"Oh, it's a race? On flying beasts with the strength to rip a fully grown man in half. Yeah, no thanks I'm sitting this one out." Torren exclaimed as he watched his classmates open their treasures.
His Captain reassured him that he could rest during this round. Already having the perfect participants in mind, he made his choice for Vaceris, Tersia and Sergei.
Ketsu was worn out and so was Vaceris and Erai. With Torren's aversion to the beasts, he opted for Shynerai and himself to assist their team. Before finally deciding to put down Torren and Erai as the reserves according to the rules of the race.
"Gold, Silver, Black, Jade, Sapphire and Ruby colored reins found in your treasures will indicate which of the beasts you will be mounting for the race. You will have ten minutes to rein in and mount them. I'll leave the rest to you." Ms. Yuria called out as the students fumbled about with the harnesses.
Before a booming roar had their attention, raining down from the skies as a large shadow was cast over the group with the winds picking up while it drew in closer. When the beast crashed down nearby, kicking up a cloud of dust that obscured it.
"Taro, there's no need to frighten the children." Ms. Yuria yelled at the figure that descended from the beast.
"The old girl has been itching to stretch her wings after waiting for them to heal. Though I should have tried to calm her down first. So Yuri, are these kids ready?" The figure was seen petting the feline beast, running his gloved hand across the silver wings before running his fingers through its mane, rubbing the exuberant creature's head that had it bellowing in deep rhythmic rumbles.
"Everyone, please welcome the Beastmaster of Aria, and the one in charge of the Ryokin Stables, Mammon Taro."
"Nice to meet you. With all of you bearing your reins, I guess that means Yuri has already clued you in. So I do hope you take care of them, Ryokins are very intuitive beasts, often they mirror their riders spirit. So treat them kindly and they'll remain loyal to the end of their days."
"Don't and you'll have the rest of your life to regret it." The burly man spoke with a clear voice that seemed out of place coming from a man of his stature.
"If you head up this hill, you'll find my stables. The doors to the stables are colored so all you need to do is head to the one matching yours reins, and get saddled."
"Excuse me, sir. But what are these things? You can't just expect us to just walk into the nest of some beasts and expect to tame them without any sort of preparation." Patrulea asked the excited figure.
"Hmm, alright. I see no harm in sharing a little insight. I've been raising a few breeds, each of them unique and at times troublesome."
Ryokins are beasts that were originally native to the Unconquered Lands of Lynheare.
Though this is the commonly accepted understanding, it is not the whole truth, for the species of beast known as Ryokin was actually bred into existence by the people of Khrematt, having learnt from the Danu.
Average Length: 5–5.6 meters (16'4–18'4 feet).
Average Height: 5'11 feet at the shoulders and 16–18 feet when standing on their hind legs.
Weight: 3000–4,400 pounds (1400–2,000 kg).
The original species were of wild chimera that took refuge in the Unconquered Lands. When the Danu encountered them, they initially tried to live in harmony with them, but the creature's violent nature made them a natural predator to the indifferent faefolk.
To deal with the growing and dangerous scourge, they sought to eliminate the threat by making them more intelligent and cooperative. Selectively permitting certain chimera lineages to produce offspring, left them completely altered after generations of careful breeding.
"Chimera, sir? First the Hydra and those beasts lurking in the lake, now this?" The students' frustrations turned to swallowed murmurs after Ms. Yuria warning.
"That's right. Ryokin is the name they've been called by since people first started riding them, though it wouldn't be wrong to think of them as a selectively bred species of Chimera."
"Now pay attention. What I have to say next might be the difference between whether or not you get to finish this round of the Carnival with your face intact. In all my years of running my stables, there's always, without fail, a few individuals that need to learn the hard way how much these beauties enjoy soft tissue."
Ignoring the feeling of dread he just let loose all over them, Mammon continued with his explanation. Highlighting the breeds of Ryokin that they would meet:
Denulli: Black reins. No riders.
Are more than likely the hardest breed of Ryokin to tame by virtue of the difficulty of trying to capture one. They are also the most intelligent and tend to dwell in cave-bound communities of other Denulli.
They scarcely interact with humans, though they aren't above co-operating with them to protect their young in exchange for hunting alongside them. They are a flightless variant, and are capable of easily outpacing their prey on land.
