Professor Valerius and Nymeria climbed down the wide stone steps of Wyrmwood academy.

"Do you think they will send him to the Enclave?" Nymeria asked quietly as they walked. "I am sure the entire kingdom saw that symbol in the sky yesterday. A Dragon and a Star... it has not happened in centuries."

Valerius murmured as he adjusted the collar of his coat. "I would not be surprised if they decided to send him there. The Council has always fears what they cannot control. And right now, the boy is the definition of uncontrollable."

Nymeria did not say another word. She just gripped her academy uniform tighter.

Soon, they arrived at the open field. Waiting for them was Senior Cadet Elian, standing next to his dragon, a black dragon. Senior Cadet Elian was the one who had given Reynold a chance during the second trial, and if anything he was happy be did.

Seeing them approach, Elian straightened and offered a respectful bow. "Professor Valerius." He nodded to Nymeria. "Nymeria."

"Elian," Valerius responded with a slow nod. "Is she ready?"

Elian turned to his dragon, patting the dragon’s neck. "I got her ready as soon as I received the letter yesterday. I did not know the meeting will be shifted to this morning."

"No one knew." Valerius said.

Elian nodded then turn and swung himself up into the saddle. Nymeria followed, then Valerius climbed on behind her.

"Hold tight," Elian warned.

With a powerful thrust of her hind legs, the back dragon fly into the air. The wind whipped past their faces as the dragon rode.

The dragon kept flying until a big fortress building came into view. It was a blue tall building that was at the side of a jagged cliff and it is accessible by air.

The flew down towards the open area at the top where several other dragons had already landed. The sound of wings flapping and the claws of dragons landing filled rhe arena.

As Elian dragon landed, Professor Valerius was the first to slide off the back, Nymeria followed, smoothing her dress. Elian stayed by the dragon side patting the head.

A man in official robes hurried over to greet Valerius.

"Valerius, it’s good to see you again!" The man said as he shook hands Valerius.

Nymeria turned looking for someone. She spotted a tall, broad-shouldered man with a stern face adjusting his robe.

It was her father, the Viceroy of the North.

"Excuse me," she muttered to Elian. "My father is over there.."

Elian nodded, watching her walk away before turning to Valerius who was still talking with the man.

Soon Valerius was done talking and him and Elian walked toward the massive iron doors of the Fortress. The entrance was locked, but a group of powerful figures were already waiting.

Nymeria rejoined Valerius at the door and her father was behind her, trailing a few steps. He shook hands with Valerius, before turning to greet someone else.

"King Kaelen approaches," a guard announced.

Immediately, the atmosphere changed as King Kaelen strode toward them, his cape billowing and everyone bowed slightly.

"The keys," Kaelen grunted.

A servant in a grey cloth rushed forward, holding a circular tray.

The King reached into his robe and brought out a piece of black metal, and placing it on the tray.

Nymeria’s father, the Viceroy of the North, brought out the second piece.

The Viceroy of the East, a tall man with a scar across his face, placed the third one.

The Headmaster of Ironcliff Academy, the rival West Academy, placed the fourth.

Finally, Professor Valerius placed the fifth piece.

The servant pushed the pieces together.

CLANG.

A flash of white light erupted from the tray and the metal fused instantly into a single, glowing seal. The servant picked up the seal and placed it into the indentation on the Fortress door.

GROAN...

The mechanism turned and the heavy doors split open, showing inside of the meeting hall.

Back at Wyrmwood Academy

Reynold’s dorm room was quiet, except for the sound of him chewing.

He was on the edge of his bed, eating a plate of roasted chicken and potatoes like he had not eaten in a month.

The neutralizing synthesis had worked and all the riders had been discharged an hour ago. But the atmosphere in Reynold’s room was very calm.

Gwyn was standing by the window, and her arms were crossed. She was staring out at the training grounds.

"Are you going to keep standing there like a statue?" Reynold asked, his mouth full.

Gwyn did not turn around immediately.

She let out a sigh and then turn. "Reynold."

"Yeah?"

"Did you know?"

Reynold paused, a chicken leg halfway to his mouth. "Know what?"

"That you were a Two," Gwyn said. "Did you always know? Or Was yesterday the first time?"

Reynold slowly lowered the chicken leg as his mind flashed back to what happened at the Pits the other. Him accidentally killing Hektor. Nymeria wiping everyone minds to protect him.

The guilt was still there. She was supposed to be his friend, and he was lying to her face. But if he told her the truth, he would have to explain the mind wipe. He would have to explain that Nymeria had tampered with her head too.

