The explosion created a shockwave that shook the entire city, and debris rained down on us. Airelina's wings were strong enough to shield us from the falling debris. The wind was howling in our ears as we plummeted towards the ground, but Airelina remained calm and focused. Her face was a mask of determination as she used her wings to slow our fall. I could feel the rush of air against my skin as we spiraled down towards the ground.
As we were falling, the wind was rushing past us, making my hair fly wildly around my face. Airelina returned back to her human form, her grip was tight, and her embrace was surprisingly soft despite the chaos that surrounded us. My mind was racing, and my heart was beating faster than it ever had before. The ground was getting closer and closer, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over me. I wanted to scream, but no sound would come out. It was as if my vocal cords had frozen in fear. We were in free fall, and I had no idea how we were going to survive this.
Airelina's white wings unfurled from her back, their metallic feathers glinting in the sunlight. They were similar in shape to her dragon wings, but with a sleek, cybernetic design. As we fell, she spread her wings wide to form a protective shield around us, the feathers interlocking like a suit of armor. The cocoon felt like it was made of steel, impenetrable and secure. I felt a surge of gratitude towards Airelina for protecting me, even as the wind whipped past us and the ground rushed up to meet us.
"H-Hang on!" She said to me.
As we fell towards the ground, Airelina wrapped her wings around me, forming a protective cocoon. The wind rushed past us, and I closed my eyes tightly, bracing for impact. Finally, with a deafening crash, we hit the ground. I felt a jolt run through my body as we collided with the earth. My ears rang with the sound of the impact, and dust and debris filled the air. When Airelina opened her wings, I saw that we had landed just beside the power plant. The ground was cracked and broken beneath us, and we had left a small crater on our crash site.
"Amphere…"
As I approached Airelina's motionless body, my heart sank. She lay on the ground, still as a statue. I could see her chest heaving up and down, and knew that she was still alive. But the pain she must be in was unimaginable. I could see that her whole body was twisted and contorted from the force of our crash landing.
Her face was twisted in agony, and I knew that all her nerves were screaming with pain. She had taken the brunt of the impact, shielding me from the worst of it. I felt a surge of guilt and gratitude wash over me. Guilt that she had taken such a terrible blow on my behalf, and gratitude that she had saved my life.
"Airelina!"
Airelina lay there motionless, her breathing ragged and shallow. Her once vibrant crimson hair was now matted and messy, sticking to her sweat-drenched face. I could see the pain etched on her features, and I knew that every breath she took was a struggle. Despite her obvious discomfort, she was still breathing, a small but vital sign that she was still with me.
But she was out cold, her consciousness fading away with every passing moment. I gently lifted her in my arms, cradling her delicate form as best as I could. Her body was light, almost weightless, but I could feel the tension in her muscles, a sure sign that she was in immense pain.
I knew I had to get her to a hospital, and fast. Her condition was critical, and every second that passed was a risk to her life. I held her close to my chest, trying to keep her warm and comfortable as I made my way through the ruined streets towards the nearest medical center.
The ground shook as the red dragon landed beside us, its fiery wings creating gusts of wind that blew dust and debris around us. Its scales were coated in a layer of crimson gravel, giving it a rugged and intimidating appearance. I knew right away that this was a magma dragon, a rare and powerful breed known for their ability to control molten lava.
As the dragon settled down, a figure jumped out from the top of the earth dragon that was accompanying it. He was an early adult man, wearing a militaristic blue leather uniform that matched the color of his eyes. He strode towards us purposefully, his expression unreadable
My mind raced as the dragon knight approached me. Fear and confusion were overwhelming me, and I didn't know what to do without Airelina. The situation was dangerous, and fighting back would be foolish. My legs felt like lead, and I couldn't move.
But then, the dragon knight raised his finger to his lips and made a hushing sound, calming my nerves slightly. He approached me and gently picked up the unconscious Airelina, cradling her in his arms with a surprising amount of care.
Despite his intimidating appearance, the dragon knight's voice was soft and reassuring as he spoke. "I'm here to help you," he said. His words were unexpected, and I didn't know if I could trust him, but at this point, I had no other options.
