With some persuading and sweet-talking, I was able to get out of wearing heels for the night. I also demonstrated my lack of coordination and clumsiness when it came to having a few extra inches added to my height, and Eve decided on her own it was better that I not make a fool of myself. It was impractical for a dragon rider to wear heels, and especially a dress that is difficult to move in. At least I managed to get out of wearing one of the two.

As I watched her leave with the heels in hand, I noticed the others around me did not share the same outlook on my success. Some of these men I had no clue who they were, and they sat there, glaring. Instead of turning away and ignoring the fact they were openly displeased, I stared them down in a challenging manner, daring them to say what they were thinking.

One was brave enough to do so. Through the mumbling, I heard what sounded like "special treatment." Here I thought a moment ago I was their mutual. Now, as soon as one small thing inconveniences someone, I am deemed to be receiving so-called special treatment. How wrong I was to think that these people could get along with me for one second of my time being here.

Kayne held onto my arm as he noticed I was about to speak my mind. This simple act caused me to close my mouth, but only for a second. My whole life, I had been raised in a world where a lady does not speak out of turn or did not speak unless spoken to. To not speak her mind, her peace or to defend herself. To sit back and let others around her walk all over her as if her body was a mat where boots were wiped clean before coming into the house. A female was not to disagree with a male, even when they were in the wrong. Heinous.

There will be no more sitting back and watching others talk down to me and expect no retaliation. This world that I grew up in would soon crumble, and I would help it do so, starting with this young male, who was ignorant of his arrogance.

"Enlighten me." The male, whose name I have yet to know, was silent for a moment. He almost looked shocked, like he didn't expect me to continue this conversation.

Kayne's hand gripped my arm tighter. "Navi," He said in a low warning voice.

I ripped my arm away from his grasp. "I'm not talking to you." I was not one easily angered by something so small but seeing as how I was subjected to this my whole life, something in me snapped.

"Go on," I said, looking at the male who thought it best to speak his mind. "Tell me how this one simple thing inconveniences your life so bad where you have to compare my treatment with your own." I waited. But he sat there in bewilderment. "Oh, so now you have nothing to say? Is it because you realize how far-fetched you really are?" Now that I had the floor, I couldn't stop. "Is your ego that broken that you have to comment on the smallest of things to gain some sense of entitlement?" I was speaking so fast I wasn't sure if I was clear or if what I was saying made remotely any sense, but my words were fuelled by my long days of anger and this poor fool was on the receiving end.

"Your opinion is quite frankly invalid if you believe that I, of all the people here, have been receiving any special treatment. It's laughable, really." I could barely take a breath in before I started rambling on again. "Have you ever been rejected by this Academy because of your gender? Deemed useless and unworthy without your dragon? Said to be weak, and because of this, not able to participate in the ongoing war? And threatened if you do participate in the war, you would be separated from your dragon and used only for reproducing?" The emotions from my year-long escapade were all catching up to me as I heatedly let these people see what I have been through.

I have ignored everything that happened to me, focusing on the moment as I was now where I needed to be in becoming a full-fledged dragon rider, but it didn't come without its battles. I fought long and hard to be here, to be recognized as a rider, and still, they see me as nothing more than a female playing around in a man's occupation.

Their silence was all I needed. "I thought not." I stood from my seat, walked a few steps but halted in my tracks. "I am only here to train to be a rider, just as you are. The sooner everyone realizes this, the better off we'll be." As I spoke my peace, I felt the need for air. I needed to get away from people for a moment and be around someone with who I could get along. That someone was my dragon.

The ground was still wet from this morning's rain. The pools of water that had been resting on top of the grass were soaked in, but I could feel the softness of the earth as the dirt gave way slightly underfoot.

Even though there was not a whisper of a breeze whisking through the trees, I felt the wind on my face. "Out on a flight?"

Naxan confirmed my suspicion as he spoke. I watched through his eyes as he easily navigated around the mountains. His night vision was better than a human seeing in the daylight.

"Find Naxan." His words spurred a moment of excitement inside me, but I still hesitated from the last time I had used my powers during the night. The world collapsed on me in darkness, and I succumbed to the noise that lay within it. It was too much to handle, and I couldn't control my powers as it spread across the veiled lands. Something I had associated with a still quietness was actually bustling with far more life than I expected.

Not wanting to go through another spell of a bone-splitting headache, I declined.

Naxan growled. "Need to use power. Experience is knowledge. Learn."

"From my experience, I learned I don't like my powers."

"Weak." I glared at nothing in particular. I am used to Naxan calling me weak for my size, eyesight, and flightless being, but when it came to my powers, the one we shared, I felt determined to show him I was just as capable as him.

So, I concentrated. This kind of focus required my mind to be clear and without distraction. I slowly let my mind open, removing the barrier between me and the darkness. So far, so good. I allowed myself to become accustomed to the chill that seeped through my bones, but really, there was no way to get used to someplace that lacked warmth. It was a different feeling altogether. It was different from the feeling of winter nipping at my skin or getting a sudden trill of goosebumps that raised my flesh. This immense vastness of the cold abyss made me feel as though I would never feel the warmth of the sun again.

