Callan fiddled with his hands as he sat, anxiously awaiting the announcement of his name.

“Next up, Hallid Foress, from Keldren!”

Today was the first day of Autumn, the day that everyone over the age of 18 who hadn’t already, could come to Baust, capital of Rederia, and attempt to summon a dragon. More commonly referred to as the Dragon Ceremony, travelers would come from all over Rederia for a chance to become a Dragon Rider.

“And next we have... Ferris Conners, from Baust!”

Callan looked up when he heard his friend Ferris’ name called up. Ferris was a childhood friend that Callan grew distant from over time but the sound of a familiar name brought him a bit of comfort.

“Congratulations Ferris on a successful summoning! Please see the Rider Corps Representative to register for your required service.”

And there’s the catch. Anyone who successfully summons a dragon must commit to a 3-year enlistment with the Dragon Rider Corps. Since there’s not a great chance of summoning a dragon in the first place, Rederia requires it as a means of keeping its status as the most powerful country in the region. Though for Callan, this wasn’t a catch at all. This was an incentive.

Callan’s father, Kieran, a Captain in the Dragon Rider Corps, had given his life to Rederia and the Dragon Riders 9 years ago when a group of rogue Dragon Riders attempted a coup on the city of Baust. Callan was only nine at the time but remembers his father’s goggles being brought to him by Fenrin, a friend of Kieran and fellow Rider, who was now a Vice Admiral in the Corps.

“Next up, Petro Mandis, from Lond!”

Callan tried to remember in his head where Lond was in relation to his hometown of Baust. He only remembered that it was somewhere near the coast when his train of thought was interrupted by a familiar, yet unfriendly voice.

“What’s the matter Callan? Afraid to disappoint your daddy?”

Callan turned to see Garred, a childhood bully from Callan’s school days, leaned up against a wall.

“Come now, don’t play dumb. We all know your father foolishly gave up his life fighting another dragon head-on, after letting his own dragon get killed.” Garred sneered as he walked up towards Callan.

The hall Callan had chosen to hide away in had been fairly quiet, up until this point, as most of the people waiting to be called up stood in front of the colosseum’s massive doors. But now others began to make their way around after hearing Garred’s loud voice echo though the halls that encircle the entire colosseum where the Dragon Ceremony takes place.

“What did you just say...?” Callan asked, his fist clenching as he felt his face get hot.

“I said-”

Garred was interrupted by a loud scream followed by a pleading voice that seemed to be upset about something.

“Congratulations Petro on a successful summoning! Please... um...  see the Rider Corps Representative...” The announcer’s voice seemed to trail off as sounds of resistance and dragging proceeded to fill the air.

Garred shrugged and began to walk towards one of the side doors that connects to the field of the colosseum, an overflow entrance in case the main entrance was too crowded by the hundreds of other future summoners. “I’m tired of waiting. I think I’ll go and keep the crowd entertained even longer.”

“You can’t just...” Callan stopped as Garred closed the door mid-sentence.

“Anyways! Up next its- Oh! Looks like one of our own hometown celebrities is on their way next! Garred Fallister, Son of the great Barod Fallister, from Baust!”

“Ughh...” Callan moaned and hit his fist against the wall, “Please don’t let him summon a-”

“AMAZING! LOOK AT THAT BEAUTIFUL DRAGON! CONGRATULATIONS, GARRED FALLISTER ON SUCCESSFULLY SUMMONING A DRAGON! Please see the Rider Corps Representative to register for your required service!”

“That was… so fast…” Callan slumped back on his bench and sighed, “Why do guys like that get to summon a Dragon?”

As the others that had been attracted by the argument began to dissipate, seeing the confrontation was over, Camil, another childhood friend of Callan’s stood there and saw Callan’s reaction, and decided to try and comfort his old friend.

“Ahh, don’t worry about guys like that.” Said Camil as he put a hand on Callan’s shoulder, “He probably won’t even enlist. I bet his father will pay to ensure he doesn’t have to do the required three years!”

“I hope you’re right, Camil...” Callan huffed smiling a bit to himself, imagining Garred crying over having to complete mandatory service in the Rider Corps.

“I mean, did you really expect a descendant of one of the Three Dragon-Blooded Families to NOT summon a Dragon? It's unheard of.”

Garred is part of the Fallister family, one of the three families that claims a lineage connected to one of the three founders of Rederia and the discoverers of the Dragon Summoning Circle. Its rumored that their blood is so powerful that any descendant of a Dragon-Blooded family will always summon a dragon.

“I know, I just-” Callan was cut off as the announcer began again.

“Next up, Callan Erabastion, from Baust!”

“Hey hey! That’s you bud, show em’ whatchu got!” Camil smiled as he slapped Callan on the back, prompting him up and towards the door.

