The decision was final. I followed Ahren blindly out of the office and through the corridors toward a room where I would spend the night before leaving in the morning. Though I held back tears, my emotions clamored for release.

We ascended a staircase, barely noticing the floating lanterns around us. I glanced at them, briefly curious about their presence.

Ahren caught my look and turned to me. "Riders aren't the only ones here; we also have witches. They primarily assist with medical needs but have other roles too," he explained, gesturing toward the floating lights.

We continued ascending, easily passing the initial levels. By then, my eyes had adjusted to the dim light, revealing that most floors looked similar.

At the top, we reached a square room furnished with a few couches and a fireplace, books scattered throughout. Large hallways filled with closed doors flanked either side, and a balcony faced the staircase.

"This area is dedicated to the living quarters of the school," he said, turning toward the hallway on the right. "You'll also find the cafeteria, library, ballroom, and classrooms..." His voice trailed off, and I could see a hint of discomfort on his face. Even though he had likely rehearsed this, it felt irrelevant as I wouldn't be around to experience any of it. He paused at a door, unlocked it, and pushed it open. "There's a morning bell to wake you," Ahren said with a somber tone, shifting awkwardly on his feet. "I'll come to get you in the morning, and then we'll head to your village." I nodded as he offered me one last smile before leaving. Once I shut my door and settled onto my bed, I pondered his words, grappling with my frustration about being female. I felt weaker simply because my body was different. Whether I could remain here was contingent on my identity alone. More than anything, I yearned to be male to freely pursue my desires without harsh judgment. If I were a boy, no one would question training me to be a rider. My stomach growled in response to my mix of hunger and annoyance, and I sensed a bad mood brewing. I knew there was a cafeteria somewhere in this building; where there was a cafeteria, there had to be a kitchen stocked with food. Surely, it wouldn't hurt to snag a piece of bread to quell my hunger. The mere thought of food made my stomach twist and grumble impatiently. Resolute, I left my bed and grabbed my cloak for warmth. The building was chilly, and covering myself up wouldn't seem out of place. As I tiptoed down the stairs, I savored the way the carpet silenced my footsteps. My cloak billowed behind me like silent wings, merging into the shadows. As I descended further, a muffled buzz reached my ears. I slowed my pace, scanning for others nearby. By the time I reached the bottom, I noticed no one around, yet the voices continued to hum with excitement in the air, beckoning me closer. When I peeked through the open archway, I found the cafeteria bustling with males eagerly waiting for their meals. Realizing I should probably avoid the crowd, I stepped back from the lively scene and headed toward what I guessed was the kitchen, hoping to be more discreet and escape the throngs.

Upon finding the set of doors I believed to lead into the kitchen, I opened them. I smiled in triumph once I realized I was right. A giant brick oven in the middle of the kitchen was the first thing I saw. It burned bright and had multiple cauldrons held up by hooks. Hearty scents filled the air that had my mouth watering with want. I quickly rummaged through a couple of cupboards for a bowl and spoon so I could take some of the stew for myself. Loading my bowl up with the thick beefy stew and dumplings, I quickly got to work on eating its contents.

I nearly made a noise of enjoyment, but it got caught in my throat when I heard someone clear their throat behind me. My spoon was held mid-air, and a couple of pieces splashed back into my bowl. I swallowed my food and turned to see who had caught me sneaking around.

A large man with a big belly wearing a white apron full of various stains stood in another doorway opposite the doors I had entered.

"Uhh..." Was all I could muster.

"And what do you think you're doing?" He said as he placed an empty cauldron beside what looked like a washing section.

I held up the bowl of food as evidence. "I was hungry."

The man hummed and walked around the fire to grab another cauldron. He exited the kitchen without another word. I stood there for a second to process it but continued eating anyway.

He returned quickly, this time holding something wrapped up in a towel in his hand. He came toward me and gestured for my free hand. I extended it warily and watched as he placed the covered item into my hand.

"Those boys are vultures. Now, at least you'll get some dessert." He smiled, and the wrinkles around his eyes became more prominent.

Opening the towel, I stared at a sweet-looking piece of bread with confusion. "What is it?"

"You've never had a cinnamon bun before?" He asked as he made his way to where a pile of dirty dishes was.

I shook my head but realized he couldn't see me. "No," I replied. "I'm from a small village."

"I thought your accent sounded familiar. Acrine?" His hands got to work on scrubbing at the dishes.

I chuckled. If anyone had an accent, it was him. "Yes." Finishing my bowl of stew, I got to work on devouring the sweet cinnamon bun the man had given me. "This is delicious!" I exclaimed. He laughed while shaking his head but didn't turn away from the dirtying water. "Thank you," I said softly.

Instead of leaving, I repaid the man's kindness by helping him wash and dry the dishes. We spoke of where he was from and how he learned to cook and bake. His family owned The Golden Monkey Inn in Lancaster, where his mom and dad both taught him how to cook and bake. He seemed like a gentle soul, and it was easy to talk to him.

