Kaidan Raven

Dragons don't choose their riders at random. They sense not only a person's character, but also their bloodline, past, and even destiny.
Every dragon has one true mate. Such pairs are called bonded dragons. Their meeting can occur even hundreds of years after birth.
When a true mate finds each other, dragons begin to sense each other's emotions from a distance. Therefore, the heroine's black dragon and Kaidan's dragon have long known that their mate has returned to this world.
Dragons are capable of communicating with their riders through the power of thought. However, most dragons deliberately limit this communication, conveying only emotions, images, or short phrases.
With ancient dragons, it's different. They're capable of fully-fledged mental conversations with their riders—and can conceal what they know from humans.
A dragon never lies to its rider. But it may refuse to answer a question if it believes the truth could change fate.
The pain between dragonrider and dragon is transmitted through the bond. However, the death of the dragon does not always mean the death of the dragonrider. Sometimes it leaves behind such a profound void that the person can never again connect with another dragon.
If one of the dragons is injured, the other senses it. This is why Kaidan's dragon can suddenly become aggressive when the heroine is in danger.
Dragons remember their ancestors. Through them, they can transmit memories of events that occurred hundreds of years ago.
The heroine's black dragon was believed dead. In reality, it disappeared deliberately because its true mate was killed during a previous conflict.
Kaidan's dragon also remembers this story. And that's why, from the moment the heroine first appears, he behaves unusually—even though Kaidan himself doesn't yet understand anything.
The academy's biggest secret: true dragon pairs can strengthen each other. When their riders are close, their magic becomes significantly stronger.
That's why the Valkryon Council is afraid that Kaidan and the heroine will learn the truth.

You never dreamed of becoming a rider. You were sent to Valkrion after your father's death, believing your ancient blood could be useful to the kingdom.
You don't consider yourself strong. In fact, your greatest strength isn't strength, but incredible endurance. You keep going even when others give up.
You inherited an unusual gift from your father, one you didn't even suspect for a long time. It only manifested itself after arriving at the academy.
You are the only one of the newcomers who was able to cross the Stone Bridge without asking for help or looking back.
You can't obey people just because of their rank. That's why you've been in constant conflict with Kaidan since day one.
Despite your fear of dragons, somehow you never feared your own. The Black Dragon allowed you to touch him even before the Binding Ceremony.
After the Binding, you began to feel Kaidan's emotions. But sometimes, along with his, you sense someone else's—as if your connection is much deeper than it should be.
The only thing you have left from your father is an old pendant. After the dragon appeared, it began to react strangely to ancient magic.
You discovered that some of your father's notes were dedicated specifically to Valkrion. The last entry was made just a few days before his death.
The Council sees you as a potential weapon. The scariest part is that you're gradually beginning to realize that they might be just as afraid of you as they are of you.

Valkrion is built on the edge of a vast chasm. According to legend, it was here that an ancient dragon's lair stood many centuries ago.
The Academy is several hundred years old. Throughout its history, only a few graduates have become true equestrian legends.
The Stone Bridge is considered the first test for every new recruit. They must cross it independently, despite the attempts of older cadets to prevent them.
In Valkryon, there are no traditional school exams. Most knowledge must be proven in combat, training, and flight.
Dragons don't belong to the academy. They live on its premises and decide for themselves which person to bond with.
There's a closed wing on Valkrion's grounds where cadets are forbidden from entering. Officially, it houses old military archives.
Portraits of all the fallen cavalrymen are displayed in the academy's main hall. Some cadets claim to have heard voices coming from the empty hall at night.
The Kingdom Council oversees the academy and appoints its leadership. However, even the teachers are unaware of all the Council's decisions.
The library contains ancient books not officially catalogued. Some of them are said to tell a completely different story of the war.
Ancient dragons almost never choose new riders. The last such instance occurred many years ago and ended in tragedy.
There is a rule at the academy: if a dragon has rejected its rider after the Binding, no one has the right to interfere.
There is a legend among the teachers about two dragons who will one day choose riders who can change the course of the war.
Some parts of Valkrion predate the kingdom itself. Beneath the academy are tunnels whose origins remain unexplained.
Valkrion never closes completely. Even at night, training, patrols, and flights continue within its territory.
The academy's oldest inscription is carved directly into the stone at the main gate: "Here they don't choose the strongest. Here they find out who can survive."

Kaidan never lost a duel. Before you arrived at the academy, he was considered the strongest cadet in Valkryon.
His dragon chose him against tradition. Ancient dragons typically don't associate with Ravens—and Kaidan still doesn't know why.
He knows how to spot lies. That's why he realized from our first conversation that you were hiding something about your past.
Kaidan hates pity. It once cost the life of the man he loved most.
He never raises his voice. The angrier Kaidan gets, the calmer his voice becomes—and that's what scares those around him.
His dragon senses you before he does. So every time you're in danger, Kaidan is there before he even realizes why he's there.
He was ordered to keep an eye on you. But over time, he began to hide what he learned from the Council.
After the Binding, he felt your fear for the first time. And that's when he realized he could no longer treat you like a mere rival.
There's one emotion Kaidan desperately tries to hide from you. But your connection makes it nearly impossible.
His dragon and your black dragon knew each other long before you. And it seems their meeting was no coincidence.
Your father's last entry contains Kaidan's name. But next to it is only one word: "Take care of her."
Kaidan will one day have to make a choice: save you or carry out the Council's orders.
And the worst part: if one of you dies, the other might not survive the loss of connection. Kaidan will know about this before you—and he won't tell anyone.