Jinki wasn’t wrong. Between learning what it meant to actually live at the Aerie, and learning how to behave around the dragons, Taekwoon had his hands full. He was first given a tour of the Aerie so he knew where everything was and where to go for what reasons. The left side of the complex was mostly space for the dragons, including caves for them to sleep in, a bathing pool, and a sunning cliff that overlooked the city. Bahamut’s Sanctum and the Aerie Master’s office were in a tower in the middle of that space. Taekwoon wouldn’t be spending a great deal of time anywhere near there for now.

            Most of his time would be spent in the rest of the complex, either working in the gardens that were right next to the dragons, across the complex tending to the livestock situated near the dorms or in the teaching and training halls to the north, directly across from the entrance on the far side. There was a place on the far right side of the complex where the Stardust Battalion could practice combat maneuvers, but again, it was something Taekwoon wouldn’t be a part of for some time. He was intrigued by the ring of shops in the Aerie center though, where the blacksmith and leatherworker and general goods sellers were. Their places of work were much larger and better supplied than the tiny ones he’d seen back home.

            And for meals, he was going to be spending his time in the dining hall, a large structure located inside the teaching halls. The kitchens were in the back between the barracks and the teaching halls so both students and riders could stop in for food outside of normal times if they needed something to hold them over. Equally important were the bathing pools and wash rooms. The dorms had smaller washrooms that could be used where the students could retrieve cold well water and wash quickly if they were short on time. Enviably, near the barracks and mostly hidden in the rock face were natural hot springs. They’d been carved to make three tiers of pools, each one feeding into the other, while the last fed into a drain where water was guided to the gardens through a partially man made filtration system. Anyone could use the pools, but they were more specifically meant for the riders who often faced hard conditions on any given day.

             As if all of that wasn’t enough to remember, Taekwoon also learned he had so much more to understand. His first lessons were very basic, teaching him how to read and write first and foremost. Numbers were also important and he was introduced to general history and geography quickly as well. Outside of classes and homework, he had an almost mountainous amount of chores and tasks to tackle. The newest Aerie members like himself were general errand persons. He cleaned tables in the dining hall, washed dishes in the kitchens, helped do laundry, spent time in the gardens and greenhouse, as well as keeping an eye on the livestock meant for the Aerie and the dragons.

            The list truly seemed to get longer every time he turned around, and it didn’t leave much time for him to be around the dragons. Oh, they were always there and he had but to look out a window to see one, but Taekwoon wanted to be closer. Even if some of the riders didn’t want him to hang around. The older ones seemed the prickliest, while the younger ones appeared more welcoming, when they weren’t tired for a patrol or mission themselves.

            He never did exactly figure out why his parents gave him up but since he had an elder brother and a slightly younger sister, even he knew he wasn’t exactly needed at home, especially when food was low and they all were hungry. Quite frankly, when he got to see dragons up close everyday instead of just hearing about them in stories, it didn’t matter. Not really. And the tears Jinki saw on his cheeks were not for his family abandoning him.

            They weren’t.

            But he didn’t have much time to cry over them anyway, just like the rest of his peers, all of whom were abandoned like him or promised to the Aerie long before. Satoru always had a job for them and if he didn’t, then any one of the Masters was just as happy to snag any stragglers in what little off time they might have had. Taekwoon had thought his world was large enough in the small village he’d grown up in, but here, it got so much bigger it was almost overwhelming on any given day of the sevenday.

            And that was before he was allowed to work with and around the dragons.

            “They won’t let you get too close at first,” Jinki explained in the first sevenday when he caught Taekwoon staring at the creatures from afar again. Granted, they were a better sight than their current job of shoveling dragon dung from the outcropping the creatures typically used away from where they stayed. They weren’t unlike people that way – it wouldn’t do to mess up the place you lived in.

            “The dragons?” Taekwoon frowned in confusion, tearing his attention away to look at Jinki for the briefest of moments before returning to the large beasts resting nearby.

            Jinki snorted at the question and shook his head. “The Aerie Masters,” he replied with a nod towards the enclave tower that Taekwoon had still only seen from afar. High ranking officials went into and out of that area but it only made him more curious about what was inside and why no one else was allowed. “They hafta make sure you won’t spook around the dragons,” he shrugged, pausing to rest his weight on the shovel, right foot nearly inching into the remains next to him. “Course the dragons don’t mind.”