Garan'hir: Sapphire reins.
Coastal dwelling Ryokin, preferring to fish for their prey by diving from the sky at high speeds and using the strong winds they create to blow their prey out of the way. While they can be quite stoic, they value nothing more than a rider with a free spirit, they are the ones that enjoy being in the skies alongside their rider the most, and are incapable of stagnation.
Rav'wyn: Silver and Gold reins.
Settlement dwelling Ryokin, with excellent social skills and strong, stout frames, are a welcome sight for any small town or city, choosing to nest near civilization, they are the most cooperative with humans. Choosing to consume the carnivorous feed provided to them by their masters.
N'daran: Ruby reins.
Crimson solitary Ryokin, are by and large the most vicious and most like their chimeric ancestors. Their most notable trait being their independence, they are known for taking on nomads and isolationists for riders, preferring their strength of will.
They are also the most like their riders, having a keen understanding of each other's feelings and thoughts, they are of one mind once bonded. Known to have a single living rider at a time.
A'cieo: Black reins. No riders
Can be instantly spotted by their shimmering silver colored pelts and gleaming golden eyes. A unique trait this creature possesses is the ability to daze and incapacitate using flashes of bright light generated by its horns.
The light reflects off their coats and incandescent manes, creating pulses of intense light, they use to hunt in the dark. They take refuge in the mountains of Krehmatt, and are one of the flightless variants of the beast.
Norue: Jade reins.
Are unique in that they are the only variant of Ryokin known to be mounted exclusively by female riders. Their generally docile and malaise attitude turns stern and alert around males of any species.
They have an omnivorous diet and opt to live in dense jungles. Because of their chosen habitat, they are fast fliers but aren't suited for long distance air travel.
"Alright you lot, we don't have all day, hop to it. You'll have till sunset to reach the Arena back at the Academy or you're all disqualified." Reiss stepped up and dispelled the children's excitement within his own warning.
Noting his cruel grin, the students were quick to move up the hill, rushing towards the stables as they held their tongues, holding back whatever they wished to say in the presence of the maniacal educator.
"We should get going too." The rest of Class 1F chased after their team, leaving the teachers to themselves.
"I see you're as unbearable as always, Long ears." Taro called to Reiss as he watched the students.
"From your scent alone, I can tell you're still in the business of shoveling bird shit. Ever wonder why Yuria refuses to visit you?" Responding to him while they both shared a ridiculous smile. The heavily scarred figure walked over to Reiss with a stride that quaked the earth slightly with each step.
With the very same person watching on as the quarreling pair began laughing with them sharing a hug. Taro lifted Reiss' comparatively meager frame in the process before placing him down with surprisingly grace.
"Ugh, where's Dr. Arturion when I need him? He seems like the only one that can reel you in. And Taro, you shouldn't be encouraging him. He's enough as is."
"Oh, he's not that bad. probably a few marbles short but he's okay." Mocking Reiss with a pat on his back, only to miss him as the elf stepped over to the resting Ryokin, caught by the beauty of its silver wings.
"When he gets entranced by things of beauty, the grace he demonstrates will almost have you forgetting the kind of unfiltered nonsense that the mouth of his spews." Ms. Yuria let her musings slip causing Taro to chuckle as they joined him near the beast.
"Reiss, if you don't mind, could you handle the projection? I need to make sure those kids don't do anything stupid." Reiss would pet the beast a final time before he began casting his flame sigils.
As the students reached the first opening at the base of the Bloodsong mountain, a familiar voice yelled at the group as it rushed it.
"Get out of the way, can you not see that you are in the presence of Princess Charlotte–"
"Agh no one cares. If you're behind then just pick up the pace." Torren responded with a frustrated tone, before Stephen pushed him along.
"Why you–"
"That's enough, Raon, just focus on the task at hand or you'll only serve to burden Charlotte." Vauntuss quieted the rowdy figure.
"Vauntuss, as a knight you should understand the respect that should be had for those of royalty and nobility. For the common folk to disregard that fact is a symptom of the failure of society. And it's one I won't allow to–"
"That's enough, you heard what he said. We need to continue or we'll get left behind." Princess Charlotte said, walking past them as the rest of her class joined. Torren and Raon would lock each other's fierce gaze before members of their own group urged them on their way.
