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Chapter 25

Bluffs

"What?"

Terrador smiled, and looked at the earth dragon seriously. "I want to take you as my apprentice, Crombe. I want you to be the next Earth Guardian."

Crombe was still trying to process the information that was being fed to him. He was still recovering from the overall shock. "Me?" he pointed to himself. "But…why?"

The larger dragon's brow furrowed. "Honestly Crombe, isn't it obvious? You're the best candidate I could ever choose. You're strong willed, honest, skilled and knows the difference between right and wrong; qualities that will make you a fine Guardian; qualities that I like, which is why I chose you to succeed me."

"I didn't know you were looking."

"I wasn't," Terrador answered flatly. "But recent circumstances changed my perspective." He sighed, and looked out at the distance. "I think it's time for me to step down. I am clearly getting too old. I am following Volteer's example."

"You're settling down then? With Decibele?"

Terrador smiled. "Yes. We are planning on having a family; raising one requires full attention; something I cannot do if I am still to maintain my Guardian duties."

Crombe scratched his head. "I don't think I'm the right dragon for this, Terrador. I don't think I even want to be a Guardian."

"The honor and responsibility of being a Guardian isn't small, but do not let that deter you. Tell me, what makes you think you don't want the role?"

"I don't feel like I deserve it." Crombe shook his head. This was all going too fast. He couldn't imagine himself being a Guardian. If anything, he preferred to be left alone, not one to go about and practically help everyone he came across. But then…he helped Steppe. He did something he always thought he never would ever since living alone. Maybe Flame was right. Maybe he was beginning to change.

"You deserve it more than anyone I know, Crombe." Terrador looked at him seriously. "I am not going to pressure you however for an answer. I want you to think on it. And tell me your decision later, understand?"

Crombe nodded. "I do."

"Good. I'll be eagerly waiting for your response."

0

"So let me get this straight, you fought with Zaze and won?"

Flame had just finished telling his story of his sparring session with Zaze back then. But he changed a few details. He wasn't lying as he justified it to himself.

"I did. It was a tough match. We both gave it our all and…I came out on top."

"Wow…really…" Steppe looked at him as if seeing him a new light. The dragon was utterly mesmerized that a simple dragon like Flame had won against Zaze. "But he was really an electric dragon before?"

Flame nodded. "He was. Though that doesn't mean he was a slouch either. If anything, he was still as dangerous as can be. You've seen what he can do, right?"

"I think I saw him zipping as fast as the eye can see. Can you do something like that?"

Sadly, Flame had to shake his head. "No. I'm not that awesome."

"So you can't do anything special?"

Flame shook his head. "Unlike Zaze and Crombe, I'm rather…normal in comparison. I never really tried mastering my Elemental Surge. I never knew how to begin with."

"Is that the thing where your emotions make you more powerful?" Steppe asked. "I think I've read it in our books, but I never saw it in action."

"When you see it, it'll blow you away."

"Why is that?" Steppe asked, looking at Flame. "Have you seen dragons go through it before?"

"I've seen your mentor go through one before."

The dragon's eyes widened. "Crombe mastered his Elemental Surge!?"

Flame nodded. "That was a sight to see when I saw that. I never knew a dragon could even launch a behemoth that high." He visibly shivered. "Makes me happy that I'm friends with Crombe. I wouldn't want to make him angry after seeing what he could do."

"You should have seen him when he fought of the bullies! He was awesome!" Steppe's eyes had a certain twinkle in his eyes. Flame could easily tell that the dragon practically idolized Crombe. He couldn't blame him. The dragon was badass in his own right, able to stand toe to toe against a purple dragon.

"What did he do?" he asked curiously.

"Nothing! He just stood there! But when the guys tried to attack him, BAM! An earth wall appeared out of nowhere!"

Flame nodded, listening intently and smiling as he looked at Steppe gushing about the earth dragon that he always thought was cold and uncaring.

"And just like that, he took them out! They were scared out of their wits!"

"You really like Crombe, huh?"

"Of course I do! He's nice, funny and he's always helpful!"

Flame's brows furrowed. Those were three things he never expected to be put together with Crombe in the context. "Are you sure?"

"I am! What makes you think otherwise?"

"Because Crombe has never been like that."

The two dragons turned their heads to see Zaze standing at the side.

"Hey there, Zaze! We were just looking for you too," Flame said, waving at him.

"Was he, Zaze? Was Crombe different before?" Steppe curiously asked.

"Like you wouldn't believe." Zaze smirked at him. "He'd probably brush you off and think you're annoying." He smiled wryly. "Like the way he treats me."

"He does mention that every now and then," Steppe commented. "Maybe that's because you killed her cousin."

At the mention of that statement, both Flame and Zaze's attention were snapped to the dragon.

"What?" Flame asked. "What are you talking about?"