            Taekwoon’s gaze dropped down as if to warn him but he held his tongue. It was likely he’d trip or slip or something to have dung on him before the end of the day. Trying to keep it from happening was like using a leaky bucket to haul water: a losing battle. He’d learned very early on that the boy was just clumsy. There was no getting around that. But he also knew just about everything about anything to do with what went on inside the Aerie. All of the rules at any rate, and that made him a very good partner to have otherwise.

            “Why don’t they mind?” Taekwoon asked distractedly, watching one of the blue creatures stretch magnificently, great wings extending to either side of him in a fabulous display of taught skin and structured bones, before they folded neatly against his side once more. On a sunny day like this one, they liked lazing in the light, soaking up the heat through their supple skin.

            “It’s the Symbiosis,” Jinki nodded matter of factly before he picked up his wooden shovel and started working again, ignoring the smudge of dung on his shoe when his foot slipped into the outermost edge.

            That was a term Taekwoon had heard a couple times, but he still didn’t know what it meant. Not really. But every time he’d heard it explained in passing, it still hadn’t made sense to him either. “What about Trance?”

            “That’s just how they talk face to face,” his companion explained deftly without looking up, attention otherwise focused on his task.

            And that was something else that didn’t make sense to Taekwoon either. He’d heard the riders talking to their dragons several times already, but the creatures didn’t speak back. Not in any way that he could see. But there was no doubting they were intelligent. The dragons he’d seen had responded as if they did understand and there was certainly a connection between them that was more than just a rider and his mount.

            “You should get to work,” Jinki urged as he reached across the distance to brush Taekwoon’s shoulder. His manner was all business but there was a slight gleam in his eyes as he glanced at his companion furtively. “But,” he whispered, holding one hand up while he looked at the Aerie. “I know Jiho is on watch duty tonight.”

            His gaze was expectant when he looked at Taekwoon, as if the other should know what that meant. He didn’t, but there was a burgeoning hope beginning in his belly anyway. Taekwoon shrugged and his hands tightened on the shovel handle while he sidled closer.

            Jinki huffed with a laugh and added, “He’s a total softie for the newest kids and he just got back from patrol the other day.” Having seen Jiho’s expressions around the Aerie most recently, that was hard for Taekwoon to believe, but Jinki ignored him and went on. “And N is something else!” he gasped, unable to put his awe into appropriate words.

            “Can we-”

            “Shh!” Jinki urged, clapping his hand over Taekwoon’s mouth as he looked around to make sure they weren’t being overheard. Annoyed by the action, Taekwoon yanked the palm away and glared at Jinki. “We gotta finish first,” he simply urged importantly, pushing them both to get done as fast as possible. “We’ve still hafta report to Satoru before supper but if we’re quick, we might have a little more time after before curfew.”

            Taekwoon sighed with a perturbed look at his companion but resumed shoveling dung into the cart quietly. His eyes still wandered to the dragons sunning themselves nearby, and to the occasional patrol or single rider that returned off and on. And his thoughts turned over Jinki’s words with well concealed hope. If he was suggesting what he thought he was, it was going to be a very good night indeed.

            Finishing up their current task, Jinki and Taekwoon hurried back inside, making sure to deposit the cart where one of the dragons would be able to pick it up and haul it into Miremaw so the farmers could use the dung to nourish the fields. Unlike most cities, it received the direct benefits of living next to the Aerie, which included the boon of such fertilizer, but also unrivaled defenses against outside attacks and the massive strength of the dragons on the odd occasion. They supported each other and were generally on good terms, or at least that was what Master Kibum explained when they talked about history in class.

            The boys were glad they weren’t heading for his lessons before supper, but Minsoo the Master Leatherworker wasn’t exactly the easiest taskmaster either. He was a broad shouldered man with muscled arms, shorn hair, and inked markings over a large part of his usually mostly bare upper body. While intimidating in his Master role, he also had a very welcoming smile and approachable demeanor outside of his teaching persona. Taekwoon liked him well enough. He reminded him of the blacksmith back home, albeit a much younger version.

            Together, he and Jinki slipped into Master Minsoo’s building after washing up and settled in next to Wonshik and Amber. Taekwoon had seen the orange haired boy the first day he arrived, but Amber was a bit new. He’d seen her of course, but they hadn’t had much chance to interact. She was a curious, boyish girl who cut her hair short by choice and seemed more comfortable around the guys than any of the other girls in residence, though she got along well with pretty much everyone.

            There weren’t all that many new kids on the grounds at any given time so while they always had a partner, classes tended to be fairly small and spread out all over the Aerie. The senior students, as determined by how long they’d been in the Aerie as opposed to actual age, like Amber and Wonshik, helped the junior students pick things up in class until they moved on to more challenging tasks and then it was the junior students changing roles and teaching the newcomers.

