With Kate's Birthday coming up I had to do a lot of things for preparation. I had to study. make preparations for the surprise party with Conner, and prepare to leave after the party with Verod. It took a while however I think I have found the best way to leave without things going horribly wrong, I just hope it goes smoothly... Kate is going to kill me when I get back....

Kate's Point Of View. September 1st

I woke up to find my room empty, last year my father came in and shoved a teddy in my face as soon as I woke up. but this year it is quiet.... to quiet.... oh well. I get dressed and walk into the main room and surprisingly John is not sitting on his sofa. there is a note though...

'Dear Kate. If you are reading this I am most likely dead. that or in the library reading some books. feel free to make your self some breakfast and get ready, the Headmaster said today is a special day however I don't know why so maybe there is a test... From John'

... wait he forgot it was my birthday... The floor started to melt around her feet however she soon calmed down... I will just go and remind him. I wonder if I should just remind him and then drag him around somewhere, anyway I need to go to the library.

"Kate. Happy Birthday" My father said while shoving a teddy in my face as soon as I open the door to leave, I proceed to incinerate the teddy and walk to the library leaving father on the ground crying a bit. what did he expect it was the same teddy as last year, and the year before that... and the year before that... he must just be forgetful.

walking into the library I see John in the Dragon Slayer section. I start walking over to him however before I can get close he looks like he remembered something, walked up to the wall, and vanished... so he can either walk through walls or he has something like Blink Step / flash step / Teleportation of some kind. either way, I will be extra cautious whenever I change.

Exiting the now empty library I look at the clock, It is 7 am. early, classes are not on today so John did not go there. maybe I can find someone who would know. walking around the building a bit I find Isaac. he is an Illusion master in training. maybe he knows where John could be? I saw them talking a few days ago

"Isaac, do you know where John is? I need to talk with him" I asked as politely as possible, he turned, saw me, and vanished... maybe he was just an illusion? whatever I need to find John, I can only boss him around with a reason for today so I have to make it count.

I spend a few more minuets looking for John, but I see nobody. it is a big academy and very few people go here. however not to see anyone while walking around looking for someone is rare... they have to be plotting something. A surprise birthday party? not happening. my father Knows I would burn him to dust If he tried to hide anything from me... he learnt that the hard way...

"Kate" John said from behind me. "What are you doing up so early?" John asked with a smile. he has forgotten my birthday, hasn't he...

"I was looking for you, you said you would let me boss you around all day today" I said and John flashed a look of shock before worry.

"oh yea... happy birthday Kate..." John said with an expression of someone being sent to the gallows. he even emitted this aura that made him look dead, wow is he that scared of what I could have planed? or is he tricking me with an ability? I can never know with gamers.

"Stop looking so down, come. I have so much I want to do today and not enough time to do it so enough wasting time" I said with a smile as I grabbed Johns hand and started leading him to the first room, I felt his feel cold to the touch or something for a second however he soon regained colour when I showed him what was behind door number 1.

John's Point Of View

[Aura Of A Dead Man has reached level 99, you have new abilities related to death]

[Necromancy: Control of the dead, costs a lot of Mana and Mana costs can rise depending on body being controlled]

[Undead Aura: Your Body is cold to the touch and you would never be classed as alive by anyone looking, you heart stops beating and you flow blood around the body without a pulse, brain waves are reduced to almost undetectable amounts. you are dead by most definitions however this is only cosmetic and has no effect on you]

Nice, not helpful at the moment but nice non the less. Wait this room gives me the feeling of Deja vu

Kate's Point Of View

"John, this is the VR gaming room. You should remember where the VR will take you" I said remembering what I prepared to be inside the Virtual Reality. I had father make a map of Onset. maybe I can jog his memory with this.

"I have only ever been in mountains of Onset, the Three Fist Academy and Onset. you are not making it hard to guess where the VR is taking us" John said with a smile and walked into the room. I followed and he was already plugged in. I shut the door and pluged myself in as well, the VR was just a crystal bracelet that took you into a VR area, you cant move your body so the ground Is soft, John was sitting up against the wall, I sat next to him, and entered the VR

"Wow" John said from behind me as he looked around at the detail, we entered at the EXACT spot we parted last time where John kissed me. "I remember it like I was here only yesterday." John said with a happy expression, maybe he was glad to see his home town. then he turned to me and smiled, "would you like me to show you around or is there something here you wanted to show me here?" John asked.

"well... I have something to show you, follow me" I said as I walked into the woods, My sense of direction is much better then before, so after half an hour of wandering around aimlessly I eventually turned to John not looking lost or sad or embarrassed at all.

"So where did you want to go, you are reminding me of another lost girl I met a long time ago" John said like a smile as he looked to out left, "We actually met just over there" John added as he pointed at a place I remember all to well. the place John saved me at. wait this is the purfect chance.

"You met a girl out here?" I asked curiously. "Could you show me?" I added with a smile. to this John was shocked at something for a moment before smiling back at me,

"Sure, why not?" John said as he grabbed onto me and we teleported right to the spot we first met. "This is where I saw The Great And Powerful Mage Of The Lands" John said with a smile as I almost fell to the ground in embarrassment. why did I say that? "She used fire bolt on a hungry wolf. the wolf evaded and was about to attack her, I jumped in on instinct and had the wolf chew off my arm instead. hurt like hell but it was worth it, she was crying however more importantly safe." John said with a smile that looked slightly pained. "After that we talked for a bit and I found her easy to talk to, Kinda like you except she did not try and kill me when I made fun of her" John added and to this I increased the temperature of the area and he got the message as he turned away and continued, "I helped her exit the forest and we talked a lot, however once we left the forest something told me I would not see her for a long time, being the amazing Idiot I am I did not just ask her name I kissed her, thinking that would help us meet again" John said laughing. I on the other hand blushed.

