More Than One Heart

by AzureDragonZX

Makoto Yuki, the Blue Saviour from a world long forgotten. Spyro the Dragon, the Purple Legend destined to save the Realms. Two souls lost in the sea of the unconscious. No matter how dire the situation, they can be certain of one thing... they aren't alone anymore. [Persona 3 sequel/The Legend of Spyro remake.]

6. CH6 - Memories of the School

Chapter uploaded: November 14th, 2023
Last edited: July 26th, 2024

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A/N

Hello, AzureDragonZX here, once again.

We're taking a quick break from the main story, and looking back on two characters I haven't used since CH1. I plan to do this from time to time, as while Makoto and Spyro are the protagonists of the story, they're not the only main characters, so to speak. This world is much bigger than just two people, and the main cast all have important lives to explore.

It's another long chapter, but since it's been a while since the last upload, consider this a little bonus.

With all that said, enjoy!

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More Than One Heart

Chapter 6 - Memories of the School

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The morning light of Sol rose high into the sky on a warm autumn day. Throughout the Realms, many beings were just beginning to wake up, while a select few had chosen to get an early start. One such individual, a dragon born with the power to control both the wind and earth, was currently flying above the city of Warfang at breakneck speeds, piercing through the thick clouds as he went.

Kulbrin's eyes wavered for a moment, fighting back some lingering drowsiness, but he remained focused. His first lecture was in a little over an hour, and he wanted to arrive at the temple before anyone else.

In recent months, he had gotten into the habit of leaving his family's mansion early, giving himself just enough time for an additional trip back and forth in the rare event he left something important behind. Being that the current semester had only started recently, there weren't many assignments to hand in yet, but it eased his mind knowing he was prepared for anything.

Unlike other settlements found around the world, the dragon city was built almost entirely with his kind in mind. Buildings could rise high above the clouds, almost necessitating the need to fly, and the architecture was large and expansive to accommodate the average dragon's massive size.

It didn't take long before the landing point near the top of the temple came into view, and once he saw it, he pulled his wings open and began his descent as gracefully as someone moving at his speed could. He stumbling forward from the sudden stop, but quickly picked himself back up and continued in.

"Another week…" he groaned internally while cracking his knuckles. "Let's get this started again."

Kulbrin stood out a lot from his peers. Not only did he wear little more than a red bandana around his neck, but he was notably shorter than everyone. Standing upright, while still definitely taller than most species, other dragons his age had nearly a full metre of height over him. What he lacked in verticality, however, he made up for in sheer strength. Between being blessed with a healthy ancestry and having an active lifestyle, Kulbrin had grown into a young dragon that had the might of a dozen rhynocs at least.

Letting out a loud, exaggerated yawn, the Wind dragon plodded over to a stone bench close to one of the temple's multi-story fountains to review his work for the day. As he sat down, he reached into his satchel and pulled out a small handful of notebooks inundated with his own writing and began glossing over everything. Kulbrin hadn't actually studied the night before and instead wrote down whatever responses came to him naturally. This final review was only a last-minute check that he hadn't omitted anything obvious or made any embarrassing mistakes.

'Tried to fool us again, huh? Ice prowlers are weak to electricity, not fire!'

He smirked in pride at having found the cleverly hidden trick question.

'…But do they expect me to know that?'

Even with the bare minimum of effort, Kulbrin knew he was guaranteed a high grade. But placing among the best in the temple wasn't something he particularly wanted, as it would force more eyes on him.

No. It was best to remain hidden amongst his peers and avoid unnecessary attention, he told himself.

Growling in frustration, Kulbrin quickly wiped the correct answer away and changed it to the answer he knew the rest of his lounge would also put down.

"This is for the best…" he told himself solemnly and stuffed his notes away.

Just as he was about to pull his hand back, he felt something unusual inside the leather pack. Gliding his hand over its surface, he could tell it was some sort of wrapping paper, containing what he believed to be food.

'What is that…? I didn't pack any snacks.'

Feeling curious, Kulbrin sat back down and pulled the small bundle out to see what it was. As he did, a small slip of paper fell onto his lap. He picked it up and was immediately drawn to the fancy handwriting that rivalled his own.

He knew exactly who wrote this note.

…

"Hello, son.

Once again, you went to bed last night without so much as a word.

I had intended to hand this to you after dinner, but as always, I missed my chance. By now, I imagine you're in the middle of a lecture, so enjoy this treat at a more appropriate time.

While you chose not to talk about your studies with us, know that neither your mother nor I are upset with your decision. We'll continue to support you no matter where you choose to fly. All we ask is that you try your best at all times.

You have talent. You've proven this time and time again.

Use it the way the Ancestors have planned for you."

…

Opening the wrapper revealed a baked dessert consisting of caramelized fruit enclosed in a beautiful lattice weave. A decadent treat only an expert artisan could have prepared.

It was rare for his father to bake; he was usually too distracted with his sculptures and artwork for any other activities. Moments like this were a rare delectation for Kulbrin.

He was about to greedily devour the dessert when he remembered what the letter had said.

His father was expecting his best while he was at the temple, yet here he was actively seeking out mediocrity and enjoying it…

Gritting his teeth in shame, he slowly put the pastry away.

"I'm sorry, Father. But it's not that simple…"

With little left to do until his instructors and other staff arrived, Kulbrin now had to find something to keep himself occupied for the next few minutes. While he wouldn't have to wait for long, he didn't want to stand outside any doors like everyone else usually did at this time. He wanted to avoid crowds like that.

In the end, he decided to close his eyes and rest for a bit.

Throwing his head back, he took a deep breath and swung his legs back and forth. Being at such a high altitude meant the atmosphere was very thin, but it wasn't a concern for a dragon like him. His kind could survive in even the most dire of environments, including the bottom of the sea, the middle of an active volcano, or high above the clouds, just like now. And they didn't need to take time acclimating to the change in pressure or lower oxygen levels. Thanks to natural evolution, they could adapt instantly.

Feeling relaxed, Kulbrin slowly began to nod off.

The empty void from underneath his eyelids grew dark red as he started his nap…

Not even a full minute in, a dark shadow passed by.

Movement.

Something or someone was close by.

Getting up, Kulbrin squinted and saw a large figure flying overhead. A dragon he had never seen in the temple before was approaching the landing point. They were young if he had to place an age on them. A few years older than Kulbrin himself, but they were definitely an apprentice just like him.

Kulbrin had heard rumours of a dragon beginning this year who would be arriving at the temple late, but he dismissed all of those stories after the first month. Apparently, there was some truth to the tales, after all.

Kulbrin frowned in the drake's direction once he got a good look at him. A handsome mix of dark blue and azure scales covered his body, and he wore multiple layers of expensive blue clothes adorned with black and silver trim. His attire was so fine and exquisite that most dragons, even if they came from a powerful family within Warfang itself, would never be able to afford clothes of that quality.

The most striking feature of this dragon, however, was without a doubt the two wings on his back. Even when closed, one could instantly tell how colossal those appendages were, being at least three times as large as the average adolescent's. And they were polished to perfection, free of any bruises or damage. All further telltale signs of an easy and pampered upbringing.

He had never met the newcomer before personally, but Kulbrin could easily identify him as the son of the Ice and Darkness guardians. Better known to the world as Seiryuu.

Like clockwork, the moment the blue dragon landed, a swarm of moles suddenly appeared from nowhere to greet him. They immediately began brushing his clothes off and offered to hold onto his satchel and other supplies, doing everything in their power to make sure he was comfortable and content. Seiryuu didn't acknowledge their presence and let them hover over him as they pleased while walking ahead and taking in the sights of the temple's impressive architecture. The only indication that he was even aware of the moles was when he raised a hand to stop them when they tried to remove the large, ornate glaive fastened to his back, no doubt a family heirloom he wanted to keep on his person at all times.

Kulbrin wasn't the only one aware of the Seiryuu's unannounced entrance, as by now, several other dragons, younger apprentices and seniors alike, were congregating outside either to take a break for some fresh air or to start the day themselves. While some were too busy to properly welcome the new dragon, they all at least turned to look at him. He had that strong of a presence.

From within the crowd, a small group of a dozen influential-looking individuals, more than likely other members of Seiryuu's flight group, stepped forward, surrounded him, and began speaking to him with cordial body language.

"Seiryuu! You're finally joining us! This is fabulous!"

"I knew from the moment the rumours took flight that it was you. It was fate for us to be together!"

"This year will finally prove to be interesting, now that Warfang's best is among us at last."

Not expecting the sudden attention, Seiryuu stared ahead blankly for a moment before that same proud expression reappeared and he returned their greetings, his voice strong and dignified.

"Thank you for your kind words, everyone. Today is a new start for me and for all of us." He raised a fist in a bold and proud gesture. "Let's all aim for the heavens together this year. For a better future for dragonkind!"

The females by his side all swooned at his voice, while the males nodded in agreement. The sight of everyone worshiping the ground he walked on made Kulbrin sick, and he quietly scoffed to himself.

