Section 2

  (Chapter 4) 7 years later/ Day one

  7/28/1385

  A battle between an ice wielder and a fire caster was commencing. The fire caster sent a palm-sized fire at the Female Cat-nye ice wielder. The Cat-nye tried to dodge but failed, resulting in the explosion striking her right shoulder. The ice wielder sent a fist-sized ice crystal at the fire caster's horns in retaliation. "Hey, that hurt a lot. I thought we weren't going above chest strikes." Shouted the Dragon-headed fire caster when the ice crystal struck one of his horns.

  "What's the matter, Sopheia? Are you getting flustered? Said the horned fire caster in a playful tone, smiling. "Ughh, as if I would be the one getting flustered," said sopheia, annoyed by the Dragon-headed fire caster. "You're the one who seems anxious to end this fight." Sopheia smiled back at him and said, "Don't tell me you're afraid that you're going to lose to me. Are you scared, Draxson?" retorted Sopheia. "No, I'm not scared of you, Sophy."

  "Oh, so I'll just have to knock some sense into you, Draxy," stated Sopheia as she barely dodged a fire blast aimed at her leg. Draxson sighed and yelled, "Why do you have to make this so hard? Just give up, and you won't get burnt." Then, he cast a firewall to block a fire blast from Sopheia. "As if I would surrender to you. You're the one who needs to learn to fear me and my people. We're no pushovers, Draxson." Draxson continued to get annoyed as Sophiea overwhelmed him with Frost majic. "Cool off, Draxson. I can't have you overheating on me because I would have to nurse you back to health. Just to beat you again," said Sopheia as she cast a cloud of icy mist.

  While Draxson was engulfed in the frosted mist, he heard Sopheia's taunts. He cried out after having had enough of the bitter Frost surrounding him and biting at his skin. "I'm tired of this." He set himself ablaze as he yelled. He expelled a massive fire barrier around him, dispelling the Frost cloud. After dispelling the Frost, Draxton pulled the smoke his fires produced upon the ground, covering 10 meters around Sopheia.

  "Hey, what's going on? I can't see," asked Sopheia in between coughs as she covered her nose to prevent inhaling the smoke. While the thick smoke blinded Sopheia, Draxson cast flames from his hands to propel himself through the air. As Draxson was circling behind Sopheia, she saw bright red flames rapidly approaching her in a curving arc. Sopheia tried to follow the path of the fire with her eyes, but she couldn't track its path.

  While Sopheia strained to follow his flames, Draxson cut them off and sent a ball of flame the size of the fire he used to people himself to throw off Sopheia as he crept up behind her. When Sopheia noticed Draxson, it was too late. Draxson had already grabbed her tail and sent a tiny ember to dance up and down it. "Hey!" cried Sopheia as she felt the burning sensation. She turned her head around to face what was burning her, but she turned around to find Draxson's palm inches away from her face. The small fire dancing on Draxson's palm threatened to burn Sopheia's face.

  "Woahh," cried Sophiea as the flames nearly kissed her. "Surrender, Soph." "I give up, Draxson. You win." Upon hearing Sophiea's declaration of defeat, Draxson let go of her face and extinguished the flames on his hand. "Ouch. You know that hurt a lot, right?" complained Sophiea as she nursed her tail by applying Frost to the flames. "You'll be fine, Sopheia. I know you're stronger than that. There's no way you-" A loud "poof" sounded when the snowball Sophiea cast struck Draxson in the face while he was mid-sentence. "Hey, what was that for?" cried Draxson. Sopheia ignored him and preoccupied herself with putting out the flames on her tunic and pants.

  When she finished putting out the flames, she discovered that her clothes were stained Charcoal black and very dusty from the smoke. "Look what you did to my clothes, Draxson." "These aren't enchanted to resist those high-powered flames." Shouted Sophiea, furious at Draxson's carelessness. Draxson smiled and said, "I'm sorry." You fought very well. Come here," motioned Draxson with open arms. When Sopheia didn't accept his request, Draxson stepped towards and hugged her, then whispered in her ear. "I'll be more gentle next time, kitten." Before Sophiea could respond to his proclamation, Draxson kissed her on the forehead; he let her go and turned to run away.