My arms clung to my body in an attempt to feel more secure, but it was useless. Instead of dwelling on this feeling and prolonging my stay here, I pushed myself to move forward.

As I crept along the mountains, I felt the minds of the other dragons who dwelled within them. Although they were young in body, their conscience was as old as time and then some. I could sense the deepness of their ancient power trapped in their body. Strong as the mountains that pushed to be taller than the other, as deep as the ocean where light did not seep, as far as the winds carried the clouds of storms, as burning hot as the pits of a volcano. For dragons their size, they felt small in comparison to what was within them.

As I moved past a dragon, one of its green eyes peeked open and stared right through me. I was not there in body, only in mind, but it seemed as though it was looking right at me. It moved to raise its head, causing a rock to fall from its nest and tumble down the rocky mountainside. The noise of something so small felt like an earthquake erupting through my mind. As the rock clattered down through the shadows, my mind erupted with the earsplitting noise.

My conscience snapped back to my body, knocking the breath out of me as I crumpled to the ground. I lay on the wet earth, staring into the night sky. My eyes blinked slowly as I began to lose myself in the abyss that surrounded me. The burning lights in the sky blinked back at me, almost mocking me. They disappeared from sight, almost as though an object was cutting them down from where they rested.

The sky became darker, and I was unsure if the sky was being cut apart or if I was losing my eyesight.

"Navi!" I blinked rapidly as I heard my name called. I sat up from the ground, observing my surroundings.

Alec was kneeling beside me. I wasn't disturbed by the fact I had lost consciousness. It came as no surprise. I was also not displeased I was seeing Alec. I had grown accustomed to meeting him in my dreams. But I had never seen him look this worried before in all the times I had trained with Alec.

"I'm okay. I was testing out my powers." I stood from where I lay, wiping my hands clean of the dirt and grass. "As you can see, I was not successful." My tone was laced with dry humour.

"Never mind that right now," He said with a rushed tone. "We don't have a lot of time." I paused to observe the creased lines embedded into his weathered skin caused by the emotions that poured out of him. I sensed the sour scent of fear, and the shadows swarmed within me. Not because they mirrored the emotion but because they enjoyed it.

I suppressed them as I stared at a disturbed Alec. I was almost sickened by their desire to feed off of his emotions, but a part of me also enjoyed seeing him in this state.

"There's been talk from my resources that the Kellso will be moving an attack on the Academy tonight." I blinked at his words. Straight to the point, no shortcuts. Just like Alec.

"You're sure?"

Alec shook his head. "As I said, there's been talk." He took in a deep breath. "I need you to be extremely alert tonight." His eyes scoured over my attire as if he had missed it. "What are you wearing?"

I looked down to observe the dress as if I didn't know what he was talking about. "There's a ball tonight. There will be many people coming to see the riders, including their parents." I wasn't going to be sarcastic with him right now. He already knew what I was wearing.

Alec stared into the darkness behind me. I focused on his expression, waiting for him to speak.

"They're going to attack when everyone least expects it and are least prepared. Those dirty hellspawns." His angered voice faded to a sigh. "But it's what I would do. It's a smart battle tactic. You have to keep this in mind, Navidean. Even though the footsoldiers are mindless, they are ruled by a master that knows war."

I nodded my head, unsure of what to say.

"Do you have weapons on you?" He asked, eyeing my clothing.

"I have a couple of knives in my boots," I said.

Alec shook his head. "No, Navidean! You need a sword! You must be ready for battle at all times, even in..." He gestured to the dress. "This."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "How am I supposed to carry a sword like this? These people dressed me up like some doll, and I was to parade around where many pairs of eyes will be focused on judging me. I barely got out of wearing heels tonight. How is a sword hanging off my hip supposed to go unnoticed?"

Alec squinted his eyes as he watched me. "Just because it looks like you're unarmed does not mean you are not carrying a weapon. Hide it somewhere on you." As I stood there clenching my fists, I looked down at the dress I was wearing, deciding where I would hide a sword.

"Will your mother be here tonight?" Alec's voice was soft.

I lifted my head to see his eyes clouded with a softness I rarely saw in him. I nodded my head. They should be arriving soon.

"I assume you'll be having a conversation with her." I knew what he was implying. I was unsure if I would or not, but I knew it was best I did.

I nodded my head again.

Alec raised his head as he inhaled a long breath. He held it for a few seconds before releasing the air from his lungs. I could see more emotion slipping into his eyes that were full of longing. He must have missed her throughout all these years. From looking at him, I can see that he loved her at one time.

His eyes met mine with a snap that shook out every emotion and was replaced by his normal hard and determined stare. "Keep a watchful eye. And for the love of all that is sacred, get a damn weapon on you."

I smiled at Alec. "I will."

The world around us began to fade as he gave a curt nod. His facial features softened slightly just before the scenery crumbled.

"Be safe."