            As they all settled into place, Minsoo charged in, all business and bustling energy in his muscled form. “Here ya go!” he chuckled with a small bemused smile, dumping an armload of what looked like leather scraps onto the table in front of them. “Let’s see what you can do with this stuff,” he nodded, placing his fists on his waist with an expectant grin, dark eyes jumping to each student individually.

            Minsoo was of a fairly average height but like most Masters, he had a presence that could make him seem larger when he wanted. He only wore a leather vest and dark, cloth pants but he seemed comfortable enough in the warmth of the interior that smelled of tanning oils and drying animal hides. Minsoo’s fingertips were permanently stained from the dyes he worked with but the rest of his non-inked complexion ranged anywhere from tanned to cream colored, where the light of the sun rarely touched him.

            Under the Master Leatherworker’s watchful gaze, Taekwoon eyed Wonshik and Amber to see what they were doing, following their lead first. When he understood what they were supposed to do, he followed suit, keeping his work tilted just enough for Jinki to follow along if the other boy was having a hard time keeping pace. They’d figured out Jinki was better with his books and those types of classes while Taekwoon was better with the hands on activities so they worked accordingly.

            Today was a matter of repairing leather armor and seeing what kind of salvaging they could do with the remaining pieces. It was tedious, trying work but it also gave Taekwoon plenty of time to think. And listen. He didn’t carry much of any conversation – that was one of Jinki’s strengths – but he remembered as much as he could about what was said, and both Wonshik and Amber always had a lot to say. Or joke about.

            Today was no exception. But Taekwoon couldn’t really focus anyway. His thoughts were on that evening and the half-formed promise that Jinki had given him. Did he dare hope that he might get to actually meet a dragon face to face tonight?

            Yes. He did dare.

            Pins and needles ran across his skin and his stomach was knotted with nervousness as Jinki took Taekwoon’s hand and signaled for him to be quiet as they spied the mass of cleaned dishes they’d just managed to finish up with. Master Junjin, the strangely good natured cook, was otherwise occupied and neither Hyunchul nor Aron seemed particularly focused on keeping an eye on their junior peers. They didn’t have anything else lined up after supper either so now was as good a time any to slip free before someone could give them something to do.

            “Come on,” Jinki whispered, head darting furtively in every direction to keep an eye out for any approaching people. Taekwoon nodded and slipped along behind him as they stole out the back of the kitchen area connected to the dining hall.

            Inside an Aerie, there wasn’t much for anyone to be afraid of so guards weren’t exactly necessary except on the wall, but like Jinki had warned before, the Masters loved to give extra work when they could. Avoiding them was often the hardest part of any day…

            Jinki wasn’t exactly stealthy and there was more than one moment when Taekwoon thought for sure he’d trip or fall or make some sort of noise to give them away, but he didn’t. And to his credit, Jinki also knew the layout of the Aerie like few did. He was rather proud of that fact actually. It helped with getting places faster when he was short on time, or so he’d explained previously. That didn’t keep Taekwoon from watching with wide eyes anyway. He was so intent on their surroundings that he didn’t realize they’d arrived until Jinki stopped and pointed.

            “There he is,” he smiled, finger extending towards the top of the wall.

            Immediately, Taekwoon looked up to try and spot Jiho. The bright, blonde hair should have been a dead giveaway but his brow furrowed when he couldn’t see the other man at all. Then he realized why and gave a small gasp as the shadowy red shape standing up and pressed against the inside of the wall shifted, revealing the rider hidden behind his dragon when the head moved. The walls were easily the height of four men standing upright and the red dragon, standing on his hind legs, could reach the top comfortably, claws gripping the edges and head perched on the surface so he might better see his rider.

            Jiho’s attention shifted from his dragon to the boys, noticing them almost as soon as his line of sight was free. “What are you two up to?” he asked with a bemused grin, the light from the torch revealing his expression and creating dancing shadows when his dragon turned to peer at them as well.

            Taekwoon had no words to speak and he felt them stuck in his throat while all he could do was stare as Jiho waited for a response while his dragon pushed off the wall to fold down to their level. He was sinewy grace come to life and Taekwoon couldn’t look away as the great beast blinked at them with saucer sized amber eyes while his tail wrapped neatly around his front claws.

            Jinki however, was not so bespelled. He looked around quickly to make sure they were still in the clear and whispered back, “You know.”

            That amused the dragonrider and Jiho laughed in delight, clapping his hands with a confirming nod. “Aye. I do,” he winked, leaning over the wall to peer down at his dragon. “What do you think, N?” he called with raised brows, fingers drumming on the stone.