'Oh, that's great. Another pretentious silver hatchling to worry about…' Kulbrin was very grateful now that the two of them wouldn't be attending any lectures together.

It wasn't enough that the blue dragon was the son of two guardians and he likely inherited both of his parents' Ancestrial blessings, but the reality was that Seiryuu was the most impossibly perfect young dragon in the Realms. He had everything, from power and influence to a natural charisma, fitting of a capable leader. And he was also very physically attractive, fitting the image most dragonesses had of their ideal mate.

It didn't matter if he started his public studies late, Seiryuu had already cemented himself as the most popular drake in the temple for the next few decades at least.

'I don't have time for this.'

Spreading his wings, Kulbrin took off into the temple at speeds that made him appear invisible, as if light couldn't keep up with him anymore.

Little did he know, someone saw him leaving…

.

.

.

As it was nearing time for the day to begin, many doors throughout the temple were unlocked by this point. The magic seals keeping them shut had been dispelled recently, granting all the apprentices entry. Realizing this, Kulbrin stopped roaming around aimlessly and flew down a few levels, knowing that he could at least submit his work now.

From that floor's atrium, he entered a large room that contained thousands of submission drawers for written assignments. To his relief, the place was relatively empty as all the punctual students had already left, meaning he had the place to himself for now.

One by one, Kulbrin hovered over to the separate drawers that corresponded to each of his instructors, depositing his assignments through the open slots. With each document, he placed a paw on the metal frames, letting the system scan his unique mana signature to verify his identity, and watched as the documents magically disappeared. The process was simple and perfect, and it guaranteed apprentices couldn't plagiarize already submitted work.

"And that should do it," he said as he submitted the last file. With his task complete, he slowly descended back to the floor to leave. "I still have a lot of time left, but I guess I can–"

Right as he was stepping out of the hall, Kulbrin bumped into someone. Another dragon was there to submit his work, but unfortunately, any hope that they wouldn't pay him any mind was shattered when the yellow drake spoke up.

"Out of my way, Fallen Dragon," he growled, using the demeaning title people had given him recently. "Ancestors, you shouldn't even be here. Stop wasting everyone's time!"

He tried to shove Kulbrin out of the way, but the smaller dragon didn't want to let himself get pushed around so easily.

Against his better judgment, Kulbrin planted his feet firmly into the ground, while puffing out his chest and crossing his arms to make himself appear larger.

"I don't think so," he challenged. "I have just as much of a right to be here as anyone."

The electric dragon stopped in his tracks, he had been ready to ignore anything Kulbrin said, but his comment struck a nerve that he couldn't ignore.

"Bold words coming from a traitor like you," he ridiculed loudly. "You turned your back on Warfang's proud history and you expect us to treat you fairly? Not a chance!"

His loud remarks drew the attention of more dragons in the atrium, who all glared in Kulbrin's direction when they saw who the cause of the commotion was.

Sensing the attention he was getting, Kulbrin cursed at himself for having spoken up. This was exactly what he was trying to avoid! If he had just kept his pride in check, the day would have progressed just fine…

More insults were thrown his way, and with his sharp hearing, he picked up on every word before it eventually became a distorted mess.

Betrayer.

Selfish.

Cursed.

So many negative emotions… Kulbrin could lie all he wanted that none of it affected him, but his gritted teeth indicated otherwise.

"ENOUGH!" he roared.

Everyone stopped what they were doing, creating an eerie silence. Kulbrin then took a threatening step forward. His wings were open and his claws clicked loudly on the tiled floor. Despite his diminutive size, Kulbrin successfully managed to intimate the bully, who fell back and flinched.

"I don't need your validation." His voice was low and dangerous. He could have started a fight if he wanted, and would probably win, but seeing the drake get scared was all the satisfaction he needed.

Turning around, Kulbrin shot one last glare in the yellow dragon's direction before walking away.

"I made up my mind a long time ago. Nothing you say will change that."

Nobody got in his way as he left; the throng of apprentices parted around him as he got close. If the electricity dragon said anything else, Kulbrin wasn't listening anymore.

Once he was out of sight. he brought a hand to his head and rubbed his temple.

"What was I thinking!?" he scolded himself. "I'm supposed to keep a low profile."

He continued walking down the corridors as he tried to forget the entire incident. The section of the temple he was currently in was mostly empty, though strangely, he could swear one person was walking in the same direction he was… Despite there being nothing of interest ahead.

Their footsteps started getting louder…

He was being followed.

"Excuse me…"

He knew that voice. In fact, it was the only new voice he had heard all day.

Stopping in place, and taking a deep breath to compose himself, Kulbrin looked over his shoulder. Behind him was the last dragon he ever expected to be confronting him.

"You?" Kubrin practically spat, turning to face Warfang's golden boy. "What are you doing here?"

At his words, the taller blue dragon rubbed his neck in what looked like embarrassment.

"Oh, well…" Seiryuu fumbled. "I don't know where I'm going… I'm lost. I saw you on the upper levels earlier and you… seemed very familiar with the temple floors, so… could you maybe… help me?"

His tone surprised Kulbrin. He had expected the Ice dragon to always use a grandiose vocabulary brimming with pride and arrogance, much like his father. And while signs of his wealthy upbringing were there, Seiryuu right now sounded uncomfortable and dare he say it… normal. Enough so that Kulbrin had subconsciously lowered his guard.

"Yeah, it's confusing, isn't it?" he agreed, forgetting who he was talking to.

Unlike most public buildings in Warfang, the temple was unique in that most of the faculty and administration rooms were located on the higher levels, while individual auditoriums meant for studies were divided on the floors immediately below. Kulbrin recalled his first day there when out of instinct, he entered from the ground entrance. He could still remember his frustration from learning that he now had to either walk or fly up to the top…

Kulbrin's eyes suddenly shot open.

"I mean– D-Don't you have friends over there practically kissing your feet!?" He scowled at the spoiled dragon, having remembered the bias he had against him. "Why'd you come to me?"

Seiryuu somehow wasn't hurt by the accusation. His lack of reaction suggested that he almost expected it.

The sheepish expression on his face returned and he turned away nervously.

"Well, those people you saw with me earlier… they may know who I am," he explained, "but everyone here is still a stranger to me."

Everyone? That group he was with… he didn't know any of them!? That made no sense! From how they were behaving, Kulbrin could have sworn they were all close friends that Seiryuu had known since he was a hatchling. Wasn't that just how it was for people of his calibre? Your parents can't help but introduce you to every influential person they know, and then they try to have you and their offspring get close? That's how it was for him at one point…

"Are you being whole and honest?" Kulbrin questioned, wanting to know more. "That was all an act?"

If there was one thing he prided himself on, it was being able to pick apart the tiniest of details in a person. It came along with his area of expertise. An aspiring Beast Tamer had to be able to instantly identify every weakness in their potential prey.

Just now, he was convinced that the apprentices swarming Seiryuu were all important dragons that he knew from a plethora of connections. Even he could name several of them, so it didn't make sense for the son of two guardians to be so oblivious.

Seiryuu sighed deeply. "I'll be honest, not everyone believes that it's all right for me to be at the temple yet. All my life, my parents had assigned private instructors to me for… personal reasons. But that can only get me so far in life. We knew that attendance here, nay, social interactions with other dragons in general, would be necessary for me. But… I don't know where to start."

He ran a hand through his silver mane.

"If you'd rather not, I suppose I could ask someone else, but I get the feeling you'd be genuine in ways they aren't. You're not going to see me for who I am and how associating with me would benefit your future. You don't have a bias towards me, in other words."

Those words pierced Kulbrin like a sword.

Since the moment he first looked in his direction, Kulbrin had nothing but the worst of opinions on Seiryuu. He knew next to nothing about how his life was, yet he made bold assumptions with no evidence.

That wasn't fair.

And now, that same person chose to confide in him of all people?

He didn't deserve such a gesture.

Seiryuu waited for a response, but Kulbrin was practically frozen. A few loose syllables escaped his lips, but he couldn't answer properly. When it became clear that the conversation wouldn't go any further, Seiryuu promptly apologized for wasting his time and said that he'd find someone else to help as he didn't have a lot of time left.

He was halfway through giving a formal bow to the green dragon when Kulbrin broke out of his stupor.

"Wait!" he finally managed to say.

He fidgeted in place as he tried to find the right words. Saliva built up in his mouth that he repeatedly swallowed to force back down.

"I… I'm not busy at the moment. If you want… I could show you around?" he eventually managed to say.

Seiryuu was confused by the sudden change in behaviour. He could tell that Kulbrin was forcing himself and it made him second guess if this was a good idea.

"Truly?" he asked. "You don't have to do this for me if you don't want to. In fact, I could ask one of the instructors. I can see that most of them are arriving now–"

"Seiryuu!" Kulbrin raised his voice.

"Wha-What!?"

