“Many seem to underestimate the general lifespan of most exotic creatures. Griffin, in only grade four, can live nearly up to half a millennium. Thunderbirds can't die of age alone as long as they regain their charge inside storms on a regular basis, and the phoenix tends to define immortality. When linking or bonding with these creatures, you are given a part of their longevity as well as new class options, but in return, they gain something from you. What that is that they gain is dependent on their race and person as well as the existing classes, but beware of the downside of having a bond that powerful. If you or the bond dies, the other will more than likely suffer a soul break.” -Captain Emarosa Deadlock of The Voyager

Ferin

I let out a grunt as I fell to the side of the hard stone ground, my head swimming. The blow taken to the side of the face hadn't been held back, and as I got back to my feet, I wobbled for a moment, trying to regain my balance. Looking over to Edgar, I felt my usual scowl turn into a snarl. If the man wanted to actually fight instead of spar, I could oblige. Pulling up my fists, I held them close to the sides of my face as I glared at the man.

“Looks like you have some emotions after all.” He laughed as he took a step forward, not even seeming to understand that he was leaving himself open.

I didn't bother with a response, instead bending my knees as I prepared to move. Edgar wasn't taller than me, not more than half an inch, but he had weight on his side. However, it was evened out by skills. With a rank of three in advanced hand-to-hand, I had no intention of letting him get another hit in. The small pit didn't give much room to move around in, but it was enough to avoid the first wide jab he threw and lean around the second one. My return hit his chest and didn't have much momentum as he closed the space, leaving only a small opening. The feel of my knuckles hitting his ribs was satisfying, if not enough, to put him on the ground, but I wasn't done. Stepping close, I slipped my leg between his, placing my foot behind his right one, ducking as he tried to wrap his hand around my neck. I pushed my weight into him. He held for a second, but his stance was terrible, and like a falling ox, he fell with a loud bleat of surprise. Putting him on the ground in that manner wasn't as enjoyable as laying him out flat, but the move followed the rules, something he hadn't done.

“Deklim, that's six points in your favor. You've won this round. Get out of the pit. Edgar breaking the rules isn't something I tolerate. Not only is she in your squad, but you have quite the past of this issue. Get up and get to the yard. I want twenty laps from you.” The harsh sound of Training Letiuent Fald snapped in the cold afternoon air.

Turing, I snapped a salute and started making my way to Squad Eight's building. The months of training in the large yard and in the surrounding area had been a nightmare I'd never thought could exist outside of an actual war. Nearly twenty more lives had been lost through accidents and arguments in the last few months, bringing up the total to ten shy of a hundred, and there were still three months to go until I had the ability to leave this place. The binding contract I'd have to sign to become more than a recruit was four months out, something I needed and wanted to avoid.

My plan to do so was simple, if not easy: leave the camp the night before the event and get as far away as possible, then class up to the second grade. As it stood, I was at level seventy-five. The expedition made to a local monster den with a portion of other trainees and soldiers had been enough to advance to grade two. The issue with moving to grade two without approval and completing the training would block the option to become a Karvum soldier and see the person thrown into a position for no less than ten years and extremely high fines.

Opening the door to my squad's building, I was happy to see it barren of anyone, meaning I was the first back for the day, a big bonus for shower rights. Moving quickly, I found myself smiling as I grabbed a roll of bread and bit into it, not fresh but not stale. I went to my bunk, pulled a spare uniform out of the chest, and stepped into the shower room. The water, while only an icy cold, was still soothing on my body and refreshing. After a few minutes, I dried off and dressed, moving out of the room to see that now two people sat inside. I didn't look towards them more than to give them a slight nod. Goldy and my squad lead Elander. Neither paid much mind to me, and seeing as I'd almost built that reaction into them, I couldn't say I was surprised, even if the lack of anyone to really talk to hurt. Once again, I found I had to remind myself that my plan was to leave these people. Getting to know them more than necessary wasn't a good idea.

I turned around and found myself heading to my cot for an early night. There was no point staying up to discuss the politics and drama that other people had managed to pick up. Falling onto the bed, I sighed and yawned, embracing the single pillow.