Rejoining the rest of the class in the stables, the first thing to greet them was the scent. Despite the large cave openings allowing for the occasional breeze to vent through stables, the leonine spray permeated throughout, forcing Vaceris to react by summoning a constant yet gentle breeze to ventilate the space.
One of the largest openings led out onto a cliff's edge from which they could see a few silvery winged cubs soaring in the skies.
Though from the very same opening, Alleiyna noted the setting sun and so she pushed the rest of her class to get started while she stood beside the Golden doors of the Rav'wyn Ryokin, calling for them to get ready.
Being the first group to take off, Class 1B had Lain Gregorias, Altia Cruelhest and Rydriff Royce, leaping off the cliff with the roaring beasts ascending past the clouds
"What, someone already left?"
"Then we should head into the skies, or we'll lose ground." Iris added as she motioned for her classmate to fasten the reins on her patient mount.
Following soon after into the skies, Class 1A sent out Edros Jaeger, Heimrill Trosck and Rhea Morlei, all of whom came bursting of the Ruby doors of the N'daran Ryokin, with their mounts causing a rumble from the gust of wind that whipped from the wings and into the stables.
"Racing against something like that doesn't seem very fair. I really hope we didn't get the duds." Torren commented as he helped Terisia onto her mount.
Getting ready in the Jade stables, Torren had been extra cautious around the beast, fearing every inch his hands neared the maw of the creature....who surprisingly seemed at ease with its passenger, as Tersia waited patiently for Torren to finish.
"Why...why is it so uncooperative?"
"If you stop squirming then maybe you'd finish sooner, it's not going to bite, are you?" Scratching its chin to bring its attention to her, granting him a moment to fasten the harness before he jumped through the doors just as it tried to clamp its jaws.
"Wow, they really aren't interested in males." Shynerai exclaimed after watching Torren dusting himself off before walked over to him.
"This is why I'm staying on the ground. " Yelling at the beast before they joined Ketsu who was waiting outside the stables, watching as more and more of the students took off and soared beyond the cloudy veil.
"Are Sergei and Vaceris ready to go.?"
"Sergei already left, were waiting for Vaceris and Tersia to take off, I think Shynerai was still helping her?"
"So where are they headed?" Torren asked as he watched the last of Class 1C taking off and heading into the amber skies.
"The Resonant falls it would seem. I don't think we'll be able to join them up there so we'll just meet them at their next stop, preferably one in Deep City." Ketsu wondered as he called on Torren to follow.
"Hold on!" Shynerai called out.
"Not sure why her Ryokin was so pissy whenever I got close. I thought they were supposed to be the docile ones."
"If you're not a man, otherwise they very quickly turn fierce and territorial, it was probably protecting her. But that doesn't matter, the race has already begun and right now we need to move out." Ketsu gathered them both before they rushed towards one of the checkpoints of the race: Halcyon Square within Deep City.
With the students spreading out of the city, their teachers began to monitor the race.
"Paimon, reveal all there is above and below the clouds. Vineas, leave no sight beyond our gaze or reach." Reiss said, forming blue-coloured flames that wound around each other to form unfamiliar sigils.
The constructs floated around him before they sat above his head in a bind reminiscent of an Infernal Crown. Replacing the crimson shine of the elf's noteworthy eyes with a deep azure hue radiating towards Taro and Yuria.
The deep-coloured light formed hard-light architecture and geography were indistinct from the very lands they stood on. Quickly taking shape the luminous model of the City formed with brighter flames bursting forth one after the other.
"It would seem that they have already reached the first checkpoint. One class has begun making its way towards High City."
"The model is nice and all but how about we get a closer look at the action." Taro bellowed as he scoffed at Reiss's display.
"Calm yourself, it's much harder to follow all of them especially when they're so spread out. Once they return to Deep City, we will have a better view. For now, we may look upon the first exchange."
"So they are all in the skies now. Can you pull up the roster of the participants?" Ms. Yuria asked as she watched the display.
Ryokin Race through Aria: Checkpoint 1 - High City, Songspires
Position 1# Class 1B: Rydriff Royce, Lain Gregorias, Altia Cruelhest.
