The air was absolutely electrifying in the small settlement of Estar. The majority of the time the tiny city had a habit of being rather quiet and peaceful. Once a year however the town would explode with activity. The reason for this being the graduation party of the most important building in Estar, perhaps all of Airengard. Shattermane Academy trained the most elite warriors in the land. Dragoons to be exact. Many years ago, the land was controlled by the dragons. The rest of the races feared their power, and thus offered tributes monthly to avoid perishing. The original group of dragoons had studied for years in secret, learning exactly what caused the dragons to be so powerful. 

After nearly a decade, they had succeeded. The first dragoons were born, wielding powers that were far beyond any of the humanoid races. They trained endlessly, and when the time came they challenged the ancient race. Slowly they released the hold of tyranny that the creatures had held for so long. Though many were slain in the war, the dragoons of old succeeded in securing freedom for the land of Airengard. Lacking a purpose, the dragon warriors retired to the halls built in their honor. They vowed to prepare the next generations of heroes, so as to be prepared if disaster struck again. 

A chatter of excitement rang through the town, as the sun reached the middle of the sky. The festivities would begin soon. Inhabitants and visitors alike flocked towards the middle of the town, crowding around the colossal fountain in the square. Occasionally a child would throw a gold coin into the vast waters, upholding the legends that it granted wishes. Applause erupted, as the leader of the dragoons appeared at the top of the stairs leading into the academy. All eyes turned to the form of the current headmaster Lucia, who had taken her place at the oak podium. She cleared her throat and the chatter of the square quieted. Behind her, stood the newest ranks of the great dragoons. 

Edun Sternstride stood among his peers. The class had dwindled over the years that they had studied, but he supposed this was the case everytime graduation happened. The point of the academy was to weed out the weak links. Only the best of the best became dragoons. He had no idea what became of the rest. The brunette was boiling in his armor, but over the years he had become used to it. Joy bloomed in his chest as he looked down the line of the seven other classmates. Over the years, he had come to know them to some degree. Not that he could claim to be best mates with any of them. He had never seen any of them outside of the concealing armor. The most important rule of Shattermane Academy is that your appearance remained anonymous. It was strictly prohibited to remove your helmet outside of your room. Dragoons were of one mind, appearances didn’t matter. Doing so resulted in immediate expulsion and removal from the premises.

At least that’s what Lucia had stressed on his induction. If Edun had it his way he would have cast away his helmet right now. The headmaster cleared her throat once more, pulling him away from his thoughts. Beneath her own armor a clear voice rang out. “Today we are gathered to celebrate the graduation of these fine soldiers. They have expressed talents far beyond the normal inhabitants of this land. They are the cream of the crop, and from this day forth they will be treated as so.” She fell silent for dramatic effect Edun assumed. When she started again, her tone was very different. “Today is also the dawn of a new era. I have a [i]pleasant[/i] surprise for all of you.” Her tone was sinister, and the brunette felt a shiver run down his spine. Something was wrong.

“Today you will all be subjects of a new world. A world that I have created. I have slaved over books for years searching for a way to make my dreams a reality. Let me show you what I have learned…” Edun looked at his peers. Though he knew that they could not see his face, he was puzzled. What did she mean a new world? Was this the same speech that all the graduates were graced with? Her next words left him in awe. What was going on here?

[i][b]“Surge veteres olim, et virtutes, quæ i donare voluerint, ad me; Surge, et bestiae tradunt, antiquum munus, me in tua scientia et potentia. Gaudeamus, et contere impios, frustraque animarum errantium. Novum genus a nobis Aurora cinere.”[/i][/b] 

Lucia’s profile seemed to glow, her chant hypnotic. She repeated the same lines several times. Upon finishing it the third time. Edun shouted in fear, but his words were lost among the panicked shouts. The sky darkened, the sun disappearing behind dark clouds. Lightning rippled through the sky, all leading to the center of the vapor. The people who had gathered were now scattering, all trying to escape Estar. A few seconds passed, and Lucia turned to look at the alumni. She ripped her helmet off. Blonde hair fell to the middle of her back. She tossed the head covering from her. It fell with a clatter, before rolling to rest at the bottom of the stairs. The look in her aqua blue eyes was crazed.

“What have you done?” Edun screamed at her, drawing his mace. He attempted to swing for her skull to knock her unconscious. The result made him wish he would have held his tongue. Wordlessly she held up her arm. His blunt weapon collided with the side of her head, but he realized too late that she had activated Drakkenhide. “Be gone.” Flames swirled in her hand forming a tiny red orb. “You bi-“ He tried to snarl as she forced her half-assed Scalding Palm into his chest with a demented smirk. If he had been in plain clothes, he was positive that it would have killed him. The force of the explosion slammed Edun against the wall, knocking the breath from his chest momentarily. Stars flashed in his vision.

He was sure that she had knocked him loopy. As he gazed into the clouds, they transformed before his eyes. The storm was splitting into several clouds, their cottony looks changed, becoming scaly and serpentine. Roars rang out through the skies. Edun gasped. The dragons were back. They split off in different directions. The largest of all coming to hover over them. Lucia jumped into the sky, leaving gouges in the ground. [i]Skyfall[/i] Edun found himself thinking in awe as she reached heights he believed unobtainable. She boarded the dragon, and the duo was gone in the blink of an eye, traveling at speeds that Edun thought impossible.

The human looked at his peers, ripping his own helmet from his face. “What in the hell just happened?” Edun asked in bewilderment, though he was sure that it was painfully obvious. The dragons were back, and they were angry. “I’m going after her. There is sure to be a path of destruction leading to these beasts. Join me if you wish.”