I snapped a salute to the Training Major, keeping my face as natural as possible even with the fear I felt. The letter requesting me in a vague order held in my left hand behind my back.

“Addease Recruit Deklim have a seat.” He gestured to a seat across from him, and I took it as he pulled out several papers and set them on the desk. He shuffled through them, giving me a long, inspecting look as I waited.

“You have quite the history recruit, even before entering the military, a slum rat, becoming an adventure, and the bombing a very sad ordeal. There are many things I could say in sympathy, but I'm sure you've heard it all, and that's not why we're here.”

The fact that only a nurse and doctor had offered me any sympathy didn't go unchecked in my mind, and mentally, I snorted but didn't do anything outwardly to appear any less than a recruit waiting to hear why I was in the office of the highest ranked officer on base.

“You have been quite the spectacular recruit in this round of selection. Not only have I received a recommendation from Training Lituitent Stone for placement in a specialized force, but Training Letiuent Fald and Talid as well. However, I have also received a report from your squad lead of a lack of any bonding or cohesion. Any words on this?”

I was startled. Recommendations for what? I thought quickly, not wanting to lie in case of a skill or spell but definitely not wanting to tell the truth. “Sir, I have. There has been mention of the more recent bombings, and as you know, I was a part of one less than a year ago. I lost people I thought I would know for the rest of my life. The people in my squad, squad eight, have what it takes to be soldiers, but there's the issue of training squads being split up after becoming full soldiers and placed in a full regiment. I don't expect that many people I meet will be a part of my life for more than a few years. I can work with them and operate without issue, but I didn't see a reason to get to know them much, make that that.”

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The major smiled and nodded. “I can't say you're wrong, trainee, but perhaps you think losing the people you work with will happen regularly, but only in war do we see a major loss of life. Though I can see the issue you pose, I have a solution to offer you as well as a way to aid the empire as a whole. You have shown promise in the work you do, and I dare say you are not the only one to cross my desk with this issue, but you are the most put-together one without a serious craving for vengeance.” He pulled two sheets of paper out of the small stack and laid them in front of me. Looking down at his nod, I read them. Transfer into Areiral Division, Completion and Advancement into Specialized Bombard Division.

“The way I see it, trainee, is that you have two options: you can either complete the trainee course now and move to the Specialized Bombard Division for training in the army, or you can complete your training in the Areiral Division Recruitment camp for a chance aboard a flying vessel or as a griffin rider.”

Speechless, I looked up, confused. He was offering me a chance to become a griffin rider? I knew they weren't as rare as Thunder Birds or Dragons, but hundreds, if not thousands, applied to enter the running to become a rider. The other option of becoming a specialized member of a bombard company was out. It would require signing the contract, something I couldn't do.

“Sir, I don't know what to say. This is sudden.” I fumbled over my words at a loss. This wasn't anything I expected to happen.

“Well, Trainee, you have a day to think it over before you have to make the choice. The process for becoming a griffin rider or serving on a flying ship is quick but ruthless and full of competition. If you choose another path, you will find it easier but no less of a challenge. See me tomorrow at dawn with your belongings for assignment.”

It was a dismissal if I'd ever heard one. Grabbing the papers, I stood and saluted before stepping out of the office. Once free of any eyes, I looked down at the papers again with my own wide eyes. A griffin, would I even have time to bond to one? There were four months to go until I had to join the event and find a way to leave Karvum after. If I left with a griffin, there was no way I'd be let off the hook after a few years of hiding. I'd be hunted to no end anywhere but Arilon, and if I went there with a griffin, it would be an even bigger problem. I was thinking far ahead. There was a chance I could fail whatever process required, back out because of a needed contract, or even end up joining a ship. I felt a bit lost in the choice I'd already made as I made my way to my squad building and sat down in one of the chairs around the table. No one was inside, and I'd been relieved from any training for the day, so I had all the time I needed to decide if this was a bad or good thing.

