Wyvern Rider (A story in the Ravenglass Universe) - VII

An orphan girl and an orphaned wyvern find shared a destiny...

The morning sun had barely begun to warm the earth when Irina arrived at the clearing, Nim squirming in her arms.

“Good morning.” Ksenia’s gaze shifted to the wyvern. “And good morning to you, Nim. Ready for another day of adventure?”

Nim chirped in response, his tail flicking the air.

Ksenia chuckled. “Let him stretch his wings and hunt. The forest awaits.”

Irina bent down, setting Nim down. The wyvern zig-zagged around, his nose to the ground as he followed unseen trails.

As Irina straightened, Ksenia cocked her head. “Did Nim feel heavier to you today?”

Irina paused, considering. “Now that you mention it, yes. A little.”

Ksenia nodded. “Wyverns mature very quickly, especially in these early stages. That’s why it’s so important to let him hunt, to let him feed his growing body.”

Irina watched as Nim pounced on a beetle, gulping it down before moving on to his next target. Every few steps, he would pause, spreading his wings and flapping them. He managed a few hops, his feet leaving the ground for a brief moment.

“He keeps trying to fly.”

“A wyvern’s wings take time to develop, to gain the strength needed for flight. He’ll get there, in his own time.”

As Nim continued to hunt and forage, Ksenia kept Irina at a distance from him. “Wyverns have been a part of our world for as long as anyone can remember. The bond between a wyvern and their chosen rider was seen as a sacred thing, a union blessed by the heavens.”

Irina listened, rapt.

“The Academy was founded to preserve this legacy. To ensure that the bond between wyvern and rider would never be lost. They train the elite. But they also conduct research, trying to understand the deeper nature of the bond. And they oversee breeding programs, to ensure the health and continuity of the wyvern population.”

Irina frowned. “Were you at the Academy?”

Ksenia smiled. “I was an elite rider. One of the best, if I do say so myself. My wyvern and I…we were unstoppable.”

“What happened?”

Ksenia sighed. “I became pregnant.”

Irina’s eyes widened. “They kicked you out for that?”

“No, no. Nothing like that. But carrying a child changes things. It confuses the bond, makes it harder to maintain that perfect connection with your wyvern. It was safer for me to step back.”

Irina nodded slowly, trying to process this new information.

“You come from a proud lineage, Irina. In Molotok, in Sieshin, in Yao and Boeki, there have been great riders. And you have that same potential within you.”

“What we do matters, doesn’t it? As riders, I mean. The choices we make….it affects more than just us.”

“It does. There are some who believe a rider’s duty is to their nation, to use their bond to protect and serve their homeland. Others believe we have a higher calling, to bring balance to the world as a whole.”

Irina frowned. “Which is right?”

Ksenia shrugged one shoulder. “That’s a question riders have grappled with for generations. The truth is, both views have merit. And both have their dangers. A rider too focused on their nation can become a tool of war, a weapon to be wielded. But a rider too focused on global balance can lose sight of the immediate needs of those around them.” She turned to Irina, her gaze intense. “The key, as in all things, is balance.”

Irina nodded. “I think I understand.”

Ksenia smiled. “You will, in time. But for now, your focus should be on your bond with Nim. On learning to work together, to trust each other. The rest will come, in its own time.”

Nim came bounding back to them, a limp mouse dangling from his jaws. He dropped it at Irina’s feet, looking up at her with an expectant chirp.

Irina laughed, reaching down to stroke his head. “Good job, Nim. You’re becoming quite the hunter.”

“He’s strong, Irina. Strong and smart.”

“You really think I can do this? Be a rider, I mean. A good one?”

 “I know you can. You have a gift, Irina. A bond with Nim that’s rare and precious. Nurture it, trust in it, and there’s no limit to what you can achieve.” Ksenia led Irina over to a shaded spot at the edge of the clearing. “Sit, Irina.” She gestured to a patch of soft moss. “It’s time to strengthen the connection between your minds.”

Irina obeyed, folding her legs beneath her.

“Close your eyes. Breathe deeply, and let yourself relax. Feel the earth beneath you, the air around you. Let everything else fall away.”

Irina did as she was told, letting her eyes slip shut. She took a deep breath, then another, feeling the tension drain from her muscles.

“Good. Now, reach out with your mind. Seek Nim’s presence, the bright spark of his consciousness.”

Irina frowned, trying to focus.

At first, she felt nothing, just the darkness behind her eyelids and the distant chirping of birds. But the sense of connection grew stronger with each passing moment.

“I think I feel him. It’s faint, but it’s there.”

“Excellent. Now, I want you to keep your eyes closed, and find Nim. Let your bond guide you to him.”

Irina’s eyes flew open. “But I’ll trip, or run into something!”

“I’ll make sure you don’t. But no cheating—keep those eyes shut, and cover your ears. Trust in your connection.”

Irina hesitated for a moment, then nodded. She closed her eyes again, placing her hands over her ears. The world went quiet, muffled, leaving her with only the pounding of her heart and the tug of her bond with Nim.

Slowly, cautiously, she stood. She took a step forward, then another, letting her feet carry her where they willed.

It was disorienting, moving blind and deaf, but there was a rightness to it, a sense that she was being guided by something greater than her physical senses.

“That’s it.” Ksenia’s voice seemed to come from far away. “Follow your instincts. The bond will lead you true.”

Irina kept moving, her steps growing more confident. She could feel Nim’s presence growing stronger. It was a subtle thing, more an inkling than a concrete sensation, but it was undeniable.

Irina came to a stop. She hesitated, unsure, until she felt a warm breath on her face.

She opened her eyes to find Nim perched on a branch mere inches from her.

She laughed, reaching out to stroke his scales. “I did it. I found him.”

Ksenia appeared at her side, smiling. “You did. And you’ll only get better with practice.”

For the rest of the day, Ksenia had Irina repeat the exercise, each time with Nim hiding in a different spot. With each attempt, Irina found him faster, the connection between them growing stronger and more intuitive.

By the time the sun began to dip towards the horizon, Irina was exhausted, her mind stretched and raw.

“You did well today.” Ksenia handed a waterskin to Irina. “Your bond is growing stronger.”

Irina took a long drink, the water cool and refreshing. “I never knew something like this was possible.”

“In time, you’ll be able to communicate with Nim as easily as breathing.”

Irina looked over to where Nim was dozing in a patch of sunlight, his scales glinting. “I can’t wait.”

“The bond takes time to develop, to reach its full potential. But you’re making excellent progress.”

Irina nodded, stifling a yawn.

“Go home, Irina. Rest. You’ve earned it.”