“Right...” Callan took in a deep breath and locked hands with Camil, shook, and then headed out the door, ready to summon his dragon.

* * *

Callan took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm raging inside him as he stepped into the arena. The Summoning Circle loomed ahead, its ancient runes glowing faintly, promising either triumph or humiliation. His footsteps echoed in the vast space as he approached the circle, his heart pounding like a war drum.

“Stay calm,” he muttered under his breath. “Summon a dragon.”

He stopped just before the runes and hesitated for a moment. Then, with a surge of determination, he stepped into the circle. At first, nothing happened. The silence was deafening, the anticipation unbearable.

“Come on,” he whispered, clenching his fists. “Come on. Come on...”

The air shifted. A sudden gust whipped around him, turning hot and fiery. Sparks ignited and small flames began to spiral upwards, encircling him like a fiery whirlwind. The flames grew larger, consuming the air with heat and light. The crowd gasped as Callan was lifted off the ground, the energy surging through him so intense it blinded everything in sight.

When the light subsided, Callan found himself floating face-to-face with... something. A small, red dragon hovered before him, its eyes blinking curiously as if it, too, was confused by what had just happened.

“Hm?” Callan murmured, unsure of what he was seeing.

The announcer’s voice boomed across the arena.

“CONGRATULATIONS, CALLAN ERABASTION, ON SUCCESSFULLY SUMMONING A... WAIT… WHAT IS THAT?!”

Callan stared in stunned silence. The creature was tiny, barely the size of a house cat. It didn’t look fierce or majestic like the dragons he had dreamed of. No, this dragon looked... adorable.

The crowd erupted into laughter, their jeers echoing through the arena like a cruel symphony.

“WELL, THAT’S A FIRST! IS THAT EVEN A DRAGON?” the announcer said, failing to contain his amusement.

Callan’s face burned with embarrassment. He felt the heat of a thousand eyes on him, mocking him, judging him. He glanced down at the small dragon, which had now perched itself on his shoulder and was nuzzling his neck.

“What the hell?!” Callan growled, pushing the dragon off. It landed on the ground and looked up at him with wide, hurt eyes.

The laughter grew louder. Callan couldn’t take it anymore. Dropping his head in shame, he turned and bolted from the arena.

Back in the hall, Camil looked up, confused, as Callan shoved the door open and stormed in.

“Callan?” Camil called, stepping forward. “What happened out there? I heard the announcer say something about—”

Callan pushed past him, not saying a word. Camil staggered slightly, stunned by the force, and watched his friend disappear out of the exit.

“What the...?” Camil muttered, still trying to piece together what he’d just seen.

* * *

The forest was quiet, save for the rustling of leaves and Callan’s labored breaths as he ran. He didn’t stop until he reached a clearing with a large oak tree—the same tree he had sat under so many times before, watching others, like Fenrin, fly above him.  Tears streamed down his face as he collapsed at its base, pulling his knees up and burying his head in his arms.

“Why...” he whispered, his voice shaking. “Why couldn’t I summon a normal dragon?”

Images of his father flashed in his mind of his father riding his dragon, leading the charge like a true hero.

“You were so cool...” Callan said softly while sniffling. “And I can’t even summon a dragon I could ride...”

He lifted his head slightly, staring at the sky through the gaps in the branches. “Has that ever even happened before? Every dragon I’ve ever seen was fully grown...”

Before he could finish the thought, a shadow passed over him. He looked up, squinting against the sun, and his heart sank.

Garred and his newly acquired dragon were already flying around, circling once before diving toward Callan.

“Well, well,” Garred sneered, as he pulled up to Callan and spoke from his yellow dragon’s back “If it isn’t the failure of the Ceremony himself. You didn’t just ruin the Ceremony—you embarrassed the entire capital by summoning that pathetic excuse of a dragon.”

Callan didn’t respond, his head still lowered.

“Oh, what’s the matter? Cat got your tongue? Or did your little ‘dragon’ get eaten by a bird already?” Garred laughed.

Callan clenched his fists. “You’re nothing but a spoiled brat,” he muttered. “You only summoned a dragon because of your family.”

The smirk on Garred’s face disappeared, replaced by cold fury. He pulled his dragon closer, its claws outstretched as it snatched Callan by his shirt.

“You’re a waste of a good Rider, Callan,” Garred hissed, lifting him into the air. “And I’m doing Rederia a favor by getting rid of you.”

As they climbed higher and higher into the sky, Callan struggled against the dragon’s grip, panic overtaking him. In a desperate move, he bit down on the dragon’s claw. It screeched and released him.

“NO!” Garred yelled, his face pale as Callan began to fall. “I didn’t mean to...” Garred panicked and with a look of terror, he turned his dragon and fled, as Callan went plummeting towards the ground.