dragonelf 8: Thank you so much for all of your reviews, they're wonderful. But I'm sure you don't want to hear me rambling, so I'll continue with the story.

Chapter 10: Training

Kamui was lying on his now new bed, in his new room, and new home. Dark was right beside him, like Kamui he too felt rage toward Nadil for doing this to his master. Kamui and sulked for the last few days, a demon coming to his room to deliver meals at times in he was to eat. Kamui at first would not eat it looking at the meal in disgust and distaste, but after a while his stomach had complained about the lack of meals too much that he nibbled at the end of red, juicy meat. The taste was surprisingly good to, but when Kamui saw drip down his hand coming form the meat he instantly threw the meat down surprised that it raw and then disgusted with himself as he realized that he actually liked it. He wanted to scream at himself for liking such a disgusting thing, yet it only made him more aware of what he had become. He watched himself in the mirror day after day as his muscles became more toned and hardening; the physic he always wanted as a young man had now disgusted him cause he knew were it was coming form, much like all the changes in his appearance did. Still he went on eating all the meals they fed him, though he always took a torch to cook it even if it was rare, and watching as his muscles toned themselves.

'Don't worry master you'll be free,' wrote Dark tapping Kamui on the head with the postcard, so he could see it. Kamui looked up from his pillow that he had been sulking on to see the card, confusion riddled his face.

"Master? I'm not your master," replied Kamui clearly confused.

'Yes you are the one whom summoned me, I did choose you.'

"Choose me?"

'Yes a long time ago when you were born. I went with Divine to find our masters.'

"But why me?"

'You can control true darkness, not many can do that.'

" True darkness?"

'Yes. True darkness its not as most people think it is, were it just an evil thing to be destroyed, true darkness was originally used to protect the other. It is the art of protection through concealment, but people fear darkness so its mostly misunderstood.'

" I see… But you're not bound to Ma," began Kamui but cringed and his own disgusting obedience, "Master Nadil so you can escape whenever you want."

'I WON'T LEAVE YOU MASTER!' wrote Dark as he squeaked loudly in defiance. Kamui was taken aback and watched the little creature he knew so little of. Dark continued, 'I won't leave. I won't abandon you master not to this horrible man or this place, and if I leave you'll get in trouble, I don't want you hurt, master.'

Kamui was relieved to see someone would stay with him, but he was a little sad because if he got in trouble the little dragon would be punished as well. But was there was still someone, someone he could talk to and let all of his frustration out, someone that was in Nadil's army and had been with him for as long as Ryu. A knock came to their ears from the door. Kamui and Dark tensed up they did not want any visitors at the moment. Darcia walked into the room with Ice resting gently on his shoulder, both his human eye and wolf's eye focused on Kamui.

"What do you want," growled Kamui harshly slightly baring his new fangs threateningly.

"I have been instructed to be your tutor on handling your power, also your sword master, and I'll teach you how to ride that dragon of your," said Darcia calmly his eyes never straying away form Kamui's face, which sort of irked him.

"Why should listen to you, and why won't Nadil or that other guy do it?"

"You need to catch up on your literature in your world," frowned Darcia not like he wasn't before but his lips seemed a bit more pressed, "Nadil absorbed the power of his dragon long ago, so the Wind Dragon is now dead or at least inside of him. Naraku has the same power to make other creatures become one with him, when the Dragon of Poison chose him as his new Master Poison became one with Naraku like Wind had been with Nadil."

"Oh yeah I remember seeing that in one of Ryu's books. Naraku is composed of that of many demons, and the main root was the thief. What's his name… Onigumo."

"That is correct, as for me I am not someone that can absorb things, to become one with so I still have Ice, which makes me the Ice Dragon Knight. As for not listening to me, Nadil is not the only one that has control over you," answered Darcia coldly. Kamui tensed at his last sentence, but Darcia continued. "But I really prefer cooperation more than ordering someone to do as I ask, so if you please follow me."

Darcia left the room, and not wanting to be ordered, Kamui followed after him into the dark halls. Dark rested on top of his head as he followed Darcia.

One week later elsewhere

Ryu listened carefully to any sound in the forest her senses were on alert, her eyes strain that might give her a clue. A long thin sword at ready was in her hand to attack any assailant yet was held in a slightly unsure position. The sword was long and thin enough to cut between the ribs, but strong enough to not break for anything. It was a simple practice sword basic in size and structure, the hilt was mostly made out of leather easing the blisters that would form on her hand later. The Dragon Tribe had not yet given her a sword insisting that she get the basic training first, this made sense to her and there was also the fact they still hadn't found a sword big enough for Divine yet though they were still looking. Ryu was in training at the moment Divine tense on her shoulder, he was not allowed to help Ryu in training, because this had to a skill she would have to develop on her own. Ryu listened carefully to very and any sound that could occur at any moment. Snap! Ryu turned to the sound, but everything was quiet. Something cold and smooth touched her neck. Ryu instantly moved the sword away with a loud 'CLANG!' gripping the assailant's shoulders and flipped behind him. He quickly turned around and got back into a fighting position. Ryu had to admit it Tetheus was good at his job, no scratch that he was the best at it. She only trained with him for two days, Well he trained her and taught her the basics, but already she was a sore from all the scrapes and bruises she received from him, and to top it off he was only using a wooden sword and she had the real thing. Rath, Thatz, Rune, Lero, and Lykouleon were watching her, impressed by her dodging maneuver within the short space.

"Even I wouldn't have thought of that one," replied Rath as he watched her intently with amazement for the first time not scowling at her.

"I'm surprised that she just refuses to give up even when her life is on the line," said Thatz.

'The trademark of an American; just pure dumb stubbornness,' thought Lero to himself, having a feeling the others wouldn't even know what an American even was.

"I get the feeling that stubbornness has a tendency to stick around were she's from," said Rune leaning on his palm.

Ryu Lunged at Tetheus, he parried and slammed his wooden stick on her back with a huge 'whack' that made even the spectators cringe, slamming her into the ground.

"It defiantly shows that she never held a sword in her live," again replied Rune wincing slightly.

Ryu quickly got up to continue the fight, facing Tetheus in order to continue when Alfeegi called across to her from the door that led into the castle. His lips slightly pressed in disapproval.

"Ryu you need to have your magic studies," he called scowling.

Ryu got up said thanks to Tetheus, both bowing to each other. She handed the sword back before she walked back to the castle. The Knights and Lero followed her, interested in seeing her use magic and see if it actually would work or blow up in her face like it normally did. Lykouleon stayed behind to talk to Tetheus interested to get the officer's opinion.

"So how is she?" asked Lykouleon as he walked up to Tetheus.

"It's hard to say sire. I'd say she has raw talent that still needs to be harnessed, but by the way she fights it seems like she's guessing. It seems like she's never even been a fight or thrown a punch," answered Tetheus honestly.

"Do you still want to train her? After all I did appoint you as her sword master and Alfeegi as he magic tutor," asked Lykouleon.

"Yes I'll continue to teach her," was Tetheus only replied as he looked up at where the girl once stood.