I couldn't believe it. One of the dragon knights who had just attacked us was now offering to help. My mind was racing with suspicions. Was he going to imprison us and extract information? Was this some sort of twisted trap?
But as much as I wanted to resist, I knew that I was in no position to fight back. I was just a normal human, powerless against dragons and dragon knights. So I reluctantly nodded my head in agreement.
"It is a long story, but I will explain later. But all I can tell you now is that I will help you. I already rescued your comrade who was stuck in the power plant."
As we arrived at the hospital, I was grateful that we were given immediate medical attention. The dragon knight who saved us had flown us there on his powerful flame dragon. Airelina, unfortunately, was in a much worse condition than me. She had taken a lot of damage and was receiving urgent medical care. I, on the other hand, only had a broken rib and a neck that was throbbing with pain.
It was only when a nurse came over to me and started cleaning the right side of my forehead that I noticed that it was bleeding. I couldn't believe how foolish I had been for trying to help those terrorists. I felt worthless and stupid for risking my life for people who didn't even deserve it. My heroic act suddenly seemed like a terrible mistake.
"My name is Estoff Wraith, a member of the Pentagram Imperial Knights." The dragon knight who helped me said. "I know that you're innocent and just got dragged into some shocking circumstances. But I'll have you know that I am on your side. To the outside world, I am a prestigious dragon knight. But in the shadows, I am known as the leader of the Arcadia. Due to my incompetence, one of my comrades got killed, and I am sorry for that. "
"So you're a terrorist too?" I tilted my head obliviously.
"Ssshh, don't talk so loud!" He said. Then he locked my head to his arms. Ouch, my neck hurts!
"We are currently short in members and I saw you fight Kyle unarmed. We need you in our group."
"Sorry I'm not interested in your idiotic clown acts."
"You are the one Airelina chose to be her knight, and that makes you a very special person. If you consider joining us, I will refer you to the Dragon Knight Academy."
The Dragon Knight Academy...it loomed before me like an insurmountable fortress, an elusive dream that only the chosen few could reach. The mere thought of the entrance exams sent shivers down my spine. The competition was cutthroat and unforgiving, with only the elite among the elites having a chance of securing a spot in this prestigious institute.
For nobles like me, entering this school was not just a matter of pride but a matter of survival. It was the best way to secure my future and my family's standing in society. But the pressure was immense, and the sacrifices that needed to be made were daunting.
I took a deep breath and steeled myself for what lay ahead. The road to the Dragon Knight Academy would be long and arduous, but I was determined to succeed.
As a noble, my aspiration has always been to enter the Dragon Knight Academy, but my ambitions don't stop there. Ever since I was a child, I have dreamt of becoming a Dragon Knight myself. I used to spend hours reading books about the legendary heroes who protected the kingdom, riding their dragons and battling the most dangerous enemies.
The idea of being able to fly on the back of a dragon and protect the people from harm was incredibly appealing to me. I would often close my eyes and imagine myself soaring through the sky, my dragon partner by my side, ready to face any challenge that came our way.
Now that I am old enough to apply for the Academy, I am determined to make my dream a reality. I will do whatever it takes to pass the entrance exams and become one of the elite few who are chosen to become Dragon Knights.
As I sat in the hospital bed, my mind was still fixated on my dream of becoming a Dragon Knight. The prestige and wealth that came with the title was enough to make anyone envious. I could already picture myself walking through the city with a confident stride, adorned with the Dragon Knight uniform, and being recognized by everyone as someone of importance.
But that dream was suddenly shattered by my foolish decision to help the terrorists. How could I have been so blind to think that their cause was just? I realized that joining a terrorist group would not only disqualify me from becoming a Dragon Knight but also cut off any potential advantages that came with that status. My reputation would be tarnished, and people would see me as a criminal instead of a hero. It was a painful realization, and I couldn't help but feel regretful for my actions.
"I'll think about it." I gazed on the floor. "Why do you care for dragonoids so much?"
"The same as you care for Airelina. It's like an instinct which will just come and consume your mind. I can't leave dragonoids suffering. I know that if I didn't do something, my honor will be stained. I don't want to leave a bad aftertaste for not doing what is right. Maybe it's the power of the Vesryn Pulse."
