Three small dragons stood in the middle of a mountain, a gaping hole in the middle led its path into a cavern.

Two of them looked uneasily at each other, the third looked excited. They each walked slowly through the passage, though if it weren’t for one of the dragons holding the excited dragon back, it would’ve without a doubt ran inside.

Never had they taken so long to walk through a passage, every step they took, their heart beat faster. Slowly they stopped as they reached an open area devoid of light. No light reached inside so even for a dragon’s sight, they could barely see anything in front of them.

They exchanged uneasy glances as the leading dragon gestured to the excited dragon.

The latter hurriedly stepped to the front of the group, and stepped one leg into the darkness. As soon as its foot was on the ground its eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

It turned around and signalled to the other dragons it was fine. They too followed and their expressions were similar as they stepped foot into the area.

The deeper they went, the slower they moved. Suddenly a rustle of movement made their head turn immediately as they all looked into the same direction.

Silence. Only their beating heart and breath could be heard.

The third dragon was the first to turn its head back in the direction they were headed, its head raised up as she eyes popped out of her socket. She froze.

The other two dragons saw her movement and turned towards her gaze.

The dragon which was leading, seemed to sense what had happened as she ever so slowly turned her head to look into the darkness.

The dragon who was excited seemed to know no fear. His eyes beamed at the darkness.

Two giant dark yellow eyes stared from metres above them. Because the place was so dark, it looked like it was hovering.

The eyes slowly descended as it drew closer and closer to the three dragons. It never blinked once.

Whilst the two small dragons froze, the third one could not even withhold the excitement on its face as it jumped towards it.

“Big brother!” he yelled as he giggled in delight, his claws scrambling to hang on to the dragon before him.

Yes, the dragon was Kiran. He didn’t have many visitors, actually, he never had visitors. So when he sensed the three young dragons, he wondered what they were here for.

He wasn’t trying to be scary, it was just the way he was. Though he must agree that the energy in his little brother Iste is amazing.

Slowly a great crumbling sound could be heard as Kiran shifted his massive body in the cavern. Light suddenly filled in as Kiran’s body had been blocking an opening ceiling at the back of the cavern.

The young dragons closed their eyes for a split second as it blinded them but they quickly readjusted. Their eyes shocked as they marvelled at the sight before them.

It wasn’t Kiran’s massive stature, but the entire cavern. The ground had begun to grow grass and flowers as it filled the entire area with it. They could even see one or two butterflies dancing around.

The way the light shone in made it look like a paradise. Their gaze slowly turned to Kiran, his form surprisingly blending in with the scenery. It made Kiran look wise.

The two young dragons looked up at Kiran questioningly as Iste began to roll around and play. Kiran breathed a sigh as he slumped his head down above his feet.

If he could explain it, he would. But he couldn’t. It had been around a year since the incident with the dragons getting bullied. And Kiran had stayed in training for that period. And through that time, nature slowly took over.

There was only one explanation. Kiran turned his gaze towards the back of the young dragons as they turned around and followed his gaze. He was pretty sure it was because of him.

At the back, Iste looked cautiously as his stance was lowered in an offensive position. His claws reached out to try and touch it but immediately backed away as it moved. He tried it again but he retreated.

Isla and the other dragon looked at the exchange between Iste and the other creature. A large ball of fur, white and black. Its size was around 3metres now as it sat up and looked at Iste for a second before turning his back and rolling slowly around the grass.

Iste, intrigued slowly stalked it as it rolled around the cavern.

The two young dragons turned around to Kiran for questions, to which Kiran merely gave a look ‘I don’t know’.

Regardless, they spent a few moments in Kiran’s cavern. The two young dragons, being girls, quite enjoyed the scenery as they walked around the place. Iste, being more interested at the panda, followed it. At times he would poke it and the panda would brush his claw away but he never lost interest.

Whilst they were all playing, Kiran merely laid at the back of the cavern watching. A sense of childish joy he never had.

Though soon Isla told him why they were here, she seemed better with Kiran now. Though still uneasy.

Their parents had wanted Kiran to go back.

‘Finally.’ Kiran got up as his eyes lit up.

Wasting no time, he left with the young dragons as they flew towards their home. Of course, Kiran had to fly much slower than he does normally as one flap of his wing was equal to hundreds of the young dragons.

Soon, they entered into the cavern and greeted their parents. They two young female dragons went off into a corner whilst Iste tried to play with his father, only to be pushed away. His eyes was stern as he looked at Kiran.

“Its unusual for a dragon to leave so early.” He said as Kiran and his parents sat face to face.

“Normally, they’d only leave at around 500 years old. Maybe even later. But you’ve always defied expectations.

I have asked the Elders and they have given permission.” As he finished the last sentence, Kiran’s face lit up like a Christmas tree.

Just last year, he had asked his father whether he could leave Dragoon and explore the other continents. In particular, the largest one occupied by the human race.

He knew from them that many other races would travel when reaching a certain age to explore and gain experience. The central continent was dominated by the human race, but many beast races laid their foundations there as well.

It was only the powerful and pure beast races that owned their islands like the Dragons. And when the beasts were able to turn into human form, they’d be allowed to travel. Though many stayed for a while after that.

The central continent was massive. Nothing compared to Earth. On the continent were places that one could train and gain more experience to become stronger.

There is the magician guild, chi user guild, adventurer’s guild, beasts guild and clans etc. These were all organizations that people could join in order to gain more power.

Most famous of all, were the Schools of the continent. Famous for the upbringing of multiple powerful individuals, they remained impartial to any Kingdom or Empire. They were by themselves, their own master and a force to be reckoned with.

