Aretgarlja takes off with a leap. They fly a short distance across the open fields before landing next to a series of archery targets.
Azril's face turns white with terror when they first take off and hangs on tightly. However, once they're flying and he looks around his surroundings, color returns to his face and he laughs in jubilance. As they land by the archery targets, he cries "That was awesome!"
Aretgarlja takes off with a leap. They fly a short distance across the open fields before landing next to a series of archery targets.
Azril's face turns white with terror when they first take off and hangs on tightly. However, once they're flying and he looks around his surroundings, color returns to his face and he laughs in jubilance. As they land by the archery targets, he cries "That was awesome!"
Dernis smiles at Azril as he helps him down. "Exhilarating, isn't it?"
"I'm glad you thought so," adds Aretgarlja. As she steps aside, Azril sees that they are not alone on the field. A short distance away are two people: A tall man with long, blonde hair and pointed ears, and the dark-haired girl who Azril and Robin met earlier, the one who was levitating. They are in the middle of a conversation, but after a moment the man walks over to Azril and Dernis.
"Dernis. I don't often see you around here. Have you come for your sister?"
Dernis shakes his head. "Not today, Eldren." He gestures to Azril. "This is Azril Betynsohn. He's a new arrival and we were wondering if you had time in the day to work with him on his archery."
"Of course," says Eldren. "Welcome to the Riders, Azril. Why don't you come by first thing tomorrow morning and we'll see what you can do?"
After a moment, Azril recalls Eldren's name from his father's stories. A powerful sorcerer and keen archer, he was among the Riders who chose to pursue their mission while Hithrol and some others stayed back to help the Southern Fiefdoms. Azril's father had little interaction with Eldren, but he found him quite impressive.
Azril's face turns white with terror when they first take off and hangs on tightly. However, once they're flying and he looks around his surroundings, color returns to his face and he laughs in jubilance. As they land by the archery targets, he cries "That was awesome!"
Dernis smiles at Azril as he helps him down. "Exhilarating, isn't it?"
"I'm glad you thought so," adds Aretgarlja. As she steps aside, Azril sees that they are not alone on the field. A short distance away are two people: A tall man with long, blonde hair and pointed ears, and the dark-haired girl who Azril and Robin met earlier, the one who was levitating. They are in the middle of a conversation, but after a moment the man walks over to Azril and Dernis.
"Dernis. I don't often see you around here. Have you come for your sister?"
Dernis shakes his head. "Not today, Eldren." He gestures to Azril. "This is Azril Betynsohn. He's a new arrival and we were wondering if you had time in the day to work with him on his archery."
"Of course," says Eldren. "Welcome to the Riders, Azril. Why don't you come by first thing tomorrow morning and we'll see what you can do?"
After a moment, Azril recalls Eldren's name from his father's stories. A powerful sorcerer and keen archer, he was among the Riders who chose to pursue their mission while Hithrol and some others stayed back to help the Southern Fiefdoms. Azril's father had little interaction with Eldren, but he found him quite impressive.
"S-- sure! Thank you," he stammers. "It's an honor to meet you, sir."
Dernis smiles at Azril as he helps him down. "Exhilarating, isn't it?"
"I'm glad you thought so," adds Aretgarlja. As she steps aside, Azril sees that they are not alone on the field. A short distance away are two people: A tall man with long, blonde hair and pointed ears, and the dark-haired girl who Azril and Robin met earlier, the one who was levitating. They are in the middle of a conversation, but after a moment the man walks over to Azril and Dernis.
"Dernis. I don't often see you around here. Have you come for your sister?"
Dernis shakes his head. "Not today, Eldren." He gestures to Azril. "This is Azril Betynsohn. He's a new arrival and we were wondering if you had time in the day to work with him on his archery."
"Of course," says Eldren. "Welcome to the Riders, Azril. Why don't you come by first thing tomorrow morning and we'll see what you can do?"
After a moment, Azril recalls Eldren's name from his father's stories. A powerful sorcerer and keen archer, he was among the Riders who chose to pursue their mission while Hithrol and some others stayed back to help the Southern Fiefdoms. Azril's father had little interaction with Eldren, but he found him quite impressive.
"S-- sure! Thank you," he stammers. "It's an honor to meet you, sir."
Eldren smiles. "You are most welcome." To Dernis, he adds, "It is a welcome change to have a student who is so respectful." This last part is clearly directed towards the dark-haired girl, who gives him a slightly exaggerated look of bewildered innocence.
Dernis chuckles. "Well, thanks for your time, Eldren. We'll let you get back to the lessons while we show Azril around some more."
"You're forgetting something, Dernis," adds Aretgarlja, flicking her tail in the direction of the dark-haired girl. "Kira, this is Azril. Azril, this is Kira, Dernis's other sister."
"Nice to meet you, Azril," Kira says with a pointed look.
"S-- sure! Thank you," he stammers. "It's an honor to meet you, sir."
Eldren smiles. "You are most welcome." To Dernis, he adds, "It is a welcome change to have a student who is so respectful." This last part is clearly directed towards the dark-haired girl, who gives him a slightly exaggerated look of bewildered innocence.
Dernis chuckles. "Well, thanks for your time, Eldren. We'll let you get back to the lessons while we show Azril around some more."
"You're forgetting something, Dernis," adds Aretgarlja, flicking her tail in the direction of the dark-haired girl. "Kira, this is Azril. Azril, this is Kira, Dernis's other sister."
"Nice to meet you, Azril," Kira says with a pointed look.
"Nice to meet you, too, Kira," Azril responds, feeling a little uneasy under her gaze.
Eldren smiles. "You are most welcome." To Dernis, he adds, "It is a welcome change to have a student who is so respectful." This last part is clearly directed towards the dark-haired girl, who gives him a slightly exaggerated look of bewildered innocence.
Dernis chuckles. "Well, thanks for your time, Eldren. We'll let you get back to the lessons while we show Azril around some more."
"You're forgetting something, Dernis," adds Aretgarlja, flicking her tail in the direction of the dark-haired girl. "Kira, this is Azril. Azril, this is Kira, Dernis's other sister."
"Nice to meet you, Azril," Kira says with a pointed look.
"Nice to meet you, too, Kira," Azril responds, feeling a little uneasy under her gaze.
"We'll be off, then," says Dernis. They climb back onto Aretgarlja's back and take another short flight, landing just outside the main cluster of buildings in Paladeen.
"Nice to meet you, too, Kira," Azril responds, feeling a little uneasy under her gaze.
"We'll be off, then," says Dernis. They climb back onto Aretgarlja's back and take another short flight, landing just outside the main cluster of buildings in Paladeen.