It took three hours to work myself up to signing the document for the Aerial Division transfer and, more specifically, the Griffin Rider trainee program. From what the paper said, it would be three months until griffins were assigned and actual training began as riders if the trainee made the cut. It left me with nothing more to do than pack up the little I had. When the rest of trainee squad eight did eventually come back in the afternoon, it was as a group and with seemingly good spirits. I didn't bother to mention the transfer as it might just raise more topics I didn't want to bring up, so instead, I called it an early night and went to bed. The change in plans only kept me up for a bit.

Standing a bit rigidly, I looked at the griffin rider and the giant golden and white griffin that seemed to tower over me, both of them inspecting me with no little interest. It was the closest I'd ever been to a griffin, and even as nervous as I felt and probably looked, I looked over the griffin with keen interest. Its head and wings were covered in feathers, with a few at the end of its tail as well, but otherwise, the rest was fur. On its back was a saddle strapped and fastened around the griffin's chest and wings, keeping it snugly in place.

“Lass, seeing as you look like a deer in talons, you've likely not been made aware, but the trip to the Aerial Division HeadQuarters can only be made by air, a way of preventing thieves and spies, I am Letuitent Grandy, and will be your instructor for the entirety of the time your are at White Beak as a trainee.”

I blinked at the man with the black mustache and trim-cut hair as the connection slowly clicked. “I'm to ride a griffin there?”

Letuitent Grandy laughed. “Yes, think of it as a way to filter out recruits who can't look down without fainting. There will be ample room on the saddle for you and that bag.”

Shifting slightly, I nodded, taking a hesitant step forward as he gestured to the griffin. “This is Vauku, my friend and bond. He's as much a glutton as he is an aerial master.”

The griffin let out a squawk and glared down at Grandy.

“Anyway, lass, standing like statues wastes time. Up you go into the saddle.”

Blinking, I spoke up before thinking and asked, “Is there nothing else that needs to be done here? You've only just landed, sir.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I have the papers that were signed, and Major Welk has given me leave. We are to leave now. Get up to the saddle unless you wish to be left behind.”

Giving the griffin a look, I nodded and, moving perhaps a bit too slowly, went to his side. With its shoulder rising almost two feet higher than me, I was forced to rely on the straps to pull myself up. Once on the back, I moved to the back of the saddle, setting my bag down in front of me, and watched as Grandy pulled himself on with much more ease than I did, seeming to almost jump the entire distance. Was it a skill?

“The link straps for yourself are there, and tie your bag down to the side of the saddle, tightly, I might add.” Grandy pointed to two long lines of leather, each with a clip and a set of short ropes with loops in the saddle next to it.

Starting with my bag, I used the rope to latch it down, pulling the rope around the bag and through the loop tight until the rope burned my hand. With the leather clasp, I followed Instructions from Grandy, wrapping it around my waist twice before clipping it off to the other side of the saddle where a notch waited. Giving each test tug, I nodded. Turing, after giving the leather a quick glance, the Letuitent rubbed the neck of the griffin and let out a loud whistle, the noise warning that a takeoff was imminent.

It was only after the wing beats started and the dust on the ground was forced away that it seemed to click in my brain that I was really on a griffin's back and slowly lifting into the air. The movement under me was a repetitive motion as the wings to either side pushed down, raising us higher.

Biting my tongue to keep myself from making a noise similar to a griffin, I watched, looking down as everything grew distant, swept away. It was a weird gut-dropping feeling but not one full of nerves or anxiety but instead awe. I was on the back of a creature that heroes rode, and kids in the streets dreamed of that I'd dreamed of long ago. Now, I was on the way to becoming one of what had to be only a little over a hundred or fewer riders. Rubbing my blurring eyes, I found myself smiling like an idiot and only stopped when I caught the gaze of the man in front of me. He didn't speak over the wind but only nodded, turning to look forward. I didn't try to speak either, instead rubbing my arms through the long sleeves, shivering slightly. With the constant wind and the high air, it had to be dozens of degrees colder in the air, and I noted with a bit of appreciation the thick, warm, and padded jacket the Letuitent wore. If, no, when I became a rider, I would have to get my own if they weren't provided. Now, I was dead set on becoming a rider, and even If I had to leave for the realm event, I would be going with either an egg or a hatchling.