  "Hey, what do you think you're doing!?" yelled Sophiea, reaching out to grab Draxson, but he was already running and used his flames to propel himself a foot off the ground.

  Draxson was fleeing in the direction of a voice that had called them for lunch. "Hey, get back here, Draxson," shouted Sophiea as she chased after Draxson. As she was running, Sopheia's heart was pounding in her chest as she thought about the kiss Draxson had given her. Why did he have to go and do that to me? As she neared Draxson, she was left with a warm, pleasant feeling inside as her previous anger subsided.

  Several minutes later, Sophiea caught up to Draxson and wanted to speak with him, but before she could talk with Draxson, the elegant fairy-winged elf woman who called for them said to Draxson. "You weren't too rough on her, right?" the fairy elf asked Draxson as she looked at an exhausted Sopheia. Sopheia stood at a medium height for Cat-nye at 5'7, still young enough for an expected 2-4 inch height growth. With her hood down, long strawberry blonde hair flowed down to her mid-abdomen from a crown braid at the top. She had an exhausted smile as she looked back at Solina. Her eyes were a mix of light blue and light green. Worn-out and burnt apparel covered Sopheia from her shirt to her pants cuffs.

  The fairy elf woman frowned, looking back at Draxson doubtfully, and her ears drooped down in displeasure. Draxson stood tall for his age at 5'10", looking back at Solina with an embarrassed half-smile. He had scorch marks on his clothing where his flames backfired, and the face of a young, handsome elf whose horns and Dragon face were absent. His blue eyes shimmered as his elf ears flicked back, and his smile disappeared as he replied. "I didn't use any more power than a strong girl like Sopheia could handle."

  Draxson replied in defense. He wrapped his arm around Sopheia and touched her shoulder, giving her a light squeeze. "Yeah, it's alright, Mrs.Solina; he didn't hurt me that bad, though he could have been more mindful about my clothes," replied Sophiea, angrily looking at Draxson. Solina saw this and thought to herself. Oh well, they're old enough to make their own decisions. They are 17 and 18; it doesn't matter if they go all out as long as they are enjoying themselves. If they get hurt, then I'll charge them for the healing. Draxson looked back at Solina. "You don't need to worry about us so much, Mom. We'll be OK."

  Draxson said, smiling at Solina and Sopheia, "Well, alright. If you need healing because one of you goes too far, I'll be here when needed. But just know that I'll be charging for it now." Solina stated

  "OK, Mom, we won't be that rough." "Well, now that it's settled, let's go inside to eat before it gets cold," said Sophiea as Draxson let go of her. He said, "C'mon, let's go eat," spurring Sophiea to follow Solina with Draxson behind her. They entered a dark, brimstone-walled house with logs for its roof. The door of the house bore an inscription.

  It depicts a Dragon and a friel with runes surrounding them, which read, "Home of Draganarther, Solina, and family." When Sopheia was inside the house, she closed the door behind her, sealing off the immense chill of the mountain.

  Sopheia sighed in relief as she slipped out of her boots and soaked in the warmth that radiated from the fireplace. Sopheia watched the heartwarming scene of Draxson's 10-year-old brother and 15-year-old sister greeting their brother as they hugged him. He hoisted his siblings off the ground and spun them around once before setting them down. As he set his siblings down, Sophiea's little sister ran up to Draxson to give him a hug. "Yay, Draxee home," exclaimed Sophie's little sister as Draxson bent to pick her up. He spun her around the room while she giggled in delight as she was spun around. Draxson then gently set her back on the ground as he whispered in her ear. "Go say hi to your big sister, Selia."

  "OK," happily replied Selia as she ran to Sophiea, who was crouching down to pick her up. When picked up, she looked into her sister's eyes and said, "Hi, Sopheea. Did you and Draxxe have fun?" asked Selia before hugging her sister's neck. "Yes, we had lots of fun," replied Sopheia as she smiled. "I almost beat him this time," added Sopheia. Then she planted a kiss on her sister's cheek and forehead. "I love you, Selia," said Sopheia. "I love you too, Sopheea," replied Selia as she kissed her sister. Sopheia looked at the by-standing siblings of Draxson, "C'mon, I know I'm cold, but don't be cold to me. Dralaiss and Freildelian to come here," said Sopheia as she held her sister in one arm and invited Draxson's siblings to join her with her other arm. Dralaiss and Frieldelian looked at each other and giggled as they accepted Sopheia's offer. "We were just joking."

