Dragon Riders Academy

Chapter Art ©April 15th, 2024, by Akira Holt

Prologue

"Hello everyone! And welcome to your last week of elementary school before the summer holidays," Ms. Morgan stated. I was both excited and nervous at the same time. Our graduation ceremony was on Wednesday of this week, the few days before then were a time to choose your high school, and I wasn't too sure. I've only had one friend since kindergarten and there's only been two years that we weren't in the same class.

I have a friend named Keeley Lovel. She's quite an interesting character, to say the least. What's even more surprising is that she always manages to dye her hair in rainbow colours. Yes, rainbow colours! She also wears the typical "bookworm's glasses" as the students call it and I've never seen her without some turtleneck sweater. She often wore jeans, that were always ripped—a fashion statement I never understood. Her second "stand-out feature" was her icy blue eyes, which were always captivating.

Keeley was only two months younger than me and had a friendly demeanour. She's always hoped she'd get an invitation from Goldwings, even still when she realized they haven't sent any to students at Union in 35 years. Goldwings Academy was a school where you could learn and master dragon riding, something Keeley's always dreamed of. I couldn't care less if I did or didn't get an invitation. My hopes weren't high as the last Union Elementary graduates to receive an invitation to Goldwings were three students in 1989—three of the usual fifty-some-odd graduates that year.

"Keeley Lovel and Julian Rae, please report to the office, you've received special invitations. That's Keeley Lovel and Julian Rae, please report to the office for special invitations," said a voice over the announcements. When our classmates heard our names for special invitations, they all looked back at us. Many were confused, and others were jealous. The eerily quiet classroom all watched as we left into the halls.

"See? I've been telling you for ten years," Keeley exclaimed with a huge grin on her face. "It may not even be for Goldwings," I told her, having a hard time believing it was. "What would they be for? A formal party? Hell no! We're going to be dragon riders!" Keeley said.

She had a point, I can't list any other places that offer invitations to two 14-year-olds. It was just hard to believe that a school that hadn't sent invitations to an Elementary school in 35 years would just randomly decide, "Hey, you know what? Let's randomly invite two Union graduates this year."

"I'm not completely certain, but this could be an April Fools' prank," I stated, sounding unsure. "Dude, it’s June. Who would play an April Fools' prank two months late?" Keeley was a professional at making me sound like an idiot, even though that one was kind of self-inflicted. We came to a hallway that had all the past graduating classes hanging on the wall, dating back as far as the graduating class of 1962. Students of all the classrooms in this hall were huddled at their doors, watching us too. People really wanted to see the students who broke the 35-year streak.

Keeley and I kept walking until we came across the graduating class of 1989. On the plaque, there were pictures of the 52 students who graduated that year, and three of them were holding up invitations in their graduation photos. "Can you believe we are the modern-day version of those guys?" Keeley told me. I was beginning to accept the fact that these were invitations to Goldwings, and we did indeed set a new milestone at Union. "The office is just down this hall," I told Keeley.

We entered through the door and the office had a desk station up front with three secretaries. Some chairs were placed under a window looking out into the parking lot, and a bit further than that, downtown. In the back, there was a staircase that led up to the offices of the principal and vice principal. Keeley and I were urged to sit on the chairs that had flower upholstery. The kind of chairs you'd see in your grandmother's living room.

The principal, Mr. Montgomery, came out shortly after. He was wearing a beige tuxedo with a black tie, as well as glasses that looked kind of similar to Keeley's. "Julian Rae and Keeley Lovel, correct?" He said. Keeley nodded happily and Mr. Montgomery brought us up to his office. "So, let's talk," he said before sitting in his chair. Keeley sat in the chair stationed in front of the desk, and I just hung out in the corner.

Mr. Montgomery's office was small and spacious. He had antique paintings and health posters hanging on his walls, as well as a blind that covered his window. His desk consisted of a computer and a whole lot of paperwork, and behind him was a shelf where he seemed to put pictures of his family. It even had a fish tank next to the window.

"I was just as surprised as you were when I received the invitations, but it appears you have both broken a 35-year streak of nothing. Goldwings Academy sent us two letters this morning. So, here you go," Mr. Montgomery said. He handed us two envelopes that had a golden trim around them and each of our names at the front. The letters inside them were their own thing, each handwritten by the principal of Goldwings Academy herself, Principal Esther van Dijk.

"You're kidding me," I said. "No. I'm not. Go ahead, have a read," Mr. Montgomery said. I opened the envelope carefully, not trying to rip it. Once I got the letter out, I began reading it in my head.

Dear Mr. Rae.

