Again Sweat mixed with the sting of icy December winds, blurring your vision. Your breath came ragged, your body trembling. Again

You drew power from your dragon, heat flooding through every nerve, burning away the cold as you forced your signet to wield again and again and- AGAIN.

Snowflakes hissed into nothing as they touched your skin, the heat rising to an unbearable intensity. You pulled more power. Again.

You would never be weak again, you promised yourself that. You would do anything, everything to feel powerful. To be powerful. Again.

Your knees buckled, it was too much, that last wield was too much. You staggered, sucking in a sharp breath of icy air, fighting to steady yourself.

“Enough!” The voice cut through the roaring in your ears, familiar and sharp. You spun toward it too fast. Darkness edged your vision, then swallowed it whole as you crashed into the snow.

“Get up, Cadet!" Your ears rang, the metallic tang of copper filled your mouth. “Get up, dammit!” When your eyes finally fluttered open, they met a pair of burning, gold-flecked onyx ones. Xaden Riorson knelt beside you, his flight jacket draped over your shivering body, his hands gripping your shoulders. “Are you insane? You nearly pushed yourself to burnout!” His voice was harsher than usual, sharp as a blade, but beneath it… was that a flicker of worry?