The green dragon hovered up so that the two of them were eye to eye.

"I'll admit this… You are thinking too highly of me. But you aren't wrong when you say you'll need someone to help guide you around here. This temple will devour you if you come in thinking it's like any ordinary school! Your life for the next several centuries will be defined by what happens in these walls! You can't underestimate anything."

"I understand…" Seiryuu acknowledged timidly. "But again, do you personally want to help me?"

Kulbrin dropped back down to the floor.

"I do. More than anything, this will help me make amends."

Seiryuu didn't fully understand what he meant, but Kulbrin's confidence was enough to convince him. He felt confident now that he could accept the offer.

Both dragons smiled and brought an arm over their chests, taking turns introducing themselves.

"So, Kulbrin, what should we do first?" Seiryuu asked after they finished.

Kulbrin smiled.

'It's different having someone use my actual name,' he thought. '…But I definitely like it!'

.

.

.

For the next half hour, Kulbrin guided his new friend around the temple to the best of his abilities. Considering they both had places to be soon, he kept things simple. He could give a more comprehensive tour later. They also saved time by gliding through open hallways whenever possible.

As they flew, Kulbrin took the chance to observe Seiryuu's wings. Like every dragon, he had to spread his mana across his whole body for flight and levitation to be possible. But even with the size of his wings, he glided through the air almost effortlessly. He looked graceful, even. The sheer size of the appendages created more lift with each flap and his upper body was strong enough to handle the added weight.

'How useful would they be in a fight though?' Kulbrin thought to himself. 'Would they get in the way or are they deadly when used as a weapon…?'

Together, they visited several lecture halls, the training fields including the outdoor arena, and other important facilities. Kulbrin explained everything as best he could, including who he would need to talk to to catch up at this point in the semester, and the best supplementary material there was on offer. He even went into some of the best ways to traverse the temple sections they didn't get to see.

Dragons like them were allowed to fly freely, both indoors and out. It was even encouraged at times with special, magic whirlwinds set up to help dragons reach the higher levels. The flightless species, conversely, had few available options beyond the designated pathways found along the walls, something that existed in every building in the city. However, aside from the moles and anyone there on official business, the temple was populated almost entirely by dragons, so it rarely impeded anyone.

"It's all so impressive what they've managed to build," Seiryuu beamed. "It could take hours to merely see everything, and we have to do this daily!"

"They plan to open the dormitories again soon now that the renovations are complete. You could always look into living here directly to save yourself the trouble."

"I'd have to run that idea through my parents first… Are you planning on staying on residence, Kulbrin?"

"I've thought of it… but I haven't decided yet." He wanted to say that he didn't have any desire to live in the temple, but he hesitated. For some reason, the idea didn't sound too bad anymore.

The two were currently taking a break in an open study hall, making sure Seiryuu remembered everything.

"Hey Kulbrin, could I see your weekly planner?" he suddenly asked.

"Um… all right?" He pulled out a piece of paper detailing which lectures he was enrolled in. Seiryuu quickly compared it with his own, his eyes hopeful that there would be some overlap.

"We'll be seeing each other for Human Theory at least…"

"Not quite," Kulbrin interjected. "I've been attending these lessons for a few years now, so my lectures aren't about historical events anymore. I'll be learning about human survival tactics now."

Like everyone, Kulbrin had nothing but respect for humanity. While the saurians laid the groundwork, humans brought innovation to the world. Society itself likely wouldn't exist without their influence.

However, Kulbrin had a very particular fascination with humans from the first era.

From an early age, he was read plenty of stories depicting humans from the time immediately after the saurians departed the Realms, back when their species was comprised entirely of powerful warriors, and he was immediately captivated by that world. He must have read the tale of Orius the Great hundreds of times as a hatchling, eventually using the mighty human as a role model. One person throwing themself against the world's worst dangers, battling millions of vile creatures using nothing but their tenacity and whit? It spoke to him on a personal level!

Just thinking about those stories now was getting him excited…!

The loud silence in the room eventually got him to break out of his fantasy and see that Seiryuu appeared dejected about something.

"Is something wrong?" Kulbrin asked, taking a step forward. Seiryuu quickly pulled back.

"No, nothing! It's, just, disappointing how you won't be in any of the same lectures as me…" His wings sagged as he spoke. Kulbrin couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.

"That much should be obvious," he scoffed. "What would I gain, learning from the Magic Crafters like you?"

Seiryuu didn't speak up, but it was clear he had something to say. His body tensed at the words "Magic Crafters" in a way that implied contempt.

"Seiryuu?" Kulbrin reached out to break the older male from his trance. His hand was centimetres away from touching Seiryuu's shoulder when he finally spoke.

"I'm… not aiming to become a Magic Crafter, Kulbrin."

He wasn't? Admittedly, it had only been an assumption, but he already deduced that Seiryuu had very high potential for magic. But he wasn't going to pursue a career that capitalized on it?

Seiryuu started to explain.

"Father initially wished for me to become a Magic Crafter, like him. You may not have realized it but–"

"Your magic abilities are very strong?" Kulbrin interrupted with a smirk. The small gesture, while unintentional, managed to get Seiryuu to smile. The more the two of them interacted, the more comfortable he felt.

"Yes. It made perfect sense to him. What better path in life could there be for a magically gifted dragon, like myself?"

As he talked, Seiryuu threw in some dramatic hand gestures along with using a more sarcastic tone, mimicking his companion. It wasn't that he completely disagreed with his father, but this was simply an area where they couldn't find common ground.

"Magic Crafters, while their importance can't be understated, are often relegated to theorizing and analyzing the underlying concepts behind magic and other phenomena, and as a result, don't tend to exercise their power directly. That's why…"

He stopped briefly. Kulbrin could see that he had a more determined expression now than he had never witnessed on the blue dragon.

"That's why I didn't choose that life. I don't want to use my talent for theory crafting. I want to apply my power… by becoming a Peace Keeper."

He sat back down.

It was an admirable speech, Kulbrin had to admit. But he wasn't convinced with his friend's conviction yet. It took a lot of strength and courage to become a knight or any kind of warrior, and Seiryuu was very timid and unsure of himself. Could he actually become a Peace Keeper? The journey getting there would not be easy…

"Do you know what you're getting yourself into?" he pressed. "People aren't going to accept your decision just like that. In the worst case, they'll hate you for it…"

"What makes you say that?" Seiryuu asked. "Why would they hate me…? Do you even understand what I'm saying?"

Kulbrin shrugged. "Believe me, I do. I understand all too well."

"And why is that?" Seiryuu challenged, not liking how he suddenly felt confronted.

Kulbrin hesitated. This was something he never directly brought up with anyone. Most people already knew, he had the nickname to prove it, but sitting down and talking about this part of himself wasn't easy.

"…Because I'm just like you. I'm also veering off of my family's flight path."

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.

.

Seiryuu didn't know what to make of the confession at first. Until today, he thought that he was alone in his plight. Everyone he had seen in the temple was so headstrong and focused. It did make sense when you considered that Warfang was the most influential city in the world as far as dragons were concerned. Anyone residing in the temple by all accounts should have their lives all sorted out. But Kulbrin also wasn't following everyone's expectations? What was his story?

"Look at me," Kulbrin ordered before he could ask. "Don't think about this too hard, but what do you think I should be when I'm older?"

While there weren't any definitive rules for it, it was generally easy to guess a dragon's way of life from their physical attributes. Peace Keepers tended to have stronger arms, Dream Weavers grew to be very tall, and Beast Tamers were much heavier. These trends were common enough that you could rely on them to make an educated guess.

Using this knowledge, Seiryuu took in his friend's appearance. Kulbrin's weight distribution favoured his upper body, and barring his short stature, he appeared to be very healthy. His scales were smooth and clean and lacked any unique patterns or blotches. The satchel around his shoulder was also very high quality and expertly crafted.

"I'd say… an Artisan." Seiryuu finally answered. "That's the impression you give off."

Kulbrin broke eye contact as a small grin appeared on his face.

"That's what everyone else expects of me…" he said. Turning to face Seiryuu once again, he continued. "But that's not what I have in mind. I'm going to become a Beast Tamer."

Seiryuu's eyes widened.

A Beast Tamer!?

He may have never met one in person, but he couldn't imagine someone invested in wilderness and wildlife having a proper, civil conversation with him. And in his mind, it made no sense for Kulbrin to go down that path. He barely looked the part!

He tried to envision it… The fancy satchel replaced with an old supply sling, his face stained with dirt and grass, and him having a large, protruding belly…

That image in his head was of a completely different dragon.

"I had no idea…" he admitted. "So, do people not respect Beast Tamers? Is that why you hesitated before?"

"…What– No! It's not that simple."

Kulbrin darted his eyes across the room before grabbing Seiryuu by the arm and pulling him aside.

"We're not like other species that focus on that one thing they're good at, and live our short lives content with what we have. We're dragons! In an ideal life, we all live for millennia, becoming masters of practically everything! One dragon will have a legacy worth a hundred times more than anyone else."

