"Long ago, just a few hundred years after the land of Khura'in was founded, nine divine warriors emerged from humble villages to fight the darkness that plans to take of the Kingdom."
"They were called the Khura'in Nine."
Both Apollo and Nahyuta were grinning widely as the leader of the Defiant Dragons began the story they would never get tired of.
"The nine warriors each possessed a spiritual ability that the Holy Mother once had in hopes of returning them to the royal family. No one knows but these abilities were never passed down to her children nor the future generations. What would you think happened?" questioned Dhurke in a grand voice that made the boys wonder in awe, their imagination already spinning its web.
"Maybe it was to protect her family. So the Khura'in Nine could grow up to guard them from evil." spoke Nahyuta.
Apollo, however, shook his head. "I think it was because she saw power corrupting her children and she wanted a member of the family with a pure heart to have the superpowers. After all, why would she wanted the powers to be returned?"
Apollo wasn't far off about how power can corrupt people, the very reason why Dhurke was in this mess.
"Some say it was in order to protect her family, others have told that it was to find an true heir who had a pure heart and talent to carry these powers and very few swore that even the Holy Mother didn't know what happened as she passed away in her sleep. It's been a mystery. "
"The powers were also a mystery but it never stops you from imagining what these powers could be." Dhurke continued. "It could be the ability to breathe fire like a dragon," Dhurke clawed his hands to mimic a dragon, pretending to breathe flames in Apollo's direction but latter simply giggled and doing the same gesture of the creature roaring.
"Or the ability see far away," Dhurke then shifted his hands as if he was using binoculars, "I can see the Khura'in butterfly!"
"Where?." pouted Nahyuta, as he stared into the direction Dhurke was looking. A shadow replicating the butterfly appeared on the wall, created from Dhurke's shadow puppet.
"Now can you see?" "It's right there!" exclaimed an excited Nahyuta, as he watched the 'butterfly' flutter around the room.
"These powers were used to fight against the evil forces that plotted to claim the Kingdom."
"I'll fight them with my fire!" protested Apollo, preparing his hands to blow flames towards the enemy.
"Not if you don't see me!" Dhurke changed into a growly, low voice fit for a villain as his shadow puppet of a monster disappeared.
"Over there Apollo, I can see him with my sight!" alarmed Nahyuta, pointing to the shadow.
Apollo and Nahyuta's imaginations started to take course of the story as they played two members of Khura'in Nine combating against the shadow creature that teleported on the walls.
"That sorcerer is creating the monster, we must defeat him to destroy the monster!" narrated Nahyuta, pointing towards Dhurke.
"Mwa-ha-ha, you fools. Not even the Khura'in Nine can defeat me!" cackled Dhurke as he played along.
"Not if we can do anything about it!" proclaimed Apollo, casting fire against the 'evil sorcerer'.
"Gah! You won't get away with this!" uttered Dhurke as he faked his death dramatically, groaning from his 'wounds' till he rolled his eyes and poked his tongue out. The boys cheered to celebrate their victory, unaware to Dhurke's small grin.
"Now it's time for the Khura'in Nine to go to bed to fight for another day."
Both of the children climbed into their beds, both content with the adventure that night.
"Father?" "Yes Nahyuta?" "How did you learn about the Khura'in Nine and did they really exist?"
Dhurke chuckled before answering.
"It's been a legend passed down through our family, generation to generation and not a word has been changed. My father told me the same story and so did his father. Maybe one day, you'll tell this story to your children so it will never be lost. And of course they did exist."
"How did you know?" pondered Apollo.
"Because an ancestor of our family witnessed their miracles, and vowed to continue their legend by telling his descendants." whispered Dhurke as he turned of the light.
Apollo and Nahyuta began to succumb to sleep, hoping to dream of the Khura'in Nine and their adventures.
Dhurke glanced at his children before leaving the room. The fearful leader of the rebellion's heart was softened.
"Goodnight my little dragons."
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
It's been a while since I continued this fic due to a lot happening in my life. Thank you for all who have been reading this fanfic and tagging along for almost two years now.