“The gods of old were bored and created the world to satisfy their craving for entertainment. They sculpted the sun and the moon on top of the sky, and hurled all of the stars into the night sky, painting them with a bright golden shine. They gave birth the humans and everything else….”
“flip!”
“... the humans began to communicate with each other shortly after their creation. They became smarter and eventually discovered speech, but as their population increased, their empires expanded larger and larger. The humans began to develop a greed for land because of their ever-expanding empires. The animals were peaceful and lived in harmony until the humans attacked…”
“Flip!”
“...The gods saw the scenes of humans murdering animals for the sake of their empires. They became boiling mad with rage, and gave birth to the beasts; animals of extraordinary powers with the sole purpose of exterminating the humans…”
“Flip!”
“...The nine primordial dragons of the nine elements, the most powerful of beasts, were too fierce for the humans to handle. The gods forced the dragons into submission to disallow them from rampaging through the world. The dragons were confined to imprisonment and…”
“Flip!”
“Flip!”
“... millions of years passed since the gods last intervened. Beasts and humans lived in a continuous cycle of killing with the animals somewhere in between. The humans began building immense castles and walls stretching along their vast borders for protection against the beasts…”
“Flip!”
“... the regions outside of the walls were named deadman’s land and are filled with lurking beasts and forgotten treasures from ancient times. Very few people adventured past the walls, except for a few brave ones. These people sought after fame and glory by taking dangerous quests for riches and glory outside the walls, humans seldom venture outside these walls…”
“Bam!”
William briskly closed the book and put it on top of his drawer. The young man let out an exhausted sigh. Reading was very dull, and to read about world history was even more boring. Three years have passed since he became Saphira’s disciple. The time was neither long nor short, yet he had learned more than he dreamt about.
“Time to go see Master!” He muttered as he shot up from the chair.
William inspected himself in the mirror. on the way out. His jet black hair had grown longer, now far below his titanic shoulders that brimmed with strength. His almond eyes gleamed with mystery, and his facial features were clearly defined. His muscles had gotten leaner and stronger, yet not bulky and thick like most adventurers he had seen in his hometown. He was a bit taller than average, measuring one hundred and ninety centimeters on the dot.
“Master.” Said William as he sat in front of his master who stood by the fireplace watching the flames lick the translucent glass.
Saphira spun around with a smile on her cherry lips, and asked, “Have you finished the book? I remember telling you to finish it before talking to me again?”
“I did, Master,” William put up his hands in the air to signify a false accusation. “I wouldn’t lie to you!”
“You always look where you shouldn’t whenever you lie, disciple.” Replied Saphira in a cold tone. William was startled as he realized it was true. The young man had his eyes where he shouldn’t.
“But Master,” He said. “It’s not your disciple’s fault. It’s Master’s fault for always wearing such clothes. You make it impossible for me to not keep his eyes glued to…”
“What did you say?” Questioned Saphira with a darkening expression.
“Nothing!” William hurriedly added, then changed the subject just as swiftly. “Master, a few days ago you told your disciple that it’s a big day today. What did you mean by that?”
The dark and cold expression of Saphira’s face disappeared and was replaced by a somewhat happier one. Her crescent-shaped eyebrows softened and replied, “Oh, that. I’ll tell you if you beat me in a fight today. I’ll only use the first layer of the Divine Frost Art.”
“Your disciple understands” William nodded and followed her to the sparring area.
The Divine Frost Art is the fighting style she passed on to him. Like any other fighting style, it resonates with the life energy to materialize an element. In this case, snow and ice.
While sitting upon the freezing mountain peak three years ago, he finally found the life essence within himself.
Others would usually merely recite what’s written on scrolls to guide their essence, allowing them to connect their breath to the words. But William had to find his life essence without these scrolls. Finding his life essence without the scrolls allowed his body to evolve beyond what he was before by shedding his mortal skin and getting a further robust and resistant body.
“I’ll use a sword.” Said Saphira as she flashed her sleeve through the air, causing a pale-blue thin sword to appear like out of thin air. It was more of a rapier, but William didn’t mention that. He still couldn’t figure how she made things appear out of nothing, but he got used to it eventually stopped questioning it. He had asked her about it two years ago, but she told him that he’ll learn when the time is right.
“Likewise.” Said William and he picked a sword from the weapon rack on the side.
“William,” Saphira said to him, while her expression turned serious. “I want you to come at me with everything you have learned these past years. Don’t hold anything back.”
He was surprised when his master called him by his name, which is something she has never done before. This time, she was serious. Guess he should be too. He already began to form a battle plan in his head. He knew her habits and tricks very well and he would use this knowledge to gain the upper hand.
