Reign Of The Dragon Lords

Elsie straightened, her eyes meeting Elois' sharp gaze. "Your Highness..." she began, trying to steady her voice.

Elois pulled Holly's hood up to cover the bodyguard's ears and turned to Elsie, one eyebrow raised. "Repeat that," she demanded.

Elsie hesitated, then glanced at Holly. "I want Miss Wal-"

"Lady," Elois interrupted sharply, her eyes narrowing. "Call her Lady Waldorf."

Elsie nodded and bowed. "I ask Lady Waldorf to teach me to be a great rider, like you and Princess Katya."

Elois let out a sarcastic grin. "You forgot to mention my name," she quipped coldly. "Only Katya?"

"I apologize, Your Highness..."

Elois shook her head gently, her eyes narrowing. She stepped closer to Elsie, their distance shrinking to a single foot. Suddenly, Esaess materialized behind Elsie, his scales gleaming in the sunlight. The little dragon hissed, poised to unleash a torrent of fire. Elois pointed towards the stone bridge that arched over the lava chasm. "Whenever you feel the urge to train," she commanded, her voice icy, "cross that bridge! Return to me, and speak with Lady Waldorf once you've conquered the 'Backdoor.'"

They called it the Backdoor Bridge, a chilling moniker that reflected its grim purpose: a path for those seeking an end.

Princess Elois and Holly departed, leaving Elsie with no desire to witness the girl's first, and likely only, attempt.

The ancient stone bridge stretched across the chasm, connecting the barracks to the rider training facility. Its moss-covered stones appeared frigid even from a distance. Since its construction, no aspiring rider has dared to traverse it. Elsie was a pioneer, the sole contender, and perhaps the final one. Provided she could navigate the bridge without faltering.

Elsie stood at the cliff's edge, the wind whipping cold air and the sharp tang of sulfur against her face. The stone bridge stretched out before her, long and daunting. She turned to Esaess, seeking support. "Esaess," she whispered, "I'm scared." Esaess nuzzled her head against her long, flowing hair. Sensing her unease, the red dragon unfurled his wings, a silent promise to accompany her across.

Esaess floated back to Elsie, landing gently on her head. He let out a low rumble, inviting them to begin their adventure and reassuring her that he'd guide her every step of the way.

Carefully, Elsie placed her foot on the mossy rock. The sulfur stung her eyes, tears welling up. Every step felt heavy, the slippery rocks testing her balance. The memory of the Harvesting competition returned, but this felt far more perilous. Fear, cold and sharp, ran down her spine. The roaring lava below seemed to mock her, a cruel echo of the suffering she'd witnessed. The image of the incubation chamber and the tortured guards burned.

Elsie looked back, her amber eyes meeting the dragon's sparkling golden ones. Esaess was right on her heels. 'Did you feel happy when your flames scorched the guards that day?' she asked curiously.

Elsie laughed. Her little dragon flapped its wings vigorously, its long tail wagging excitedly. Elsie knew that for Essaess, burning the guards had been a significant victory.

Cold sweat soaked Elsie's palms. She looked down, staring at the gaping chasm below the stone bridge she was standing on. At the bottom of the chasm, a pool of lava hissed, emitting a fiery red light that tormented the eyes. What if she slipped? The lava below would surely welcome her with open, fiery arms. The thought sent chills down her spine.

Her breath hitched, cold sweat stinging her forehead. Elsie glanced at the sun, already dipping towards the west. She'd barely made a dent in the journey, but her feet felt leaden, the soles slick and treacherous. Cheers of victory erupted from the rooftop of the training building, jarring her. A flash of orange and black darted past – her father's and Prince Gaspard's dragons. Disappointment gnawed at her.

"Oh, Lord," she muttered. It was the beginning of the week—no wonder the roof was packed with riders. Prince Gaspard and her father were demonstrating air defense and attack maneuvers. Fury surged through her. Like this afternoon, her first practice was undeniably ruined, potentially witnessed by many onlookers.

"Sir Larousse! Your daughter! She's on the bridge!" A rider's loud voice broke the silence of the night. 

Elsie turned her head, the night wind whipping her loose hair across her face. Her eyes widened as she saw the gaping chasm yawning below. Behind her, orange and black dragons hissed softly. Elsie fought back a surge of anger. She hated that Marcus, witnessing her secret activities, might misunderstand everything. Elsie's tiny legs trembled, barely able to support her weight.

Marcus approached Elsie, his dragon rumbling beside him. "Elsie!" he bellowed, his voice booming across the air. "Get down from there! I'm coming to get you!" He carefully guided his dragon towards the bridge, prepared to meet Elsie, who looked terrified. Or maybe she was just overwhelmed by the sight of two enormous dragons.

"Wonderful," Elsie sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Elsie sighed, ignoring Marcus's orders and cautiously pressing on. But when the orange dragon abruptly reversed, swinging its tail menacingly towards the bridge, Esaess roared, a torrent of blood-red flames erupting towards Marcus's dragon. Startled, Elsie stumbled, nearly losing her balance. Ducking low, she braced herself against the bridge, whispering, "Esaess, calm down, my love," her breath caught as she narrowly avoided toppling over.

Esaess started to settle, but then Marcus's dragon roared, a torrent of fire erupting from its maw and engulfing the space above Elsie. Fueled by fury, Esaess launched himself forward, a blur of motion. His tiny wings, thrashing wildly, unintentionally dug into Elsie's arm as he whizzed past.

Elsie groaned as Esaess bucked wildly, lunging after Marcus's orange dragon. The tug-of-war between them sent Elsie reeling. Her left foot skidded on the slick bridge, and she lurched forward. Gripping the bridge with desperate strength, her knuckles white, she barely managed to stay upright. The shrieks of the female riders on the rooftop pierced the air, their cries echoing through the clamor of the male riders as they urged their dragons to assist.

"Esaess!" Elsie shrieked, panic rising in her throat. Sweat slicked her hands, making the rock treacherous under her grip. Desperate, she clung on for dear life, but the relentless pull of gravity proved too strong. Her skin screamed in agony as the searing heat of the boiling lava met her flesh, and she plummeted into the fiery abyss below.