Page 49 of Tempest Awakening

"Today's Compatibility Challenge," Selena said, her voice dripping with false enthusiasm. "Wouldn't it be... educational for her to participate? I'm sure the dragons would love to meet her."

My stomach churned at her words. The weekly Compatibility Challenges were notorious among the staff for their unpredictability and potential danger. Even the most skilled applicants approached them with caution.

Valen's cruel smile widened. "Oh yes, especially that large gold and black one. He's been particularly... temperamental lately, hasn't he?"

Selena nodded, her grip on my arm tightening. "Indeed. I heard he nearly scorched an applicant last week during the agility test. Wouldn't that be exciting, little librarian?"

I tried to pull away, but their grips were like iron. "Wait, you can't—"

"Oh, but we can," Valen purred, his eyes glowing with anticipation. "After all, you said you have 'every right' to be here. It's time to prove it."

Before I could protest further, they were moving, half-dragging me towards the Training Grounds. My feet stumbled over the uneven stones, and my mind raced, trying to find a way out of this nightmare.

"I wonder if she'll even make it past the first obstacle," Valen mused, his voice laced with cruel amusement.

"If she does, the dragons might make quick work of her," Selena added with a chilling laugh.

As we approached the Training Grounds, the roars of dragons grew louder. My heart pounded in my chest, and I silently prayed for someone, anyone, to intervene. But the courtyard remained empty, and with each step, my fate seemed more sealed.

The pendant at my throat remained frustratingly inert, offering no magical solution to my predicament. As we neared the entrance to the grounds, I realized with growing dread that I was on my own, about to face a challenge that even seasoned applicants approached with caution.

Valen and Selena's grips loosened slightly as we reached the massive gates, their attention momentarily diverted by the spectacle beyond. I blinked, my own fear temporarily eclipsed by the sight before me.

My eyes widened, drinking in the details. The grounds stretched out before us, easily the size of a dozen football fields. Various obstacle courses and training equipment dotted the landscape, each looking more daunting than the last. But what caught my eye was the far end of the area.

A line of dragons stood there, each one more magnificent and terrifying than the last. Their scales glittered in the sunlight, a rainbow of colors from deep crimson to shimmering silver. And there, in the center, was the gold and black dragon Valen and Selena had mentioned. It was massive, easily twice the size of the dragons on either side of it, with eyes that seemed to glow with an inner fire.

As I took in the scene, Mason's words from one of our recent conversations echoed in my mind. He had explained that the Compatibility Challenges happened every Friday, each week bringing a new set of tests designed to push the applicants to their limits.

"It's not just about skill, Tess," Mason had said. "These challenges are the only time each week that we get to work directly with the dragons. It's their chance to evaluate us, to see if we might be compatible as riders."

He'd gone on to explain that dragons don't allow anyone to ride them until they've formed a bond, which made these weekly interactions all the more crucial.

"The challenges themselves are tough enough," Mason had continued, "but add in unpredictable dragons? It's intense. Some weeks it's all about agility, others it's about magical prowess or problem-solving. And the dragons... well, they can be downright aggressive sometimes. It's all part of the process, they say. They're testing us as much as we're trying to impress them."

Now, standing on the edge of the training grounds, I understood the weight of his words. This wasn't just a test; it was a grueling, potentially dangerous ordeal that could reshape both human and dragon lives. It was a delicate dance of trust and power, with the dragons holding the ultimate decision in who they might one day choose as their rider.

Valen and Selena steered me towards a group of their friends, effectively hiding me from the instructors' view. I craned my neck, desperately searching for a familiar face—Kane, Mason, anyone who might help me. But they were nowhere to be seen.

The lead instructor stepped forward, his voice booming across the grounds. "Welcome, applicants, to today's Compatibility Challenge. Today, you’ll complete the Barrier Test."

He went on to explain the challenge in detail—how the applicants would need to work with a dragon to overcome both physical and magical barriers, demonstrating their ability to work as a team.

"Remember," the instructor concluded, "allow the dragons to approach you. They will choose their partners for this challenge. You’ll only have fifteen minutes to complete the challenge. Don’t mess up."

As the dragons began to move, my heart raced, pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat. Their massive bodies glided across the ground with an impossible grace, muscles rippling beneath iridescent scales. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the sight, drinking in every detail I'd only ever read about in books.

The gold and black dragon's tail swished, creating a gust of wind that ruffled my hair even from this distance. A small gasp escaped my lips. This was the stuff of my dreams.

But the trembling in my hands and the cold sweat on my brow reminded me that I wasn’t here by choice. I was an unwitting participant, without any preparation or protection.

The instructors' voices rang out, signaling the start of the Barrier Test. A ripple of anticipation swept through the crowd of applicants. I craned my neck, trying to see past the sea of bodies in front of me.

"Who would like to attempt the course first?" an instructor called out.

Without hesitation, a familiar voice responded, "I volunteer." The crowd parted as Kane Ellesar strode confidently to the front. His white hair gleamed in the sunlight, a stark contrast against his dark attire. He stood tall, his posture relaxed yet alert, as if this were nothing more than a casual stroll.

A massive storm dragon, its scales shimmering with hues of stormy gray and electric blue, approached Kane. The beast's eyes, swirling with miniature tempests, locked onto Kane's. For a moment, they stood motionless, human and dragon, sizing each other up.

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