Steven recalled the first he had ever seen a sky dragon, a massive machine made of iron and steel, so big that it’s shadow alone was enough to envelope the sun, hovering high up in the sky above their house. Steven just stood there, speechless and unable to find the words as he marvelled at the massive sky dragon as it made its way down, landing in front of his home.

  He then felt a hand on his shoulder. Shifting his gazing to see who it was only to see the sober look of his father and mother smiling warming at him. Steven just let out a sigh before turning away from them and focusing his gaze on the sky dragon in front of him.

  “Steven”, a familiar voice spoke timidly but Steven, recognizing the voice, choose to turn to meet the gaze of the person who spoke, unable to bring himself to look her in the eye.

  “I’m a little nervous Steven”, the voice continued.

  “This is our first time leaving home, we finally get to go out and see what lays out there beyond, meet other kids our age and maybe even make friends. It’s pretty exciting don’t you think”

  Steven did not need to turn around to feel the warmth of her bright smile behind him, knowing that despite what he did to her she could still wear that smile next to him and that fact alone made his heart ache swell in pain and guilt so much so that he could not bring himself to turn and face her, and so simply fixed his gaze on sky dragon that stood before them that was called by their parents to take both him and Susan to the academy.

  Once the sky dragon had completely landed, its mechanical doors then opened up revealing a small group of Golden Dragon Warriors on the other side, greeting both James and Marina as the esteemed Golden Dragon Guards of fire and water before ushering both them, Steven and Susan in the sky dragon.

  James and Marina had made special preparation for journey to the academy including the provision of the sky dragon and the small group of Golden Dragon Warriors for Susan and Steven safety, even insisting to tag along for extra security. Steven was taken aback at first by their parents agreeing to have Susan join him to be enrolled in the academy but he try to oppose their decision, figuring that they probably had their reasons for wanting both him and Susan to be enrolled.

  The trip was lasted a few days, shorter than what it would have been had they rode on their dragons and during those days, Steven still kept to himself, shutting himself alone in the small room given him in the sky dragon, ignoring all of Susan’s pleas for him to come out so the both of them to play around and have fun like they used to, but Steven just ignored her pleas and remained in his room alone, but however there was one day in particular where Steven spent so time away from his room, a day that, looking back now might had to have been one of the most cherished day of his life.

  “Steven”, a familiar voice called out to him as he made his way to his room.

  Steven then turned around to known other than his father standing behind him holding his bow and arrow.

  “Dad?” he question, wondering why he was holding his bow and arrow.

  James just smiled at his son before gesturing him to follow him as he left. He took Steven to training room in the sky dragon. There they stood and ahead of them were readied targets.

  “Steven, do you know why I use an arrow and not something more practical like say a sword, axe, or spear”, asked James as he readied his bow and arrow, focusing his aim at the target ahead before letting go of the arrow and allowing it to fly straight in to the target.

  “Because you’re an archer?” Steven replied, not sure of his answer.

  James upon hearing what Steven said just smiled before nodding his head, “Alright, how about another question. Why does fire burn”.

  “What?” said Steven, confused and unable to understand the question?

  “Why does fire burn?” James spoke once more as readied his bow and arrow once more.

  Steven rattled his head to think of answer but no matter how hard he thought about he just couldn’t find one.

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  “It’s because it’s its nature to burn”, James spoke before using his power to ignite the arrow in flames and then proceeded launched it straight at the target, causing it to ignite in fiery explosion as it collided with the target.

  “To burn and consume, that is its purpose. Reduce to ash and smoke all it comes across, to fuel its flames and grow until nothing is left before die out”, said James.

  Steven, hearing his father’s words could help but think back to that night in the forest as well as the incident with Susan.

  James, with his gaze now fixed on the target set ablaze by his arrow, “Fire isn’t like the other elements because unlike water, air, and earth it isn’t naturally abundant in our world. It doesn’t have a place like the earth below our feet, waters in the ocean or even the air surrounds us so makes a place for itself by burning and consuming”

  James then stretched out his hand to the flame before letting out a sigh, “However”.

