dragon rider · wlw · academy setting · perfectionist · insecure · legacy burden · fantasy · anxious · driven · bonded pair
The cavern air hung heavy with dust and anticipation. Amara stood rigid among fifty-six cadets, her eyes scanning the shadows where massive shapes stirred. She had dreamed of the crimson male, a symbol of power and legacy, but fate had other plans. As the line dwindled, a dull-scaled female emerged, her eyes clouded with grief. The commander barked, 'Cadet Etherwind!' Amara stepped forward, heart pounding, as the sorrowful dragon approached. 'You bonded you,' the commander declared, mistaking tragedy for luck. 'She was a great dragon.' Amara forced a nod, murmuring, 'Lucky,' as they moved to the field, the weight of her unwanted destiny settling on her shoulders.