Steppe blinked. "Oh, that's right! He never told you guys…" The dragon bit his lip after seeing the gaze the two dragons were giving him. "Maybe I shouldn't have opened my mouth."

Zaze, however, looked at him seriously. "What are you talking about, Steppe? What do you mean I killed his cousin?"

The dragon visibly gulped, seeing the purple dragon's expression. "Uh…I, uh…"

"I won't hurt you, Steppe. I promise. Who did I kill?"

Steppe glanced at Flame who nodded to him. He sighed and decided to spill the beans. "It was a dragoness named Latis."

At the mention of the name, Flame immediately noted how Zaze's expression visibly darkened. "Are you sure about this?" Flame asked making sure the dragon wasn't making it up.

"I'm sure. Why would he lie to me?" Steppe asked rhetorically. "Who's Latis anyway? Was she a friend of yours?"

"She was more than a friend…" Zaze's voice was almost in a whisper. "She was the best dragoness I've ever met."

Flame decided to control the direction of the conversation. Latis was a very touchy subject for Zaze. "She's a very important dragoness to us, Steppe." He then leaned into the dragon. "She was a very important dragoness to Zaze."

"Oh…" Steppe blinked as he glanced at the purple dragon that was now solemn. "Oh, I see. I'm sorry, I didn't know."

"You don't have to apologize, Steppe. It was my fault to begin with. And I actually want to thank you," Zaze said, looking at him.

"For what?"

"For telling me. I'll have to talk to Crombe later."

"Don't fight," Steppe blurted out. "Please."

"Is he angry at me?" Zaze dared to ask.

"He's confused," Steppe answered. "He said it was complicated."

"I would be surprised otherwise." The dragon smiled wryly. "Regardless, thank you for telling me this important piece of information."

Steppe nodded, smiling back at him. The dragon then decided to change the subject. "Is it true though?"

"Is what true?"

"That Flame defeated you in a sparring match!"

"That he what?" Zaze glanced at Flame who just smiled sheepishly at him. He noted the fire dragon's expression before looking back at Steppe. "What match was it specifically?"

"He told me it was when you were still an electric dragon."

Zaze racked his head for the specific sparring match. It took him a moment, but the memory came to him. That was when he actually gave up. It was true. Flame actually did win that match, technically anyways.

He smirked. "Really?" He looked at the dragon that looked back at him with a wary look. "Remind me again. How did you beat me?"

"Oh you know…" Flame replied, thinking fast. "Just using my…fire techniques…"

"Like what?"

Flame squirmed. It looked like Zaze wasn't going to let him off easy. "Uh…you know…the fireball thing."

"You mean the one where you launch it into the air and breaks into multiple smaller fireballs, raining down from the sky?"

"Whoa! You could do that Flame!? I want to see that!" Steppe said, looking at the fire dragon enthusiastically.

"I'm not sure, Steppe." Flame briefly glared at Zaze. "I'm not feeling it today."

"But I was looking forward to seeing it too," Zaze added.

Flame ignored the purple dragon. "Sorry, Steppe; I'm just tired today."

"Oh well…"

"I on the other hand can show you a few things, Steppe," Zaze replied in a matter of fact tone.

"You can?" Steppe said, turning to face Zaze. "What can you do, Zaze?"

"Oh, you know, just…well…" Zaze saw that Flame was glaring at him. "What do you want me to do?" he asked Steppe.

"How about that thing you told me that Flame can do? You're a purple dragon. You can do that right?"

"Of course I can!" Zaze replied brightly. "Come on, let's head on over to the dojo."

"Alright!"

Steppe started walking ahead and Zaze was about move when Flame walked up to him.

"Why did you have to steal my thunder like that?" he said, looking at the purple dragon with an annoyed expression.

"What do you mean?" Zaze smiled smugly. "I thought you weren't feeling well."

"I rarely get to show off too…" Flame said, sighing dejectedly. "You practically destroyed what little reputation I had in front of Steppe."

Zaze rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, Flame. I won't ruin your credibility in front of Steppe. Besides, that fire technique is easy. I'll teach you how to do it along the way."

"Really? Are you sure?" Flame asked, looking at the purple dragon skeptically. "I mean, I know you didn't mean anything bad, but I don't think I can do it."

"Just follow me, Flame. It's high time you started leveling up."

0

"Anything?"

The mole shook his head. "We're sorry, Flare. We have not seen any sign of the dragon you specified."

The Fire Guardian sighed. "Alright, just keep us posted."

"Will do."

As the mole started walking away, Volteer walked over to the Fire Guardian. "Do not fret as much, Flare. We'll find him."

"I'm just worried, Volteer," she replied, looking at her mate.

"I understand where you're coming from."

"No, it's not that. I feel like something bad may happen if we don't find him soon."

Volteer's brow rose. "You too, huh?" He sighed. "I promise you we'll find him. I still blame myself for his disappearance. He is my responsibility."

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