"so... did you like that girl?" I asked, "Like as in love her?" I added with a face growing a bit more red. I need to calm down a bit.

"Yes... why?" John said plainly. I felt every atom in my body explode with energy as my face went red, I turned away. and walked over to a near by tree stump and sat down.

"Because a long time ago, I came to Onset" I said and to this he showed a confused face. he really is a thick headed idiot. "I walked into the forest and may or may not have gotten lost" I said and he still did not put the 2 together. "I looked a little difference back then, I had blond hair that I tied into a pony tail" I said and he was still just looking at me curious to where I was going with my words, idiot. "After a while of walking around I saw a hungry dog and cast fire bolt at it, the dog avoided my attack and was about to attack me when a stupid boy saved me at the cost of his left arm" I said and he just blinked a few times before his face turned red, FINALLY!!! I DID IT!!! he remembers!!!

"That boy must have been very stupid then" John said with a serious expression, not understanding at all. that or he just wants to make me embarrassed.

"Yes he was, he called himself John Richardson and he stole my first kiss" I said in a mumble with my face blood red...

"Wait someone else is called John Richardson? that is strange I thought it w..." Before he finished I walked over to him and Kissed him, He looked shocked, then by the look in his eyes he GOT IT!!! he is now as red as I am.... and I just kissed him, realising this I jumped back and turned away. embarrassed does not even begin to describe what I am feeling right now, and I swear to the divines If John still does not get it I will burn him into dust.

"Ah, I see now why you gave me such a hard time. you could have just told me before right, you remember I am an idiot right?" John said to me and his face started to return to its natural white. I could not retort as all he said was fully true. he then looked like he just got told something but I don't know how, does he have long range communication now to?

"Looks like it is time, we need to get you to the cafeteria now" John said with a smile, I then exited the VR and realised something, My sitting position now had me resting against John . I quickly got up and then saw John exit and wake up. he then grabbed onto my shoulder and warped me into the Cafeteria. he then looked exhausted for a second however recovered fast. I looked around and saw all my classmates wait... no Kieran is here to, almost missed him.

"Happy Birthday" Everyone said in unison. Father was also there but I ignored him. for the next few hours it was a normal birthday. we gave cake out at 12 o'clock and I opened presents at 3 o'clock. John gave me a..."HAHAHAA, you normally wait a bit before giving that?" Michael said making both me and John flash embarrassment.

John had given me. a ring... "It is not what it looks like, that is a ring of power I crafted earlier. it increases Mana capacity..." John said before he started to mumble a bit. everyone stopped and looked at him curiously before continuing what they were doing. but still, getting the gift made me feel happy. after a while John started to look more and more sad, he then exited the Cafeteria and walked off. Naturally I followed, or I would have.

"Kate, don't follow him" My father said in a serious tone. everyone else stopped and looked at him shocked, I was to. he had never said anything with that much seriousness in his voice to me before. but I had no time to ask why. "He is leaving the Academy" father said in a serious tone. as soon as I heard this I powered up and followed after where John had went.

after exiting the building I saw Verod. he was standing there with John. I ignored him and focused on John. "Don't go" I said after grabbing his hand. he turned to me surprised to see me. "please don't go" I said looking at him. he then smiled.

"I have to go. with all my previous fights I have learned I am simply not strong enough, I will be back and this time you can count on it" John said before turning away again. watching him walk away with Verod made me sad. he was leaving again and next time we meet I wont be in full control any more.

"I wont let you leave" I said powering up to the maximum. I then charged at him, he vanished from sight.

"I must leave for now, however the Headmaster said you could visit from time to time, for now, sleep" John said while activating some ability that made me fall asleep almost instantly, I will get him for that.

John's Point Of View

"Phew, I am glad that is over" I said while recharging my Mana which was now near 0 from constantly using to much.

"You realise that she will not be able to see you at all right and you lied through your teeth just to be able to use that ability on her right?" Verod said from behind me.

"It had to be done, if not she would most likely follow us the entire way there, and I don't think she could survive there" I said in retort, if Kate followed she would only make it harder on the both of us. I need to get strong to protect Kate and my friends, this is the only way to do so.

"Lets be off" Verod said while grabbing my head and dragging my very fast.

[The Bane Of All Dragons]

[Level 390,036]

[Verod Dragonsbane]

I think I have a powerful Instructor on my hands... I hope Kate is not to mad at me... But I need to do some serious training. mainly because I got a nice little Quest from Verod

[Quest: Kill every type of dragon before you go back to the 3 Fists Academy]

[Rewards: Dragon Wings, Dragon Form, Dragon Blade, Dragon Scales, Dragon Slayer Aura Advanced, Dragon Slayer Class]

I have a lot of training to do...

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Chapter 20 - Living In Fire

John moved in to Verod's home for his first lesson, to bad his home is located in a huge desert with Oceans of Lava and the only food is Dragon Meat.

enjoy