  Replied the two as they embraced Sopheia. Sopheia caught a glimpse of a smiling Draxson watching her. "Oh, come here, you. Come join us, Draxy," beckoned Sopheia. Draxson stepped forward, joined them, and gave them all a mighty hug, flashing Sophiea a smile before closing his eyes and immersing himself in the embrace, bringing everyone closer together. He then let them all go. Solina smiled as she saw them and thought, "I love how they're all so close as if they were blood-related." Sopheia saw Solina smiling and standing calmly as if in a daze as she pulled away from the prior embrace and set Selia down. "Oh, they've grown so much. I remember the first time they met each other." Thought Solina as she went into a daze, remembering a distant memory. "It was 2 weeks after we arrived here before Draxson saw her, but Sopheia watched him sleep and helped me care for him. She helped for almost 2 weeks before he awoke.

  I remember the day after we arrived, this little cat-nye girl knocked at my door and introduced herself as Sophiea in her cute voice. She said she wanted to welcome me to the village and began asking many questions as she was invited inside after confirming that her parents had given their permission for her to come to my house. Her questioning eventually turned into questions about Draxson after she followed me as I attended to Draxson. I asked her why she wanted to know about him so badly, but she replied, "I-I want to know about him, and I want to meet him." I saw the determination in the little girl's eyes, so I told her that she wouldn't be able to meet Draxson until he woke up. She asked me why he was sleeping so long, and I told her, "he used a lot of magic and exhausted himself. He might not wake up for a few weeks."

  Determined to meet Draxson, Sopheia offered to help care for him until he awoke. I told her to return tomorrow, if her parents allowed her to do so. She reluctantly agreed and returned the next day, right after breakfast. When she came back every day, she would help me take care of Draxson, and when we weren't nursing Draxson, Sophiea would play with Dralaiss and Frieldelian. She only left if her dad called her home. She practically lived with us when her father allowed it, and he was training his troops. At the same time, her mother saw no harm in it when I asked her about it after I invited Sophie's parents over. They told me they would keep her home if Sopheia were bothering her. I told them that wasn't a problem since she kept Draxson's brother and sister occupied, which was a big help.

  One day, when Sopheia was over and taking care of us, I caught Sophiea kissing Draxson on the forehead after tucking him in. I never confronted her about it, but I did tell my husband about what I saw that night. My husband, Draganarther, told me, "Leave her to it. Don't confront her about it; I want you to see what else she does before we talk with her.” I said I would keep an eye on Sopheia. I remember when Draxson woke up and saw Sopheia tucking him in. He woke up and sat on his bed. Sopheia was startled and ran to me to tell me Draxson was awake.

  When I entered the room, she hid behind me. I introduced Draxson to her and Sopheia. She said, "This is Sopheia. She helped me take care of you while you were asleep.

  "Sopheia, this is my son. Say hi. "She went and introduced herself, and so did Draxson. (They were so cute playing together, but always fighting; at least they both seemed to enjoy it.) Solina thought as Draxson broke her daze. "Man, I'm starving. Let's eat this wonderful meal Mom prepared. Hey, soph, what do you say to another round after lunch?" asked Braxton, and they got ready to eat.

  "Yeah, I'll take you any time of the day. I won't be losing to you this time, Draxson." When they were about to sit at the table, Draxson said to his mom, "Mom, are you coming to join us? You can't be the only one not at the table. You worked hard to make this meal, and it'd be rude to exclude you." Finally snapping out of her daze, Solina replied, "Yes, I'm coming."

  Solina joined her family at the table while Draxson served everyone roasted Frost duck, fresh burrberies, and shiver root stew. As Draxson was serving everyone, he asked his mom, "Hey, Mom, do you know when Dad is coming back?" Solina replied, "Your father will be back in a few minutes. He went to fortify and power the wards of the old town." A sound of wings beating in the distance sounded. "There is your father right now," said Solina as she served herself after Sopheia. A faint "Fwoosh" sounded from right outside the house. They heard footsteps outside the door and in the hallway as Draxson's dad walked in in his humanoid form. "Oh, hi, Dad, welcome home. How did your trip to the village go?"