"I understand that." Seiryuu agreed. "That's why we're here to–"

"Let me finish. Now, what do you think happens when a certain, highly influential dragon finally does pass away? How much of a void do you think that leaves behind?"

Seiryuu thought about it for a moment.

"Aren't there others who will take over for them when that time comes?" Kulbrin shook his head.

"You're thinking about how non-dragons do things again, Seiryuu."

"I'm sorry, I'm trying my best to follow along," the blue dragon apologized, to which Kulbrin chuckled.

"It's all right, you're not entirely wrong. Think of it this way: How do you pass on centuries worth of talent and innovation, making sure your legacy carries on after you die?"

That question made more sense, and he came up with his answer immediately this time.

"You entrust it to someone you've trained personally. Someone with enough experience to compare."

"Exactly!" Kulbrin confrmed. "And who is the young dragon most of the time? Who's the person someone will spend most of their lives with?"

Seiryuu hummed as he made the connection.

"Their own descendant…"

Kulbrin nodded slowly, having finally made his point.

"But how does that apply to you, in this scenario?" Seiryuu asked.

He hadn't ever stopped to consider it, but who exactly was Kulbrin? And who was the individual everyone wanted him to succeed?

It had to be someone very significant. A dragon everybody knew and respected greatly…

Green scales…

The son of a high-ranking Artisan…

.

.

.

Could it be…!?

"Kulbrin…! You're–" Seiryuu's eyes were close to bulging out of his skull.

The smaller dragon smirked.

"So, you figured me out, at long last?" He knew he didn't resemble his father by a lot, but there were similarities. People could instantly tell they were related when they saw his eyes, for example.

"I had no idea!" Seiryuu stuttered, still in shock.

"Did you expect I was some low-class scum who got to study in Warfang's temple out of luck?" Kulbrin laughed. "Everyone here comes from some place of influence. I just don't go out of my way to flaunt my upbringing."

"I see… And they all hate you for not continuing your father's legacy?"

Kulbrin checked over his shoulder again.

"That and other things…" he admitted. Realizing that the conversation had gotten off course, he returned to his original point.

"Regardless, you didn't answer me earlier. Are you ready for what you're about to do?" He asked. "Your life for the next century at least won't be easy. You'll be going down the same path as me. It might even be worse for you, knowing who your parents are."

He wasn't trying to scare Seiryuu, but he needed to hear it from him. He needed to be sure his friend was going to be all right.

"How…?" Seiryuu whispered.

"Hm?"

"How have you lived like this for so long, Kulbrin? The weight of what you're describing and the torment you've apparently received… it sounds awful."

The green dragon sighed. He then leaned up against a tall bookshelf and began rubbing his forearm.

"To be honest, I don't know anymore if I have been," he admitted. "Today, well… Everything's changed now. You've forced me to look at things differently, actually."

"…I have?"

Kulbrin bit his lip. He just thought of an idea but he needed to know how his companion felt.

"Seiryuu, I know I just said that we won't see each other a lot, but if you find the pressure is getting too much for you… come find me. I can be that person you confide in when it gets hard." He looked up with a hopeful expression. "That is, if you want me around."

At first, Seiryuu was surprised that he needed to ask, but then he understood that Kulbrin was trying to make their friendship official and meaningful, something that made him happy. This was the first time he was forming a bond with someone of his own free will and not out of obligation to his family. He already did consider Kulbrin a friend, but now he felt that they had a deeper connection, a sense of belonging and trust that he couldn't quite explain.

"That sounds fair," he agreed. "The feeling is mutual, Kulbrin. I'm looking forward to us spending the next few decades together!"

Hearing those words from Kulbrin felt like a weight was lifted off his chest. From once, he didn't have to feel isolated from the world, and he had someone he could relate to and who wouldn't criticize him. Likewise, Seiryuu was grateful that Kulbrin was the first person he met that day. Having one genuine friend meant more to him than the dozens of superficial ones in his life, and he could finally say that he was optimistic for the years to come…

"Ah! There he is!" A voice calling out from the other side of the room broke the pair from their bonding moment. One of the apprentices from Seiryuu's lounge had spotted him from a distance and was hurrying over to where they were seated with a sizable group following behind him. "We were worried when you didn't appear in the lecture hall. Did you forget something?"

The blue dragon's lips trembled and he quickly remembered to use the same proud demeanour from earlier in the morning before he turned to acknowledge his flightmate. He didn't want to show vulnerability. He couldn't trust any of them like that yet…!

"Indeed! Kulbrin here was helping me familiarize myself with the various faculties before the day began. Father had neglected to inform me of everything the previous night."

He didn't see it, but behind him, Kulbrin tensed up when he heard his name. In his haste, Seiryuu had forgotten that his friend wasn't well-liked by everyone in the temple and had dragged him into the conversation, complicating things.

"Kulbrin?" the apparent leader of the group sneered, a beautiful Ice dragoness the same age as him. "What did he tell you? You may not be familiar with him, but this Fallen Dragon shouldn't be given your time. He'll infect your head with dangerous ideas. Traitorous ideas."

Seiryuu realized his mistake too late.

He quickly shot Kulbrin an apologetic look, but without any time to think, he did the only thing he could and played along.

"I-I see. I will keep that in mind. Fortunately, he didn't say anything of the sort before you all arrived." His excuse appeared to work, and the dragoness' expression softened.

"It's perfectly all right, Seiryuu. We can all put this behind us and move on." She leaned in and coiled an arm around his while whispering gently into his ear. "People like him don't deserve to stand near someone like you. Wouldn't you agree?"

Seiryuu's heart raced at the sudden affectionate display. He didn't even know this dragoness, but if he was going to maintain his image, he had to accept her advance on him while insulting his new friend? His only actual friend!?

"You're right," he cooed. Seiryuu then reached out and placed a hand on hers while pulling her close, wrapping his wings around them both while also adding a sultry look to his gaze. "We are the elite, after all. We shouldn't allow ourselves to be brought down by those beneath us."

The dragoness melted under his embrace as every dragon present voiced their approval of his words (safe for Kulbrin, who suddenly had the urge to barf). Slowly, they all left the hall to return to their lecture with Seiryuu in tow, one again acting like they knew him personally.

Kulbrin, meanwhile, stayed behind, still stuck processing what he had just seen. He wasn't short-sighted to forget what Seiryuu had told him when they first met, and he knew he didn't actually want him gone. But something felt wrong. He wanted to step in and interject, but he knew he couldn't risk creating any more problems for him.

"Help!" A voice suddenly called out in his head. "I can't do this…! Help me!"

That was all the motivation he needed. He had to assist his friend.

From the looks of things, he wouldn't be able to step in easily. This group surrounding Seiryuu apparently thought he didn't deserve to get close to him, after all. The only option he could think of… was to prove them wrong!

"Hey!" he called out. Miraculously, they all stopped to look his way. "You know, all that talk earlier, about this 'being a new start for all of dragonkind'… If you really believed that… that should include me too, right?"

"Wipe that smirk off your face, Fallen Dragon!" Another individual from the group, the youngest of them all, spoke up. "As if a traitor to his family belongs in Warfang anymore."

The outburst didn't phase him. He thought it was cute, even.

"My results combined with the fact that I still have my admission here seem to say otherwise," he chuckled.

Sensing an opening Seiryuu gently pushed his way forward to speak up.

"Fallen, what is it you're trying to say?" While this was the first time he had verbally spoken up, both friends had already been talking to each other telepathically. While he was using his "proud noble" persona when talking, in his head, Seiryuu was acting desperate and frantically screaming at him to explain himself.

"What are you doing, Kul–" he got cut off by the smaller dragon suddenly raising a hand to point at him.

"Seiryuu, son of Master Cyril and Mistress Nebula, I challenge you to a duel!"

The taller drake tilted his head in confusion.

"You wish to fight me, Kulbrin?" he asked before adding his thoughts. "How will that help!? I don't want to fight you over something like this."

The rest of the world faded into the background for both of them as they tried to come up with a plan. While they couldn't use body gestures to express their feelings, the direct transmission of their thoughts was able to convey all the emotions they needed.

"I'll admit," Kulbrin conceded, "I couldn't think of anything else on the spot. But it makes sense if you think about it."

"It does!?"

"YES! If you agree to this, everyone will think highly of you for standing up to the infamous troublemaker while protecting your 'honour'. What's more, this is only your first day here, so they don't know your secret yet. They're going to find out about your intentions soon, so showing them your strength now might help them accept you later!" He fought back a physical smile as he explained. "This is perfect for you!"

Seiryuu, unfortunately, wasn't convinced yet and spoke with a sombre tone in his voice.

"But what about you, Kulbrin? You're letting them push you around for my sake. I… I don't want that for you!"

