The same way Belenus was always five steps ahead, I was too slow in predicting his movements. No, that was not quite right. I could see more or less where he was going.

  It was the way he got to those places that left me powerless.

  The way he flew and rode was chaotic—unhinged. From the maneuvers he did, to the way he would constantly put himself in the line of fire. And somehow, I found myself wanting to be like him.

  I glanced at the timer again, seeing it getting closer and closer to five minutes. Belenus had stolen my “Heart” around the six-minute mark.

  I didn’t have much time.

  Focus, Vex.

  Think.

  Why could Belenus predict my fly pattern so easily? Because I was still struggling with all the maneuvers.

  And why I was struggling to catch up to him? Because I was still struggling with the maneuvers.

  The things I wanted to do in my head were not things I knew how to replicate. I was not like Emrys—I didn’t have that innate talent. That spark that made me choose riders like him, that would make the Jackal choose his Aces.

  Yet I did have Styx.

  “You know we won’t catch up to him as I am now. So this time, it’s my turn to trust you. Do whatever you want.”

  As I spoke, I sensed Styx’s muscles moving, tensing, relaxing. His ears twitching. I knew he understood what I meant before he acted.

  Until that point, the ebony dragon was using his air boosts sparingly. This was both to train our endurance, and so I wouldn’t risk losing too much of my strength too fast. Yet as soon as I gave him permission, the dragon was gone.

  “Your “Heart” is getting cold here! Guess you will die, after all.” Belenus’ voice boomed in the space, followed by a joyful laugh.

  Styx became only a silhouette, dodging the turrets’ attacks, getting closer and closer to the other two-legged dragon. My head kept ringing, my stomach revolting as Styx spun midair, going from rapid loops to frantic zig-zags. Still, I endured. Because we were right behind them.

  But getting closer to Belenus didn’t mean I won. I had to recover my “Heart”.

  It didn’t take long for me to spot the red cloth, tied in the saddle.

  How will I get there?

  “You have forty seconds left, Soulless! The Manticore will eat your heart whole, at this rate!”

  There was only one way I could. Only one way I could get the cloth in time.

  And somehow, Styx thought the same as me.

  He flew above them, casting both the Belenus and his dragon in a dark shadow.

  Then I jumped.

  I could see how surprised the professor was by the way his eyes budged. As I fell, my hands grabbed the orange dragon’s neck with a grunt. The red cloth was right in front of me.

  For a split second, I thought about what Professor Belenus Kairon would do as his student's hand from a dragon’s neck mid-flight barehanded.

  Then I realized it was silly of me to think too much.

  The dragon began to spin, as if Belenus' sole purpose was to make me fall. My fingers held to the dragon’s mane, gripping it like reins. I closed my eyes shut, trying not to focus or think about how the entire world was turning and spinning and going round and round and round.

  Don’t let go don’t let go don’t let go, for all the life in you, don’t fucking let go, Vex!

  I knew the dragon wouldn’t be able to keep spinning non-stop. I only needed an opening.

  Styx roared, colliding with the other dragon. My body surged up from the impact, making Belenus’ mount let a sharp cry as I used their mane to hold me down.

  I was dizzy. Everything was tumbling to one side or the other, my sense of direction non-existent, my vision tripled. Yet I could see, the small red smudge. My “Heart”.

  Lunching forward, my fingers desperately reach for the fabric. To my luck, the knot was not too tight. It took me only three seconds to set it free. Belenus raised both hands, one reaching for the cloth in my hands while the other was aching to push me away.

  I threw my body to the side, using my elbow. It hit Belenus right in the face.

  The laughter escaped through my lips, filled with delight and joy.

  “You should’ve tied it tighter!”

  I shouted as I fell, showing him the middle finger. Instead of being mad, the man looked even more amused.

  My eyes glanced down, the ground becoming terrifyingly closer as I fell. I took a deep breath, my entire body shaking. Expecting.

  Then I saw, passing right beside me, a shape dark as night. It was only a second, and it was gone. Yet it brought with its shape hope; like a child's wish come true.

  Just like a shooting star.

  The next moment, Styx was below me. He shot a burst of air in my direction, slowing my fall enough so I could mount him. I patted him on the head, my heart beating so fast I thought it would jump out of my mouth.

  “You did well.”