  Draxson asked as his dad peeled off his cloak and boots, "Did it go well?" "It went well, Draxson. I'll tell you about it in a minute," his dad replied. Hello, everyone. How are all of you?" Draxson's dad inquired as his kids stood up to meet him. Dralaiss got up to hug her father while Frieladelian tackled him.

  "We missed you, Dad.

  " I love you," the two declared in unison. I missed you, too. I was only gone for a few hours Today, but you missed me so much that you needed to tackle me before I got to eat this handsome meal your lovely mother made for us?"

  Dralaiss and Freiladelian's father questioned before his attention was drawn away as Selia turned around to greet him and said, "Hi, Mister Draganather."

  "Well, good afternoon, little Selia. How do you like the food?" asked Dragnarther as he went to take his seat. An eating, Selia replied with a mouthful of roasted duck. "It's delicious, thank you, Miss Solina." Hey, Selia, please chew your food before you talk, "Sophia said to her sister. You're very welcome, little Selia."

  I'm glad you like it." Replied Solina.

  As Draganather was going to his seat, he kissed his wife, Solina, and then sat beside her. "Good afternoon, Sopheia. How was Today's training?" "Was Draxson too rough?" Asked Dragnarther. It was pretty good, but I didn't win this time. But I'm going to beat your son next time."

  Expressed Sopheia. "He wasn't too rough, though he almost burnt my tail." Said Sopheia. She gave Draxson a look and faced Dragnarther again. "You're alright, Sopheia. I almost burnt your tail and only half of your battle clothes. I'm sure they will be fine. We'll get them repaired soon," said Draxson playfully.

  "Draxson eases up a little on the heat, son." Said Dragnarther as he cut up some of his food and then took a bite of duck. "Yes, sir, I will go easier on the heat of my flames."

  Draxson opened a telepathy link with Sopheia, waiting for her to accept." C'mon, I didn't hurt you too badly, did I? Asked Draxson as he smiled at her from across the table. "And sure, you'll beat me next time." Sopheia Retorted." Oh yeah, I'll take you down any day. You just got lucky that time.

  And what was that kiss you gave me? What did you think you were doing? Sopheia replied as she gave a mean look to Draxson. Draxson replied smugly, "Oh, that was just to get you to chase after me so I could get you to race me home." And it seems I won that too," laughed Draxson telepathically.

  Dragnarther and Solina saw this exchange and opened their telepathy link. "What do you think all that was about?" Asked Solina. "Probably they're arguing about who will win the next fight." Replied her husband. Page 9

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  Sopheia advanced on Draxson and swiped at him with a claw shrouded in Frost, cutting his shirt and chilling his skin. As Frost built up on Draxson's skin, he put it with his flames, then jumped back and boosted himself backward with his flames. Draxson's heart was beating with the intensity of hammers striking his chest. With Sopheia's claws rapidly approaching, he had no time to spare, and he readied himself for the consequences of his attack.

  Ready and braced, Draxson unleashed a volley of a dozen medium-fire blasts at Sopheia. Then, 5 of the blasts hit Sophiea, one in each of her shoulders, 2 in the chest, and one in her left hip. While the flames tore through her outer layer of clothes, she sent her volley of Frost blasts in response. As Sopheia's Blast came at Draxson, he cast a flame wall to block the oncoming attack.

  After unleashing her attack, Sophiea put out the fire that was consuming her semi-armour, where she had been hit by summoning a large pile of snow to cover her. Draxson began overheating due to his overuse of fire majic. "Auugh, Huggh, Dauug," cried Draxson, breathing hard and crying in pain as his fire consumed him.

  It took Draxson coming close to the point of melting him for him to remember he had Frost majic at his disposal. While Draxson cooled himself off with a cloud of Frost, Sopheia arose from the snow she was buried in and stood up to face Draxson.

  When Draxson was done doctoring his burns, he looked up to see Sopheia. Sophie stood with her Frost, shrouded claws out, with the wind blowing her hair back and ruffling her cloak behind her. Her eyes glowed a dark, icy blue, and Frost flowed from her, forming an immense aura of Frost.

