The Light Within - Book 1

Chapter 7

It's been a couple hours and I am half way through the book when I hear a soft knock on the door. "Come in," I call as I rub my eyes and place a bookmark in between the pages.

As I call out, the door creaks open and I see one of the servants standing in front of me. "Miss Kaida," he says, bowing his head slightly. "Master Dracorium has sent me to bring you some more appropriate clothes for your training session."

I nod my thanks and stand up, stretching my legs after sitting for so long. The servant hands me a bundle of clothes and I quickly change into them, feeling more comfortable in the looser fabric. I make sure my braid is secure and I follow the servant out of the room and down the hallway to the training grounds.

As we arrive, I see Master Dracorium waiting for me with a small smile on his face. "Good, you're here," he says, nodding at me. "Let's get started."

As we begin the training, Master Dracorium looks at me with a serious expression. "Kaida, I need to be honest with you. Most dragons awaken around the age of 12 and have already mastered the shift by your age," he says, his voice laced with concern. "You're behind, and this is going to be a grueling process."

I feel a pang of worry in my chest, but I am determined to prove myself. "I understand," I say, trying to sound confident. "Where do we start?"

Master Dracorium begins to explain the basics of dragon shifting, but I can't help but interrupt with a question that's been on my mind. "Master Dracorium, do you think I could be a light dragon?" I ask, nervously wringing my hands.

He pauses for a moment, considering my question. "It's hard to say for certain," he replies. "We won't know until you shift. But either way, Kaida, you have a duty to the dragon world to hone your abilities and become the best dragon you can be."

I nod and reach up and touch my pendant, "Is it true that we have the ability to fully shift and fly but haven't been able to for almost a century?"

I see his face fall, "Yes it's true. I was there when it happened and it's a day I'll never forget. None of us know exactly what happened but we've been searching for answers ever since."

My eyes widen and I study his face. He has some wrinkles and his light hair is mixed with grays, but he doesn't look a day over 51. "You were there," I ask in wonder. "How old are you exactly?"

Master Dracorium chuckles, "Ah, Kaida, you should know better than to ask a dragon his age." He pauses for a moment before continuing, "But to answer your question, I am over 300 years old. As a dragon, I have seen much in my time, both good and bad."

I can't help but feel a sense of awe and respect for him. "Wow," I say, feeling a bit humbled. "I had no idea... Does that mean I will live that long too!"

Master Dracorium's expression softens, "As a dragon, you will live a long life, Kaida. But how long exactly is uncertain. It depends on many factors, such as your strength, your abilities, and the dangers you may face in your life." He looks at me with a serious expression, "That is why it is so important for you to train hard and become a strong dragon. The world needs strong and capable dragons to protect it."

"I guess we should get started then," I say. "Ok what is the first step?"

Master Dracorium nods in agreement, "Yes, let's get started. The first step is to learn how to control your breath." He stands up and walks over to a nearby boulder, gesturing for me to follow. "Sit down here, Kaida," he says. "Take a deep breath in, and then exhale slowly, focusing on controlling the flow of air."

I sit down on the boulder and do as he instructs, taking a deep breath in and then slowly exhaling while focusing on controlling my breath. After a few minutes of practice, I start to get the hang of it, and Master Dracorium nods in approval.