  Styx grunted, as if I was only stating the obvious. Hah, that smug bastard.

  The last few minutes passed in a blur. My body felt so cold, my mind was so light, I could hardly keep up with what was going around me. So when the timer reached zero, and we finally landed, it took me a few moments to realize the exam was finally done.

  “Look at that, it turns out you could do it in three minutes after all. You must have played Hearts and Tails a lot, huh?” Belenus spoke nonchalantly, dismounting his dragon with so much elegance and pose it made me envious.

  As my feet touched the hard floor, my legs trembled and melted. A sickness washed over me, alongside a strong dizziness. The world was slowly becoming darker.

  I remember seeing Belenus shake his head as he chuckled, signaling someone I could not see. And as all warmth left me, the last thing I saw before passing out from exhaustion was Styx’s piercing gaze. Eyes that shared the same color as mine.

  And somehow, it felt like Styx wanted to tell me something. A silent message he was trying to pass to his new rider.

  Even after my conscience faded, I kept thinking of what that thing could be. And found out I didn’t have a single clue.

  For the second time in a week, I woke up in the infirmary.

  Yet to my joy, there was no sickening stench, much less Alantra Harris to greet me as I woke up.

  “Cousin Thomas always said I am too skinny to be a rider. That I should have a stronger body if I wanted to succeed. Well, the joke’s on him. Professor Kairon said I had a great endurance, everything considered.”

  “All he said to me was how I should ask Professor Petras to help me with Connie…but at least he didn’t fail me. I think we did well!”

  Instead of my sworn nemesis, I got two rambling mouths that even before I opened my eyes hadn’t stopped talking.

  Connie glanced my way, her bright smile matching the excitement in her voice. “My family has a great recipe to help build up muscles! I can share it with you, if you want.”

  I opened my mouth to reject the offer, but changed my mind midway. Too much trouble.

  “…sure. Thanks.”

  My head throbbed, my stomach felt empty.

  Passing 2 sleepless nights on a practically empty stomach, only to exploit my body with training and be spun around left and right during the exam…

  It certainly did a number on me.

  “Still…I can’t believe Professor Bel did your exam like this. If he had done that to me, I think I would cry.” Elowen muttered with some fear in his voice, and what surprised me the most was how he could state that, without getting embarrassed.

  Ceres crossed her arms, thinking for a bit.

  “If it had been me and Connie…I-I think Connie would have eaten the cloth…”

  As I had previously guessed, Belenus had planned that exam just for me. I couldn’t be sure about the others, but both Elowen and Ceres had a similar task. Flying over the rings while dodging the turrets, though the professor did ask them to use the dragon’s attributes a few times.

  “Did Professor Bel say anything about when the results will be announced?” I asked, checking if I had any new messages. None.

  They both shook their heads. Great.

  “But he did say we should start preparing for the next exams. They will take place twelve days from now.”

  Twelve days…

  It would give us less than 2 weeks. Ergos was rushing this course. There was simply no way to deny it.

  From what I recalled, I had passed the practical exam this time. And though I had a good inkling that I had passed the written exam as well, I couldn’t be certain just yet. It was Belenus Kairon, after all. Even more importantly, even if I had passed both exams this time, it didn’t mean I had any luxury of slowing down.

  Not when my entire future at Ergos was hanging by a thin thread.

  However, I couldn’t simply pass out every single time I exerted myself. I had to find a better way. A better routine.

  “What about you come to my house this weekend? Mom has a library with a lot of research others keep sending her. Pretty sure some of them can help us.”

  Ceres’ eyes lit up. “This would be perfect! I can also ask my folks—well, I would have to convince them first. They are quite protective when it comes down to bringing people home.”

  This…is odd.

  How they simply assumed I would help them this next time.

  As if they thought we were actual friends.

  However, I can use this.

  “…I’m currently living in an estate. It has a lot of space. You can come over if you want, to train with the dragons.”

  Just like that, they were both happy and excited. As if the worries of failure and expulsion were already past them. And as they continued to make plans for the following week, sharing all the things they could help with, the way became clearer. The things that could be done to improve my routine, while still being on track with my studies.

  They could see me as their friend. Same way I would see them as my “friends” as well. After all, that was a relationship I was used to. The old give and take. And since what they wanted from me was clearer, I could demand things of my own.

  Because, in the end, that was what friends were for.