Three days. It had been three days since Queen Irena had spoken to Valen and made clear her reason for bringing him so far. Yet his confusion had not abated. He still felt as though he had no clear answer on what he needed to do.

After they had spoken the Queen had told him she understood he would need time to make his decision. That he would have whatever time he needed to do so. Then, just like that he had been shown out, bewildered beyond all measure. He was as far from qualified for the honor she wished to bestow upon him as a person could be, not to mention that the idea of being placed into a position like the one she wished to put him in bothered him.

Yet…

Yet, if he was to protect what he held dear, then eventually the Empire would have to fall. If this could allow him to face the Legions and the Draconic Orders of the Emperor - possibly even claim victory? - then that was what he needed to do.

That did not make his decision any easier, unfortunately, and over the next few days he had gone and visited everyone he needed to in order to make the most informed decision he could manage. So far, he had learned that his own sister Hera and Senna, formerly Ranger Layne, had both pledged to join the ranks of this new order of wyvern riders should Valen agree to lead it. That was why Senna had left the Iron Watch and why Hera had set herself to work in the Rookery with the wyverns.

Samuel and Simon were another story, however. News had come from the North that things had not gone to plan in Lakevale. No one was sure of the fate of First Ranger Illaya and the rest of the Iron Watch... which meant that they still had no idea if their father was alive, or if he was going to make it down into Manidar after all.

Though they wanted to be able to join the three of them in fighting the Empire, they could not do so as wyvern riders. Not with these new circumstances. Instead, they had decided to enlist in the Iron Watch themselves, serving under Second Ranger Bardus until they completed their training. Though they remained in Midaras for now, once their training was finished in about three months' time they would be leaving to head North, on the search for answers in their own mission.

Then there was the matter of having to raise an entire wyvern flight with just himself, Hera and Senna to help, for now. Though Aevra was already well on her way to growing into a strong Matriarch – when Valen had gone up to the Rookery to visit with Hera, she looked to be at least sixty pounds now! That helped, but still. The workload involved, with only three of them to do it...

Though the Queen had assured him that they would have all the assistance they could ask for, whenever they needed it, he would prefer that the members of this new order be able to handle working with the wyverns themselves. It would take a good bit of time and recruiting to grow this order into something that could even come close to standing against the Empire. Valen very much doubted he was the person to handle that.

But Hera and Senna disagreed, assuring him that they could handle it and that Manidar and the other people of Parovia needed them to stand up and fight back, for those who could not do the same.

Finally, Valen realized that in his time spent unconscious in the infirmary after battling High Lord Velitarii, his birthday had come and gone. He was seventeen now, and it was the first birthday that had gone by without his parents or Aiden around. Though Hera had made a point of having a small celebration with him up in the Rookery with Raenelir and the other wyverns, he had still left it feeling down and confused, an unfortunate combination.

So here he was, atop Raenelir’s back, soaring through the sky as he tried to find an answer to this question. Though he technically was probably not completely recovered yet, he found that the longer he was unable to fly the worse he felt. Eventually he had decided enough was enough.

Valen had immediately felt that same rush of joy and excitement he always felt when he took to the sky with Raenelir. It brought with it a much needed period of quiet under the morning sun to think things over for himself, without anyone else giving their opinion save Raen himself, and the Highborn only wanted what was best for Valen.

Valen. Sad? the Highborn asked, and Valen smiled and shook his head.

‘No, Raen. Not sad, at least... not now. Confused? Yes. Scared? Yes.’ he replied, and Raenelir grew quiet for a long time, likely trying to figure out how to respond to his words.

Enemy? the wyvern finally said, and Valen chuckled.

‘No, Raen! No enemy. Except, maybe, my own mind. I just don’t want to do the wrong thing,’ Valen explained, which earned a rumble of contentedness from Raenelir. The more time he spent with the wyvern now, the more he grew to enjoy his company. Valen had not told anyone about the fact that they could speak to each other, as he had decided his own physical changes were enough of a... magical adjustment for now.

Even Hera had not really known how to act around him at first, treating him almost like a stranger until she spent some time with him and realized that he was still the same person inside. Still her brother. Senna, thankfully, had not changed her attitude toward him at all, though their relationship had at least changed from teacher and student to friends. He was grateful for that – with everything else going on right now, it felt good to have another friend around.

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There was another long stretch of time that passed as Valen closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the breeze that gently rocked them as Raenelir glided happily along. They had no specific destination in mind, simply staying within sight of Midaras.

Then Raen spoke again, his words hitting with far more weight than anything Valen had been expecting.

Valen. Scared. Wrong. Raenelir. Know. Valen. Trust.

Valen found himself staring in awe at the back of the wyvern’s head, though he kept his mouth shut to avoid sucking down too much wind as they flew. That was not a fun experience.

Raen’s words, though he likely did not realize just what they meant to Valen, were right. After everything, if there was anyone whose judgement he trusted implicitly, knowing he would not be biased in any direction except perhaps Valen’s, it was Raenelir. Which made his next words even harder to swallow.

Valen. Raenelir. Stay. Help. Fight.