He swallowed the food.

"No," Reynold lied, keeping his voice steady. "I did not know. Yesterday... that was the first time."

Gwyn stared at his eyes for a moment, then let out a breath she did not she has been holding. She gave him a small smile.

"Okay," she murmured.

Back at the fortress.

The Council Chamber was a circular room with a high domed ceiling. Twenty seats were arranged in a circle and everyone was already seated.

"We can not let him walk around free!"

The voice belonged to Viceroy Cassius of the East. He straightened his back and resting his hand on the armrest. "He is a Two! And he is bonded to three dragons, one of which is the oldest One! If he turns on us, how will we stop him? He must be puppeted. We must bind his will to the Council."

"Puppeted?" Valerius said as he scoffed. "You mean we should enslaved him, Cassius."

"I would not use the word enslave!" Cassius shifted in his seat. "But a weapon that can not be controlled is a threat."

"I agree," a smug voice chimed in.

Phineas, he is the Senior Cadet representing the riders of the Noble-High Academy from the west. He leaned back in his chair. He had a face that looked like he was ready for them to puppet Reynold or do worst to him.

"The boy is a danger," Phineas said, smirking at Nymeria across the circle. "Noble-High riders supports the motion to puppet him. But..." He paused, tapping his chin. "What about the dragons? Dragon have the strongest mind than human. You can not puppet a dragon."

King Kaelen, sitting at the head of the circle on the raised throne, cleared his throat as he speaks.

"There is no need to puppet the dragons. If we control the Rider, we control the dragons. The bond works both ways."

Nymeria felt like slamming Phineas into the wall. She looked at him. He was checking his fingernails. She rolled her eyes. She had always hated the West Academy students, especially Phineas. He treated others like a trash.

"The boy will not be anyone’s puppet," Valerius cold voice suddenly sounded as he stood up.

"Sit down, brother," King Kaelen warned, his eyes throwing a glare at Valerius. "Or do I have to remind you that I am the King?"

Valerius scoffed. "And do I have to remind you that this is the Council? There is a limit to your power here. That is why this room exists."

Valerius looked around the circle, meeting the gaze of every member.

"I call for a vote," Valerius declared. "Those who believe the boy should remain free, that he should not be puppeted... raise your hand."

Immediately, the room erupted into murmurs.

Nymeria just sat still as her eyes shifted to her father before she stretched her neck, pretending to have a cramp.

Her hand brushed the back of her neck, her fingers finding the small, invisible lock the Council had placed on her neck.

Click. The lock was altered. Immediately, the voices and hundreds of thoughts of everyone inside the hall rushed into her head.

use the boy to crush the southern rebellion, then dispose of him..

West Academy will take the glory once the boy is broken

Turn the boy against the king, then use him to claim the throne

if the King wants it, I must agree...

my father will be pleased if I vote with the King...

Nymeria let out a frustrated hiss as she reads their thoughts. Damn it.

These people had no good intentions.They were only thinking of their own political gain.

Slowly, hands started to go up.

Elian raised his hand without hesitation.

Valerius raised his hand.

Three other memebers raised their hands.

Nymeria scanned the room, counting the hands up and the hands down.

King Kaelen: Hand down.

Phineas (West rider Rep): Hand down.

Viceroy Cassius (East): Hand down.

Nymeria’s Father (North): Hand down.

Nymeria did not know what she felt when she looked at her father. He was doing do this just to get on the good side of the king.

King Kaelen was not voting. He was the presiding officer of the motion. He is only needed to break a tie.

As Kaelen talked, Valerius eyes was on Nymeria. Her hand was still on her lap. She was the swing vote. If she raised her hand, it was 11 against 9. If she kept it down, Reynold would be enslaved.

Nymeria swallowed hard. She thought of the accidental kiss. She thought of the memories of the people she had wiped just to keep Reynold save. She also thought of the blood seeker orb she had altered.

She can not back down now when it matters the most, right?

"Ten hands up," King Kaelen announced, with a smile already playing on his lips. "And ten hands down. It is a tie. In the event of a tie, the status quo remains, and the King’s will..."

She bit her lower lip and slowly raised her hand up before the king could finished talking.

Her father’s face was blank. Phineas looked like he had just woken up from a nightmare.

"Eleven," Valerius said. He turned to the throne. "I guess it is decided then, brother. The boy is not to be a puppet."

King Kaelen gripped the arms of the throne chair so hard. He looked like he wanted to leap across the room and strangle Valerius.

"Very well," Kaelen hissed, his voice laced with with venom. "The boy is not to be puppeted."