Aira held on tightly to the man in front of her, wrapping her arms around his waist. She wasn't too pleased with the method of travel she was having to endure, but unfortunately she had little choice in the matter. She was used to riding as someone's passenger, having ridden horseback plenty of times back in her hometown of Karb. It also helped that it was usually her father that she had her arms around. Of course, that didn’t come with the potential risk of falling to her death, seeing as how she was currently riding on the back of a large dragon.

It soared over the clouds, the sun glistening off the blue fish-like scales that covered its body. Its bat-like, translucent wings beat every 10 or so seconds. The dragon didn't fimagined.

She glanced to her right to make sure their companion was still flying along side them. Her eyes fell on a second dragon, Stormfang. Stormfang and Aira had known each other all their lives, which wasn't that long considering she had only turned ten a day ago. The beast she'd grown up alongside didn't even seem to need to beat its wings as it glided beside them, unlike the dragon Aira and her guardian, Arthur, were flying. Stormfang was covered in black, almost metallic scales and the edges of its wings seemed to leave a trail of black mist, leaving streaks of dark clouds behind it. Aira had heard legends that these were the very storm clouds that had birthed the mighty beast.

"We're coming up on the temple now," Arthur said back to the small girl.

"Can we please land?", Aira begged. Even though she and Stormfang had known each other since birth, she had never actually ridden the black dragon, not at these heights anyway. The most she had done that could be compared to this was gliding around the field while she and the other kids from Karb played knights vs the lich, a popular game that Stormfang helped to make all the more fun.

"Don't worry, we're coming down now," Arthur assured her while commanding the great blue dragon to slow its descent, the sudden change of speed causing the young girl to grip the man even harder, nearly taking the wind out of him. The dragon descended a few more feet before Aira and her guardian felt the mismatched feet of their transport touch down.

Aira was relieved when she looked around to see that they had landed. Arthur climbed off first then assisted her, grabbing Aira by her armpits and hoisting her down. With her feet firmly on solid ground she regained her composure, just in time for her to put on a brave face when the second dragon landed moments later.

"See, flying this far wasn't so bad," Aira said with a weak smile. Stormfang saw right through her however, and huffed.

"Ahhh, it's so good to be back on solid ground," the young girl said, ignoring Stormfang’s attitude and stamping her feet into the grass as if to sink her heels in further. As her confidence came back, she decided to turn around to see what she had missed. Aira had avoided looking down while airborne for obvious reasons, but now that she wasn't on the back of a rocking dragon, she wanted to see what she had spent all this time flying over.

Running over to the short wall that snaked around the large half-oval shaped courtyard, she looked out over the stunning landscape. It was breathtaking, as if Lunus, the goddess of beauty herself, had shaped the land. Rolling hills and lush forests to the west, the glint of the ocean far off to the east. There was even a large city off in the distance that looked like an ant's nest from up here. And to top it all off, the sky was a blissful shade of blue, which only made the fluffy white clouds that drifted along more fantastical. Aira stood on her tip-toes and used her chest to rest on the wall, getting a better look straight down. The temple had been built on the side of a mountain, judging by how high she was. It must have been near the summit, since there were no paths leading up this way. It seemed as though the only way to get up to this point was through flight.

She spun around to look at the temple itself. It was spectacularly carved into the mountain summit, and there were two layers to it. The smaller bottom one held an archway that looked big enough to fit even the tallest of the godly races.

Alongside the archway was the temple wall, four huge pillars having been embedded in to them, two on each side of the archway and a good distance apart. They went all the way to the tiled roof . There was a divide between the lower and upper levels which also acted as the upper level floor. The walls ceased, and the second story seemed to be open to the elements. The only things holding the roof up from the front were the same four pillars that started from the base, each was etched with a beautiful climbing dragon. Aira stared in amazement at the sights all around her.

"Impressive isn't it? Welcome to Skyhaven Temple, home to the Order of Braxus," Arthur said, smiling at her, his dragon adopting a similar look as it turned it's eel-like head to Aira.

After a moment, her guardian turned to his dragon and placed a hand on its scaled head, "It was a long flight Demous. Go and get some rest, okay?"  

Demous nodded in acceptance and turned to walk to the temple, climbing up one of the pillars with a little difficulty due to its webbed feet. When it reached the second layer it disappeared into the darkness.

"You can go as well Stormfang. There will be food and water up there," he added as he turned his gaze to the sleek dragon. However Stormfang looked to Aira, almost as though it was seeking her permission.

This made her smile and chuckle a little, "You know you don't have to ask me. I'm not your mum."

