The Almighty Dragon Rider Returns

The whole of the North was covered in this strange smoke and it was spreading in the sky very quickly...

Outside the big Viceroy mansion, Nymeria’s father was standing outside. He was wearing a grey heavy coat. His large dragon was standing low beside him. The dragon’s chest was making a rumbling sound.

A group of rune channelers was in the front of the gates. Their fingers were moving fast as they tried to draw glowing runes in the air.

A light would shine for a moment, then it will fade and disappear.

They wiped the sweat from their faces and tried again.

Nymeria’s father raised his hand.

A guard nearby ran forward and dropped to one knee.

"Are the White Ones ready?" the Viceroy asked.

"Yes, my Lord," the guard said, nodding quickly.

Before the guard could even stand up, a loud sound sounded from the sky.

Dragons flew out of nowhere. On the back of each dragon was a rider and behind every rider was a white-robed mage.

These mage did not look anything like the normal mages.

Strange silver patterns were glowing on their robes.

Their power and aura was even felt by everyone near by.

As they flew out and into the city, the Viceroy let out a small breath of relief.

A few streets away, Reynold was still flying on Aurion back when the group of dragon riders and white mages flew past him.

Holy flame...

Chill shiver hit Reynold immediately and body jerked and he almost fell off his dragon back.

Who were these people?

Just as he was thinking, the white mages stood up and jumped off the dragons back.

Reynold’s heart stopped. But they did not fall, instead, they stepped onto empty air and solid glowing platforms of white glass appeared under their feet.

They walked on it and in a few seconds they disappeared and same with the riders.

What the actual flame?

Suddenly, Pyreus and Thornox rushed forward from behind. Both dragons opened their mouths and shot fire at an empty place in the sky.

Before Reynold could wonder what they were attacking, a burning shape appeared from the heat. A completely black figure with no face fell screaming toward the ground, wrapped in fire.

Reynold froze as fear ran up his back.

How had he not see that? How did his dragons see something that was completely invisible?

Before he could catch his breath, Aurion let out a loud roar and turned hard to the left and shot out fire.

Another faceless figure was caught fire in the air. It only became visible as the flames burned it, then it crashed into the streets below.

Reynold twisted his neck around. His hands became wet with cold sweat on the reins. He had never seen creatures like this before.

Down in the streets, scared villagers were running and looking for safe houses.

Reynold closed his eyes for a second.

His heart was beating hard against his ribs. I will not die today. I will not die today...

A sudden crash made him open his eyes quickly. A zinc roof was off a building and it flew straight at him. Aurion dive quickly.

Reynold hold the saddle tightly so he would not fall off.

In front of him, Pyreus and Thornox shot another wave of fire and another invisible faceless figure caught fire and fell.

Thank the flame!

Reynold suddenly felt a little better when he saw the familiar walls of the old Starweaver mansion through the smoke.

He pulled hard on Aurion’s reins. The black dragon flew low over the iron gates and landed heavily in the wide courtyard. Pyreus and Thornox landed right behind him.

Reynold let out a long breath of relief. Thank the flame the mansion was still standing and intact.

Just then, Gift’s mother ran out of the main doors. She was holding a single carved rune in her hand. When she saw Reynold standing close to his dragon, she stopped. Her face was looking completely confused.

"You are not hurt..." she said quietly. Then her eyes moved from him and the three big dragons behind him. The dragons was making a low vibrating sounds in their throats.

Her face softened with sudden understanding. "Oh. Your dragons are old blood and war dragons. That is why you are not hurt."

Without another word, she raised her hand and flicked her fingers toward the roof several times.

Immediately, glowing white glass steps appeared out of nowhere and arranged themselves upward like a staircase. Gift’s mother stepped onto them and began walking up into the air.

Reynold stared, completely frozen.

It was the exact same trick the white mages he had just saw used in the sky.

Who the hell was this woman? And what had she done with his nanny?

Reynold looked up as she pressed the rune against the upper edge of the mansion. After a couple of tries, the rune caught fire with bright orange light and locked in place.

