Chapter 3

The Master and Apprentice

The sun stretched its long golden raise across the landscape. Kryos stood outside, looking across the thick forest that laid below the cavern entrance. Kryos took in a deep breath, the cold mountain air filling his lungs and sending a shiver down his spine. Kryos smiled, hearing the gentle tap of claws on stone coming from the cavern entrance.

Rose walked out of the cave, her dark green scales glimmering in the morning light. Rose grumbled, stretching her arms above her head. Kyros chuckled, turning to face the newly transformed huntsgirl as he said, "Did you have a rough night?"

Rose groaned, "Not use to sleeping on the floor, or with wings for that matter."

"That will come with time. Now, to begin your training."

Rose turned, bowing once before she stood in a tight attention. Kyros returned the bow, turning his back to Rose as he looked back out across the horizon. The pair stood in silence, Kyros taking another deep breath before he said, "Listen around you, can you hear the gentle whisper in the wind."

Rose cocked her head to one side, a bit confused, "I don't hear anything."

"This is where we will start your training young dragon. Dragon's have a place in the magical community as protectors, mediators, the peace keepers and greatest of soldiers. Most dragons begin their training learning magic, sharpening their physical skills, and learning the ways of magic. Since you were trained by the huntsclan, you have martial art skills equal to any dragon master. That leaves us two things you must learn. The first is easy to define, the mystic arts that dragons must learn. The second, however, is something I can't teach you, and must be learned through experience."

Rose nodded, "Yes master."

Kyros smiled, "You don't have to be so formal with me Rose. Now, we shall begin with basic dragon magic and techniques. From that we will work our way up to more advanced skills."

"Uhh…what about the ability to change back into a human?"

Kyros chuckled, a blue flame building at his feet. The fire grew, completely consuming Kyros in its flames. When the flames began to die, Kyros himself had changed into a dragon. His build was like Jake and Rose's, more of European dragon then Chinese. He was different in his coloring, his black sails being complimented with the short white hair on his head, his white stomach and chest, and white claws.

Kyros spread his wings out, taking a third deep breath, "That magic, my dear, is our final lesson. Until we have finished your training neither one of us shall take a human form again. Now, let us begin with something simple, flight."

Rose nodded, glancing back at her wings before Kyros began his lesson. Across the country, in New York City, another dragon student was going through his own training. Jake was up on the roof of his grandfather's store, flying as he shot down magical targets. Down below, Lao Shi watched with wisdom filled eyes, trying to pick out the slightest imperfection in Jake's form.

As Jake continued his practice, a tiny messenger fairy flew up to Lao Shi and tapped his shoulder, "Special Delivery, sign here please."

Lao Shi turned, quickly signing the form on the fairy's clipboard before taking the light blue envelope. Lao Shi gave the fairy a quarter, turning back as Jake landed. Jake was breathing hard, smiling as he said, "Yo G, there can't have been anything wrong with that run."

Lao Shi glanced up at Jake, "I am sorry, I wasn't watching."

"Say What?"

Lao Shi rolled his eyes, tearing open the message. A cloud of smoke slowly rose into the air, and a dragon with orange scales came into view before saying, "Attention Lao Shi and Jake Long, this is a message from the dragon council. The date of this year's Dragon Summit has been moved forward. This year's council will be held on the 16th of July. This change in dates is due to some pressing matters that the council wishes to discuss with all dragon masters before the summer is out. Please, make a note of the date and be there on the appointed date. All dragons, both master and students, are required to attend this year's conference."

Jake scratched his head, "I wonder what that is all about."

Lao Shi leapt up, smacking Jake in the head as he shouted, "DID I SAY YOU COULD STOP? Get BACK TO DRAGON TRAINING. ANOTHER FIVE GOES AROUND THE TARGET COURSE."

Jake groaned, "Aww man…" Still, Jake did not protest further, changing back into his dragon form before taking flight. Back in the forested hills, Kyros and Rose landed back at the cave. Kyros smiled, moving into the cave as he said, "Your skills as a huntsclan member seem to be helping with your dragon skills. You have gained a firm hold on the art of flight."

Rose bowed her head, following Kyros as she replied, "Thank you master." Kyros glanced back, and Rose quickly corrected herself, "Sorry, I meant Kyros."