Stormfang nodded. Unlike Demous, he took flight and effortlessly flew towards the upper temple where, he too disappeared into the darkness.

"Come Aira. The elders wish to speak with you, and it isn't wise to keep them waiting," Arthur said, turning to the small girl.

"Okay. It’ll be warm inside right?"  she asked as they walked towards the archway, others like her stepping out of the way, all different races but sharing one common trait even Aira possesed, strangely coloured reptilian eyes.

Finally, they entered the temple and Aira could feel the colour coming back to her freckled cheeks as the halls got warmer. Torches along the walls illuminated beautifully carved bas reliefs on the walls, telling the history of the Order of Braxus. Although they didn't make much sense to her, they just looked like awesome pictures of people riding dragons through the skies and into war.

Eventually they reached a set of large steps too big for Aira to climb in a single stride. She wasn't looking forward to climbing these but she could tell she'd like what was at the top. Near the end of the stairs was a golden light, shimmering and glistening in the torchlight.

Aira and Arthur began to climb. It took only a minute to reach the top but it was just as tiring as Aira had imagined it would be. Yet it was also as impressive as she hoped it would be. At the end of the stairs was a set of double doors, nearly 8 metres tall and 4 metres across. They were made of what appeared to be pure gold, and were engraved with elaborate carvings of the different varieties of dragon, each corner housing one of the four species, earth, fire, water, and lightning. All looked inward to their benefactor, the patriarch of all dragons and the god of war and honour himself. Wings outstretched and eyes facing frontward was Braxus in all his magnificent glory. The flickering torchlight almost seemed to make the carvings move.

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Arthur placed his hands on each of the large doors and pushed with all his might. They looked heavy, but they eventually opened slowly with a loud groan, wide enough for Aira and Arthur to enter.

As more and more of the large room was revealed to the young girl, Aira took in the spectacular sight before her. The floors were tiled in three different colours, a dark green on the outside, a dull yellow in the centre acting as a path that went from one side of the room to the other, and a border of red on the pathway. Against the sides of the wall were pools of water, still as ice. Pillars rose out of the pools and connected to an arched ceiling that had a beautiful fresco of the heavens painted on to it. Two-thirds into the room was a raised platform about a man's height, surrounded by stairs that led to the top. Sitting on top of this platform were three elderly people that seemed to carry an aura of power with them. One was dressed in robes of red, another in blue, and the last in green. Behind them, much to Aira’s surprise, stood three dragons, which she assumed belonged to the three elders.

Aira watched as Arthur fell to his knees, placed his hands together on the floor and touched his forehead to the back of his hand that sat atop the other. she knew that this was the traditional bow that the Order of Braxus gave to its elders, and quickly copied him.

"Leave us. We wish to talk to the girl alone" bellowed a harsh voice.

Arthur quickly got to his feet and left. When he did, Aira glanced back and was amazed when she saw a long tendril of water rise from each of the two pools. They snaked though the air until they reached the doors the man had left through, and pushed the two golden doors closed before returning to their pools. Not a drop touched the floor or remained on the doors. She quickly turned back to hear the same strict voice speak, "You may rise, child."

She did so immediately. Aira had always been somewhat rebellious, but there was something about that voice that told her not to cross its owner.

Getting to her feet, she scanned the three elders. The elder in robes of red was a human woman. She was clearly ancient, if her wrinkled face and gray hair was anything to go by. In spite of this, she seemed to radiate power, fury, and wrath. Her eyes looked as though there were firestorms raging within her slit-like pupils. Her stare felt like it burned Aira’s confidence away.

Behind her was her dragon. Dark brown scales seemed to jet out all over its body, and its dark red wings gave it the appearance of a devil having clawed its way out of hell. Unlike Stormfang or Demous, this one had two front arms in addition to its wings. But what intimidated Aira most of all was how black columns of smoke bellowed out of its jaw and nostrils, obscuring its face. However, she could still see piercing red eyes from behind the smoke, eyes that looked uncannily similar to those of its master.

The woman stood, the magnificent sleeves of her robe giving her a dignified look, "I am Tylsera, Elder of the Blazing Inferno."

Her voice filled the room as if she was announcing it for the gods themselves to hear. Her strict tone made Aira shudder with fright.

The next elder to stand was an elf. Dressed in robes of brilliant blue, he had a long gray beard that stretched all the way down to his stomach. He was clearly just as old has the woman was, but unlike her, his features were far kinder. His whirlpool-like eyes bathed Aira in a calming atmosphere. The dragon behind him was the same kind as Demous, however its scales were far brighter, and had a glittering quality. It gave Aira the image of the waves surrounding a tropical island.  

