The witches steal our people. Well, it's only right for us to steal theirs. In the times when they have internal unrest, we shall creep into their territories like thieves at night and take their people. We shall promise them good lives, and we shall live by our promises. And then we shall revel in the might of our combined powers, after all, it's the true art of knowing thy enemy, and defeating them with their own might.
- Art of War, No 38, by Elara Stormward.
"You've got to be kidding me." Xander said, bewildered at the scene that was playing out before him.
At the moment, Vinn was carrying a ball-like equipment that she was sure weighed more than her, and her legs were shaking badly while she was at it. So badly that anyone who saw them would think she was having tremors.
"I.am.not." Vinn managed to grit out, painfully. Very painfully, at the same time she struggled hard to keep her breath even, and even harder to hold the small handle of the heavy ball balanced in between her two hands.
"I think that's fine for today, I can't watch this anymore." Xander said with a finality that told Vinn he was very serious. Was she struggling that much? If she was struggling that much, how much more would she struggle at the tests? The thought was scary.
"I didn't know you wanted me not to make it to the Academy this much." Vinn quipped while Xander rolled his eyes.
"Well at this rate you will be getting to the tests in a body bag." He threw back. Of course he had to have the last word.
"I'm…not…that bad." Okay, at this point she was really struggling to keep holding the ball. How was she that much physically weaker? What had she been doing all this while that she forgot to take care of her physical body? Nurturing her mind she guessed, but the pathetic excuse did not make up for the awkwardness of her current situation.
Before she truly ended up in a body bag, she let the ball drop from her hands with a loud clang to the ground announcing her defeat. It was the dead of the night, so the sound echoed within the walls of the unground training room they were in. It was Xander's of course, the man had about every arsenal of resources at his beck and call.
"Why is it so hard?!" She half screamed, half growled the question, thoroughly annoyed at herself. Xander carried the thing like it was air. And that was no exaggeration.
"Umm, because you're physically weaker?" Xander says as if she needed his answer. Was he being serious right now? Seeing the dark mood she was in, he added, "being physically limited is not a bad thing per say, not every dragon rider can lift a thing, some just leave it to their dragons.
"Yes, only the lazy ones." Vinn drawled, her hands running through her hair in frustration. Take Xander for example, he was the perfect picture of fitness. It was obvious he took great care of his body as much as he nurtured his mind. A dragon rider had to work hard to be as good, or even better than his dragon. That was the true test of a great dragon rider.
"If you say so." Xander says, glancing at his watch. "If we're done here, I've better ways to use my time."
Vinn ignored his jab totally. He thought they were done? Xander Lenklock obviously had a lot to learn about her. Offering him the most placating smile she could muster, she said. "I was thinking about some hand to hand combat, are you up for it or are you scared?" Her mouth would get her into trouble one day for sure, but for now, she had a test in five days, and she had to pass it.
Xander got into combat position although not entirely by her goading. "Well," he smirked, "come at me."
And come at him she did.
Five days later, her body deliciously sore in all the right and wrong places, Vinn was packing for the test grounds. She had done her best in prep, at least she believed so, now it was up to her to put up a good fight. She was making it to the Academy if she had to claw or cheat herself to do so, she didn't mind at all.
Early that morning, Astrid had communicated her regret that she wouldn't be able to take Vinn to the testing grounds as they planned. Vinn was more worried than disappointed though, Astrid didn't strike her as someone who would back out of an engagement without a serious reason.
That same morning too, Xander too had disappeared. It wasn't at all surprising, the man had a penchant for coming in as a human, and leaving as a ghost. She was used to it.
"Master Xander has instructed me to escort you to the Island of Isles," Guav, Xander's chamber manager and closest servant, announced as Vinn emerged from her room the picture of preparedness. Vinn had abandoned silk gowns and corsets for brown leather pants, with a brown leather long sleeve shirt that looked like a jacket except it was tight fitting. Her hair was in a tight braid, and she had taken care to make sure not one strand would be blocking her vision.
"Where is he?" Vinn inquired.