Tanix, which I learned his name to be, turned my mood around just by being hospitable. But once we departed and I made my way back up to where my bed was, my mood turned sour once more. Tomorrow, when I awoke, I would not be trained here as a dragon rider. Instead, I was to leave this place and return home to my family. I would be an embarrassment.

I shook my head and started packing my belongings. If those fools didn't want to keep me, then fine. I would do this on my own. My breathing felt rapid as I slung my bag over my shoulder. A cold sheen of sweat was coating the pale skin of my hands. Wiping my hands onto my pants, I quickly opened the creaky door, hoping that by the fast pace I had moved it, it wouldn't send shrill cries of protest. Learning from past experiences, I had easily acquired a few tricks in getting things quietly, even if there were squeaky hinges.

I had studied this room from top to bottom when I first came here. Even with the short time I had spent within the Headmaster's office, I managed to obtain enough details of these walls to remember exactly where everything was placed. And I came here in search of one thing in particular—a map of the lands that spread across charted waters.

Ripping the map down from the wall, I rolled it up and put it in my satchel with the rest of my supplies. I walked swiftly out of the room, following along the walls of the building at a brisk pace. My goal was to go to the stables without anyone noticing, and I hoped no one was awake at this hour.

But, of course, nothing goes according to plan in my world. I heard voices before I saw anything. I peeked around a wall and saw two people whispering closely together. They were in a small nook in the wall that supported a couple of couches and chairs. I heard nothing of what they were saying; they were talking too quietly. I waited until they stopped talking. I didn't want to make a sound. I had to get out of here without being noticed. I needed a head start in case they decided they would track me down upon seeing that I was no longer here when they came to get me in the morning.

"We'll wait a bit longer."

"I'm uncertain," the other responded. "Should we proceed when so many witnessed her? They might inquire."

I heard a soft shuffle and a scoff. "She's just like the rest of them."

"But not this many people saw those girls. No one even knows they exist." A deep sigh escaped. "I'm really not convinced this is wise anymore."

My heart raced. If they were discussing me, I was relieved to have decided to leave as quickly as possible. My gaze remained fixed on the two individuals in the dark corner. I worried that even a blink might alert them.

"We're going ahead with it," a decisive voice declared from the shadows.

Fortunately, they walked away from my position. I watched as they ascended the staircase towards the bedchambers, eventually disappearing into the darkness. I exhaled shakily, grappling with the reality of what I had just witnessed. Were they planning to kidnap me? Did the council lie when they promised to return me home?

Steeling my nerves, I moved swiftly along my path, exiting the building toward the stables. I hoped never to return to this place, laden with secrets and lies.

The moon hung high, its white glow still bright despite missing part of its surface.

I found Angus at the far end of the stable and fed each horse a sugar cube to soothe their nerves. "Hey, boy," I whispered, offering the last of my sugar cubes to Angus. He nickered and nudged my hand affectionately.

Saddling a horse in the dark proved challenging, but I finally secured everything. Leading him through the back, we emerged into the open pasture. As I quietly clicked the gate shut, I heard a cough behind me. My heart raced in fear. Slowly turning, I found Henry standing with his arms crossed and an equally stern expression.

"Hiya, Henry," I chuckled nervously, adjusting my satchel. "I hope you don't mind me borrowing Angus again. He's the only horse I'm familiar with."

Henry uncrossed his arms and approached me. Bracing for the worst, I squinted, turning my face away from his impending reprimand. When I felt a hand on my shoulder, I turned to meet his gaze.

"Yer wise not to stay the night. You wouldn't survive until morning if ye did."

Seeing my expression, Henry softened. "Yer not the first woman to come here. In my time, I've seen several enter that building, and none returned." He shook his head. "Best be off, lass. The sun'll be rising soon. I hope ye know what ye're doing." With a final pat, he retreated toward the stables. "And take care of Angus. He's a good horse. It would be a shame to lose 'im."

Nodding, I mounted the large Dwalsh-bred horse and urged him toward the school's front gate. I didn't look back as the school faded from view; the urgency to escape consumed me. I needed to get away quickly.

I nudged Angus to increase his speed, eager to distance myself from the school. Angus heeded my command and broke into a speed significantly faster than a regular gallop. I learned about this gait the hard way when we dashed down an open road at breakneck speed. I had been overly enthusiastic, pushing him to go faster, and was both shocked and amazed at this newfound velocity.

This Dwalsh breed boasts a slightly convex facial profile, a broad forehead, and a muscular frame. His thick coat, dappled with red, grey, and brown flecks, was perfect for the cold weather, featuring a large white star marking on his forehead. These horses are bred for survival in mountainous cold and can maintain high speeds despite their weight, originating from the Dwalsh prairies, where wild horses roam freely.

It felt like I was flying. The ride was smooth, allowing us to reach our destination in half the time a typical horse would take.

As Angus raced down the open road, his hooves produced a soothing thrumming sound. The fresh scents of the forests filled my lungs, and adrenaline surged through my body. I refused to let stubborn fools blinded by pride impede my quest to alter this world's fate.