He shut his eyes again, except this time it was not to enjoy the sun and wind. Now it was to process Raen’s words, as they showed him what he would have to do.

‘Dang it, Raen. Why do you have to be so right all the time?’ Valen finally replied, earning what sounded like a rumbling laugh from the wyvern. The two enjoyed the rest of their time in the sky, as Valen was sure it would be the last time for a while they were able to do this on their own.

Things were about to change, one more time.

----------

When Valen, Hera and Senna entered the throne room, they found Queen Irena already awaiting their arrival. Aevra trailed in after them, looking around curiously, though she had calmed down quite a bit since arriving in Midaras and assuming a role as leader among the newly birthed wyvern flight.

Her behaviors reminded Valen more and more of a cat, actually, proud and overly curious at times. Regardless, Aevra still preferred to follow Hera everywhere she went. So here she was, in the throne room.

Aside from the Queen, Second Ranger - currently Acting First Ranger - Bardus stood off to the side, next to a woman Valen knew to be High Commander Thela Karr of the Iron Armies. She held the highest military post in all of Manidar, though the expression on her face was a bit sour; after all, this new force would be outside of her command.

On the other side of the room stood Simon and Samuel. Though they had elected not to join them in this new order, they had apparently still come to show their support at its creation. Valen was glad for that; they were his and Hera’s oldest friends, and that meant quite a lot to him. Now more than ever.

Besides those five, however, no one else was in the room. This was a sacred moment for Manidar, and so all guards had been excused from the room, leaving only those there specifically for what was about to happen. The trio came to a halt about two yards back from the Queen’s throne, where this time she actually sat.

“Kneel,” she said. Immediately Valen, Hera and Senna all knelt, eyes on the ground, waiting silently for what was to come. Aevra strode off to the side of the room and plopped down at the twins’ feet, which they seemed to find a bit amusing because they were fighting small grins as it happened.

The Queen stood, pulling Valen’s attention back to her.

“High Commander,” Irena said, her voice carrying all the regal weight of a Queen now. This was a very different side of the woman than the one Valen had seen the first time he had met her. Now, he could see she was every bit the Queen he would have expected any great ruler to be. High Commander Karr took a few steps forward, drawing her blade and handing it hilt first to the Queen, who took it in her right hand before allowing it to fall to her side, for the moment.

“Valen Galar. Hera Galar. Senna Layne. The three of you are here today to mark the birth of a new beginning for Manidar, and for all of Parovia. The birth of hope in despair, light in darkness. Though the shadows may try to quench our fire, the Great Forger toils on, and his works do not go unfinished. For Valen and Hera, know too that on this great day, the Four surely see and bless this endeavor, for this is the day you step into your new calling as warriors and defenders of the peace. Masters of the skies, to be heralded as heroes, lords and ladies.”

Here, Queen Irena came to stand before Senna, placing the flat of the blade atop her head before then moving the point down to her heart, touching it lightly against the new sky-blue cloak that she wore. It was inscribed with the insignia of this new order – a wyvern’s silhouette, wings outstretched upon a cloud.

“Senna Layne, I now dub thee Lady Rhea, Knight of Manidar, Wyvern Rider and Protector of the Peace. May the Great Forger watch over you. Rise, and take your place.” As the Queen finished with Senna the former ranger stood, bowed, and backed away a few steps before standing at attention, hands clasped behind her back.

Irena moved to Hera, placing the flat of the blade atop her head and then placing it in the same place over the new cloak she wore, as well, atop their new order’s insignia.

“Hera Galar, I now dub thee Lady Hera, Knight of Manidar, Wyvern Rider and Protector of the Peace. May the Four grant you strength and mercy. Rise, and take your place.”

Hera rose, a bit shakier than Senna, though only because of her nerves and excitement. She backed away to stand beside the older girl. Then the Queen stood before Valen, placing the flat of the blade against the top of his head before lightly tapping its point over his heart on his new cloak, over the insignia, same as the others.

“Valen Galar, I now dub thee High Lord Valen, Great Knight of Manidar, Wyvern Master, Protector of the Peace, and Commander of your new order. May the Four grant you strength and mercy. Rise, and take you place,” she announced, and Valen, smiling slightly despite all of his previous misgivings, rose and stepped back. He came to a stop a step closer to the Queen than the other two, centered between them, so that they could all kneel once more as the final pronouncement was made.

“A new Order is birthed, in the name of goodness, and peace, and justice. Only one task remains to you, before you begin your work. Tell me, High Lord Valen, what name have you chosen for this new Order?” Irena asked him, and Valen grinned. Almost instinctually, he reached out with his mind, feeling the now familiar presence of Raenelir and sensing the wyvern’s joy at the decision they had reached earlier that very day.

He could declare their name with pride in where it came from, and what it meant to him and to Raenelir. He glanced over at Hera and Rhea, who looked back at him, smiling, nodding for him to continue. It would mean just as much to them, soon enough.

Turning to face the Queen, he stood up as straight as he could, one hand rising in a fist to hover over his heart in salute as he spoke.

“We are the Order of the Wind.”