Boomer's large body sent Josh crashing to the ground where he would have been crushed if Boomer didn't hold himself up. He nuzzled Josh, hard scales scratching against his cheek.

I can't believe this! Boomer exclaimed. You're actually here. My bonded person. This is amazing! I—

"Boomer!" Josh yelled aloud, laughter shaking his words as he tried to still the dragon's head. "Yes, this is awesome, but you're kind of heavy."

For a moment, Josh wondered if Boomer could only understand him if he spoke in his head, but then he slowly pulled back. Josh got to his feet as Boomer moved off.

Sorry, he said, averting his eyes. I just got too excited.

Josh reached up, resting his hand on Boomer's head as he shifted his focus inward. Boomer's emotions trickled through: fear, shame, uncertainty.

He was really a dragon with his emotions out on display. A dragon. Josh shook his head as he continued to stare at Boomer. He was touching a real-life dragon that was somehow worried he wouldn't approve of him.

This should be the other way around, Josh said. You're awesome, Boomer. I couldn't ask for a cooler dragon.

You haven't met others, Boomer said. Despite his words, he started to relax.

Josh beamed and patted his dragon's head. Doesn't matter. There's no way they could be any better.

Boomer's lips curled up as he shot forward and dragged his tongue across Josh's face. He jumped back with a laughing shout.

Your tongue feels like sandpaper.

Thanks. Boomer lifted his head and jutted out his chin. I used to lick bark all the time to keep it tough.

Wait, what?

"Weird dragon thing," Mara said. Josh jumped. He'd been so caught up in Boomer that he had managed to forget she was there. "I wouldn't recommend trying it."

"Can you hear us?" Josh asked. His cheeks grew warm. If Mara could hear his thoughts like Boomer could, he would die.

He almost sagged with relief when she shook her head. "Actually, I've only heard Boomer's half of the conversation. Dragons are able to either talk solely to their soul-bound human or to anyone around. Most humans can only speak to their dragon unless they're very attuned to manipulating their soul connection."

"So if I'm with others, they only hear what I say to Boomer if I speak aloud? And if I want to speak privately I can do it in my head?"

"Of course. Especially if you have something to hide." She said it jokingly, but Josh's neck still joined his face in trying to melt.

Your thoughts about Mara are so weird.

Josh fought not to glare at Boomer. That better have been said privately.

Sure, of course.

"So," Josh said before he whacked the dragon, "there's just a forest in the sky too?"

He had been too preoccupied with Boomer when he first opened his eyes, but as he looked around, he saw large trees all around them.

Mara nodded as she started walking deeper into the forest. Josh shared a quick glance with Boomer before they started following. While Josh walked by Mara's side, Boomer traversed through the trees near them. He weaved through the forest with the grace of a cat.

"The Sanctuary hasn't always been in the sky," Mara said after he caught up. "Centuries ago, it was in a forest in England. It still acted as the Paladins' base, but it was also a Dragon Sanctum."

Josh frowned. Sanctum. The word rang a bell, but he couldn't place where he would have heard it recently.

"Sanctums are areas where dragons are free to roam without fear of humans discovering them. There are currently six of them throughout the world, at least for the Mighty Dragons. The Phoenix Dragons have their own Sanctums, I'm sure. Anyway, when the Paladins had the Sages put the Sanctuary in the sky, they had them bring part of the Sanctum as well."

"Sages?" Josh echoed.

You're taking him to Jodas, Boomer said.

Mara winked. "Good guess, Boomer," she said, then turned back to Josh. "Do you remember the part of Caleb's tale about the wise dragons that helped the Dragon King discover Elohim was bonding with Isabel?"

"Sure." It rang a faint bell, but other parts of the story had stuck out much more.

"Among those wise dragons was Hyridemus. With dragons starting to bond with humans, he started to advocate for dragons playing less of a role in the world. They would watch from a distance and assist humans primarily through the bond. The Dragon King agreed, especially with how much destruction the dragons could cause during their battles. However, when Hyridemus later said he thought that there needed to be both light and darkness in the world for there to be balance and for humans to thrive..."