"I don't mind. I'm helping a friend," he reassured. "And besides, this is the only option we have right now. Talking is for cheetahs and moles. Us dragons? We FIGHT! We should have thought of this sooner!"

Kulbrin didn't expect him to go along with his plan. Seiryuu was too caring, as he was quickly realizing. But he had hope that he got through to him.

And eventually…

"Very well. I accept your challenge," the blue dragon announced, earning a round of supportive cheers; the dragons at his sides all commended him for wanting to put the Fallen Dragon in his place. "Well settle this in the Moonlight Arena in twenty minutes. I hope you're prepared."

Kulbrin crossed his arms and stepped up.

"Same to you," he taunted back as he left the hall with Seiryuu.

The two friends walked off together, laughing side-by-side and tuning out the confused murmurs behind them.

"You're a terrible flirt, you know that?"

"Truly? There were more than a few females back there who would disagree!"

.

.

.

Despite how early it was in the day, it didn't take long for word to spread that a duel had been issued, and Moonlight Arena was cleared out just for them. To ensure a fair fight, both sides were asked to remove all belongings before they entered, including their clothes. Kulbrin was in the middle of handing his items over to the mole attendants at his feet when he overheard some commotion off in the distance.

While Seiryuu had also removed everything he had on without any issue, he objected to removing his glaive and was arguing with one of the moles to let him keep it.

"Sir, the blade's edges may have been dulled, but your glaive is still a weapon. It cannot be allowed past this point."

"N-no!" Seiryuu almost yelled. "I'm supposed to have it on my person at all times! Please allow me this one thing!"

"It will always be within your line of sight. Rest assured, no one will steal your glaive while you fight."

During the argument, the small group of moles succeeded in pulling the steel weapon from Seiryuu's grasp and promptly scurried off before he could stop them.

"That's not the problem…" the blue dragon mumbled nervously.

Raising his, Seiryuu saw his friend looking at him, confused. He had made so much noise that he had come to check in on him.

"Is everything all right?" Kulbrin asked. "You seem… distracted."

The glaive was beautiful, he had to admit, but he couldn't imagine that Seiryuu would be insecure about fighting without it. By all accounts, he should have been prepared for this weeks in advance.

"Yes… I'm fine." Seiryuu replied shakily. "Come, let's get this over with!"

Seiryuu then ran ahead, leaving Kulbrin behind.

The green dragon rubbed his temple and growled.

"Okay, something is wrong… I'll ask him about it later; I have to trust him for now." He then sprinted after his friend, following his lead.

The doors to the arena opened for him as he got close. Despite Sol being in the sky at this time, he saw shadows erupt from the entryway instead of light.

The Moonlight Arena was shaped like a large circle and was surrounded by several large pillars, each one bearing a brazier with an ethereal black flame. On the floor, underneath the transparent surface, there was a detailed carving of the revered Ancestor, Zenith, in his final battle, screaming to the heavens in rage, just before his ascension.

Everything was designed to pay tribute to that battle, the one that decided the fate of all the living.

As Kulbrin moved to the centre of the arena, he saw that Seiryuu was looking around the field, completely awestruck.

"It's beautiful… How have I never seen this before?" Looking overhead, he saw the stands for the audience cloaked in darkness, akin to the night sky.

"Millions of fights have taken place here," Kulbrin explained as he did his warm-up stretches. "By recreating the same battlefield Zenith himself stood on, we, and anyone who's ever trained here, feel his strength and guidance as we fight."

"So, it's like we're standing on holy ground…!" Seiryuu whispered.

"Well, no. But if you want to think of it that way…"

Turning around to see the audience they were getting, they were both surprised to see the stands filling up quickly. Word had gotten around fast, and any young dragon that wasn't already busy had made it a priority to attend their fight, and they were all cheering for Seiryuu.

"My first day here, and already I have this much support…?" he laughed mildly.

"That, and I'm not exactly popular." Kulbrin shot him a serious gaze. "Don't go easy on me, no matter what anyone says. Let's both try to end this fast."

"Yes… Agreed." Seiryuu looked down at his hand, flexing it to calm his nerves. 'It won't happen this time…!'

A male cheetah stepped forward and indicated for them to get in place. Both dragons shared one last look of encouragement and separated themselves on opposite ends of the arena while the rules of the fight were laid out.

"This is a duel between Seiryuu, dragon of Ice and Darkness, and Kulbrin, dragon of Wind. No weapons or external equipment are to be used, while magic is permitted barring the use of any Elemental Furies or other lethal techniques. The fight shall continue until one side yields." He also went on to mention that the temple had set aside a small supply of spirit gems for when the battle was over, and what they would have to do before leaving for their first lecture. "Are both combatants ready?"

"I am."

"Ready as ever."

The cheetah nodded.

"Very well… BEGIN!"

The two shared one more mental conversation before rushing in.

"Are you going to make the first move?" Seiryuu asked. "Or do you need to 'analyze me', as it were?"

He got a loud, amused laugh in response.

"Oh, my innocent little hatchling…! I did that a LONG time ago!"

Seiryuu's eyes widened in surprise. They hadn't even moved yet, and he had already underestimated him!

'When he said he was ready, he really meant it!'

Feeling compelled to move first, Seiryuu raised a hand. Carefully envisioning his attack, Seiryuu drew a tiny portion of his mana out, targeting Kulbrin's arm. A loud hum was heard as the ice crystal materialized. Despite it being almost instantaneous, Kulbrin had seen what he was doing and dodged to the side.

'A single, ice attack to my shoulder…?' he thought. 'He's fighting defensively and he wants to keep me at a distance. It does make sense in a way, his main element isn't as useful up close.'

With a burst of speed, Kulbrin darted forward, closing the gap between the two. Several more ice shards appeared around him as he ran, but thanks to his wings, he was able to glide around them.

In less than a second, he was right in from of the Ice dragon. Clenching his fist, he swung for Seiryuu's head, only for the punch to be blocked. Both of them attempted to break through the other's guard with a series of well-timed punches and strikes, but it was clear who was in control of the fight.

Being much taller, Seiryuu was at a disadvantage up close. He had to aim lower than normal, or else his attacks would all miss. Kulbrin, meanwhile, had no problems with his aim and maintained a constant rhythm, even adding a few kicks into his assault.

"You avoid using your element, I've noticed," Seiryuu remarked as they fought. "Why is that?"

"This from the guy with two elements and has barely used either?" Kulbrin laughed. "In any case, it's too obvious. Once you learn how to handle fighting against the basic, tiered magic spells, you're set to take on most opponents in a fight."

He took a second to grin deviously.

"Unfortunately, I don't plan on making things easy for you."

For the next two swings, instead of blocking, Kulbrin reached out and grabbed ahold of his arms.

Seiryuu tried to break free, but the grip was too tight. As he was now learning, Kulbrin was physically more powerful than him, despite his size. Meaning he was at the mercy of whatever Kulbrin was about to do.

He wasn't left wondering for long, as the green dragon opened his wings… Kulbrin was taking the fight to the skies.

Even if all dragons were able to fly, the feeling of being pulled through the air with no control over yourself was very unpleasant. Seiryuu felt limp and helpless as he was dragged in circles at supersonic speeds. He could still process everything in the world around him, but couldn't act freely and had to wait until he was released. Trying to break free now would only be more dangerous. They were in an enclosed space, after all.

Eventually, Kulbrin did let go, tossing him to the ground. As he fell, Seiryuu tried to cast another ice spell, but the centripetal force from those somersaults caused his hand to veer off-course. He couldn't aim properly.

Kulbrin meanwhile, had already recovered, and for the first time, used his element to create a thin tornado that made his opponent's descent even more painful. Small blades of wind assaulted Seiryuu from all sides and dragged him down. They hurt, but they were made intentionally weak enough that they wouldn't bruise or draw blood.

Both dragons landed at roughly the same time. Kulbrin was impressed by his friend's stamina but also felt confident that he would ultimately win this fight.

His focus was suddenly broken by a sharp pain in his wrists. Looking down, he saw that both of his arms were encased in a thin layer of ice. While he could still move them, both limbs felt numb.

"Ugh… When did that happen?" He gritted his teeth and he flexed his muscles quickly to shatter the ice and free his arms. "I didn't even see him try anything… I have to pay more attention!"

A roar made him direct his attention to the other side of the arena and at the Ice dragon who was back on his feet.

'Heh… Ready for more, huh?' he grinned.

This time, Seiryuu brought both arms out, about to cast a larger spell.

"You're going to have to move around more if you don't want your 'fans' to get suspicious," Kulbrin warned him telepathically. Even in the middle of a fight, he was trying to look out for him. They needed to maintain everyone's perceptions.

"Oh… R-Right!" Seiryuu agreed.

Abandoning that idea, Seiryuu charged forward. To everyone's shock, with each step he took, the floor beneath him froze over, creating a field of sharp icicles behind him.

"What!? That's new…!" Kulbrin had been stunned for so long that he didn't have time to react to the punch at his jaw. Like with everything Seiryuu had come in physical contact with before, ice immediately formed over the point of impact.