“But… I’ll let you go… in 5 years.” His father finished. Just as Kiran was about to ask why, he interrupted.

“I know you have grown fast, but to us, you are still far too young to leave on your own. So to make sure you’ll be okay, I’ll train you. And after 5 years, you can leave.”

He finished with an expression that allowed for no negotiation, Kiran nodded.

“We’ll start tomorrow.” He finished as the family once again turned to the way it was.

“Chi is the energy around us, depending on whether you’re a magician or a chi user, you’ll store that energy in different places. A majority of chi users are just neutral chi users, meaning they have no affiliation with an element.

People with a bit of talent, or some would call it luck, are born with an affiliation to an element. Allowing the properties of that element to be in their chi. There are some who are immensely talented that have more than one element.

Think about it, if someone could use two properties of two elements against someone with one or none at all, they’d have a huge advantage.” Kiran’s father explained.

They were both in their human form now on a large open area outside. They had just begun their training.

“It is very rare for a train to not be a chi user or a magician. But even so, their natural body would grow to the strength of a Class A beast.

So, you have never told us and we have never asked. And I don’t seem to be able to sense it from you. Which is strange but show me child.” He said as he stared at Kiran.

‘Which one…’ Kiran thought as he looked into the expectant eyes of his father.

Of course, he would never show them all. Never show your full hands was a phrase etched into their minds on Earth. He was now thinking which element to show.

At last, he decided it would be best to go with lightning. As his father was too, he could be able to learn a lot from it.

And so Kiran lifted his right hand as he channelled his chi to his palm. A dark faint blue aura enclosed it as sparks connected on his hand.

His father’s eyes widened in surprise. Lightning was an even more rare element than the others. It was, so to speak, a mutated version of fire. It contained the destructive properties of fire but also additional ones too. It was a powerful element. And extremely rare to have, even more so for dragons.

Having Iste was a surprise and joy and now finding out that Kiran had it, was incredible.

“You… you had it all along and you didn’t tell me?” His mind finally returned as he furrowed his brows.

Oh…. Kiran thought as he stayed silent. To which a fist hit him on the forehead in reply.

“When you channel an element into your chi, the chi becomes more powerful. The more powerful an element, the harder it is to control. Even though you may be able to channel it, it is the control of the properties that you have to learn.

For a fire user, how can you know that when fire is in your chi, it will burn? Or how do you enable it to explode on impact? And most of all, to not hurt yourself?” He continued as if nothing happened after hitting Kiran.

“It is through practice and katas that one is able to achieve this. The next five years will be just that.” He finished as he stopped moving and turned his head to Kiran, looking for understanding.

Only Kiran looked at him as he always did, practically expressionless. Before he could say anything, Kiran lifted his left hand and flicked his fingers towards him. A small wind blade whist towards him as he instinctively held up a hand as the wind blade dissipated against his tough skin.

His eyes looked at Kiran, if they were any larger, they’d most definitely have popped out.

He quickly rushed over to Kiran’s side as he held onto his arms.

“Do that again. Show me.” He asked as he gripped onto Kiran tight.

Kiran struggled free and once again created a wind blade as his father stared with his wide opened eyes. Kiran decided to show him, well first off to ease their understanding later on that Kiran had all elements. And second of all, his mother was a wind magician. Might as well learn from her too.

Kiran’s father took a minute as he recollected himself,

“Wait here.” He said as he quickly turned into a dragon and flew off. His transformation was quick, it was within 2 seconds. Kiran could only transform in around a minute.

‘Looks like I have a long way to go…’ he thought to himself.

Soon, two dragons appeared in the sky as they landed in front of him. His father and mother. They both turned into their human forms as his dad rushed towards him.

“Do it again.” He said.

Kiran released a wind blade.

“Now show her your chi.”

Kiran released a chi on his hand that sparked lightning.

Now it was Kiran’s mother’s eyes that nearly popped out. Never in the history of dragons had one been able to control 2 elements. And not only that, but differing elements of chi and magic. It just didn’t make sense.

But soon, they got over their shock and analysed the situation. Whatever it was, Kiran was their son. It didn’t matter.

They quickly told Kiran to never let anyone know, especially not the young dragons. Since who knows what Iste will say.

And that the training from now on would be from the both of them. Chi in the morning and magic in the afternoon.

And that was how Kiran spent the next 5 years.

Magic was a manipulation of the elements outside of their bodies using their mind’s power. It was much like chi, except that rather than using it on the inside, it was the outside.

With increasing mind’s power of an individual, they could cast tremendous spells. However, magicians had to first learn control over their power. Chi users, who if their chi depleted, they could regain through meditation.

Magicians could regain their mind’s power through meditation too. But if they used a spell that drained them of more than their power, rather than failing the spell, they would die.

So it was important to learn control in the size of the spell, the speed, the intensity etc.

There were many existing spells that individually, they could drastically change in power from the amount of magic poured into it. Although there were no set spells in the world, there were many types of similar spells that would be placed in one category.

So for example, the wind blade used by Kiran could be immense if used by his mother. It could span several metres in width and height as well as in great speed. But regardless of the power, it would still be called wind blade, or wind slash etc.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Five dragons stood outside a cavern as they looked as another dragon which stood in front of them.

They had said their goodbyes, but no words could save them from their emotions. And Kiran was not a man, or dragon, of many words.

He nodded at his family and at the young dragon who were good friends with the family.

It had already been 5 years since he started training, and it was time. Time for him to see the world.

He turned around as his wings lifted him off the ground. As he rose higher, Dragoon became smaller. It was his home, he’d be back.

He turned his head to the front of him, his eyes determined.

The human continent, here I come.