So just a couple notes before you start reading, the chapter is told from Kairo’s point of view. Eifion is pronounced /AYV-yon/, I think that’s the only one with a weird pronunciation, let me know in the comments if you have questions about the pronunciations! Dragon Riders are mentioned, I have another post about that if you want more info.

*Optional* A little bit about Kairo before we get into this. His full name is Kairo Varick Nightwell. He’s 17, a Dragon Rider, has short black hair, and night-sky blue eyes. He stays with the Ashwoods, his best friend Martin’s, family. Macaiah Ashwood, Martin’s father, is a close friend of Curren Nighwell, Kairo’s father. So when Atlantia Nightwell, Kairo’s mother, passed away when he was 5 and Curren, his father, became mentally unstable for a time, Macaiah took Kairo in.

Okay! Let’s get into this!

Chapter 1

Kairo leaned back in his chair. This class could not get more boring. He let his eyes wander around the classroom. Martin, his best friend, was paying attention, as usual, somehow he found geography interesting. Kairo continued to look around. He didn’t know a whole lot of people here, probably because he considered friendships a waste of time. For the most part, Martin was an exception, and there was one other person he considered a friend, Eifion. Eifion’s dad worked on the council, and Eifion was usually able to gather information, which he passed along to Kairo. Yes, it was probably not the most honest thing to be doing, but Kairo was willing to risk that to make sure the council wasn’t planning on having him do anything for them. Kairo was a Dragon Rider and because of that he had a rather unique place in society. He wasn’t directly a part of the council, since he was only seventeen, but they involved him in some of the things they did. And he preferred to know what else they were doing. Kairo picked up his pencil and twirled it around but carefully kept it hidden behind his desk. 

He felt a pencil poke him in the back, “What was that for?!” He whispered angrily to Eifion, who happened to be behind him. 

Eifion made a face at him and pointed to the note he had on his desk. Kairo picked it up and turned back around, stuffing the note in his pocket and slumping in his chair. There was still 30 minutes left of this class. How was he going to survive? He glanced over at Martin again, who was now intently watching him. “What?” Kairo mouthed to him. Martin smirked, rolled his eyes, and shook his head before going back to paying attention. Kairo closed his eyes and focused on Martin, Channeling his Dragon Rider energy into telepathy. 

“Martin? Can you hear this?”

Martin looked back at him, trying to piece together what he had just heard.

“Cool, right?” Kairo smirked at him. “I just figured out how to do this a few days ago. Pretty sure I’ve convinced half the city that ghosts exist.”

“Wait, did you find out how to use telepathy? Can you hear me?” Martin asked.

“Yep, I can hear you! Don’t you think this has got to be the most boring class to ever exist?” Kairo asked.

“What am I gonna do with you, Kai?” Martin shook his head.

“You have to admi,t though, hearing Matteo practically go crazy yesterday was pretty funny.”

“You did that? Kai, he actually thought he was being chased by a ghost.”

“So? He kinda deserved it.”

“Mr. Nightwell, would you care to explain how you could have fallen asleep in class?”

Kairo’s eyes shot open, “I wasn’t asleep! I was closing my eyes, because it helps me concentrate.”

“You’d better have a reasonable answer next time.” Mr. Greenwood said, shaking his head. 

Class ended an eternity later. Thankfully, no further incidents occurred. Kairo picked up his bag and walked towards the door along with most of the class. A few people stayed behind to ask questions, but that was it. Kairo kept his head down, hoping no one he didn’t want to talk to would spot him. Suddenly, the warning horns blared. For a second everyone froze, unsure of what to do. Then, the entire place erupted into chaos, as people tried to find siblings and friends. Kairo glanced around for Martin, who was nowhere in sight. Kairo, or Kai as most of his friends called him, ran through the halls searching for Martin. 

“Kai! Watch out!” Eifion called to him from across the hall. 

Kairo skidded to a halt, frantically searching for Eifion and barely dodged a punch. Matteo was standing in front of him now, and he did not look too happy to see him. 

“You! I should have known. I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but whatever it is, I’m onto you.” 

Kairo ducked under Matteo’s next punch and disappeared into the crowd of students, expertly weaving his way through them. How had Matteo found out that was him yesterday? He had only told Martin, and Eifion could guess what he was up to just by looking at his face. But neither of them would tell. He knew that. He didn’t think Matteo had even seen him yesterday, so how would Matteo have found out that he was messing with him? Kairo shook his head and leaned against a wall. 

“Kairo?” 

He watched Emma, Martin’s little sister, walking towards him. 

“Have you seen Martin?” She asked, looking around, obviously confused and worried.

Kairo could see Matteo coming towards them out of the corner of his eye. “Uhhh, yeah, he said that he had to go home early,” Kairo lied. What was he supposed to tell her? If he told her the truth, she would want to look for Martin, and they would definitely end up running into Matteo. Kai wasn’t quite ready for that, especially in front of Emma or someone else that he knew. “Come on. Let’s go,” Turning his back to Matteo.

“But that doesn’t make any sense! Martin would’ve told me if he was leaving early!” Emma wasn’t going to let him go that easily.

“Listen, I’ll explain on the way back, but we need to go. Now!” Kairo scanned the halls for the closest exit. 

Emma followed him but continued to look around, trying to get a glance of Martin. Once they got out of the exit, they tacked up their pegasi. Kairo helped Emma up before swinging into Aquila, his pegasus’ saddle. As they were riding out, Kai saw Matteo, who was very obviously watching him, anger clearly written all over his face.

Well, that’s it! I hope you enjoyed it! Let me know what you think in the comments!

~Elowyn A. Archer