Ray sat in the quiet library, reading a green book without a title. He muttered, “So, dragons did exist, but over a thousand years ago? What happened to them?” He flipped through the pages and continued reading. “Laizards are just lizards who drank the blood of a dead dragon and turned into what they are today — a lizard as big as a horse, with four eyes.” He scratched his chin and wondered, “What if some other animal drinks a dragon’s blood?”

  His face dropped. “Oh… they just die? That’s…” He sighed and put the book on the floor and stared at the ceiling. I want to see a dragon… What do they even look like?

  As he kept reading, he stumbled upon illustrations of lizard species that changed after drinking the blood or eating the flesh of a dead dragon. “Laizards, they just look like big lizards, nothing different.” He blinked as he saw something. “What’s this? A winged lizard? A wyvern? Woah…” The illustration showed a giant two-legged creature with wings. “How come I’ve never seen one flying around?” He scratched his head.

  “A wyvern is the closest thing to a dragon now.” He muttered as he stood and stretched. “I’m tired, so I’m gonna go sleep.” He made his way through the library, while the few remaining students stayed inside.

  Once outside, he took a deep breath with a smile, which immediately faded when he spotted Mei Zhi approaching him.

  What the hell does she want? Also, what’s her real name, because I’m sure it’s not Vivian.

  Mei Zhi stopped in front of him and said, “Fight me.” Ray frowned and replied, “No?” Mei Zhi smirked and asked, “Why? Are you scared?”

  Ray shrugged his shoulders and said, “Yes, I am.”

  Mei Zhi blinked and stuttered, “I-w-what? Why? Why are you accepting defeat so quickly?”

  “Because I get nothing out of fighting you.” Ray replied, his voice dry. Mei Zhi frowned, clenching her fists as she trembled. She glared at him and said, “What if you get something out of it?” Ray smirked. “You have nothing I want.” Mei Zhi let out a deep breath she didn’t know she was holding. “What if I can get you a sword made from any material you want?”

  “Alright, let’s fight.”

  Back in Teqa, the group followed the merchant inside. The dimly lit doorway led to a hall filled with a variety of goods. People ran back and forth inside, carrying unique items. The merchant came to a halt and turned. “Here you are,” he said, pointing to the room on his right. “If you need anything else, I, Aamir, am right here.”

  Sera and the group entered the room filled with supplies that’ll last them a month out in the wilderness. Jon looked around, his mouth wide open. Aidan and Victor seemed unimpressed. Sera sighed and said, “I don’t think we need this much.” Cassandra nodded. Elaira, kneeling next to an open wooden box, said, “Listen here, what are these clothes?”

  Aamir popped his head inside the room and said, “Oh, right. Those are your uniforms. Take them with you since Maxi forgot to send somebody before the entrance ceremony.”

  The group looked ecstatic as they began rummaging through the boxes. After grabbing her uniform and letting the boys get theirs, Elaira kicked them out, shutting the door behind them. Jon, Aidan and Victor glanced at each other and waited for the girls to come out.

  Stolen story; please report.

  After a while, the door to the room opened, and the girls stepped out, wearing their uniforms. A deep navy blue tunic fit snugly against their forms with a beige undershirt visible at the collars and cuffs. Its crimson trim and golden clasps caught the dim lamplight. Their high leather boots, reaching mid-calf, clicked against the marble floor. A brown belt tugged at their waist, with their respective trousers.

  Aidan immediately turned red as soon as he spotted Cassandra and rushed into the room. Jon rocked his head and muttered, “Think of Vivian, only her.” Elaira and Sera sighed while Cassandra wondered why Jon and Aidan were acting the way they were. Victor grabbed Jon by the collar and dragged him into the room as he still rocked his head. The door shut behind them.

  When Jon, Aidan and Victor came out wearing their uniforms, Sera told them to gather all the supplies necessary along with her. While Cassandra and Elaira brought the boxes with uniforms outside. Cassandra told everyone to wait until they returned to the academy to get their uniforms. The apprentices looked disappointed but agreed, nonetheless. Slowly but surely, they made their way back through the forest path and to the academy.

  As they got closer to the back gate of the academy, cheers and shouts grew louder. Sera and Elaira gave each other a confused look and made their way in, followed by Jon, Aidan and Victor. Cassandra handed the supplies and the boxes with uniforms to the men and women in red-white and rushed in after the group. They spotted a crowd gathered on the ceremony grounds.

  Cassandra asked, “What do you think is happening?” Sera shook her head, and the group made their way through the crowd. Their eyes widened when they saw Ray and Mei Zhi fighting. “What the hell!?” Jon shouted. “Why is he fighting my Viv — her?”

  One apprentice from the crowd said, “They’ve been at it for a while now.” Another added. “Ray hasn’t landed a single blow yet.”

  Mei Zhi lunged at Ray, swinging her foot. He dodged to the side and thrust his sword. She deflected it and punched Ray across the ground. He landed on his feet and took a deep breath. He exhaled and rushed toward her. She said, “That will not work.” She launched a punch at his face. He dodged it, sliding on his knees, and slashed her sleeve.

  He smirked. “You never know.”

  Their exchange went on, Mei Zhi blocked all of Ray’s attacks. She even landed a few blows on him. After a few blows, Ray knelt, his breath shaky. What the hell? Why is she so strong?

  He once again took a deep breath and stood. Focusing solely on her, the world around him faded. The cheers and shouts of apprentices, now as loud as a feather falling on the ground. Except for Mei Zhi, he saw nothing; the surrounding figures vanished. In his eyes, the only world he saw was Mei Zhi, his ears listening to her every move.

  Maximus’ eyes widened when he noticed Ray’s shift in demeanor. Iuna and Brant looked at each other, then back at Ray.

  Mei Zhi once again rushed at him, but this he dodged most of her attacks. He counterattacked, but to no avail; she blocked all his attacks. His frustration grew; his attacks became reckless, but he remained calm.

  He was close, close to something; he could feel it in his bones, his mind. As their fight went on, he halted, the world returning to normal, all the noise and shouts flooding in at once. He fell to his knees, his eyes wide, and blood trickled down his nose.

  Maximus rushed to support him while Iuna and Brant stopped Mei Zhi. She thought to herself. He was on the verge of a breakthrough, so why did he stop?

  Ray fell on his back and sighed. “I lost. I can’t beat you.” She frowned and stood over him. Maximus stared at him for a moment and then asked, “Why did you stop?”

  Ray said with a smile, “If I realize my path now, I won’t be satisfied.” Mei Zhi laughed and said, “Are you an idiot? What kind of reason is that?” Sera and the group rushed to him, but Maximus stopped them, saying, “Talk to him later.”

  Ray replied, “You wouldn’t understand, Vivian.” Maximus sighed and said, “I do, but that was reckless. Go get yourself cleaned up.” And he walked away, leading Sera and the group to discuss tomorrow’s hunting. Mei Zhi shook her head and walked toward the girls’ dormitory. The apprentices followed their teachers, leaving Ray alone, lying on the ground as he stared at the sky.

  His smile faded when he spotted something flying high in the clouds. “Is that…what? Have they always flown around?” He sighed and stood. “I always thought they were just birds.” He squinted his eyes and focused. “Yeah, that is a wyvern.”