Kyros smiled, turning his attention back to the cave as the pair entered the small living space that was Kyros's home. The cave's walls were still rough, but the ceiling and floor had been cut to be perfectly flat. The room was everything someone needed to live in some comfort, and against the back wall stood the boulder that hid the passage to the source. A new addition to the cavern, something Kyros had created during the night while Rose slept, was a second cavern off to the right. The cavern was a like a tunnel, and it connected to two smaller caverns that now served as Rose's and Kryos's bedrooms.

Kryos snapped his fingers, a pile of book appearing on a nearby desk. At the same time the desk began to sink into the floor as it also spread out wider. The desk chair also changed, turning into a large wooden frame with a thin pillow lying inside.

Kryos pointed at the books, his tone turning back to that of a dragon master, "Every day you will spend the morning with me practicing different dragon skills. Then, you shall begin your book studies. Though you may be staying here with me for a while, you aren't getting out of school."

Kryos snapped his fingers again, a small mirror appearing on the shortened desk. The mirror flashed, a skull with flaming eyes appearing in its glassy surface. Rose thought that the skull was some dark spirit, but the flames in its eyes soon turned a gentle orange as the skull said, "Kryos, how have you been. I haven't talk to you since, well, since the dark ages."

Kryos nodded his head, "It has been a long time, but now I would like to meet your knew student."

The skull turned, looking at Rose, "Sorry Kryos, I got out of the teaching biz a long time ago."

Kryos growled, glaring daggers at the skull in the mirror, "Voris…"

The skull gulped, smiling weakly, "Whoa, now I didn't say I wasn't willing to get back in." The skull then looked at Rose, smiling as he said, "Mr. Voris Skull at your service."

Kryos smiled, "As I was saying, you shall spend your mornings working with me. You will then spend your afternoons working with Voris. Your work is done when you have completed the day's lessons. Then, the rest of the day is yours to spend freely. Now, why don't you get acquainted with Voris while I whip up a quick lunch?"

With that Kryos turned and moved over to the small kitchen that was pushed up against the nearby wall. Rose watched Kyros for a few moments before she stepped forward, lying down on the pillow as she looked at Voris. Voris coughed a bit, glasses appearing around his eyes as a piece of paper appeared in front of his face, "Now, let's see just what your school was using as its curriculum."

Voris was quiet for a few minutes, reading over different pieces of paper that appeared next to him in the mirror. Rose waited patiently, her eyes drifting over the books that had been piled on the desk. Some of them looked like the text books from her school, and others look like they were hundreds of years old.

Voris coughed, the glasses disappearing of his face as he said, "Well, I can say that is one of the most pathetic curriculums I have ever seen. It will not be hard to keep up with that. Now, I can see where you left off with your math teacher. Let's start there. Then will move onto English, World History, and then into something you don't learn in school. Magical Creature Studies and Magical History. Neither are very difficult. The true challenge will be your magical spell lessons. To be a dragon there is a wide list of spells you will need to be able to identify and either cast or counteract."

Rose nodded, listening intently as Voris began his lessons. In truth, Rose was a quick learner. You had to be to get ahead in the huntsclan. As Rose's mind wandered a bit, she actually saw that huntsclan training and dragon training were not that different. The only true difference is how they view magical creatures. One saw them as individuals, like any person walking down the street. The huntsclan, however, just saw them as plague.

Kryos brought lunch a few minutes later, a simple sandwich with an apple and a few other side dishes. Still, better then the cafeteria food. Rose studied with Voris the rest of the afternoon, getting an entire day of school under her belt in just a few hours. Though Voris was a little ghastly, he knew more then all of Rose's old teachers put together. He was a teacher of many people, and said he had also helped Merlin learn a thing or two.

Around five in the afternoon, as Voris reviewed with Rose what she already new about certain magical creatures, Kryos entered the cave. He had left just after lunch, and had not come back all afternoon. Kryos walked over, leaning over as he asked, "Voris, can I steal Rose for a few minutes. I want her to see something."

Voris nodded, "I believe we have covered enough for today. You are excused Rose, but I expect you back tomorrow. We need to continue our discussion on the identifying traits of the common Rock Troll."

Rose nodded, standing up from the cushion that she had been lying on all afternoon. Kryos motioned over his shoulder, turning as he led Rose out of the cavern. Rose followed, glancing back to see Voris's image disappear from the small mirror on the desk.