Kulbrin roared in pain from the hit, but it wasn't over. More punches kept coming, each one imbued with the frigid element. With every strike, it felt like his body was being trapped in a small prison. It left him rooted in place, unable to dodge or defend himself.

The only clue he had that it was finally over was when he felt his feet leave the ground.

He was launched into the air by Seiryuu's tail, which pierced him like a sword. His body flew back and landed in the field of icicles, which shattered upon impact. The force from the collision caused him to cough up spit, leaving him dazed and stunned.

As he laid on the floor, Kulbrin heard the crowd cheering overhead. It made sense… the fight probably looked over to them. He felt proud that Seiryuu had gotten the best of him there. Nobody would question his resolve anymore!

But that didn't mean he was going to give up now. He had a little fight left in him.

'He's strong. I can't deny that. But his lack of actual combat experience is showing.'

Winding up, Kulbrin launched himself onto his feet and immediately leapt into the air, ready for one last attack.

"Finally decided to show how strong you really are, Peace Keeper?"

Seiryuu looked up.

An overhead attack…!

He brought up his arms to erect a small protective barrier over his face… only for Kulbrin to land in front of him instead.

"Down here!" Kulbrin announced, peaking up from underneath the Ice dragon's folded arms.

A powerful uppercut sent Seiryuu upwards, releasing powerful shockwaves as the fist connected. This was then followed up by Kulbrin flying after him, intercepting him mid-ascension, and bringing a foot down on his back.

Seiryuu cried out in pain as vibrations from the two strikes assaulted his body from both sides. Helpless, he crashed down to the floor in a loud heap.

"Sorry," Kulbrin muttered as he slowly fluttered down. "But I told you I wouldn't hold back."

Being a dragon, Seiryuu wouldn't have been seriously injured from his attacks, only slightly exhausted. Even now, he was rising back to his feet. However, they had made their point. The fight had no more reason to go on.

'I should probably let him know…'

He was just about to go check up on his friend when a weight on his right hand caught his attention. Like before, it was encased in ice.

'Again…!? But I was careful this time. When did this happen?' He suddenly stumbled in place. His foot also had a thick layer of ice covering it. The same one he had just used for that airborne kick.

Something was wrong… And looking back over at Seiryuu, he was able to get an idea of exactly what that was.

A massive field of mana was enveloping the dragon's body. The outer-most layers were a mix of blue and black, but at its core, it glowed a brilliant golden white, as if the concentration of magic was too intense to visualize.

"Huh…? I knew he was powerful, but I've never seen something like this before."

Kubrin tried to run over to him, in case he needed help. They'd both be in a lot of trouble if things escalated out of control. But to his surprise, his feet didn't move properly when he tried walking.

Both of his feet were sinking into the ground… A telltale sign of the Darkness element.

But… Seiryuu was standing still and not attacking! A quick scan confirmed that there weren't any dark-scaled dragons attempting to interfere with the fight, leaving only one explanation.

'His core is leaking excess mana…! And this much!? How much energy does he have!?'

A second feeling began to creep in as his legs sank into the floor. A cold, biting sensation, akin to very bad frostbite. It wasn't just the Darkness element leaking out, but Seiryuu's main element was also lingering across the field. The combination of Ice and Darkness proved deadly, even with this indirect application, as Kulbrin was coming to realize.

Kulbrin gritted his teeth at the pain and quickly tried using his wings to forcefully drag himself out of the floor. Looking around, he saw that the strange phenomenon wasn't isolated to the ground. Even now, he could see shadowy distortions crawling up the walls, threatening to break through the magical barriers protecting the audience. Despite this danger, nobody seemed to be paying attention. Instead, they were all focused on him, eagerly waiting for the green rebel to surrender.

'How is nobody noticing this!? They're all in very serious danger! The temple itself might not last if his power keeps growing.'

In desperation, he yelled out across the field.

"Hey! I don't know what's happened, but you have to pull back. Control your mana before it's too late!"

To his horror, the older dragon didn't stop.

Lifting his head, with fear-ridden eyes as tears fell down his face, Seiryuu could only mouth a single phrase over and over as his mind spiralled into a panic.

"I can't…

I can't…

I CAN'T!"

.

.

.

He 'can't'…? As in it's not possible for him to control? What did that mean? Ever since they stepped foot in the arena, Seiryuu's behaviour stopped making any sense.

No… the weirdness started when their belongings were confiscated…!

'That must be why…'

That was the reason Seiryuu was out of control now!

'What should I do?' Kulbrin quickly began brainstorming possible solutions.

He briefly considered using his unique power to potentially seal off the Ice dragon's magic, but with his current level of experience, there was no guarantee that it would work. If anything went wrong, he might accidentally weaken Seiryuu's body, ending his life in the process.

No, he needed that glaive. That was the only way.

Shaking his head, Kulbrin made up his mind and did the only possible thing he could to save his friend.

"I Forfeit!"

The referee, who had been observing from a safe distance turned to him.

"Do you surrender?"

"YES! I know I can't defeat him, so just end this!"

The cheetah nodded silently.

"As challenger Kulbrin refuses to continue, the victor is his opponent, Seiryuu! That concludes this duel!"

A chorus of loud cheers erupted throughout the arena, all of them congratulating Seiryuu for winning. Kulbrin ignored them all and forced his way through the small crowd that was developing, hurrying over to where Seiryuu's belongings were placed.

The moles had already collected his possessions and were preparing to send them to the dragon's first classroom when Kulbrin charged into them.

"Out of my way!" he bellowed, shoving the moles aside and grabbing everything he could while making absolutely sure he had taken the large steel glaive from the pile.

Fortunately, nobody had gotten close to Seiryuu yet, but that wouldn't be the case for long… Thinking fast, Kulbrin willed a mighty tornado into existence in front of him. His wings caught the jetstream and propelled him further, while everyone else was pushed aside.

Finally, with nothing separating the two anymore, Kulbrin stepped forward and quickly handed the glaive back to him.

He didn't know what to expect at first, knowing that it wouldn't instantly solve the problem at hand, but a keen eye picked up that the weapon was slowly pulling mana from Seiryuu's body.

'That's no ordinary tool! No wonder he wants to have that thing with him all the time!'

Eventually, the intense glow subsided, revealing the dragon underneath, who was panting heavily.

A green hand reached out to him.

"Are you going to be all right?"

Seiryuu smiled and let Kulbrin pull him back up.

"I should be… You saved me just in time."

Kulbrin noticed that his friend's body was very cold. While not an immediate concern, it didn't fill him with confidence.

"Let's go. We're DONE here."

His statement was met with a single, frosty exhale.

Pulling an arm under Seiryuu's shoulder, Kulbrin carried him out of the arena, and to a more private area where they could rest. As he did, he heard the words "Thank you" echoing in his mind repeatedly.

.

.

.

The two eventually found themselves seated on a wide bench, the same one Kulbrin was resting on when he arrived at the temple. It wasn't as secluded as they wanted, but it worked for what they needed it for.

Not even five minutes after they got there, a small group of moles arrived with their clothes and they silently got to work getting both dragons dressed (mainly Seiryuu, who had more to put on). Neither of them paid attention to the moles as they did their thing; they may as well have not been there. The two just sat in silence.

Eventually, after the glaive was properly secured to Seiryuu's back, the moles all hurried off to carry out some other important task, leaving them alone.

Kubrin tilted his head to look at the glaive. Even now, it was draining large amounts of mana from Seiryuu's core. It was incredible to think that one dragon could hold so much power, to the point where they had to rely on an external device to help regulate their energy.

"How long has it been like this?" he asked.

"Ever since I hatched from my egg… Maybe even before then. Apparently, the first thing I ever did when I was born was let out a sneeze that completely encased my father in ice!"

Kulbrin turned away feeling guilty.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know about this."

"Nobody did apparently. I thought my parents had everything prepared…!" Seiryuu growled.

"What do you mean?"

"This is why I've never been allowed to attend any public studies before. We had no way of knowing if it'd be safe. In the past, I'd always have to excuse myself to find an empty room or chamber, and spend a long time releasing as much mana as I could from my body. At least until I could present myself as 'normal'…" He leaned down to rest his head against his folded arms. "It was exhausting beyond BELIEF!"

It hurt Kulbrin to watch him vent out his frustrations and not be able to do anything. And to think, when he first saw him this morning, he had assumed Seiryuu to be just another stuck-up dragon to ignore in the future…

His outlook had changed a lot in just a couple of hours.

Seeing that he had stopped talking, Kulbrin took the opportunity to reach into his satchel and pull something out to hand to his friend.

Seiryuu saw the pastry being offered to him and tried to reject the gift.

"You don't need to–"

"It won't happen again." Kulbrin spoke firmly, trying to reassure him.

"Huh?"