  Draxson was resting from switching Majic, and his heavy usage of Majic left him with low Majics. As Draxson slowly backed away, Sopheia charged at him and was within range to slash him less than 10 seconds after traversing the 30 meters that separated them.

  Sophiea slashed at Draxson with Frost-enshrouded Claws. Draxson threw up a half-powered flame wall with his rushed casting, leaving him with slight dizziness and sore muscles, causing him to stumble backward and trip on an ice crystal Sopheia had conjured in succession to her last attack. Draxson struggled to regain his footing.

  He couldn't find a way to get out of Sopheia's range and resorted to flame boosting. Sopheia kicked Draxson hard in his ribs and knocked him on his back. "Oooff," cried Draxson in pain as he landed hard on his back with a loud "thump."

  Sophiea put one knee on Draxson's chest and a clawed paw on his right wrist. Draxson swept Sophiea's standing leg from under her, and she fell on her chest. She shoved a leg into the crook of Draxson's elbow and strengthened her grip on Draxson's wrist to pin him down.

  Sophia hovered over Draxson, with one knee on his chest and the other in the crook of his left armpit. Sopheia's clawed paw was on the right part of his pace, while her right hand kept Draxson's left hand encased in ice.

  Draxson was staring up at Sopheia with a menacing smile. Sopheia was still pinning him down with her knee and casting Frost majic on his hands. Sopheia began drooling all over Frost's face. Her ears flicked up and side to side while her tail wrapped around his right thigh as she invoked a spell of ice mist to enshroud them and keep Draxson frozen.

  "Well, how does surrender sound now, you lizard, or are you still too hot-headed to do the smart thing?" Asked Sopheia. Draxson formed flames in his throat to fend off his friend's threatening takedown. Oh, so he's trying to burn me with his breath, majic, and then he'll try to push me off and turn the tables on me to make me submit.

  "Oh no, you don't, Draxson. You won't be getting me with your underhand tactics this time." Stated Sopheia, smiling down at him.

  You're going to take this loss, and you'll wear it like a prized scar. I will show the village that you've been utterly defeated, and you'll have no excuses as I have to help you hobble home, " happily chimed Sopheia.

  Draxson stopped resisting after he got slapped in the throat when he tried to escape. "Sopheia, why are you so happy about humiliating me? Can't you see you got me now? Come here; let me tell you something," said Draxson. "You better not try anything." Sopheia leaned down with her ear to his mouth.

  "So, is this your unique takedown, 'cat-nye style' "? Is this how you plan to take me down if I kiss you on your forehead or take a bite of your food? I know you have been using the advanced form of this technique since you defeated me when I was younger. What was it you were saying to me? Asked Draxson, grinning mischievously, he was speaking utter nonsense to anger Sopheia, or was he?

  Sopheia was thinking, there's no way he heard me, then, is there? I'm sure he's bluffing, trying to fluster me. "I don't know what you're talking about, Draxson, but you'd better focus because I'm going to show you all beaten up after this to the whole village. Then I'll take you home." "Oh, so that's how it is," said Draxton. Sopheia turned her blush-filled face away from him. "Hmph, shut up, Draxson," responded Sophia, and then she picked Draxson up and carried him.

  "Oomph, your heavy draxson, you've been putting on weight," complained Sopheia as she lifted and carried Draxson. "Well, I've been eating a lot for my fire majic and growing since the last time you tried to grapple with me. Dragon muscles are very dense, and I have to eat a lot to keep them that way." Replied Draxson. "I thought you were just getting fat," said sopheia sarcastically.

  Draxson was then carried a long way home through the village. Sopheia showed Draxson off like a trophy, and then she took Draxson home. "Ah, we're home. Home sweet home, right, draxson?" Cooly expressed sopheia after she dropped Draxson.

  "Yeah, it sure is," he said as he struggled to stand and walk behind her.

  Draxson went ahead to open the door for Sopheia. "Aw, what a sweetheart you shouldn't have." Said Sopheia, sarcasm practically dripping off her tongue. She appeared to be walking in, but hit Draxson square in the chest and brought him down to the snow-covered floor, his face making contact with a loud poof.

  .