            The dragon cocked his head to the side, blinking slowly once before arching his head back to chuff at Jiho. Taekwoon had no idea what the sound meant but he was enthralled by what might come after and he swallowed the sudden dryness in his throat. Jinki’s hand was tight in his and it felt like the other boy was the only thing keeping him from going in every direction at once just then.

            “Oh, go on you vain, prickly thing,” Jiho shooed with both hands, laughing at the beast below while he glanced around to make sure no one of importance was nearby to say anything. “We already know he isn’t afraid and you’ve been dying to get close as soon as you laid eyes on him. Traitor,” he childishly stuck his tongue out, which made N snort in return.

            But the dragon didn’t say anything else before he ruffled his wings and shifted, rising to his feet to calmly walk towards Jinki and Taekwoon, almost dainty in his approach. At the change, Jinki stepped back nervously, still holding hands with Taekwoon but leaving him relatively alone to meet the approaching dragon.

            Ruby flesh shifted in the dim illumination, lit only by patches of torchlight, but it was more than enough to reveal the glory of the dragon. Smooth, almost soft scales covered the underbelly and sides where the flesh gave way to rougher skin around the backbone. Rigid, interconnecting plates overlaid the spine, protecting the vital area beneath. The huge wings were folded close against his body but Taekwoon knew each one had a large, hooked claw at the outermost edge. They made for deadly weapons or were almost like another limb to use when they needed.

            Taekwoon wouldn’t have been able to move if he wanted to. He stopped breathing altogether as N paused directly in front of him and slowly lowered his head, neck arching like a serpent until his jaw was nearly level with the ground. Taekwoon inhaled sharply when a gust of hot dragon breath washed over him, filling his nose with the spicy scent.

            “You’re beautiful,” he murmured with his mouth hanging open as he noticed the large nostrils in the slender snout, flaring wide when the beast took a deep breath of him. Intimidating fangs filled the partially open maw, off-white color starkly noticeable against the red hide. While N might not have been able to swallow Taekwoon whole, he would certainly be able to bite him in half if he wanted to… But the amber eyes crinkled as if amused instead, drawing Taekwoon’s gaze to the movement and the curved horns that rose from his head. They wound back and down, providing a protective covering to the base of his skull, growing close to his neck.

            “You can touch him,” Jiho called from above, almost like he could read Taekwoon’s thoughts.

            As if in response to the granted permission, N settled down more comfortably in front of Taekwoon, folding his legs under him to sit neatly on the ground once more. He took another deep breath of the boy before him and tilted his head to the side, clearly curious.

            Taekwoon wiped the sweat from his right palm on his pants and slowly reached his hand up towards N, gaze darting between the dragon’s eyes and the distance between them. He felt the warmth of the dragon’s skin long before he touched it and paused, wondering if it might burn. But then N took matters into his own hand and bumped his nose against Taekwoon’s hand with a satisfied hum in his throat, almost like a purr but not quite.

            “There ya go,” Jiho chuckled softly from above, a warm note in his voice. “He likes ya, kid,” the rider encouraged easily, not bothered in the least by the interaction happening below.

            “Oh!” Taekwoon gasped softly, his mouth slowly pulling up into a tentative smile that only grew bigger and bigger by the heartbeat. The nose was hard from the bone just beneath the surface but the skin was smooth and soft, completely at odds with what he’d expected. And he smelled musky but in a good way, with a sharp tang that clung to the nose. Each breath vibrated gently through their connection and Taekwoon laughed at the way he felt the exhalation that washed over him and ruffled his dark hair.

            A tug on his left hand let him know Jinki was still there, but he couldn’t bring himself to look away at all. “Are you okay?” the other boy asked quietly, his grip tightening somewhat on the connection between them.

            “Yeah,” Taekwoon grinned, letting his fingertips roam over the available skin in front of him while he held N’s eyes with his. “I am.” Never mind that the beast in front of him could kill him in a heartbeat if he wanted, this was where Taekwoon wanted to be. His body felt alive and his heart raced and there was a feeling inside that this was what he wanted to do. Even more than the sevenday before when he’d only seen them up close for the first time, Taekwoon knew that he really did want to be a rider.

            He could have swore the dragon seemed to agree as well if the satisfied sound in the back of his throat was any indication. N took another deep breath and closed his eyes, pushing into Taekwoon’s hand a bit harder. When he opened them again, he stared at the boy and the boy stared back, enchanted. It was a spell he found he wanted to fall under: with his own dragon.