The pair walked out in the afternoon light, the sun just beginning to near the western horizon. Kyros took flight, looking back at Rose as he said, "Come young dragon, if you wish to see the wonder of this island you must keep up." With that Kyros did a nose dive, disappearing into the forest below. Rose quickly followed, diving down as she began to move through the dense forest. As Rose dodged tree branches, trunks, and large bushes she could only catch fleeting glimpses of Kyros.

Kyros called back, a bit of a challenge in his voice, "Are you even trying."

Rose smiled, gritting her teeth as she pushed herself along faster. All of the sudden, the forest ended and Rose found herself flying over large open grassland. Kryos was a long ways ahead of Rose, but he had stopped and landed in the open field.

Rose slowed, coming to a stop beside Kyros. Kyros took a deep breath, his eyes skimming the horizon, "Rose, like every dragon you must have a domain. Jake is the American Dragon, Lao Shi had once been the Chinese Dragon. For each dragon they have a realm to protect. I am not a true dragon, this form just the result of magic I have learned from the source. You, however, are now a dragon to the core, and this place shall be the land you protect."

Rose looked around, "Where is this place anyway?"

"This is the island hidden in the mist, a place known by all but seen by only a few. This place has been called by many names. It can be called Atlantis, the ancient home of people who learned the power of magic and became the world's wizards and witches. It could be called Unis, the birth place of the first Unicorn. Still, the island's true name was the one given it by the source. This place is the island of Dawn and Dusk, Horizon Island. Named after the fact that this is where magic came into existence, and this is the place where it shall disappear. This is the island where, like the sun, magic dawned and will finally disappear behind the horizon in glorious twilight."

Rose smiled, "The Dragon of Horizon Island, I like the sound of that."

Kyros took flight again, moving towards the distant tree line. The island itself was laid out like a target, with the grassland in the center, a ring of trees outside of that, and the entire thing encircled by the mountains. Rose flew after Kyros, landing again in the forest. For a moment the pair sat in silence, and then a gentle rumble began to fill the air.

A moment later, a herd of Unicorns rushed past Kyros and Rose, charging through the forest as they headed towards the open grasslands. As Rose Kyros watched the herd pass, Kyros said, "This Island plays host to several types of magical creatures, each trying to live in harmony with the rest of the island. That, however, isn't always the case."

Kyros motioned towards Rose, both taking flight as they got ahead of the Unicorn herd. Rose saw Kyros land in the path of the heard, turning as he faced down the thunder mass of white fur, hooves, and horns. Rose hung in the, wondering what Kyros was doing until she looked behind him. Hidden amongst the nearby bushes was a nest, of what looked like a Gryphon. In the nest sat a pair of eggs, true treasure in the magical world due to their rarity.

Kyros's eyes were fixed on the herd, but his vision was still focused on Rose. Finally, a smile blossomed across his face when he saw Rose fly down and land beside him. Kyros nodded, holding out his hand. The herd began to slow, the lead stallion coming to a halt just a few feet in front of Rose and Kyros. The Unicorn stood their, making small noises as if it was talking. Kyros nodded his head, understanding the Unicorn's language as he said, "I have told you before not to pass through this part of the forest, and I expect you to follow my instructions. Now, to redeem yourselves I ask you to pass this message, carry it all across the island. There is now a full blooded dragon on our island, and she will become the guardian of the magical creatures on this island. They are to pay her the respect she is due, and remember to seek her out should they need help."

The Unicorn nodded, reeling back as he turned and charged off in another direction. The rest of the herd followed, and soon all that was left of them was the thunder of their hooves echoing through the forest. Kyros and Rose took flight, arriving back at the cave a few minutes later. Kyros smiled, setting a hand on Rose's shoulder as he said, "You have done well today young dragon. Now, let's get some sleep." Rose agreed, following Kyros into the cave as night settled on the island.

Far away from the island, standing in his chambers, the Huntsmaster stared at a large wall of monitors. He had the huntsclan searching day and night, but there had still been no sign of Rose. Huntsmaster was getting frustrated, his anger boiling up. No one betrayed the huntsclan and lived to tell about it. Rose, huntsgirl, would be punished, her time on this world ending at the edge of a sword.

A knock came at the darkened chamber's door, it opening as a huntsclan warrior said, "Master, number 56, as you requested."

