In one week, I could run three laps without wanting to die.

After the second week, I could do push-ups for one hour straight without breaking a sweat.

By the end of the third week, I couldn’t recognize my own body. 

Not only did I have more muscle mass, it was almost as if I had grown a few centimeters. My muscles were more defined, my arms and legs were bigger, and I had so much more energy.

I was stronger.

Still, the sight of Styx in front of me made me freeze. Somehow it felt like no matter how many years I trained, he would always be judging me. Calculating whether I was good enough to ride him.

Emrys spent the entire morning going through the most basic fundamentals of mounting and riding a dragon. How to hold the reins, how to stay balanced, how to increase speed, how to break momentum, how to maneuver, how to climb…

In a way, there were a lot of things I already knew. Yet knowing the theories behind swimming strokes was so vastly different from being thrown into a raging sea and having to swim for your life.

Standing in front of an adult dragon was truly a sight to behold. Although Styx was not the biggest or tallest dragon I had seen—especially for being a two-legged—I could barely reach his front legs.

Even before when I measured around 1.73 meters, I wouldn’t call myself short. Yet I wouldn’t doubt if Styx was able to fit my entire body in his mouth, either. 

The dragon had to lower himself for me to climb, and before long I was checking my gear, saddle, and reins. The first thing I noticed was how my body felt more comfortable and confident in the position. His scales were cool to the touch, and within seconds I could sense the dragon’s might and power. His sheer strength, even when standing still.

“You should be able to fly around the grounds at least once, without making a complete fool out of yourself.”

I had to suppress a laugh, though the irony remained. “Your words of encouragement warm my heart…”

There was a long silence before I heard Emrys again.

“If you can’t ride, even with all the training you did…”

I didn’t let him finish.

“I will ride, and I will have my revenge. So you can sit down and watch me. I will need your evaluation later.”

Styx started to move, with no rush, as if he knew I was ready to try. Although my hands were as steady as they could be, my insides were shaking.

I had to control myself. No—

I had to win.

“You saw how hard I was working for this, right?” I whispered under my breath, watching the dragon’s ear twitch. Making sure he was listening. “I will show you how much I improved. So…after I succeed, we will have to work together. So we can keep winning. You do good by me, and I do good by you. That’s my proposal.”

I could not see Styx’s expression, nor the look in his eyes. Like a fool, I kept waiting for a reply, even when I knew dragons didn’t speak. However, when I started to pay attention, I noticed…

The way the dragon flexed his wings slowly, twice. How he stretched his claws and moved every muscle in his back legs. How I could almost hear his beating heart, racing bit by bit. It was then I realized how, very likely, Styx had been waiting for this moment.

To fly and compete again, after all those years. To have a rider mount him, and lead him to victory. And I had to make sure I would be that rider to him.

Then, before I could say or do anything else—

Styx opened his wings and charged toward the sky.

The recoil was way stronger than I had anticipated, even when compared to my previous attempts. I felt my stomach drop as Styx gained altitude and flew higher. My heart was ready to carve a hole and jump out of my chest—this would be a terrible time to find out I had a fear of heights.

Then, there was a shift. We stopped going up, the wind brushing against my face gently instead. I hadn’t even realized I had my eyes closed until I opened them again, and when I did, I lost my breath.

In all the previous attempts, I would fall from Styx the moment he set flight. I never rode him—never properly flew with him.

I never saw the world from above the clouds. I was always, constantly, looking up. At the sky, at the sun, fooling myself into trying to capture their might with my bare hands and always failing.

But at that moment, I could touch the clouds and feel the sunlight closer to my skin.

And the sight from above—it was marvelous.

I felt like a giddy child, tears burning in my eyes without ever falling. This was the view of victory. What riders saw whenever they raced.

Styx flew around the grounds at a normal pace, as if he were someone strolling in a park. Enjoying the morning. I could feel his muscles moving every time he flapped his wings, the raw power and might that emanated from his body. 

Yet I had seen dragons flying for real. 

I knew how fast dragons had to be in races. I knew how fast Styx actually was.

I tightened my grip on the reins, suddenly very aware I was wearing only shoulders and head protectors.

“This is not the fastest you can go, right?” The black dragon tilted his head in my direction, paying attention. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking, whether it was due to fear or excitement I could not know. “I paid a hefty sum for you. Why don’t you give me a taste?”

The dragon remained silent, his speed unchanging.

I held the reins even tighter.

“Come on, show me what I’ve been missing. Just be sure to catch me if I fall.”

There was a low growl, the sound reverberating through me, making my heart beat even faster. 

Then one thought crossed my mind.

In that split second, I recalled how Styx’s attribute was air. And almost like pages turning, my memory searched for the information almost on its own.

The thing most Air dragons do—the reason why so many riders loved to pick dragons with air attributes.

The speed boosts.

In less than a heartbeat, my vision was completely distorted.

The only reason I wasn’t thrown out of the saddle was because I had the reins wrapped in my arms. My body flailed, the air hitting my face like punches while the only thing keeping me from a free fall was the reins, which connected me to Styx. 

I was only able to find footing again and try to sit back on the saddle when the air boost came to an end, the pacing slightly slower.

However, the strength I had to put on my arms and shoulders to keep me centered was insane. As if I was being mocked for all the effort and hard work I had put into training for the past weeks. 

Without any warning, Styx dove in a spiral, spinning his body as if he wanted to pierce a hole into the earth. Then he changed directions, flying in zigzag before gaining altitude again with a ridiculous speed.

I thanked my past self for skipping breakfast at least five times.

My hands were sweating—too much. Little by little, I was losing my grip. Sooner than later, my body would start slipping and that would be it.

Before I could tell Styx I had seen enough, and that we could slow down, my world shifted angles. Up became down, gravity pulling my body with a raw hunger. As my body slipped away, I had barely any strength left to hold on to the reins.

Styx had turned upside down, and as I plummeted toward the ground I could not only see his gaze fixated on me but also his grin. 

He had done that on purpose.

The only thing I could do was crack a smile.

“You sneaky bastard…”

There was a small lake right below me. Yet even then, in that altitude, I could easily shatter every bone in my body with the collision, which would ruin my chances of competing forever.

If I didn’t die first. 

I had a countermeasure with me, however. Something every rider should carry, in case of emergencies. I could only use it when I was closer to the ground, though. 

Before I had a chance to use it, claws closed around me, the black dragon smirking at me as he carried me in his hind legs. I showed him the middle finger, yet there was not an ounce of anger in me.

Rather, I was ecstatic. 

In less than a few minutes both me and Styx were landing on the ground. 

Emrys rushed to our side, punching me on the side the second he got close enough.

“Hey! What was that for?!”

“You know what.”

I pointed at Styx. “He dropped me on purpose!”

“I’m not talking about that, and you know it.” The boy began to remove Styx’s gear with speed and precision. “Next time, know your limits before you demand a speed boost.”

I messaged my neck, averting my eyes from Emrys’ irritation. “Sorry…won’t happen again.”

For a few moments, Emrys said nothing. 

Then he turned to me, a new glow in his eyes.

“So. What did you think?”

The grin spread in my face against my will, my body still tingling with excitement.

“I cannot wait to do it again.”