"Not just because of me, but in general. I promise Seiryuu, I'll look out for you from now on. You aren't alone in this anymore." He forced the dessert into Seiryuu's hand before he could say no again.

Finally conceding, Seiryuu opened the wrapper and took a bite.

"Thank you. That means a lot to me." Kulbrin smiled and watched his friend eat, happy that he could cheer him up.

Once he finished, they both got up from the bench and stretched.

"We should get going. At this rate, we'll both be late," Kulbrin said. "You know where to go now, right?"

"I might. But even then, you wouldn't be able to guide me," Seiryuu taunted. "Since I won our duel, you don't have the right to be around me anymore, remember?"

Kulbrin laughed and played along.

"How could I forget? Maybe we should fix that sometime. Only you have to bring that glaive, and I stop holding back."

"Ha. I look forward to it!"

Suddenly, a new voice spoke up from behind.

"Seiryuu… So this is where you disappeared to."

The pair froze. Whoever it was talking, they sounded cold and bitter. Neither of them wanted to turn to face this angry individual, but against better judgment, their bodies slowly began to pivot around…

Standing a couple of metres away was an elder Ice dragon wearing a mix of expensive robes and armour. Taller than both of them combined, and having the strength of one blessed by the Ancestors, they immediately recognized the Guardian of Ice, Master Cyril.

Seiryuu regained composure first and stood up straight.

"Father," he said, acknowledging his presence. Cyril sighed and shook his head, thoroughly disappointed.

"I had been wondering why you were taking your time this morning. And as I'm about to begin attendance for my lecture, I hear rumblings that you and another are engaging in reckless roughhousing."

Hearing his father's despondency, Seiryuu placed a hand over his chest and knelt forward in a formal bow.

"My apologies, Master Cyril. It wasn't our intention."

He was urged back up before he could continue.

"Raise your head, young Seiryuu. I have no issue with you wanting to train. By Kanestice's grace, it's the very reason why you're at the temple now, to begin with. However, you should know better than to overexert yourself until you've learnt to control that impossibly large mana core of yours."

"Y-Yes, sir."

Cyril then turned his attention over to Kulbrin.

"You there. You're standing awfully close to my son when you should indeed be somewhere else at this time of day." He growled threateningly, startling the poor drake. "I can only assume that you're the nuisance I've been hearing about recently?"

The Guardian's gaze turned firm, and Kulbrin stepped back out of fear. Master Cyril, while polite and well-mannered, had a reputation as one of the most fierce dragons in the city. There wasn't a soul who wished to be on his bad side.

"I-I… Well, you could say–"

"Speak up, lad! I demand an answer!"

Kulbrin flinched. Most of this was his fault, and it could all be traced back to him. But having to admit to that scared him. After everything, he might be expelled from the temple! How would he explain that to his family!?

Ultimately, he didn't have to say anything, as an abnormally large wing suddenly shielded him from the Guardian's wrath.

"No, Father! It's not what you think! Kulbrin… he's my friend! It was just meant to be a spar. Nothing else!"

Cyril didn't appear impressed, and argued against his son's claims.

"Friend? You've never mentioned anything of the sort at home." He gestured at the two young dragons. "Just look at yourselves. Those bruises and that horrible posture. Clearly, you've been exerting yourselves recently. By the Ancestors, I've even heard talk that you removed the inhibitor we gave you! How can you insist that this was indeed 'a friendly spar'?"

Seiryuu didn't back down. This was his turn to protect Kulbrin, and he wouldn't abandon him now, even if he had to confront his own father.

"It's true, we were duelling. But it's not his fault that I wasn't wearing my glaive! I didn't tell anyone! One thing led to another, and before either of us knew it, we were both standing in the arena! The moment Kulbrin realized the problem, something he deduced on his own, he forfeited the fight to help. He SAVED me!"

It was rare for Seiryuu to ever speak up against his parents. He had grown up with nothing but respect for them and the important role they had in Warfang, being the highest of authority in the city. But he did have his limits. Cyril knew his son wasn't a mindless tool and could voice his opinions if he felt they mattered. But he had never seen Seiryuu so… passionate before.

And there was also the matter of the green dragon. From what was described to him, he was expecting to find a little punk. And while Kulbrin didn't look especially presentable right now, he was clearly born and raised in Warfang nobility.

Cyril had a theory to test…

"You… You're Nestor's boy, are you not?"

Both of the younger drakes were shocked. Cyril had apparently been aware of Kulbrin lineage, despite their families never having introduced the two of them to each other. This was the first time that they had ever met in person!

But was it a good thing that Master Cyril knew who Kulbrin was…?

Feeling he couldn't hide anymore, Kulbrin stepped out from behind Seiryuu's wings. This time, he was able to speak.

"Yes sir. Lord Nestor is my father…"

The Ice Guardian hummed in understanding. He darted his eyes back and forth between Kulbrin and his son, who still had a pleading expression on his face.

"He's mentioned you to me many times," he explained, further confusing the young pair. "Tell me, how do you know my boy? He doesn't know anyone in the temple by name, yet here he is now insisting that the two of you are close."

"Truthfully? I've only known him for a few hours at most." He clenched his jaw and continued talking with his gaze panned down, still uncomfortable looking the guardian in the eyes. "I was the first dragon he encountered when he arrived, and… he needed help."

If Kulbrin had been looking at his friend, he would have seen the glare on his face aimed at his father that carried an almost "I told you so!" sentiment.

"Kulbrin?" The Guardian eventually spoke up, sounding as if he had made up his mind about something.

"Yes, Master Cyril?"

"Has Seiryuu ever told you how difficult it is for him to make friends? Why it is that he was oblivious as a rhynoc when he arrived?"

"He's mentioned the glaive to me, sir."

"Yes, that is a reason." Cyril nodded. "His mana core is very dangerous if left unattended. But that's not what I am referring to."

Cyril broke eye contact and started walking around the pair as he explained.

"Seiryuu is of high blood. My blood, that is. Many people would use that fact to want to get close to him. If not for his relation to his mother and myself, but his potential. Seiryuu is the first to be born from two dragons that bear the blessings of the Ancestors. That makes him all the more special."

He had stopped moving at this point and looked down at Kulbrin directly.

"He'll need allies in the coming future. I have always tried to be absolutely certain that those close to him are people I trust… Do I know that I can trust you, young Kulbrin?"

Something special…? Without context, it almost sounded like Cyril was building up Seiryuu to be the next Purple Dragon… Yet he did have a point. Now that he had seen just how powerful his friend was, he believed that whatever Seiryuu chose to do in life, be it as a Peace Keeper or a Magic Crafter, his impact on the Dragon Realms would be felt for generations. And now he was asked to be one of the few people to see it all through?

That was a big responsibility… But he had already made up his mind.

Kulbrin stood up straight, and looked valiantly at the Guardian, no longer afraid of anything.

"Yes, sir. I've already promised him that much, and I intend to stay by his side."

Cyril liked what he saw and nodded.

"Good. I expect nothing less."

He gave Kulbrin a final, genuine smile before dismissing him and beckoning his son to follow him.

"Come along now, Seiryuu. You can't afford to be this late on your first day."

"Yes, Master Cyril!" Seiryuu quickly ran after his father, but not before the two best friends shared one last exchange.

"I'll see you again soon!"

"Count on it!"

Kulbrin stayed behind briefly and watched the two Ice dragons leave. Looking at the sky, it was safe to say that he had missed his first lecture. But he wasn't bothered by this anymore. He may as well take his time…

"Son, you have apple jelly on your lips," he heard Cyril scold in the distance. Seiryuu gasped in embarrassment at this and stopped to wipe his face clean with his scarf.

Chuckling at the funny scene, Kulbrin opened his wings and took off.

"This will be an interesting year…"

---

Over a hundred years later, deep within a forest on the other side of the realms, a large creature with a mix of feline and avian features, a belion, was sprinting through the tall grass. Any smaller animals darted out of the way as the black and green beast rushed by, not wanting it to risk becoming a spur-of-the-moment kill for the large predator. What they didn't realize was that the creature itself was actually being hunted.

In its carelessness, it had allowed itself to fall into a trap left specifically for his kind, and now one of its hind legs was partially paralyzed.

It had been running for dozens of miles now trying to escape, but that wasn't enough! The winged monster chasing it was a giant! They wouldn't give up so easily!

Hours passed before the creature slowed down. As it laid down in the mud, it ran a claw over its leg, pulling back the black fur to check for damage. There weren't any visible wounds, but it still hurt more than anything. It didn't know what kind of trap it fell into or how long it would take to regain its strength, but it could at least say that it was safe now.

Yes… Nothing would track it down across this large of a distance.

*SNAP*

As if the world was mocking it, the belion turned around to see a large figure reclining against a tree. The green figure rose to its full height, towering over every animal in the forest and smiled tauntingly in its direction. As they stepped into the light, their wings and tail became visible as well.

A dragon. An experienced hunter at that. He not only managed to catch up with it, but had calculated everything perfectly so that he knew exactly where it would stop.