As the days passed, the shocking truth about the power plant conspiracy began to spread like wildfire. The newspapers were filled with articles about how Dragonoids were being used as a horrific source of power. The people were outraged, and the Dragonoid Rights Activists demanded the immediate shutdown of all power plants that used radiation crystals to harness their energy.
The government responded to the public outcry by shutting down the power plants almost immediately. The news of the shutdown also sparked a nationwide discussion about the treatment of Dragonoids and their rights. People started to question the validity of using them as a source of power and the morality of their treatment.
After the conspiracy behind the power plant was revealed, Sir Estoff Wraith, a respected figure in the media, made sure to cover the news without exposing our involvement with the terrorist group Arcadia.
It was a relief for us, especially since Brow, Airelina, and I would have faced severe consequences if our affiliation with Arcadia was made public. It was a secret we couldn't afford to let out. Surprisingly, Kyle Leviticus, the famed hero who had pursued us relentlessly, didn't testify against us. It made me wonder if he didn't have any solid proof or if he had some hidden reasons for not doing so. Regardless, I was grateful that we were able to keep our involvement in Arcadia a secret.
After the incident with the terrorist group Arcadia, Sir Estoff Wraith took a special interest in me. He saw potential in me and believed that I had what it takes to become a Dragon Knight. Without my knowledge, he referred me to the prestigious Dragon Knight Academy and even asked for my parents' consent for me to take the entrance exams.
Of course, my parents were thrilled at the opportunity. The Dragon Knight Academy was known to be incredibly selective, and only the best of the best were accepted. It was a dream come true for me, but little did I know that Sir Estoff had ulterior motives for sending me there.
He never mentioned anything about working with a terrorist group, and my parents were none the wiser. It was only after I had been accepted into the Academy that I found out the truth. Sir Estoff had been grooming me to become a spy for the Arcadia all along. My dreams of becoming a Dragon Knight were suddenly tainted with the realization that I was being used for someone else's gain.
Despite my reservations about Sir Estoff, I felt that I had no choice but to accept his proposal to enter the Dragon Knight Academy. Airelina and I spent two long years studying there, honing our skills and learning everything we could about the art of dragon riding and warfare.
During that time, the terrorist group Arcadia remained quiet, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was brewing beneath the surface. It seemed likely that Sir Estoff was just biding his time, waiting for me to graduate before carrying out more of his inhuman actions.
Despite my fears, I persevered, driven by my dream of becoming a Dragon Knight and the hope of one day using my power to make a positive difference in the world.
Sir Estoff's justification for his terrorist group's actions was not reassuring. He claimed that they did not kill people, but that did not change the fact that they committed numerous cases of arson, which cost a significant amount of money. His actions were reckless and dangerous, and I couldn't help but worry about what he had planned for the future.
Arcadia is a terrorist organization that aims to achieve the liberation of dragonoids from the harsh treatment they receive from mankind. They condemn the use of dragonoids as slaves, for prostitution, and any form of abuse inflicted upon them. In essence, they are the main Dragonoid Rights Activists. Among their supporters is the young duchess Corasell, who belongs to the noble class.
For the past two years, I studied alongside Airelina at the Dragon Knight Academy. We went through many intense training sessions and challenging exams together. As we spent more time with each other, we developed a close emotional bond, and I even started to give her a nickname, Airi, to save time when addressing her. However, she started to call me Amphy, a name I don't particularly like. Despite correcting her multiple times, she still uses it, and I have grown used to it over the years.
Airi was not your typical terrorist. Despite her involvement with Arcadia, she seemed innocent and pure. However, there was a hint of sadness and guilt that lingered in her crimson eyes. She never talked about her past, but her emotions were palpable.
Despite this, there was a strong connection between us. We had signed a contract to become Dragon Knight partners, and our hearts seemed to beat in sync. I could sense her every emotion and feel her pain. It was as if our souls were intertwined, and nothing could break that bond.
From then and now, we faced many trials and tribulations in the Dragon Knight Academy.