Dragon Fire : Magic Hunter

Chapter 4

As the week went on, the palace was abuzz with activity. The announcement of the Magic Hunter training had sparked excitement, debates, and a fair share of anxiety among the dragonets and their families. Conversations filled the palace halls, the gardens, and even the kitchens.

"I heard they'll make us spar against each other!" said one dragonet, their voice echoing through the stone corridors.
"They're teaching us how to track magic—real magic!" another whispered, wings twitching nervously.
"What if we fail? What happens then?"

Tulip tried to ignore the nervous murmurs, focusing instead on preparing herself. Every morning, she woke up early to practice flying, her honey-colored scales catching the soft morning light as she soared over the palace grounds. The city of Astra sprawled below her like a golden tapestry, its gleaming spires reflecting the sun. She raced Violet Thorn across the palace courtyard in the afternoons, weaving between tall marble columns and dodging statues.

"You're going to need speed," Violet Thorn had said during one of their races, her violet wings flashing in the sunlight. "Magic doesn't wait for you to catch your breath."

Carpenter Bee, on the other hand, was less enthusiastic. He often lingered in the shade of the gardens, flicking his tail irritably whenever the topic came up. Tulip found him there one afternoon, sitting under their favorite willow tree with a faraway look in his amber eyes.

"I don't understand why you're so against it," Tulip said, settling beside him. The grass beneath them was cool, and the willow's branches swayed gently in the breeze.

Carpenter Bee sighed, picking at a blade of grass with his claws. "It's not that I'm against you doing something important. I just don't trust the queen's plan. What if it's just a way to get rid of magic users without solving anything?"

Tulip frowned, her orange eyes narrowing. "You think the queen would do something like that?"

"I think she's scared," Carpenter Bee said, his voice low. "And scared dragons don't always make the best decisions."

Tulip opened her mouth to argue, but the words wouldn't come. She couldn't deny that she had felt the queen's fear during the meeting—the tightness in her voice, the flicker of doubt in her eyes. But wasn't it better to act on fear than to let it consume you?

"I'm not afraid," she said finally, her voice firm. "If the queen believes this training is necessary, then I'm going to give it my all."

Carpenter Bee didn't reply, but the flick of his tail betrayed his unease.

The next day, Tulip found herself in the armory. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from the forge at the far end, where a smith worked tirelessly. The air smelled of heated metal and smoke, and the sound of hammering echoed off the stone walls.

The smith, an older dragon with singed scales and a gruff demeanor, grunted as he adjusted the straps on her chest piece. The armor was lightweight but sturdy, its honey-gold color matching her scales almost perfectly.

"Hold still," he said as Tulip fidgeted.

"This is so exciting!" Tulip said, trying to keep her wings still. "I've never had armor before."

"It's not for show," the smith replied, tightening a strap. "This will protect you from most practice weapons. But if you're up against real magic? Well, you better pray your instincts are sharp."

Tulip swallowed hard but forced herself to smile. "Good thing I'm quick, then."

The smith snorted, a wisp of smoke curling from his nostrils. "Quick's a good start. Let's hope you've got brains to match."

By the end of the week, Tulip stood in the training courtyard alongside a dozen other dragonets. The courtyard was vast, its stone floor marked with intricate patterns that told stories of past battles and great victories. Tall torches lined the edges, their flames flickering in the early evening light.

The dragonets wore matching sets of armor, the sunlight glinting off the polished metal. Around the edges of the courtyard, the queen's advisors stood in clusters, their expressions carefully neutral.

The head trainer, a burly dragon named Ironwood, strode to the center of the group. His scales were a dark bronze, and his wings were scarred from years of battle. He carried himself with an air of authority, his booming voice cutting through the murmurs of the dragonets.

"Welcome to the Magic Hunter training program," he began, his gaze sweeping over the group. "Over the next several weeks, you'll be tested in ways you can't even imagine. Some of you will rise to the challenge. Others..." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "...will not. This isn't a game. It isn't a school project. This is about the safety of our kingdom. If you're not prepared to give it your all, leave now."

A tense silence fell over the courtyard. Tulip glanced around, half expecting someone to step back, but no one moved.

"Good," Ironwood said, his eyes narrowing. "Then let's begin."

He explained the first task: a scavenger hunt across the palace grounds. The goal wasn't just to find the hidden objects but to do so without being caught by the patrolling trainers.

"Stay focused," Violet Thorn whispered to Tulip as they lined up to start.

Tulip nodded, her heart pounding with a mix of nerves and excitement. She wasn't just doing this for herself—she was doing it for the kingdom.