  “A wild and untamed flame that consumes and burns everything around it cannot live long and will eventually wither away and die”, James then brought his hand down and as he did so the flames that engulfed the target died.

  He then turned to Steven.

  “Fire dragon warrior like other dragon warriors reflect the nature of their element. That’s why deep within them there exists a fiery and blazing passion that drives and pushes us, and if that flaming passion is nurtured and tamed it would be able to do incredible things but if it’s allowed to grow wild and untamed, then all it will be able to do is burn, consume, and eventually die”, said James.

  James then placed a hand on Steven’s shoulder.

  “I became an archer because doing so meant I have to learn how to tame my flames, discipline myself to resist that fury that burned deep within me, quill me rage, and look past the inferno burn within me to prevent my flames from growing wild and consume everything including myself before dying out. I love you son, and I know you will grow up to be an incredible man but do so, you have to learn to tame the flames within and not be consumed by it”, said James.

  Steven, upon hearing his father’s words, felt warmth for first time ever after the incident with Susan. James looked at his son and with a smile filled the warmth, love, and affection of a father to his son. He then embraced Steven in a hug and Steven, though hesitant as first especially after recalling the furious look of rage and disappointment his father wore on his face when he found out what he did to Susan, eventually, with tears streaming down his eyes lifted hands and embraced him as well.

  The two, father and son, shared a moment, a heartfelt and sincere moment, one which Steven would forever cherish in his heart, that moment how didn’t last very look.

  “Fire General”, a golden dragon guard rushed in to the room, drawing both Steven’s and James’ attention to him.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt you sir but you’re needed. A guard from the south dragon tower just arrived requesting assistance in dealing group of dark dragon warriors spotted terrorizing a nearby village”, said the guard.

  “What?” James spoke up in shock upon hearing what the guard said.

  James then looked at Steven, seeing his face sink down in sadness up hearing the news, knowing that his parents were needed.

  “Can’t they send other guards to deal with them”, said James, not wanting to have to leave.

  “The nearest dragon tower is too far and the dark dragon warriors would have already finished terrorizing the village the people living there before other dragon warriors arrive”, replied the guard.

  James then let out frustrated sigh before turning to his son, seeing the sad expression on his face, not wanting to leave but he had a duty and responsibility as a Golden Dragon General.

  “I’m sorry Steven, I and your mother are needed. I really wished I could stay until we reached the academy but I have go. Be brave, be strong, don’t let that fire within ever die out but don’t let it consume you. I love you my son”, those words and a warm smile were the last thing his father said before leaving.

  Steven just watched him as he felt with small tear trickling down his cheeks his cheeks. He felt sad having to watch him go once again, knowing that both his and his mother setting off to danger once more, leaving both him and Susan behind. His sadness morphed in to rage. His body then, fuelled by his rage, began to heated up and then ignite in a fierce and fiery aura. Raw and immense, Steven felt himself being lost in the flames raging swirling within his heart, with the urge to just yell out and let the flames grow and consume everything slowly beginning overwhelm him but then he remembered his father’s words:

  “…don’t let it consume you”

  Steven then took a breath, calming down and allowing his rage along with his flames to dissipate and die.

  That was the last time Steven could recall talking to his father before he arrived at the academy and he really did try to resist the flames and not let it consume him but…

  Steven’s fiery red dragon eyes glowed like a burning flame as he looked down at the academy student, wearing a uniform with emblem of the fire dragon, that laid on his feet, battered and beaten, the student’s body smoking and uniform singed. Smoke escaped Steven’s fist as he looked down at the Steven. All could see at the moment with a raging flame, surround him, its light blinding him, its heat engulfing his entire body, and the raging roar of it burning.

  And then he heard it, “Steven”.

  A quiet and cool voice amidst heat of the rage inferno. The flames then disappeared allowing Steven to see what he had done along with sight at complete shattered him.