Huntsmaster turned his head, only glancing back at the warrior, "Send him in."

The warrior nodded, stepping back as a young man slowly stepped into the room, garbed in the usual huntsclan attire with the number 56 placed directly on his shoulder. The Huntsmaster turned, his eyes locking on 56, "Number 56, you were the second most highly ranked student in your class, under the Huntsgirl, correct."

"Yes Huntsmaster", Number 56 replied, dropping to one knee as he bowed his head.

"Well, now that Huntsgirl has shown her true nature you are taking her rank. You are to join me in the field, and the second you have slain your first dragon you shall be given the title of my apprentice, and the next in line for the Huntsmaster title and powers. Do you accept this responsibility, knowing that your training will intensify by at least ten fold?"

Number 56 nodded, "I take the responsibility willing Huntsmaster."

"Go, and return to your dorm. Your training will begin tomorrow, and you know the punishment of being late."

"You shall not have to worry about me, Huntsmaster." With that Number 56 stood up, turning as he left the room. Huntsmaster looked back at the wall of monitors, his eyes locking on the different images the Huntsclan had of the American Dragon.

The Huntsmaster smiled under his mask, dark deeds forming in his mind, "Soon dragon, now that your traitorous ally has been discovered, your pelt will hang on my fireplace before the month's end." The Huntsmaster began to laugh, the evil sound echoing across the chamber as a phantom on the wind.

In New York, Jake himself was about ready to go to bed. As he slipped under his blanket, he looked at his desk and saw the dream charm lying there unused. Jake fought the temptation for a few minutes, trying to get some sleep before he ended up getting out of bed, grabbing the charm, and falling asleep with it in his hands.

When Jake opened his eyes, he was in the hallway of the dreamscape. He looked around, following the well known hallways until he came to Rose's door. Jake smiled, reaching out for the door when a voice suddenly said, "I am afraid I can't let you do that American Dragon."

Jake turned, seeing the figure in the black cloak that had taken Rose away. Jake growled a bit, changing into his dragon form before saying, "And what are you going to do to stop me."

The figure chuckled a bit, disappearing into thin air. Jake looked around, wondering where the guy had went when he felt a something kick him in the back. Jake fell forward, quickly regaining his footing as he saw the stranger in the cloak pull out a key. Jake stared at the strange object, wondering what it was for when the cloaked figure turned and placed the key in the door. With a resounding click, the door locked itself tight.

Jake rushed forward, planning to steal the key from the cloaked figure when, once again, he vanished into thin air. Like an echo on the wind, the stranger's voice spoke to Jake, "Why are you so dead set on entering Rose's dream?"

Jake turned, seeing the stranger reappear a few door down, "That's none of your business."

The stranger laughed, "Oh, if that is true then you shouldn't care if I destroy this key, permanently locking Rose's dream door."

Jake grumbled, stepping forward but the stranger just held the key out, threatening to snap it in half. Jake's anger began to flair up, his gaze locking with the cloaked figures. Jake and the figure stared each other down for a few minutes, and finally Jake caved in. He hung his head, his voice dropping to a whisper, "I just want to know she is okay."

The cloaked figure smiled under his hood, the key disappearing from his hand. The figure moved forward, lowering his hood to reveal his face. Kyros set his hand on Jake's shoulder, a comforting tone in his voice, "If that is all you wish for, then I suppose it is something I can give you. When you awake look on your bedside table. You will find a special phone. There will be no numbers to dial, no buttons to press. This phone will only work when Rose calls you. Since tomorrow is Sunday, I will allow Rose to call you around eight in the evening."

Jake looked up at Kyros, "You can't let me see her."

Kyros shook his head, "I am sorry Jake, but not yet. Trust me though, you will get to see Rose again. It is all just a matter of time. Now, if you will excuse me." With that, Kyros disappeared into thin air. Jake looked around, sighing as he leaned up against a nearby door. Unfortunately, the door was loose and Jake fell back.

The dream door belonged to a little boy who was having a nightmare about a train. Jake got up just in time to see a huge, black steam engine with a face, and razor sharp teeth tearing at him from the darkness. In a flash Jake darted out the door, slamming it shut. Jake held his heart, trying to slow his breathing as he said, "Dude, I think I'll skip the subway tomorrow."