Up in the sky, Reynold could see the group of riders and white mages fighting across the sky. The riders were swinging their swords at unseen something while ontop if their dragons back. The mages were fighting while standing on the glowing white steps in the air.

Down in the courtyard, Gift’s mother stepped off the last glass step and landed on the ground.

The moment the rune activated, the mansion stopped shaking violently. The house was now suddenly covered from the outside chaos.

Grace mother then looked down at the rune in her hand and let out a breath.

"Ah... hopefully that will hold them off until the city activate the main rune."

Reynold looked at her, then up at the glowing orange rune on the roof. He took a step back and licked his dry lips.

"What did you do with my nanny?" Reynold asked. His voice serious.

Gift’s mother blinked and was completely surprised.

"My nanny is a simple woman," Reynold said... "She is not a mage. You might have her face, but you are not her."

Gift’s mother looked at his serious face for a second and almost laughed.

"It is not funny," Reynold said.. "If you want to walk out of this courtyard alive, give me back my nanny right now."

Gift’s mother bit her lower lip and shook her head. "Reynold, it is really me. Remember when you were eight and you hid inside the empty grain barrel for three hours because you broke your father’s precious flower vase?"

Reynold did not move.

She let out a soft sigh. "Listen to me. Before I became a maid for your father, I worked in the Royal Palace from the time I was fifteen. Back then, all I ever wanted was to be a rune channeler and a mage.... But I failed the entrance test because i did not have a single drop of magical aura in my blood."

She paused and looked down for a second. "After I failed, I used to sneak out at night and listen near the mages’ rooms. One night, a master channeler caught me but she did not report me to the guards. Instead... she felt sorry for me and taught me a few small tricks and ways to use the magic that is already in the air without needing magic inside me. What I just did up there was one of those tricks."

Reynold searched her eyes to know if she was telling the truth.

He stepped forward and pulled her into a tight hug.

Gift’s mother let out a warm breath and hugged him back. She patted his shoulder.

"Mother!"

Alistair and Gift came running out of the front doors. They stopped dead when they saw Reynold and the three big dragons.

Gift’s mouth dropped open. "Holy flames..."

"You brought your dragons here?!" Alistair said...

Gift immediately took a few step but kept her distance. Her eyes were shining. "Can I touch one?"

"Come here," Reynold said with a small smile. He took her right hand in his. "Just breathe and stay steady and don’t be scared."

He gently guided her palm to Aurion’s snout. Aurion let out a warm puff of air from his nose. His scales flared a little before he leaned into her touch and relaxed completely. A few feet away, Pyreus and Thornox were leaning against each other, playfully bumping necks and nudging each other’s horns.

Reynold looked over at Alistair. "Come on."

Alistair threw both of his hands up and took a step back. "Nope. I am perfectly good right here."

Gift leaned closer to Reynold and muttered, "He is scared."

"Yes" Reynold muttered back.

"I can literally hear both of you!" Alistair yelled from near the doorway.

Gift’s mother shook her head with a small smile. "Alright, that is enough standing around. Everyone inside, now."

Reynold gave Aurion one last pat on his thick snout, then looked over at Pyreus and Thornox.

The two were still softly nuzzling and bumping heads in the corner.

Reynold’s brow furrowed. Since when did those two start acting like best friends?

He shook his head and followed the others into the mansion.

Inside, the maids were sitting close together in the large living room. When they saw Reynold walk in, they quickly stood and bowed with surprise.

Gift’s mother quietly get away from the living as she head straight to her private room.

Once inside her room, she closed the door and turned the iron lock. She raised her right hand and move her hand and a faint blue magical light flowed from her fingertips and sealed the handle of the door completely.

She walked over to a wall and she stretched her hand inside and pulled out a small wooden box from a wall. She placed the box on the bed and then stretched her hand forward at the box and a current of pure magic flowed from her palm into the lock.

The box clicked open.

She placed the rune inside. Then her fingers slowly reached in and pulled out a small old portrait.

She looked at the painting. She did not even know when a single tear fell from her cheek. She quickly wiped it away with the back of her sleeve, put the picture back into the box, and pushed the lid shut.