We would like to formally invite you and your friend to our academy, Goldwings, located downtown. Our high school is like any other but we offer dragon riding courses that are mandatory for each semester. It has been a while since we have reached out to any graduates from Union Elementary, so we thought it would be great to invite you this year.

As a student at Goldwings, you will be required to take the dragon riding courses along with other subjects. However, we also offer the option of two spares each year throughout your high school journey.

We would love to have you as a student at Goldwings and we look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Kind regards, Principal Dijk.

"Is this real?" I asked. Mr. Montgomery nodded in response, and a school photographer walked into the room. "Do you mind if I take a photo of each of you individually for your graduation?" she asked. Both of us nodded simultaneously, and the photographer took our pictures before sending us back to class. By the time we entered the door, everyone else in class was already whispering to one another. "Hey, so you uh... mind giving that to me?" A student boldly asked. He got elbowed by another student who offered $100 for it.

Then the chaos began. Students surrounded me, all asking for the envelope and some kept offering higher and higher. "Enough!" Ms. Morgan shouted. "No matter how much you offer, he won't bite, and it'll just be a waste because it has His name on the envelope and he is addressed by His last name. They'll know you bought it off him, now buzz off. Let him be, you all have a week left and you'll be going to your selected high school whether you like it or not.

For the final week of school, despite what Ms. Morgan said, kids kept offering me a tonne of money for it and Keeley almost had it stolen a few times, she began locking her locker because of it, and she never did. It was absolute chaos in the halls of the seniors 24/7. Students were arguing over who got to keep the envelope despite me not giving it to them or even offering it to them. Kids were even pretending to be my friend so they could get it. Even though it didn't work that way.

It was to the point that a single day felt like a full week. But when the bell rang Friday, I got on the bus and said goodbye to Union for the best. I hadn't told my parents about the invitation yet, but I decided I'd tell them now that it was officially summer vacation. When I got home, my mother was cooking in the kitchen, and my father was nowhere to be seen. Our house was small but it was enough to support us.

The house was a modest three-bedroom located on the outskirts of the city. It had two floors. The staircase was in its own room off of the living room at the back of the house. The sliding glass door in there took you to the backyard where we had an in-ground pool to the left and a trampoline off slightly to the right. My sister mainly used that. When you entered the house you were greeted with a hallway that had the kitchen/dining room to the left and the laundry room to the right. As well as a few other doors. My parents' bedroom was in this hall while my sister's and mine were all upstairs in the hall with Mom's office. My younger sister was named Kristeen Rae, who was a year younger than me and attended the same school from which I had just graduated. She was in grade 7 currently.

"Oh! Hey, Julian. Do you mind getting your father from the basement? Dinner's almost ready." My mom said.

"Sure thing, mom," I told her. I ran downstairs and saw my dad playing GTA 5 on the Xbox. in our rather open basement with a fireplace and computer for Kristeen. I couldn't believe I hadn't realized he was there. Kirsteen was sitting on the chair, watching him play his game. He acted like a third child a lot of the time, but we all loved him and he knew how to lighten a mood. "Hey, Dad. Dinner's ready," I told him. He paused his game and went upstairs before sitting at the dining room table. "You're mother always makes the best meals," he told us. She smiled as she began bringing the food out. "I promise I'll cook tomorrow," Dad had said.

"You better," Mom replied, laughing slightly. She sat down at the table with us and began putting the food on plates. My mother was pretty much a mirror of what Kristeen may look like when she reached her mid-thirties. Brown hair and blue eyes just like her. The pink shirt she wore and blue sweatpants, my sister's favourite colours. My hair was black, like my father's, and he wore a plain white shirt saying nothing other than #1 Dad and beige track pants.

while eating, Mom brought up high school and wondered which one I had picked. It reminded me of the invitation I received and nearly forgot to tell my parents.

"Oh, I didn't get to pick," I responded. My mother raised her eyebrow, slightly confused. "Okay? Then where are you going?" Mom asked. I couldn't say much, so all I did was place the invitation on the table. "I got an invite to Goldwings," I told them.

"No way," said Dad, examining the envelope with golden trim. "My son is going to be a dragon rider!" he exclaimed, confused at first. "My son, our son, is riding dragons! Julian, this is amazing! We are raising a dragon rider!" Dad was overflowing with pride. It was the happiest I had seen him since he married my mother six years ago. Mom was also proud but mixed with some fear. "I can't believe it. He got invited. Like father, like son, I suppose. I hope he understands the dangers." Mom had a valid point. Dragon riding can be incredibly dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. And I had absolutely no idea. But was it really worth the risk?