Dragon training
During the day Sato worked on flying, but at night he trained with Getsurin and his other self. It was tiring him out; he couldn't wait until it was time to fly to the other kingdoms to trade! They left in the night, to ensure that the king's spies wouldn't see them leave. As they crossed the borders, Sato noted that Dai and Getsurin were very tense until they were safely across.
"What's up with you two?" he asked in a hushed whisper.
"The king has forbidden anyone from crossing the borders without his knowledge. We have to cross at night or they'll see us and probably try to shoot us down again."
"Why would they do that?"
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Because your ruler is a greedy bastard who would want to take more than he should so his own subjects would suffer.
Why would he do that?
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"Why would the king take any of the goods? We're doing this for everyone, not just the castle!"
"Because he's a greedy monarch. He doesn't give a damn about his people…" grumbled Dai.
"So is there anything I need to know about the kingdoms?"
"Yup…all ya gotta do is follow my lead. They have oracles as well, so we sent them a warning that a newbie was going to join me. Don't worry, you'll be fine," said Dai.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"
…
"Welcome back, Niri Dai-san," said the official welcoming committee.
"It's good to get away from that idiot's tyranny," joked Dai.
"Who is the boy beside you?"
Tell him your name!
"My name is Hikawa Sato," said Sato nervously.
"So you're Hikawa Yami's younger brother. He has spoken of you many times," said the oracle.
"Shall we get down to business?" asked Dai.
"Indeed."
Two days after they finished trading, they returned to the temple in the dark of night through a fog bay around the land. Sato was slightly concerned about this, though Dai acted as if nothing were wrong.
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"Dai, how are we…?"
They always place a fog bank around the temple. It would be too hard to explain why they have the landing lights on the ground otherwise.
"It's easier to say that the landing lights are for the fog around the place," shrugged Dai.
"Oh…"
"So, how did it go?" asked Yami.
"Fairly well. It seemed they were amused by the fact that I was the one with Sato and not you."
"Well we were busy. So what did you think, Chibi Kage?"
"It was cool!" grinned Sato. (This evoked a laugh out of everyone.)
"So you enjoyed escaping the king, eh?" asked Hikari when he finally quit laughing.
"You know sometimes I can't help but envy you, my Chibi Kage," chuckled Yami.
"How come nii-san?"
"Because thanks to the effects of the Rutile, you can be honest with your feelings…" said Solara.
"Eh?" said Sato with a confused look.
XxXxX
Humans quit being honest about their feelings around the time they become teens. They become self-conscious about themselves, and as a result, they quit honest with themselves and with others.
Why?
Beats me…something to do with appearances I think…
XxXxX
"So what're you gonna do now, my Chibi Kage?" asked Yami, still amused.
"I was thinking of training with Getsurin," said Sato.
"Training? What sort of training?"
"He's teaching me darastrix arcaniss!" said Sato happily.
"What?"
"He said in his tongue it means dragon magic."
"Really?"
Getsurin nodded, and they shrugged. Sato and his dragon-sensei went into a field with no one nearby to get hurt.
Ready boy?
"Yes, Getsurin-sensei."
What is a sensei anyway?
"According to nii-san, its literally translation is 'one who has come before'. But mostly we use it as a way to say teacher."
Ah…
The first thing they did was to bring out Sato's draconic form, which they named Satoshi. As he spread his wings, he noticed something very wrong below. A Magus under the king was nearby, and he saw Satoshi at the same moment he saw the Magus. A blast of fiery hot magic shot towards Satoshi, and he narrowly dodged the blast.
Getsurin! There's a Magus!
WHAT!
He's shooting at me!
I think it's time you learned how to use your breath attack.
…
Feel the energy from deep within your lungs. Then, take a deep breath and send that energy outward at the Magus.
Okay.
As Satoshi took a deep breath, he turned towards the Magus and exhaled. A surge of frozen-air hit the Magus dead-on, killing him instantly.
Well done. And to think I wasn't expecting you to get it right on the first try!
Getsurin, what was that?
That, my apprentice, was your BREATH ATTACK. Remember when I told you how Blues and Whites have different ways of killing Mages? Well I was referring to our breath. Every dragon can use a certain element, and ours happens to be ice.
What about Blues?
Lightning. Blacks use acid; Reds use fire, and so on. Remember this though…once you use your breath attack there is a time limit until you can use it again. The most efficient way to use that attack is when there are MULTIPLE enemies. If there's just one, then use your wings to bludgeon them, your tail to smash them, bite them with your fangs, or just shear their skin to shreds using your claws.
Why would anyone want to kill a dragon to begin with? I didn't do anything to provoke him!
Dragons have an ability that naturally produces fear in almost any creature. The only sure fire way to avoid this fear is to be unable to see the dragon. We see better than humans, and our sense of smell is very acute, so they can't exactly sneak up on us very easily.
Cool.
Though you have better eyesight than most humans anyway…
I've noticed that as well. Getsurin, what should we do if the Magus had friends nearby?
