, tilting her head to the side.

"You addressed me as Neveah, I assumed we were dropping formalities...Elina." Neveah replied blankly.

Elina frowned visibly at Neveah’s words before she gestured at the horse.

"Horses are to be dismounted at the gates. Someone will see to it." Elina relayed.

"Words would have sufficed, if that was your purpose. You might hurt someone throwing those things around." Neveah clarified.

"I do as I please. A dragon rider should be alert at all times, it is not my fault if you are... unqualified." Elina replied with a smirk, placing a hand on her belt.

Neveah raised a single brow, she was not at all surprised by Elina’s words. This was exactly the kind of reception Neveah expected from the rider’s academy.

Neveah shook her head slightly and turned to her horse, nuzzling it affectionately.

"I shall leave you here now." Neveah murmured, running a hand down it’s mane before she stepped away.

"Your thoughts are well noted. If you were sent to receive me, then you do that. Lord Rodrick had me pass on this note." Neveah said, handing the note over to her.

"Lord Rodrick was here?" Elina asked in surprise.

"He was." Neveah replied with a nod.