Position 2# Class 1A: Edros Jaeger, Natali Blake, Rhea Morlei.
Position 3# Class 1D: Castle Audrake, Nero Archlight, Straea Lumiere.
Position 4# Class 1E: Ash Kord, Klyf Hendricks, Lyon Stadt.
Position 5# Class 1F: Stephen Markholdz, Vaceris Ieollavard Astembridge, Tersia Lamiastell.
Position 6# Class 1C: Selesete Fairosee, Aya Schultz, Edie Les.
Class 1A had fallen to the wayside in pursuit of the first checkpoint, while Class 1B remained in the lead. Noting the widening gap between their classes, Raon wondered when they should act since all they had done was sit and watch them race towards the Falls.
Receiving no response from Vauntuss who sat on the reserves, the nobleman took matters into his own hands. Focusing intently on the approaching Class 1B, Raon readied himself near the very same banks of the Lake…before he called upon his magic once again.
"Pneuma." The activation of his magic felt akin to a warm breeze that brought upon a sense of fatigue that filled the region in a growing sphere.
Passing through the bubble of influence, the speedy trio of Class 1B were almost thrown off their mounts as the beasts lost their bearings for a moment, but long enough for them to skirt the surface of the lake before heading upwards.
Princess Charlotte was poised to scold him for acting out of turn but his actions worked to their classes favor, leaving her to stay her rage, all the while Vauntuss focused on the approaching group that followed not too far...seeing how fast they were pushing to catch-up, Vauntuss' eyes widened before he called out to the grinning Roan,
"Turn it off, hurry before they get here..." Ordering him to focus on his spell, but his words were caught too late, as the riders of Class 1A passed over them, through the Pneuma spell and before they too began to tumble into the Lake.
Group after group those that passed over the Lake tumbled downwards with the only two classes managing to reel themselves from danger being Class 1B that had enough time to recover before soaring upwards.
The second class was 1D who at the order of their Class Captain, Patrulea were told to push on...even though they noted the terrifying sight of the other riders falling out of the skies, none felt willing to disobey her order.
Passing over the sphere of influence but much to the surprise of the scattering students below, the Ryokin pushed on, heading over the Lake before turning upwards with a boom from the silvered wings raining down on the crowd as they ascended with no visible ache.
"So there was a reason behind your request?" Ketsu's voice accompanied his late appearance to the banks of the Tuning Lake.
Speaking to Patrulea who noticed him but refused to look him in the eye...that is until she spotted Shynerai and Torren following.
"You...Shynerai."
Shynerai stepped forward after she called his name being the first time he met her, the young man extended his hand.
"Nice to meet you, your name is..."
Pausing for a moment as she glanced up and down him before she responded,
"My name is Patrulea Lu-card. Best you remember it, because soon...you'll belong to me." After making her odd statement, she turned away before calling to her class to move out.
"We need to head to the next stop after they pass the Songspires, we'll await them at Halcyon Square." Before moving on, Ketsu asked her a question, with a look of interest.
"...Belong to you, but...I don't even know you?" Shynerai wondered as she continued to focus on her class
"Not sure why you would ignore me, but my guess is, you knew that your team's Ryokin could handle Raon's spell?" Said Ketsu.
"And your point is?"
"No point, I just needed to confirm my suspicions. I find you can learn a lot from watching how others respond to a situation. Let us hope there is more for me to learn by studying you." Ketsu ended his chat as he called on Sergei to get them back in the air.
Halting their crash into the Lake, Vaceris used her Wind magic to slow their descent into a rising stream that Stephen summoned to soften their fall.
As each of them shook the water out of their ears after the impact, they looked around to see if they were all okay.
"Whatever that thing was, most of the classes ended up getting hit by it." Terisa responded as they watched the other students surface from out of the water.
"Stephen, Vaceris, Tersia. Sit tight, I'll get you out of there."
Being enveloped by a pearlescent aura, Sergei stepped away from his group before stopping as his feet met the waters on the edge. Waiting for a moment before the ground around him cratered, with water began flowing into it but never reaching him, instead running moving around him.
"Is he gonna be okay, shouldn't we be doing something–"
"Hold on, Torren. We don't want to get in his way. Just look." Ketsu pointed at his companions in the water.