“Master, watch out.” Said William, as he dashed forward like thunder and thrust his sword at his beautiful master. However, her speed was faster than his, and she easily dodged the strike by leaning to the side. Her snow-white hair blew backward from the wind coming off of William’s fast and powerful strike.
“You’ll need more than that.” Said his master as she tapped the floor lightly with her bare feet. She easily dodged William’s second strike by moving faster than sound itself. Saphira used the first move of the first layer. She coated her feet with a layer of frost and glided across the ground. The move was called Dance of the Icy Maiden, her signature move.
“I didn’t expect any less from you Master,” Said William. Seeing his master act seriously, William’s stabbing sword transformed into a full arc, slashing down at Saphira diagonally from above. “But I’m not a weak little boy anymore.” He shouted and poured his life essence into his sword. This was the second move of the first layer, it’s called Snow Comet Falling From The Heavens. The skill coated the sword in ice and snow energy to make it sharper and faster than anything else.
“So you’ve learned something, heh?” Asked Saphira with a sweet smile upon her Saphira’s lips as she dodged the skill. “But William, you know that you won’t ever hit me. I am a dragon. Even if I don’t use the Divine Frost Art, my speed will be too fast for you.” She stopped moving, and William did the same.
“If you can take this strike of mine, I’ll admit defeat. If you can’t…” Said Saphira as her face turned serious.
“I understand.” Said William as he nodded to her and focused his senses to the peak.
He knew his master too well. If the young man succeeded, he would win, but if he failed, he would die. Saphira was usually kind-hearted and never hurt or killed, but there were rare occurrences where she did. And this time was one of those. He could see it from the shine in her eyes. She was serious and meant to kill him if he failed to block.
“Then, be careful.” Her tender voice echoed through the sparring hall. Her figure blurred and disappeared. Less than a second later, William’s acute senses made his eyes snap open. There. He brought his sword up to block, but the moment it hit hers, the sword was forcefully removed from his hands. His master’s sword continued onward.
“Bam.” William flew backward like a rag doll and hit the black stone wall. Saphira looked at him with thoughtful eyes.
“Did I disappoint you?” Said William while slowly getting to his feet, and brushing off the stone fragments. His shirt had torn apart, revealing a significant tear in his torso region. But under this tear, there was not any blood. A blue shine covered his body and had protected him from his master’s sword.
“You broke through to the second layer?!” Saphira’s expression turned into a broad smile. “You never fail to surprise me.” William smirked at this remark.
“Then you deserve this.” She flashed her sleeves, and three shadows appeared and shot over to him. “What’s this?” William asked. Three items lay floating in the air; a weird looking ring, similar to the one on Saphira’s finger, a light blue scale, and a long sharp-edged saber with etched markings, seemingly ancient in age.
“These are your graduating gifts,” She explained. “It’s a master’s duty to prepare her disciple for the real world. These are my gifts to you, and I hope you treasure them deeply.”
“What?” William’s mind shook. “What’d you mean leave? It’s only been three years since I came here. I’ve still got things to learn from you, I can’t leave now–”
“William,” She smiled sweetly. “There are things I cannot teach you. Things you need to discover for yourself. I can’t be forever by your side, I’m not your mother.”
“But..” He stuttered.
“You need to discover the world outside of this mountain.” She said. “You told me that you wanted to make friends and go explore the world. That you dreamed of creating your own adventuring group and going on grand and glorious journeys to the far ends of the world.”
“But I want to stay here with you…” He protested.
“Oh, William.” She embraced him. He didn’t resist her. “These items are tokens of my love to you. I want you to take them and never forget who you are. You’re William, the Frost Dragon’s Disciple. You are destined for greatness, you are an anomaly! I taught you how to fight, but I can’t teach you how to live. You have to figure that out for yourself.
“Master… why does this sound like an eternal goodbye?” Asked William while on the verge of breaking down into tears.
“Oh, William.” Saphira hugged him tighter. “Always follow your heart and never forget that I love you…”
You sent him away, huh?” A dark and deep voice sounded from inside the sparring arena.
“Saphira, you liked this boy quite a bit, didn’t you?” Another thin and crispy voice said.
“Of course she did, you idiot!” A third voice shouted to the second.
“Just be quiet.” Saphira’s voice stopped the others from continuing.
“Of course, Queen.” They replied and stopped talking.
“Are we ready to launch the attack?” Saphira asked.
“No,” The dark, deep voice answered. “Our forces are too scattered.”
“Prepare them,” Saphira ordered. “It’s time to leave this prison.” She walked out from the sparring room with a grim expression on her face.
ns 172.70.130.220da2