  "Hey .. whoa, what's that for? Didn't you already win?" Yelped Draxson as he lifted his face off the ground to look up at Sopheia. "That's for the burn you gave me." Replied sopheia, showing a burn right above her left hip, spanning her side to the middle of her back. "I thought it would have warmed you up since you're always cold. Did I hurt you badly, Sopheia?" Questioned Draxson with slight concern in his voice. "Yes, you did. It hurt a lot," whispered sopheia as she walked in. Yeah, it was a bit hotter because I charged my fire up. Draxson thought, rising to his feet to brush off the snow. "Sorry about that, Soph," apologized Draxson as he walked inside behind her. After draxson brushed the ash off his clothes outside, he closed the door, and as he took off his boots, he leaned on the wall next to Sopheia, who was peeling off her coat and taking off her boots.

  "Hey, Draxson, what will you tell your dad about our discussion?" Sophia whispered in Draxson's ear while he was taking off his boot. "I'll ask him if we could go on our adventure in two days, and I think we should do weapons training tomorrow and perhaps offer to demonstrate our majic to my dad to ease his worries."

  Draxson whispered back. "Yeah, that works," replied Sopheia, dropping her left boot on the ground with the other one. Then, she pulled up her socks and straightened her pants leg. “Well, let's start cooking, then," said Sophia. Draxson and Sopheia began cooking salmon noodles, fluff fish, and a fire chief.

  sopheia and draxson finished their cooking after an hour and a half. A few minutes later, they were setting up the table. Draxson was picking up some fluff fish with his fork. As he was doing so, he engaged his dad in conversation. Hey, Dad, can I talk to you?" Oh sure, you can, son. I'm all ears," said his father, transforming his ears to match his statement.

  "Haha, funny, Dad, no." Chuckled back, draxson. "Yeah, what is it, son?" Asked his dad as he went for sasamon noodles. "Could Sopheia and I go on our adventure in a few days ?" Draxson Inquired of his dad. Solina responded, "And why do you two want to go on an adventure?

  "I want to get stronger, see the world, and explore it with Sopheia," Draxson replied. Draxson's father chewed up his salmon noodles before he began speaking. "Won't you be putting yourself in danger daily?" he asked. And not to forget Sopheia, too. What about her?” Draganarther asked sharply.

  "I'm getting better at my fire majic, and I picked up some ice from Sopheia, and I can make a combined attack of the two; I think I can defend us," said Draxson. " ‘I think’ is not an appropriate answer; I’m not going to let my son run off with the daughter of the village guard captain, if her safety is only something you’ll try to maintain; I can't let you leave if it means Sopheia will be in danger. If you think you're strong enough for the outside, you must prove it to me; we will fight before you leave. If you can't do that, you’ll spend another year here to train", said Dragnarther.

  Draganather turned to Sopheia, setting his utensil down to listen to her.

  "I can handle myself well enough against Draxson. I'll for sure be strong enough to fight a burr wolf or two," Testified sopheia. "I'm OK with a sword and great with a dagger." Dragnarther spoke again, “Then, before you leave, you can ask Solina to help you prove your strength." Draxson's dad replied in a supportive tone.

  "That's excellent. I could show you how to use my blade and perform on the wounded," said Solina. Hey, don't forget about us, and not me either," said Draxson's brother, Frieladelian, and his sister, Dralaiss. “We want to spar with you before you leave. We can fight you now.

  Some of the other cat-nye villagers want to fight you as well," said Draxson's siblings.

  "Yeah, well, we can do it tomorrow. How does that sound?" Asked Draxson. "Yay, that sounds fun." Replied his enthusiastic siblings. "You can do that tomorrow morning after you get dressed and eat breakfast," their dad stated. "Sopheia, could you come with me outside to the garden?" Solina politely asked. "Yes, I can, Solina. I'll be right there." Responded Sopheia. Sopheia cleared her plate and set it to be cleaned, and then she went with Solina to the garden outside.

  Dragarther began to speak, and Selia got up to put away her plate. Dralaiss and her brother got up and volunteered to wash the dishes. "We'll get those for you," said the two as they picked up Draxson's and their father's plates. Sensing a conversation was about to start, they rushed away.

  "Thank you very much," expressed Draxson. "You're welcome," smiled Frieladelian. "Not a problem," said Dralaiss. "Very kind of you," said Dragnarther as Dralaiss and Frieladelian went to scrub the dishes. "Draxson, do you think that you're strong enough to protect sopheia when the time comes to fight?"

