There were four main factors a rider had to consider when choosing a dragon; species, core, attributes, and age.

There were three species of dragons: wingless, two-legged, and four-legged dragons.

Four-legged dragons were physically stronger. They usually had more raw power and could really take a hit, since their bodies were sturdier. However, because of their massive size, they lacked somewhat regarding mobility and speed.

On the other hand, wingless dragons were all about speed. Since they had no wings, they could maneuver and dodge with great precision. This speed came at the cost of having a weaker resistance overall, and lacking a higher destructive power.

Two-legged dragons were a good balance of both. They were the race most recommended to novices.

For their cores, there were only two types; cold and warm. The core type dictated a dragon’s diet and habitat.

Dragons with cold cores had to live in damper, cooler environments, while the ones who possessed warm cores needed hotter and drier environments. That was because dragons’ bodies could not regulate their temperature, being ectothermic creatures.

A dragon’s age, however…

This was one of the key factors in defining their price.

Racing dragons usually lived around seventy years, usually retiring around fifty. The minimum age a dragon had to be to compete was around three years old. Their ‘golden age’ was between five and ten—dragons this old were the most expensive, by far.

My current problem was money.

I had a total of 400 million.

Even with Angus’ help, I barely had enough. If I used all the money he had given to buy a dragon, perhaps I could get a decent one, between fifteen and thirty years old. However, I needed to think about the gear—both for me and for the dragon—their food, the equipment to keep the ideal environment, a place where we could both stay and train, the fee for Ergos’ entrance exam…

Which meant I could spend, at most, 200 million to buy a dragon.

And in this price—

I could only get the ones close to retirement.

“Chambers L to Z are that way. Their aisles are separated by attribute, you can follow the plaques if you get confused. Or just ask Dan. He’s responsible for that section.” The man did not even take his eyes away from the newspaper, his beanie falling to the side as if it shared the same boredom and tiredness as its owner.

I bit my lip, an anger boiling quietly within me.

As Jackal, I had closed many deals with this guy. If I told him who I was, I could probably get a good discount.

[THE SECOND COMING OF IKARUS: HOW ONE OF THE GREATEST RINGLEADERS FELL IN DISGRACE]

Yet the more I stared into the newspaper article the man was reading, the more unforgiving reality looked.

If I wanted to have my revenge, I had to make sure ‘Jackal’ would never see the light of day again.

Still, it was difficult to hide the dryness in my voice. “Will do. Thanks.”

I ignored all chambers for warm core dragons; I hated heat, so I would rather not be forced to live drenched in sweat just so my dragon could train properly. Their diet usually involved a lot more red meat, and those were expensive.

The first chamber had only trash. There were people trying to sell dragons with limping legs and blinded eyes for 180 million, and I was lucky whenever I found one with a strong attribute.

The second one had good ones—too good, in fact. They were enhanced breeds, and even though the dragons were older, almost reaching their fifties, they could actually compete with the younger generation. Yet with starting prices of 280 million, there was no way I could purchase one.

By the third chamber I entered, I began to despair.

It was as if my options were either to get a dying dragon or spend more than I could with an enhanced animal. And if I wanted to pass Ergos’ entrance exam, I needed a decent dragon.

The very minimal amount of decency.

I went to one of the last chambers in the corner, the letter ‘Z’ almost faded completely. I opened the heavy door, the wood creaking as I stepped inside.

Compared with the other chambers, this one was colder and smaller. Enough to send a chill through my body as my eyes glanced at the different plaques, specifying the attributes.

Each aisle had between ten and seventeen cages, with at least three different vendors who would try to sweet-talk anyone just to get rid of their dying merchandise. Every cage had a small “cave”; a dark, enclosed space where dragons could enter to either sleep, eat, or run away from all the noisy humans. 

Since I was an inexperienced rider, it was best to get a more destructive attribute, like fire. Or something easier to handle, like water.

Perhaps because it was the last chamber, but there were fewer dragons on display. And there was not a single one who appeared to be in good enough condition to go back to racing.

I kept strolling through the aisles, my despair growing with each given step. Not even the vendors were trying to approach me, their eyes hollow and bored. As if they knew none of those dragons would ever be sold.

As if they had already lost all hope.

This place was the most affordable one. I was dreading the thought of going to any other store, yet if I found nothing, paying more for less would be my only option. 

That, or begging Angus for more money.

I turned right on the last aisle. It was as if that aisle had been forgotten, the silver mana powering its lights faint and failing. At first, I thought it was empty. There were no vendors in sight, much less lit cages.

Yet as I walked glancing to both sides, trying to see if there were any dragons sleeping inside the caves or hidden in a corner, I saw the only lit cage right in the middle section.

The first thing I found odd about that particular cage was the plaque. While others tried to make their plaques as attractive as possible—most often over-exaggerating the dragon’s condition—this one was almost too bland. As if whoever wrote it couldn’t even be bothered to write the dragon’s name, much less their attributes and qualities.

Carved on the wood, in a terrible handwriting, was the following:

‘Styx’

‘Cold Core; Air’

‘Experienced Racer’

‘54’

Nothing more, nothing less. Not even a portrait to show the dragon’s appearance or an orb displaying their past accomplishments.

The second thing that caught my attention, however, was the empty cage. Like all other cages, there was a cave on the wall, yet all dragons would be outside. Some vendors would even close the cave’s entrance or make it so the dragon would be at least half visible. They were trying to make a sale, after all.

Yet not ’Styx’.

This dragon, they were nowhere in sight.

I got closer to the bars, trying to steal a glance into the cave.

“May I help you, sir?”

I jumped as a voice reached me from behind my shoulder. I turned around, trying not to appear as startled as I was. A lady was staring at me with wide-open eyes, her gaze attentive yet desperate. Her smile kind yet frozen.

For some reason, it was unsettling.

“…yes. This dragon here, are they still for sale?”

“Indeed he is, sir! For what reason are you looking to acquire an older dragon?”

The fact she was still standing only a few inches away from me was troublesome, forcing me to take a few steps back. I cleared my throat.

“I want to become a rider. Heard the learning curve is easier with an older one. It says here Styx is experienced with races?”

The lady nodded cheerfully, her hands clasped together.

“He is! During his golden age, Styx won many competitions in both modalities. For a novice like yourself, I am certain his vast experience will prove to be extremely useful.”

More and more I was convinced that Styx would either be completely blind or be missing a limb.

“How much?”

Her frozen smile was bright enough to reach her eyes.

“318 million!”

I managed to hold back my laughter, yet not my mockery.

“You can’t be actually serious.”

Suddenly her smile and the light in her eyes were gone, the lady glaring at me as if she wanted to see me bleed.

“Are you saying Styx is not worth this much?”

“I’m saying it’s a ridiculous amount for a dragon I can’t even see.”

And then her smile was back, her voice joyful and pleasant once again.

“Why, if you wished to see him, all you had to do was ask!”

Though I gave a weak smile, the uneasiness and annoyance I felt were probably reflected in my eyes.

The lady whistled, the sound melodic and soothing as it echoed through the space.

For what felt like one long minute, nothing happened or changed. I was starting to doubt the woman’s sanity, thinking perhaps ‘Styx’ was not even real—

When I met a pair of eyes glowing from within the darkness.

Gazing right into my soul.