Desperation took over the quadruped. Escape wasn't possible against the experienced tracker, but maybe it could be killed!

The monster's claws hit the dragon directly in the chest but failed to draw blood and shattered on impact, leaving flat nubs in their place. The green dragon brushed the debris off of his armoured scales, unfazed by the monster's assault, as if he was expecting more.

"Minimal damage, even at this size…?" he said in a deep voice. "This last one will be easy. I don't even need to bind him down."

Now knowing that it was pointless to fight, the belion turned around to avoid facing its executioner, but to its shock, turning completely around still had it facing the dragon. It looked over its shoulder to confirm, but the dragon had, in fact, moved. His speed was too fast for eyes.

"I'll make this quick."

Reaching out, the hunter gripped the furry beast in his arms and leapt up.

Even without channelling any magic, the dragon's raw strength was more than enough to carry him into the air with his prey in tow. They were moving so fast that the air was forcibly pulled from the monster's lungs, leaving it feeling faint and susceptible to passing out.

Its limbs went numb as its eyes closed.

It didn't feel the dragon letting go… The gravity pulling it back down to the earth… Or the rock cracking its skull open.

It didn't feel anything as its life ended. It was slow but painless…

Up in the air, the dragon began lowering himself to the ground. He was only a few metres away from landing when the muscles around his joints and in his chest started to ache in protest for him using his wings and magical abilities as long as he did that night.

"Tsk. All these years and I still haven't developed an immunity to it…" he growled, referring to the magical anomaly that had been covering the realms for the past fifty years. He was lucky if he could use his elements for an hour, while his wings could hold on for three at the absolute most.

He leaned in to inspect his kill. This specific species had only been seen in this part of the world in very recent years and their numbers were multiplying fast. It felt good to know that efforts to control their population were finally paying off. It also helped in his case as belion fur was a valuable material for people like him who lived in secluded areas away from cities. Already, he was thinking of possible uses for the thick fur that grew along the beast's neck…

The dragon was about to carry the belion away when his nose picked up an unexpected scent. It should have only been the two of them in this clearing. Meaning that…!

"You can show yourself now, whoever you are! I know you're out there."

A gentle laugh from someone older than him came from the trees.

"I'd expect nothing less from you… It's been a long time, Kulbrin."

The green dragon turned around to face the voice. Hovering above him, was an elder dragon with white scales, cloaked in a thick mist that thoroughly concealed his presence. As the fog lifted, more of the dragon's features were revealed, including their shiny white and gold armour with a red, gravity-defying cape bearing the symbol of Warfang billowing behind him.

"Master Polaris…?" Kulbrin whispered in confusion.

Having not stepped foot in Warfang in decades, he hadn't seen any of the Guardians in person for a long time. Yet oddly, the guardian of the Light element was addressing him like an old friend…

"You seem surprised." The white dragon slowly flapped his wings as he descended.

As he approached, Kulbrin took the time to take in the armour he was wearing, unfamiliar with its design. Right away, he could see how much the craftsmanship had improved over time. Unlike what he had seen Peace Keepers or other high-ranking dragons wear in the past, this armament was composed of several layers that covered every visible part of Polaris' body, safe for the wings. It was also fortified with magical properties that, in addition to enhancing his strength an untold amount, gave him a passive resistance to the invisible dark magic enveloping the world.

The armour itself was over three times as heavy as the dragon it protected, something that alchemy couldn't completely negate, and it showed in the loud footfalls that sounded out with every step and the wide stance the older dragon was forced to take. Yet, despite it all, Polaris didn't appear over-encumbered. He moved almost as freely as Kulbrin himself, who wore very little.

'So this is how far we've come in fifty or so years… Impressive.' Kulbrin appraised internally. In his mind, he imagined a different dragon standing before him, wearing an equally impressive set of armour, only coloured a more appropriate blue.

'He would have been honoured to wear one of those into battle…' he thought with a nostalgic smile.

The Guardian kept speaking as if Kulbrin was still listening.

"You never did tell anyone where you would go after you left, but I had a feeling we'd cross paths again. It's good to see you've stayed true to your calling after all this time," he said referring to how Kulbrin was now living his life as a wilderness expert like he had always dreamed.

While still a young adult by his species' standards, Kulbrin had grown considerably since his time in Warfang, having finally hit a few growth spurts. Standing upright, he stood 320 centimetres tall, and unlike the paunchy dragons who shared his way of life, he had a broad, burly build that exuded power and dexterity.

"I… just needed a change of pace," Kulbrin explained, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed. "Warfang is… too full of memories."

Polaris hummed in understanding.

"I see… His death still affects you, does it?" The white dragon turned around and began to himself aloud. "Then again, the two of you were practically brothers, so you could say it's as if you've been living with one of your arms missing. I can hardly imagine how difficult it would be for someone your age, to be suddenly forced to adapt to a life like that. A single hand to do everything…"

Kulbrin's claws shot out and dug into the tree as he fought back a growl. The Light Guardian… really didn't know a thing about tact!

"Why are you here, Master Polaris?" he asked through gritted teeth, trying his best to not sound rude. "I'd think you'd have more important things to do than visit a lowly Beast Tamer like myself."

"Is it not possible for me to say 'hello' to an old acquaintance?" Polaris replied with another warm laugh, but he did adopt a more serious tone shortly after. "I have come here to see how you were fairing, but there is another reason behind my visit."

'Something else'…?

Kulbrin leaned forward, suddenly more interested. There weren't many things someone like him had to offer the Guardians.

"Your friend, Luna. Have you been maintaining contact with her?" Polaris asked. "We've heard reports from the Mystic Cliffs, more specifically, her family, that she suddenly disappeared one night; we both know that this is unlike her. While it's still too early to draw any grim conclusions, knowing what she is capable of, we all fear what were to happen if the Dark Army were to gain access to her knowledge."

'Yes… That would be a doomsday scenario.' Kulbrin agreed. The Dark Army having access to a highly respected Dream Weaver's personal insight? He shuttered to imagine the possibilities.

But what would they do with that knowledge? From what he has witnessed over the years, almost all of the apes were content with their place in life. They had been given bodies that mirrored the humans they worshiped so much and the world was forced to acknowledge the power they had.

"We're at a turning point in this war," Polaris explained. "The apes are no longer seen as invincible, and thanks to our own discoveries and innovations, we're now able to force them back. Both their king and Cynder, the Terror of the Night herself, realize that the time to strike is now. We have yet to determine why or how, but it's possible that it involves the other dimension."

The Sea of Souls…

"So, you think they're planning something that involves Malefor? Do you think they have found a way to bring the Dark Master back?" Kulbrin asked, to which the guardian confirmed.

"It's a firm possibility. Which is why it's in our best interests that Luna is safe. I'll ask again, have you been in contact with her at all?"

Kulbrin looked away. While he had next to no reason to visit the Mystic Cliffs, he and Luna did still take the time to see each other over the years. And he knew something had changed with her recently.

"It's been a long time since I last saw her. I don't know where she is right now. However…" He paused. "The last time we met, there was something different about her, and she mentioned something to me…"

.

.

.

"His soul has finally found peace."

"I see…" Polaris acknowledged slowly. "That must be good to know, at the very least. I'll be sure to inform Cyril the next time we reconvene."

Cyril… That was another reason why Kulbrin had left Warfang! The guilt still clawed at him even now… He should have been faster that day!

"I thank you for your time, Kulbrin. But unfortunately, I must be off now. There are other matters I must attend to." Polaris was about to take off again before he added one last thing. "Know this… You are always welcome in Warfang, Kulbrin. You will never be a stranger to us."

Powerful wing flaps echoed into the night, and he was soon left alone again.

Frustrated, Kulbrin pounded his fist into the tree next to him, accidentally punching so hard that it began to topple over. Without paying attention, he raised his other hand to catch the entire tree before it landed on him.

He dismissively held the several thousand tons of weight over his head and closed his eyes as he reflected on his past life. Kulbrin thought back to a time when it was just the three of them together, three close friends ready to face the future, no matter what that might involve.

But those times were long over.

One of his friends was dead, and the other might be missing.

A loud rumble rang out from his throat and he flicked the tree from his hand. Ignoring the deafening clap it made as it hit the ground, he turned his attention to the dead belion that he still needed to take home and prepare.

"Luna, I don't care what you saw in that other world. You better not have let your guard down…!"

---

A/N

Wow, another chapter with Seiryuu and Kulbrin! It's been so long…! I debated breaking this chapter in half like I did last time, but since this is a side-chapter, I think it's best to leave it as one.

Again, this won't be the last time we'll look back on the trio's time in Warfang. And they will be important to the main story, but I won't say exactly how just yet. (Though I'm sure some of you have a good guess for one of them.)

Next time, we'll be heading back to the present and seeing how Makoto adapts to living in a city full of wolves.

Until next time, farewell.

~AzureDragonZX