  Asked Dragnarther. "Yes, I think I'm strong enough to protect her. She's firm and could easily take me down if she were mad enough. Besides, we've been sparring for years together. We have been training for this adventure for over 7 months now." 2 Draxson replied. "If you believe you're strong enough, I need you to answer me something." Said Dragnarther. "Yes, Dad." Responded Draxson. "Will you show me how you've been fighting her?" Inquired Draganather. "Yes, I'll show you. I could show you Today where she and I usually fight."

  Said Draxson. "Let's go then, while they are out in the garden." Replied Draganather.

  Solina and Sopheia were picking fire berries in the garden. "Now, Sopheia, I must express some pressing matters before you leave the village." Stated Solina with a serious tone. "What do you want to discuss with me, Mrs. Solina?" Asked Sopheia, tilting her head to the side." Sopheia, I'm ready to share some of my knowledge with you. Do you wish to learn what this Friel can teach you?" Inquired Solina. "Yes, I would love to learn anything you wish to teach me." Replied sopheia. "OK, I will show you some things that will hopefully prove useful on your journey." (Solina showed sopheia many spells of Friel nature and gave her some advice for the journey, along with a charge to keep Draxson in line.) "Now let us go back inside, dear sopheia," finished Solina as the two went back inside their home to discuss more casual topics.

  Draxson and his father were heading to Sopheia's and Draxson's fighting field. They arrived at their destination 15 minutes after leaving their house. When they arrived, Draxson stated, "Well, here we are, Dad; we have arrived at me and Sopheia's fighting field."

  He waved his hand, pointing out the area. (The "fighting field" was the most spacious field atop the mountain that the village was connected to.

  The area had a few scorch marks here and there, unevenly spread out on the snow-covered ground. There was also a small wooden shed that Draxson and Sophia enchanted to protect it from the harsh snow that threatened their training supplies.)

  Solina and Sopheia were still talking in the distance as Draxson and Dragnarther approached the center of the mountaintop field.

  Draxson's father asked Draxson to show off some majic. Draxson did so, and he rapidly displayed his fire blasts. Then, Draxson showed off his long-range blasts and spread attacks. "That's pretty nice for a light display. How will you use your powers to fight off someone stronger than those flames?" I can do more than that. I'll show you my most powerful attack."

  Draxson reached his hands to the sky above him and began conjuring a cloud of Frost to absorb him. "Now watch this, Dad," said draxson as he let the Frost fall on him. Draxson braced himself by clenching his fists and finding a sound footing.

  Draxson had his eyes closed as the Frost enveloped him; Draxson began focusing his power, readying himself to unleash his flames. With a yell, draxson released massive flames from his body and burnt away the Frost cloud.

  Before the flames on his body could burn him, he put out his flames and then patted out the fire on his clothes.

  After putting out the flames that had previously crawled over his body, Draxson's flames continued to radiate. The flames radiating off of Draxson rose over 100 meters in the air and 3 meters around him, making the column of fire visible from great distances.

  Far in the distance, a soldier adorned with shiny white armor spotted the massive fire Draxson had summoned. After pulling up a device and snapping a picture, the soldier quickly ran to fetch a comrade to report the sight. When they returned, the fire was out, and they only had the image formed by majic ink on a small sheet.

  Draxson's massive fire only burned for 40 seconds before it died out. Exhausted, he bent over with his hands on his knees, breathing heavily and suffering many burn marks. Dragnarther watched as his son panted due to overexertion. He frowned inwardly and spoke up.

  "Son, what value does this technique have if it leaves you exhausted and vulnerable? Not to mention what value it holds if you excessively use all your energy to perform this once ?" It took Draxson a moment before he had the strength to answer his father.

  "My technique has no value. It's flashy and takes too much of my energy. With this, I would fail to protect Sopheia when we got backed into a corner, and I would be a miserable and unreliable defender.