Wait until they gang up in a single spot, then use the breath on them all at once. Remember, your breath attack is best used with multiple enemies, especially when they're in the same spot.
By the time the Magus fled, Satoshi had improved his aim considerably; they shook in terror if Satoshi so much as took a deep breath. This amused them to no end. They headed back to the temple for dinner, Sato being back in his human form by then, and heard an interesting piece of news.
"Sato, are you alright?!" asked Lunara in concern.
"Yeah…why wouldn't I be?"
"We heard a report from the villagers that the king has sent a group of Magus to storm the temple. Apparently they finally figured out that those fog banks aren't natural," said Dai.
"Did they say how many of them?" asked Sato.
"Around 12 or 13. Why?"
Sato began laughing and when he finally settled down, he said, "Because Getsurin and I just dealt with a group of Magus when we were training!"
"WHAT!"
"Yup. One of them attacked me without warning and Getsurin taught me how to use a dragon's breath attack. They were great target practice!"
"You and your dragon got rid of 13 Magus? That's great Sato!" said Hikari.
"You should have seen their faces whenever I took a deep breath! It was hilarious!" laughed Sato.
"Su tsnaiga ymra eritne dnes lliw eH."
"Crap…she said 'HE WILL SEND HIS ENTIRE ARMY AGAINST US."
"You've really got to tell me how you can understand those predictions of hers…" grumbled Hikari.
"You just put the sentence backwards in your head, baka."
"I heard her say that too, Hikari," said Sato.
"You too?!"
"So what're we gonna do?" asked Dai.
"Simple. You and Getsurin recover; I don't want either of you going out training alone again!" said Lunara firmly.
"Hai, Lunara-sama."
Hey…have you noticed the looks Yami and Solara have been shooting at each other lately?
Not really…
Why don't you ask Hikari if he noticed too? I have a feeling that we're gonna have some fun with those two…
Hai…
"Hikari, Getsurin wants to know if you've noticed the looks nii-san and Solara have been giving each other."
"He saw those too? So I'm not the only one then…"
"Why would they be giving each other weird looks?"
"He-he-he… You're as clueless as otouto…" chuckled Hikari.
Tell Hikari we'll make a bet.
"Getsurin wants to make a bet," said Sato.
"Tell him I'm in."
I bet that Yami will kiss Solara before the sun sets tomorrow evening.
WHAT!
"What?"
"He said he bets my brother will kiss Solara before the sun sets tomorrow evening…"
"You're on! If not, then you'll have to help me get Dai to admit he likes Riku in front of her!" chuckled Hikari.
If I win, then he has to clean the dragon stables for a week.
"If we win, you have to clean the dragon's stables for a week."
"Fair enough. So how are you two gonna get them to…?"
I ain't tellin'.
"We're not telling."
"…"
"Nii-san, do you like Solara?" asked Sato bluntly. (His brother had was drinking something when he said this.)
"What?! … (Chokes a bit)… What did you just say?!"
"I asked if you liked Solara."
"Did that twit Hikari put you up to this?!"
"No… though Getsurin and I made a bet with Hikari that you'd kiss her before the sun sets tomorrow evening."
"YOU WHAT?!"
Sato didn't repeat his statement. Yami looked at his younger brother in disbelief.
"I don't believe this… Why'd you make a bet like that, Chibi Kage?!"
"It was the dragon's idea! He's the one who noticed the looks you two have been giving each other!" protested Sato.
"I'm going to kill that dragon if it's the last thing I do!" growled Yami.
"So you do like her…"
"Drop it!" snapped Yami; Sato flinched at his brother's tone and the other softened immediately.
"Sorry Sato… It's just that it's too complicated…" sighed Yami.
As Sato headed outside, he noticed Solara sitting down near a tree. He approached and she grinned as she said, "Hey Sato-chan, what's up?"
"Solara, do you like my brother?" he said bluntly. (The look she held on her face was mixed at best.)
"What makes you ask such a question? Of course I like him! He is my friend after all…" she stammered, blushing.
"I mean more than just as a friend…"
"…"
"Sorry…guess I shouldn't have asked…" sighed Sato.
"It's alright… But what brought about such a question?" asked Solara.
"Getsurin made a bet with Hikari that my brother would kiss you before the sun set tomorrow evening."
"He what?"
"He made a bet with Hikari."
"And what would happen if you two won?"
"Hikari would clean the dragon's stables for a week."
"And if you lost?"
"We'd help Dai admit he likes Riku with her within earshot."
"In that case, count me in!" laughed Solara.
"Lunara, I assume you heard the bet as well?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"So what do you say? Shall we get Hikari to clean the stables?"
"Definitely! It's time he learned to get his mind off girls!" laughed Lunara evilly.
(Next up, the pairings between Riku and Dai, as well as Solara and Yami, will finally come to pass! The next chapter will be a lovey-dovey kind, 'The bet of love!')