"I am Moring, Elder of the Serene Ocean," he spoke, his voice being extremely fitting for his title, sounding like gentle waves crashing against a lonesome beach.

The last elder to stand was an ul'karl in rich green robes. The ul’karl were a race native to the world’s deserts, and as a result were naturally tough and hardy. They had rather unusual and intimidating features, such as horns that came out of their chin and jaw lines. They were also usually taller then humans by over three feet.

However, this ul'karl seemed to surpass even that. He too was old, though his leathery skin hadn't wrinkled to the same extent as his two previous companions. He was barrel-chested and his arms looked like tree trunks. Aira watched wide-eyed as this monster of a man used a war hammer to help himself stand. The hammer’s head was the size of a chest one would find at the foot of a bed, and the fact that he was able to move it without much effort only went to show just how strong he was. His sheer presence alone was only magnified by the equally barrel-chested green dragon sat defiantly behind him. Like Tylsera's it had four limbs and a large set of wings, however it was also probably the biggest and toughest looking one here. Definitely suitable for the ul'karl.

"I am Danow! Elder of the Immovable Mountain!" He spoke with a gravely voice.

Considering the fact that watching the ul’karl move gave the image of a mountain uprooting itself and walking, Aira was inclined to disagree with the title he had been given.

"And we are the masters of the Order of Braxus," they spoke in unison, giving Aira an air of authority that shouldn't be crossed.

"Tell us your name child?", Moring asked, his calming eyes locking on to Aira.

She gulped, more than a little nervous, "Aira Gains."  

"Well Miss Gains, we are here to help you understand your abilities and those of your soul companion, the beast you refer to as 'Stormfang'," Moring turned to Tylsera as she took over the conversation.

"Under our tutelage, you will not only unlock your power, but learn to control it, harness it, and destroy all that threaten you with it."

This time Danow took over the speech, "But we shall also teach you restraint, compassion and mercy, for power is corrupting without these elements. If you fail that, then you will have no choice but to render your life forfeit."

Aira blinked. Were they seriously saying that if she didn't pass these tests, or what ever it was they wanted from her, they would kill her? A small bead of sweat dripped down her forehead. She was intimidated by the Elders, especially the woman in red, "Umm... I promise not to disappoint you, Mr. Danow."

But she immediately regretted that when Tylsera's anger erupted like a volcano, "You shall refer to us by the proper title of elder, or you shall not refer to us at all!"

"Come now Tylsera, the girl is only a child. Are such formalities really necessary?", Moring questioned. He turned his gaze to the shaking Aira, who had been caught off guard by the fire elder’s outburst, "I for one do not mind if you call me elder, Mr. Moring, Moring, or even old bat. I know I am all these things."

Tylsera didn't seem too pleased with her compatriot’s declaration. She snorted in frustration, but all this did was terrify Aira even more, mainly due to the fact that when she had done so, small spurts of fire shot from her nostrils. Aira knew that the dragon behind the elder could breath fire, but knowing that this 'frail' old woman could probably do so as well horrified her.

Danow ignored his compatriots and turned his full attention to the young girl, "Whatever you call us child, your training begins immediately. Normally you would be taught by one of our many mentors, but you are a special case. After all, you are the first storm rider in nearly five hundred years."

"Five hundred years?!", Aira couldn’t help but exclaim. She knew her and Stormfang were special. Over the years, there had been many Order of Braxus members that had come to visit her. Apparently the mayor of Karb had even had to ask the permission of the Elders before he could even approach Aira's parents with the proposal that Stormfang join the town guard. But being the first storm rider in five hundred years? She how no idea she was that important.  

"Do not interrupt!", Tylsera fired at Aira, causing the young girl to shrink before the three.

"Tylsera, the girl was merely curious about her circumstances. It that so wrong?", Moring said, his calm voice once more putting Aira at ease.

Tylsera scoffed and folded her arms, “Either way, Aira Gains. Since there is no one other than ourselves qualified to oversee your training, we shall be your masters."

She gulped at that announcement. Two of the three elders somewhat terrified her, and she had been hoping that she would get a teacher she could have a bit of leeway with. But with Tylsera and Danow as her tutors, this would be a long season.

"Your lessons begin tomorrow. Meet me at dawn in the courtyard. Do not be late," The fire elder stated, as if trying to burn that order in to Aira's mind, which she was most definitely successful in doing.

"You may go now child. Arthur shall take you to the living quarters," Moring’s voice sounded.

At the same time, she heard the large golden doors behind her being pulled open, a glance back confirming that it was once again the water handling the doors.