Chapter 3: The Dragon Master

"Good work, Jake." Sun Park complimented her pupil. "You keep going like that and it'll be just a matter of time until you're able to hold a full conversation in Korean."

"Thank you, Sun." Jake politely replied to his private teacher.

A female elf then entered and interrupted their lessons. "Master Jake, your Grandfather wants to see you." She said. "He's expecting you at the living room with your parents and Miss Haley."

"Thank you, Lucy." Jake replied and went to the indicated place.

"Ms. Park, they want to see you as well." Lucy explained and Sun went after Jake.

"Hi, G." Jake greeted his Grandfather Luong Lao Shi. "What's up?"

"All of us given that we're in a penthouse, kid. Agoogoogoo." Lao Shi's animal guardian Fu Dog answered.

"Fu Dog!" Lao Shi glared at his canine companion and then talked to his family. "Young dragon, I've talked to the Dragon Council and we all agreed it's time to officially start your dragon training."

"Awesome!" Jake exclaimed. "Is Sun going to train me?"

"Not exactly, young one." Lao Shi calmly answered. "The Dragon Council agreed to make me your dragon master instead of Sun Park as originally expected."

"Lao Shi, I was under the impression they were against the idea of a dragon being assigned to train family." Jonathan Long commented.

"Usually that's the case, Jonathan, but they reluctantly reconsidered." Lao Shi explained. "It wasn't easy in spite of them taking into consideration the fact I'm the only dragon to ever defeat the Dark Dragon."

"Who?" Jake asked in confusion.

"He's the only dragon to ever become evil, Jakers." Jonathan explained.

"Not only that but also the Number One threat to the Magical World." Lao Shi added. "That's, in part, the reason I wanted so much to become your Dragon Master, young one. I'm worried the Dark Dragon might target my family for revenge."

"What about me, Gramps?" Haley asked while shaking in fear.

"Unfortunately, I mustn't push my luck by trying to have more than one pupil at the same time, Haley." Lao Shi explained with a mildly sad tone. "But don't worry, Haley. I'm sure Sun Park will become an excellent Dragon Master for you."

"Won't it be dangerous?" Susan asked out of worry. "I don't want my little boy to get hurt or slain."

"Mom, I'm not a little boy anymore." Jake moaned.

"Actually, in comparison to other kids your age, you are little, Jake." Haley teasingly argued.

"All of us dragons must be ready to fight for our lives and those of other magical creatures." Lao Shi sternly defended his position.

"How often will you come here for training, Gramps?" Jake excitedly asked.

"That's another point we must discuss, young one." Lao Shi uneasily answered. "You are going to live with me at my electronics shop."

"What?" Jake was shocked and turned his attention to his parents for confirmation.

"I'm sorry, Jakers, but we agreed it'd be better for you to experience a somewhat normal, even if magical, life." Jonathan explained. "Remember how much you longed for a less confined life? Living at your Grandfather's apartment, assuming your kinship to me remains a secret, will allow you more freedom. If things run fine, we may even enroll you at school instead of keeping your current education arrangements."

"Really?" Jake asked with a hopeful smile.

"But you must remember: our fear that people would abduct you for a ransom isn't the only reason your father and I want you to keep people from knowing about you being our son." Susan told her son. "The Dragon Council is afraid the fame associated to the Long fortune might bring unwanted attention. If the human world knows what the son of Jonathan Long looks like, the Dragon Council will no longer allow you to be the American Dragon."

"So you'd better keep the secret since I'd rather be the next head of Long Enterprises than the next American Dragon, Jake." Haley added with a malicious smile.

"Why can't I be both?" Jake asked.

"Nobody can have enough time to manage both duties on the same time." Jonathan answered.

"I agree with your father." Lao Shi added.

"Will Spud be allowed to visit me?" Jake asked. Out of all kids forced by their parents to befriend him, he's the only one he felt to have an actual friendship.

"Assuming his parents allow it, I see no trouble, son." Jonathan replied. To Jake, that's practically yes. While he saw Spud as a genuine friend, he assumed his parents would approve of their friendship for less than noble reasons. "Either way, I hope you have a nice summer."

"Thanks, Dad." Jake replied.

A few days later, Jake was at the skate park with his friend Spud when they once again met their friend Trixie. "Yo, Spud! Yo, Jakey!" She said.

"Trixie?" Spud asked in surprise. "I thought you were visiting that Air Force base your Dad is stationed in."

"Mama Trixie is already back!" She happily said. "What about Mr. Homeschooling here? No summer classes for him?"

"Summer is summer." Jake replied. "And my parents are thinking of sending me to school after this summer."

"Is it the same school as us?" Trixie asked.

"I hope so." Jake answered. "I already have friends there."

"Who?" Spud asked in confusion. "I thought Trixie and I were your only friends outside your family."

"Spudinski, I think Jakey here means us." Trixie replied.

"Phew." Spud sighed in relief.

"Hard to believe that boy is a genius." Trixie commented.

"Genius?" Jake asked while trying to imagine Spud being a genius.

"Oh, right." Trixie realized. "You never studied with him so you never had a chance to see it for yourself but Spud here is a genius. He just doesn't want it to be known so he won't be forced to be all work and no play."

"I can relate." Jake commented.

"Homeschooled kid." Spud whispered to Trixie upon noticing her confused look. She understood what Spud meant.

"Either way, Jakey, if you attend the same school as us, be careful about Rotwood." Trixie advised Jake.

"Who?"

"Hans Rotwood, our mythbiology teacher." She elaborated. "He's a wacko who thinks magical creatures are real."

Now Jake was worried.

End chapter.