The Duke's Secrets

Chapter 17 - An Old Master

"See, this is exactly why I told you she needed your power to win...Obi," a man's voice playfully taunted, followed by laughter.

"You do not have the right to address me with that name!" Obsidian's voice roared. "Plus, her body and soul are not like yours—we must proceed with caution, or she might fracture before our fusion can take place."

"Ah! Quit being such a worrywart! You wouldn't have chosen her as your tamer if you didn't see something in her that convinced you she could handle you, right? Oh, look, she's waking up! How exciting! How do I look?"

"Dreadful—an apparition beyond this realm, old one."

"Boo! See, this is why everyone thinks you're a killjoy!"

"I am not Killjoy! I am Obsidian the Skydancer!" Obsidian roared.

Leah started to get up—their voices were hard to ignore—and when she finally stood up and opened her eyes, all she saw was white. As far as Leah could see, there was nothing but a void of whiteness. Not glaring enough to hurt her eyes but not dim enough to avoid a slight strain as she started to squint.

"She's squinting..." the man whispered poorly. "Told you we should have used the dark void. It's softer on the eyes."

"Those days are gone. Embrace the light, especially you!"

"Hey! I did. It's not my fault I was brought back!"

"I highly doubt that, old one..."

Leah shifted her gaze to the voices and found Obsidian standing beside a man cloaked in a crimson robe embellished with a blazing emblem featuring a dragon claw at its core. The man shared the same dark midnight hair color as the Duke and possessed eyes as crimson as Elizabeth's hair—but were radiating with fiery intensity.

Contrary to Leah's expectations, the man was much older, even though his voice and manner of speaking gave off a youthful tone. However, his weathered skin contradicted any notion of youthfulness.

"Hello, young tamer, I am—

"Where am I?" Leah yelled, cutting off the man's speech.

"Your—"

"Have no fear, Leah. Your body is still in the arena," Obsidian interrupted, causing the man's eye to twitch. "Your mind, however, resides in my ring as this one wishes to converse with you before the outcome of this battle is decided."

"That's right—

"And who are you?" Leah asked, interrupting the man again as both his eyes twitched.

"That is—"

"I can introduce myself!" the man yelled, then took a breath to compose himself. "Sorry, no more interrupting, okay? From the top! Hello, young tamer! I am but a phantom of a long-gone world. As such, I will not reveal my name. Call me...Master—yes, I like that! I never got called that before. I will be the one to teach you how a true Dragon Tamer uses their power."

"And how are you going to do that, Gramps?" Leah questioned.

"Gramps!" the man yelled. "I'm like 30 years old in this form?"

"Perhaps 30 years deep into the grave..." Leah whispered, hastily muffling her mouth when she heard what she said. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I-I don't know why I said that."

"It's okay, Leah. I have this effect on people—they can't resist saying whatever comes to mind after meeting me," Gramps chuckled. "I don't know why...but it feels like I've been insulted again. Obsidian!"