  I'd be useless.” Draxson replied with a tone of much sorrow. "Well, you shouldn't be discouraged and dissuaded from seeking a powerful technique just because you hit a roadblock. You just need to find a better solution to your energy consumption." Dragnarther said, encouraging his son

  “ Yeah, you're right, Dad. I need a better solution, and I need to push on. I can't earn the title of adventurer if I can't even get my power under control." Said Draxson as he finally rose back up, his strength slowly returning to him as he approached his father. "Well, you've done as you said you would and showed me you would go about fighting Sopheia. We're done here.

  "I think we should return to the house before your mother starts worrying about us." "Yeah, I agree with you, Dad. I need to get home and rest soon." Agreed, Draxson. Draxson and his father headed back to their house. They entered to find Sopheia and Solina at the table, sharing some pie they had baked as they talked.

  As the two approached the table, Sopheia got up, cleaned her plate, thanked Solina for their fun, and said, "Goodnight, Mrs. Solina. I'll see you tomorrow." "Goodnight, dear, sleep well," replied Solina, smiling back.

  Sophiea walked by, punching Draxson in the shoulder, and said, "Goodnight, Draxson. Sleep well," she said over her shoulder. As she went out the door, she said, "I'm going to my house to keep my dad company since he came back Today. I'll see you in the morning after breakfast."

  With that, Sopheia went through the doorway and shut the door behind her. Solina smiled at her husband and son.

  "Welcome back. How was your talk?" Asked Solina before she finished her pie. "It went well. How was your time with Sopheia? Responded Dragnarther.

  "Ah, it was good. We discussed a few things and had some fun," said Solina as she stood up, put away her plate, and drew near her husband. She kissed him. Dragnarther kissed her back and gently grabbed her waist with one hand and her back with the other.

  She wrapped her arms around Dragnarther's neck, and they stayed in each other's embrace for a moment before turning to Draxson and saying, "You'll find love someday and share your life with the one you love as I do with your father." And someday, you'll have a family like the lovely one your father and I have together."

  "You're crushing on Sopheia, son. Your mom and I can tell, and your brother and sister assume so. Why don't you just tell her how you feel already?" asked Draganather, holding his wife while looking at his son.

  "I'm trying to find the right time to tell her. I want to say to her before we set out.

  Responded Draxson with certainty. "Well, I've got to get some rest now. I love you, Mom, and I love you, Dad. Goodnight."Draxson said, trying to rush off. Draxson's parents beckoned him to come closer for a hug. "Goodnight, sleep well, son," said the two as they let him go. Draxson walked past Sopheia and her sister's room on his left, then Dralaiss’s room on the right, and then entered his room across from his brother's room. Draxson shut his door behind him as he lit a candle on the wall with a small flame from his finger. As he got ready for bed, his sister's voice rebounded in his head, and she established a telepathic link with him from her bedroom across the hall.

  "Oooh, mister lover boy, what's the real reason you haven't told Sopheia how you feel yet?" Draxson could feel the humorous tone of his sister in his mind. "Well, I'm glad you're amused at my decision to hold out on telling her how I feel. Now, let me ask you a question. Weren't you supposed to be asleep when I returned, not overhearing conversations? What else have you been listening to? You, little spy? Asked Draxson, annoyed at his sister spying on him. Dralaiss giggled in his mind and replied, "A few things, but you seem to be able to keep secrets because I never get anything interesting to think about. "You can be very boring sometimes, Draxson. Sometimes, it makes me just wanna kick you in the ribs. Then, at least, you'd fight back and be entertaining."

  "Hey.." Draxson started to say, but his thoughts were interrupted by his brother joining the link between their minds. "It's true, bro. You get a bit boring sometimes; I wish you'd say or do something interesting for once, like kiss her already or hold her hands and look her in the eyes and say, "I love you," said Frieladelian, mentally smirking. Draxson could feel their laughter and smiles as they talked about him and Sopheia. "You too, bro? You're supposed to be asleep. I didn't think we had two in the house. Ugh, I can't believe you two." Draxson responded as he slapped his forehead.

  "You two go to bed. I'm not telling you guys anything about Sopheia and me or how I feel about her.” Declared Draxson to his spying siblings. "Oh, Draxson is hiding something, " Said Friedelian. Then Dralaiss said," You know it's not nice to keep secrets from your family, right?" She asked, teasing him. Draxson went to sleep, ignoring his siblings' antics. After half an hour, they settled down and went to sleep.