The group was floating on the water, as they pulled themselves together from the hit they took, when suddenly...their mounts began acting erratic, roaring and snapping at random.
Confused, their riders tried to address their distress....but before they could calm them, Stephen noted he had lost control of the water
"I...don't know what's going on, but I'm not in control...the water won't listen to me."
Expecting that they would need to head into the skies, the riders tried to call their beasts to order, but no matter how much they tugged at the reins, the beasts remained in a panic.
"Crap...we're...moving?" Stephen muttered as he was almost thrown off the creature.
"Steady there, Sergei...we don't want to drop them." Ketsu called to his friend, who nodded while he remained focused on his task.
While Princess Charlotte chastised Raon for his stunt, Vauntuss told them to focus as he moved towards the edge of the banks to watch the spectacle that gathered the attention of the crowd.
"There we go." Sergei murmured, just as Vauntuss reached the front of the crowd.
The shimmering aura that glowed around him appeared over the Lake in the form of an ornate seal, radiating its glow over a spot.
With the appearance of a shimmering glow showering them, Class 1A found that their beasts had fallen into a calm...while strangely, they began rising out of the water.
"Sergei, I hope to FAE that this is your doing. I think I've had enough of mysterious forces bothering us." Vaceris said.
"Do not worry, I'll make sure you get to High City?" he said with a worn tone.
"Herce, I don't intend to allow them any advantage over us." Vauntuss expressed, with the azure glow illuminating his eyes.
"You'll have to wait, Strum." Ren appeared out of nowhere, before tapping on his shoulder and walking towards the water.
Leaping into the Lake, the boy vanished for a moment before appearing in the banks with all the riders of Class 1B.
"I'm not gonna be able to get you all to the next checkpoint. Alleiyna wouldn't let it go if I was too tired for the coming round." Ren expressed with a smile as his classmates thanked him for his save.
"We will do our best, so just sit tight." The riders smiled before they took off.
"Hmph." An uncharacteristic grin streaked across Vauntuss' face.
"Do you think this is funny...ugh, they have taken the lead...again." Raon joined him, as he nursed a bruise from the Princess.
"Not at all. I'm simply excited to see that our opponents are so strong. Facing them will only serve to show us new heights. Only a strong foe can truly test what we are capable of and for that, I cannot allow us to fall behind."
"You say that like they can compare, Erie." Princess Charlotte added as she waited behind him.
Vauntuss lit up the lake for a moment, as the azure surged out of him before blasting across the Lake with a sudden chill.
The feat of magic froze the waters of the Resonant Falls and formed a massive tower of ice that pierced that cloudy veil. calling to one of his classmates to blast the pillar with their fire magic.
"You always seem to steal the show, Vaunt. At times it makes the rest of the knights look bad." Heimrill stood beside him before kneeling as his hands reached towards the water.
The students floating atop the freezing water noted a strange glow beneath the water.
With memories of their last encounters in the Lake still fresh, the students pulled their Ryokin away from the strange light as fast as they could.
The strange light would reach the ice tower before a sudden eruption of a stream burst out all around the tower. Now embracing the icy tower was an inverted jetstream...carrying a warm sensation across the entire area, with those closest to it reporting the suffocating heat.
"Well, there don't look like they'll be taking this loss lightly" Torren commented, as he watched the Class 1A riders charge against the icy tower only to be swept up by the jetstream...with the Ryokin taking a few moments to adjust the shape of their wings.
Finally steadying themselves, the beast's silver wings carried their riders sky-bound with frightening speed.
"What is that? "Class 1F narrowly avoided the appearance of the jetstream as the beast flew out of Sergei's grasp with the Ryokin needing only a moment to begin supporting themselves once again.
All the while the ascending Class 1B would find themselves struck by the shockwave of the passing riders, barely managing a glimpse as they soared past.
Noticing that a class was approaching, Stephen prompted them to get going as his mount charged on ahead past the last cloud cover.
Finally, the light of the setting sun shone across their first destination
"We made it. First checkpoint, High City." He sighed with a smile of relief as his Notebook pinged for the next checkpoint.
"The Songspires, right. Let's get going." Vaceris and Tersia who followed after the fatigued Sergei.