"I'm afraid the heir didn't inform me of his whereabouts today, but he did ask me to ensure your safe journey to the island," Guav replied. Despite being no more than thirty years old, Guav was known for his sternness and inflexibility, particularly when it came to formalities—a fact Vinn had carelessly overlooked.
"Where is Master Xander?" Vinn rephrased and asked again.
Guav hesitated, then responded, "I am not aware of his current location, but he has entrusted me with your safe passage."
Vinn internally rolled her eyes. When had Xander started caring so much about her travel arrangements?
"I am more than capable of handling a transport dragon myself, Guav. Thank you for the offer." Vinn said, preparing to leave. However, Guav's next words gave her pause.
"The witches have predicted a heavy blizzard, Miss. Please allow me to lead the dragon for you."
Vinn felt a pang of embarrassment. Of all days, why did a blizzard have to occur today? Despite her wounded pride, she knew it was crucial to arrive safely on the island more than anything else. She wasn't sure she could keep her balance on a dragon in the face of severe winter storms and heavy snowfall.
She found it weird that there would be a blizzard, since it had yet to start snowing ever since she came to the north more than a month ago. And the cloud was currently looking clear, the early morning sun yet to make its full descent.
"Lead the way," she acquiesced, forcing a tight smile as fatigue began to set in.
True to Guav's warning, within an hour of their journey, the blizzard descended with a might she never knew existed, enveloping them in an ominous swirl of snow and wind. Thankfully, heeding to Guav's reminder, she had included a winter coat in her belongings, if not she would have died of cold. Which was a terrible way to die by the way.
As Vinnandra rode the transport dragon, led by Guav through the swirling blizzard, the effects of the storm were relentless. The wind howled around them, whipping up the snow into blinding curtains that obscured her vision. Despite Guav's expertise in guiding the dragon, Vinn felt a growing sense of unease.
The poor visibility made it difficult to see anything beyond a few feet ahead, and the biting cold seeped through her layers of clothing, chilling her to the bone. Vinn clung tightly to the dragon's saddle, feeling each gust of wind threaten to knock them off course.
The snow accumulated quickly, forming deep drifts that the dragon struggled to navigate. Guav's usually stoic demeanour showed signs of concern, his brow furrowed as he urged the dragon onward.
Isolated in the whiteout, Vinn felt a sense of vulnerability unlike anything she had experienced before. Her earlier pride in her ability to handle the dragon herself now seemed foolish in the face of nature's fury.
As the blizzard raged on, Vinn's exhaustion grew, both from the physical strain of the journey and the mental toll of the relentless storm. She knew that reaching the Island of Isles on time was crucial, but with each passing moment, the blizzard seemed determined to test her resolve. But then, all of a sudden, the dragon descended onto the ground.
Vinn couldn't see anything, but by the strong sound of wings against the air, and the growl of other dragons, Vinn was sure they had reached the Island of the Isles.
"Welcome to the 178th Dragon and Riders Academy Admission tests." a male voice announces, startling Vinn who still couldn't see anything clearly, but could feel the people around her.
All of a sudden, the raging snow freezes as if held back in time, and the effects of the blizzards clear in an instant. Stunned, and trying to take in her surroundings, Vinn notices that Guav and the transport dragon had long left, and left behind was her and other applicants. Hundreds of them. She spotted a woman with black hair, standing beside a white-haired man whom she suspected was the person who made the announcement. They were standing on a high podium above all the applicants, and the woman—obviously a witch—had a crazed, intense look in her eyes.
Vinn realised with stunning clarity that she had lifted the blizzard with her powers. And she was smiling like a crazy maniac through the whole thing.
"This must be them!" A boy's excited voice shrieks from her side, "the mad trio. Marenda, Mavena and Malone."
"Do you mean the trifecta bonded from the west?" A female voice inserts in askance.
"Yes! The Stormwards!" The boy exclaims. I wonder where their Dragon, Mavena, is at? Well… not like I want to see her or something." He finishes in a scared voice.
Vinn looked at the duo standing at the podium side by side, raw power sparking between them and she felt her curiosity grow. Who were the mad trio?