"Let me guess," Josh said, reaching in his memory for what Xander had said yesterday. "They formed yet another group. Those... Older Dragons?"

Elder Dragons, child.

Josh stumbled to a stop when an unfamiliar, deep voice growled in his mind. He turned in the direction he felt the words come from. He jerked back, one hand drifting closer to where Boomer stood behind him.

Boomer was pretty big, but the dragon curled up before them was huge. He'd seen houses the same size as it. Even with its head resting on its forelegs, it peered down at Josh with pale green eyes. The scales covering its massive bulk shared the same green coloring.

"Hello, Jodas," Mara said. She gestured toward Josh. "This is Josh Davidson."

Our newest Paladin. Welcome. Jodas slid his eyes to Mara. And balance, young Paladin, is vital for existence. People cannot be free without both existing.

She chuckled, but something about it made Josh think she struggled not to roll her eyes. "I know that, but some don't think that means helping the darkness."

Josh stared at Mara, eyes wide. Before he could question her, Jodas huffed. Tendrils of smoke drifted from his nostrils. Humans have their human ways of thinking.

"Just like Elder Dragons have theirs." They both spoke in a light manner, alleviating any suspicion they may not be pleased with the other. "Jodas here is the Elder Dragon assigned to help the Paladins," Mara said, now turned back to Josh. "He creates portals for us to travel, and he helps us get in contact with the Sages."

"Humans they're bonded to?" Josh guessed.

Mara grinned her approval. He couldn't help but smile back. "Right. Sages and Elder Dragons do a lot of the work that keeps dragons and soul-bound humans from being discovered, so it's necessary that we have a way to contact them."

"Huh. That's pretty cool," Josh said. Though he didn't understand why that meant having to help the bad guys, but he held back his questions until they bid Jodas farewell and walked a good distance away. He can't hear me now, right, Boomer?

Right, he replied, slipping through the trees beside them.

"So," Josh said aloud, "why do the Sages and Elder Dragons help the Shadow Knights?"

Mara winced. "It's complicated." Josh raised an eyebrow, and she continued. "Like I said, they strive for balance and secrecy. By helping the Shadow Knights, they accomplish both. They keep light and dark balanced, and with the threat of the Sages siding with just us instead of helping us both, the Shadow Knights have to keep our existence a secret. Though most of the time their help for either side is simply not helping the others."

Josh still frowned. "What kind of situation would you even want to help people associated with darkness?"

Sadness touched the edges of Mara's smile as she averted her eyes. "Paladins like to think everyone can be saved. The Sages don't always agree."

"Oh."

They walked in silence for the remainder of the trip, Josh trying to process all the new information he had learned and Mara staring, her attention turned inward. It was only broken by the occasional remark from Boomer and their laughter as he excitedly dashed through trees.

He hadn't seen any other dragons in the Sanctum by the time they reached a gate leading back into the Sanctuary, though he had heard the occasional rustling and thought he caught the flash of a large shadow. He had to promise he would return later in the day before Boomer stopped pouting about him leaving.

With a reassuring pat on Boomer's head, Josh and Mara continued into the Sanctuary, heading toward what she called the Agriculture Area. It sounded like they had experienced the best parts first.

Because those first parts were great, especially meeting Boomer. He placed his hand on his chest. Things were a bit more complicated than a battle of light against dark than he expected, but he was part of a group of humans soul-bound to dragons who aimed to protect people.

He didn't think anything could be boring enough to ruin his experience, not even a farming area.

Fun Fact: Jodas' name is a combination of Jonah and Judas.  I almost went with Jonas but... *looks at the Jonas brothers* Yeah, I'm glad I didn't.

Boomer is just a giant puppy... And kitty... And child... Basically he's anything adorable and hyperactive xD Isn't he great?  We also finally get to meet the portal-creating dragon! Thoughts on him?  I side more with the Paladins way of thinking, but won't deny that the Elder Dragons and Sages may have a point somewhere.  Where do you think you'd fall between the two?

Let me know your thoughts on the chapter down below, and if you enjoyed it, don't forget to vote and comment! I also have a discord open to anyone who wants to join, and we have a section there to discuss the book :D It's in my bio if you'd like to join!