Opening Bid

I clicked next, and it showed the opening bid of a thousand. The screen read. Place item in slot to begin auction. A slot opened up on the desk next to me. I placed the vial into the slot.

It scanned it again before the slot closed slowly. Then the screen read. Auction ready to begin. Scan credit account in. I held my watch up to the scanner.

It scanned my watch quickly. Then asked me how long I wanted the auction to last. I clicked the one day option, and left the booth quietly. Savannah, and Ethan both joined up with me when I left the shop. We headed straight back to the dorms quickly.

I couldn't stay out very long. We knew I could handle six hours of staying in my human form, but we didn't know how much longer I could hold it. I pulled my clothes off as soon as I got into my room. Switching forms quickly, and moving so I was halfway in the common shared area. My wings twitched bumping the door's frame as I watched them both settle in their chairs.

Savannah chose to take Ethan's desk, and Ethan chose to sit at my desk. Which was really close to me with me hanging halfway out the door the way I was right now. Savannah seemed to like me, but part of her still seemed to think of me as dangerous. Ethan was comfortable with me completely, and Savannah seemed to bother him so he preferred being closer to me. I dropped my head so I could look at what Ethan was doing on the desk.

I didn't really care what he was doing. I just didn't have anything else to do right now. I watched Ethan work on random bits of research for a couple hours before sliding back into my room for nap time. Tonight I would get a good stretch in. Which reminded me of the gaps in my spines.

The system may have only mentioned it in passing, but it had said riders bond. That suggested that I would be Ethan, and Savannah's ride someday. I guess mount was more accurate. I pushed the door close quietly. I would need to learn how to fly properly, and then with weight on my back.

I reminded the system to wake me, and closed my eyes for that nap. Ethan liked going up to the roof with me so at least I had that. I woke from my nap a few hours later, and knew that Savannah had already left. Switching forms, and getting dressed quickly. I opened the door, and looked at Ethan.

"Ready?" Ethan asked.

"As I will be," I stepped out of the room, and closed the door.

Up to the roof we went. Ethan stayed just far enough behind me to make sure no one followed, and let me switch. Extending my wings carefully in the darkness above the academy was thrilling in it's own way. My wings weren't fully extended so the wind caused the loose wing membrane to ripple slightly. It felt good.

The quiet sound of my membranes snapping tight before loosening back up again was soothing to me. Calming me completely. I bobbed my head slightly as I remembered once again why I couldn't do this all the time. I snorted as that dark thought came back to me. I needed to go back to the dorm before I got spotted.

"Time's up," I waved for him to turn around.

Ethan opened the door to the stairwell, and stepped in closing it behind him. I was able to switch forms in peace without Ethan watching. I was glad he didn't push me that way. I left my boots untied as we headed back to the dorms. Kicking them off by the door when we got back.

Heading into my room like usual. Once I was back in my room I closed the door. Throwing my clothes off, and switching forms so I could sleep comfortably. To a certain degree I was excited to see my bond with the two of them get stronger, but at the same time I didn't want to get treated like I was their pet, or ride. Steed.

Whatever. I lost my train of thought as I fell asleep quietly all curled up in my room. I awoke to my alarm the next morning. I sighed heavily as I stood up slowly stretching as much as I could in the tight space as I cracked my back. I pulled my clothes up close, and switched forms. Pulling my clothes on quietly as I got ready for another club day.

I wondered if Goliath would throw us in the arena for some fighting or not. Savannah met up with us on our way out the door.

"You're a really early riser aren't you?" I pushed my hair back slowly.

"I lived, and died by my dad's clock as a kid," Savannah chuckled, "Four am every morning or get my ass thrown out of bed."

"Your dad sounds like a real piece of work," I wanted to chuckle again, but decided not to.

Chuckling about her psyco dad just didn't feel right. He was a killer, and from the way Savannah reacted to him, she didn't know. There was no way she'd run up, and hug him like she did if she knew what I did on instinct. We dropped off Ethan at his club, and then headed to ours. Club was more prep for the evaluations.

Boring really. I didn't like this boredom. I wanted to get back to fighting. Build up some more xp so I could do more damage. Damage resistance was another trait I desperately wanted to improve.

If I could get my damage resistance up high enough than I would be able to ignore the majority of attacks that came my way. As much as I disliked getting hurt, it was the only way for me to get my damage resistance up. The fact that I was willing to get hurt for all of this was insanity in itself. It was just a fact of life at this point. I needed to get hurt so that I would get hurt less.