It’s Just A Name

Vinnandra didn't know what annoyed her more… the fact that the registrar for the admission exam was contemplating what name to register her under, or the fact that every other dragon rider standing in the very long queue, under a very hot sun was staring at her like she was a hot sensation.

It was no longer her vivid hair's fault, it seemed everyone had gotten over the fact that a 'freak' with freakish hair existed amongst them… well mostly. But now, they wouldn't stop murmuring about the council gathering that she and Xander had audaciously called for.

While everyone had their own theories of the proceeding, what disgruntled her the most was how they would whisper, "can't believe she is bond to Heir Lenklock" like she was some infirmity and Xander was some god.

Only if they knew he manipulated women into signing their lives away in the name of a contract, then perhaps their rumors would have pity on poor her.

Either ways, Vinnandra resorted to internally rolling her eyes as many times as possible whenever she caught sniff of their irrelevant thoughts. It didn't matter to her.

"I can't decide if you're a commoner or royalty." One of the registrars behind the counter flips through a book lazily, letting out a large yawn while at it. "Glap, what do you think? Should we register her as a commoner?" He asks his partner who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there. Vinn suspected Glap was dozing off at some point, and that annoyed her.

The fact that they didn't see the centre of her dream as something worth dedicating their energy and vigour to pissed her off. The process of getting into Academy wasn't looking good already.

"Man, I don't think so. While the Albridge family disavowed her, she's after all bonded to Heir Lenklock and his monstrous red dragon. You would just be offending the Lenklock's if she is registered as a commoner." Glap answers, darting his eyes around as if fearing anyone but Vinn would hear him pronounce Astrid as 'monstrous'.

Of course, the rest of the queue were out of earshot so it was just the three of them. As if Vinn hearing him didn't matter. Besides, what was wrong with being a commoner? She was dirty poor as it was, the title of royalty sounded ironical in relation to her pocket size.

"In that case I will register you as Vinnandra Albridge," the first registrar declared and Vinn felt her anger levels spike up, "disavowed as you may be, you're still from Albridge." He concluded in a placating manner.

Vinnandra Albridge…?! She didn't want anything to do with that name if she could help it, and as much as she wanted to act as a brat about the whole situation, she resisted doing so.

For one, if news went back to Lord Lenklock—yes, Xander's father—that she misbehaved in the slightest, and the gods forbid, created a stain on Xander's good name, she feared she wouldn't be able to handle the repercussions.

After her ridiculous contract with Xander, Tiess, a nosy servant at Lenklock castle in a bid to curry favour with her, informed Vinn in no words that Lord Lenklock did not appreciate that a stain like her shared a connection with his only beloved son.

Long story short, Tiess, hands waving up and down to demonstrate her story and point summarised that Lord Lenklock made a fuss about it, lashed out at Xander for not doing better, oh, and threatened to take away his position as heir. Although Vinn wondered if at all the last part was true. After all, whom will the pissed Lord pass his position to if he followed up with such threat?

But then, she remembered Xylan.

The foster son and Xander's supposed cousin.

While Vinn might still not get the ridiculous relationship the man had with Xander and his father—strangely, no one gossiped about it in the castle—she knew enough to respect herself.

"Can I not answer another name? They call me the hateful one, will it not do?" She reined in her anger, resorting to reason. See, she could be very reasonable. She didn't even mind her dirty nickname, as long as she didn't answer Albridge anything.

"It's not a name." Glap mutters like it was the most obvious thing in the world, which it was. But feeling pushed to the wall once again, Vinn was losing her ability to act or reason smartly.

She took a deep breath.

"If you keep the Albridge name, you will be registered as a royalty… although it won't buy you any points during the admission tests, or in the academy if you do manage to get in." The registrar replied matter-of-factly as he scribbled something in the large book before him. Somehow, Vinn knew that scribble had already sealed her fate in relation to what name she would bear at the Academy.

Vinnandra Albridge.

It is just a name, she tried to convince herself. It had no power against her, not anymore. Not ever.

Besides, she had a name even if the rest of the world wouldn't agree to it.

Vinnandra the hateful. A name she once feared but now embraced. A name a man called Xander Lenklock called her and only her.

"Here's the test requirements," The registrar hands her a multi page pamphlet. "Read through it carefully." He says dismissing her to attend to the next person on the queue.

Every year, Dragon and Riders Academy saw thousands of applicants. It was the one place where every class of people in Dragonia existed together… It was also one place where commoners could make a name for themselves by being bonded to a formidable dragon.

Yet, despite the vast number of applicants, only a mere hundred—sometimes even less—passed the tests and made it to academy.

Vinn read through the pamphlet as she walked back to the castle. Funnily enough, the academy was located smack dab on an island that bordered Lenklock and Attamas, which meant she didn't have to travel too far for the tests.

"While I know we're not bonded as a dragon and rider, I will love to take you to the testing grounds." Astrid says suddenly, jerking Vinn's attention away from the pamphlet she was reading.

An excited thrill runs through her, but then, it dies down just as soon.

Dispirited and feeling general pity for herself she communicates back. "I will love to… but I can't ride a transport dragon properly talkless of an accomplished dragon, I will bring nothing but shame to you." Transport dragons were way weaker, smaller, and slower than accomplished dragons that were only ridden by dragon riders, yet Vinn found she struggled to hold her balance on one.

"If you're afraid of getting on me, then perhaps you should rethink your plans of attending Academy." Astrid's voice wasn't harsh, nevertheless Vinn felt the sting from it.

"Vinnandra," she continues firmly, "I don't want any form of fear to hold you back. I know you want to ride a dragon, well, your wish is about to come true. As for other things, we will tackle them as they come." Astrid encouraged her.

Vinn was empowered all of a sudden. Astrid had a way with words.

"I will ride you!" She declares out loudly, drawing attention from passersby that shoots her a 'have you lost your mind' look.

She is stunned, she hadn't meant to talk out loud. Astrid lets out her signature growl like laughter, and Vinn joins in.

"Ride what now?" Selene Attamas says, appearing from nowhere and cutting her laughter short.