Rivka found herself in front of what was presumably one of the academy buildings, stepping from the carefully idyllic forest to an expansive and flawless lawn. Sparsely occupying said lawn? A steadily growing accumulation of young nobles, all clad in the same uniform as herself, all bearing swords and in virtually every instance in groups who appeared to already know one another.

She took a moment to scan over the unfamiliar faces in the hope of recognition, she did not spot the blonde Lady Larhonda, perhaps she had not arrived yet? But did pick out the Marquisal heir Kristopher, the na-Baron Isaias from her first day on the starliner was older and presumably not taking part in whatever reception or introduction was about to take place.

Well she did not think she was going to achieve very much by standing and waiting. She looked to the tall young man next to her. “Lord Rosas, would you object if I introduced you to Kristopher Cade Valenti, na-Marquis of the Valenti March? We met on the journey here.” Rosas frowned at this then took a step back, a slight shake of his head. “That would be presumptuous of me, Lady Dragon. By all means do not let me detain you further though.” A bow following as he obviously moved to withdraw.

Rivka did not quite know what to make of that. Was Rosas an enemy of Kristoher? Or their families? Perhaps it was due to difference in rank? Regardless of why she was obviously not going to win brownie points by introducing the two, a slightly awkward bow of her head in response. “Ahh. Um, well thank you Lord Rosas, I am sure we will meet again.” She turned away only to hurriedly snapped one hand to the pommel of the sword at her side, said turn threatened to swing the scabbarded weapon out to menace her surroundings.

Then without a better idea of what to do she approved Kristopher and his surrounding half dozen strong cluster of companions. As she marched across she did wonder, surely House Sepra had allies, enemies, or those they wished to court? She had been told nothing of that though, only trained briefly in correct terms of address and degrees of bowing as an aside to the relentless few weeks of magical and physical drilling. It was baffling given the investment obviously being made in her.

Perhaps they did not trust her not to embarrass herself regardless and so wanted to be able to plead her ignorance? That was not a comforting thought. On which note she realized it was time to bow.

So she did, definitely not practised especially with the added impediment of a sword. “Your excellency.” This to the na-Marquis. “I was lucky enough to make your acquaintance during the journey here but can I ask for an introduction to your companions?”

Rivka felt herself greeted by a somewhat awkward pause as the existing conversion stopped and all seven of them looked to her. Two young men, one tall and dark and lean, the other a shorter browned haired individual with an enormously powerful build who seemed to be somewhat back from the main group, positioned as if he was flanking or supporting Kristopher perhaps? Then four girls, two tall blondes (was that Kristopher's type?), a slight, red haired girl who Rivka had not noticed actually talking very much and finally a toweringly statuesque figure with no hair, literally pitch black skin in no natural hue decorated with intricately spiralling tattoos or similar markings in burnished silver. Also her eyes were bright silver and, just as Rivka's now were, slit vertically and reptilian in appearance.

She was also the one who spoke up first, not Kristopher. “So this is the little dragon you spoke of cousin? I like her eyes and would laud her bravery. But does she even understand what she is doing?” Her tone was smooth, rather deep, a hint of amusement. Also she definitely looked at more than just Rivka's eyes and was quite shameless in doing so, Rivka felt a slight flush rising to her cheeks though her dark skin thankfully ensured this might not be entirely visible. Her senses were screaming at her that she was confronted with something not human, another predator, a peer. A dragon!

Then Kristopher spoke up. “She is Lady Felicia, also your suppositions are no doubt correct.” He gave a small bow of his head to Rivka then motioned to his companions in turn. “It would be amiss of me not to introduce you, Dragon Rivka. Lady Felicia Valenti is my cousin and the daughter of Legate Eladia Valentie, commander of the 3rd Stellar Legion. And yes, she is a dragon, she was Awakened eighteen months ago.” He smoothly continued. “This stoic individual.” He indicated the extremely powerfully built young man flanking him. “Is Lord Marcel Valenti, another cousin and my personal bodyguard. Lord Hayden Kowalski.” The tall, lean young man, also definitely looking at her with interest after she was introduced as a dragon. “Is a friend and second heir to his baronial family. These two visions.” Blondes must be his type Rivka mused, fuming just a little as both of the tall girls were introduced. “Are Lady Wynell Hahn and Latoria Meyers. Lady Charita Royster.” The redhead now. “Is na-Baroness of House Royster, direct vassals to my mother.”

With the round of introductions completed the young noble then motioned expansively to Rivka. “And this is Rivka Karri Nagel. Draconic Ward of House Sepra. I must apologise for her intrusion especially to you Lady Felicia, she must be ignorant of your mother's history with her adoptive family. Still, however newly hatched she is a dragon and one of our peers. I hope that everyone will show her due consideration.”

That sounded like a very polite dismissal to Rivka, if not a final one, she set her jaw, rankled, who was he to send her away! But no, a deep breath. She gave another bow almost as awkward as the first. “Thank you your excellency. I was indeed ignorant of any bad blood between my adoptive family and any of those present. I will excuse myself.”

This seemed to be taken well enough but before she could make good on her promise there was a soft chime clearly audible across the gathering.

Then the procession into view of a tall, powerfully built man looking to be in his fifties perhaps, iron grey hair, coffee brown skin, dark eyes, wearing a magnificent if sombre robe like affair of lustrous black trimmed with intricate and heavy gold embroidery. He was flanked by a dozen men and women in similar if less ornate attire as he emerged from the colonnaded front of the academy building.

“Young lords and ladies!” He managed to be very loud indeed without raising his voice and Rivka could immediately tell this was magic not just a well practised voice. “Welcome to the Zeria Imperial Academy, you are all prodigies of one kind or another, the elite of the noble houses of this sector, from heirs to titles to unexpected talents found amongst peripheral nobles. Your four years here are to be a crucible where you will be trained and moulded into future leaders. Many of you will spend time in the Imperial legions or administration, others will return to champion your houses, a significant number of you will also fail.”

“Do not assume that graduation is simply your birthright or that your birth and talent will win through. You must dedicate the next few years to your betterment and attend to your lessons, back home you might have been exceptional but here? Even the elite are normal and we expect you to strive to rise beyond normality. Many of you are exemplars of humanity but you do not merely compete with your peers, in this year we have two dragons with Houses Valenti and Sepra both sending such exalted scions to be trained by our establishment.”

Rivka realized that more than a few people were looking at her now even if Felicia was the obvious centre of attention. She fumed silently. She was the special one! She was mighty! But now she realized she was going to be directly compared to a girl with a year and a half of experience over her when it came to being a dragon, a scion of a powerful noble house including two other dragons who had no doubt helped to tutor and educate her.

She had a lot of work ahead of her and also needed to shout at Tribune Lissette for not warning her, at the first possible opportunity.