Dragon- Hero

Chapter 9: Training part 1

     Okay, it's offical. I suck.

     A couple of weeks passed by now and we continued to grown. Now we are a little bit shorter than a miniature horse. At this time we were being trained and studied under Tisurien and Gloria. It has been educational. Except when it was Tisurien

     "What are you doing, Ty?" Mei asked.

     "Trying to breath fire." I explained.

     "You know you can't and besides we're still to young. Especially for a runt like you." Torren said.

     I couldn't care less I had to at least tyr. I began following the instructions of Gloria during her HISTORY lesson and Tisurien's practical teachings when accessing the power of The Cortex.

     I'm sorry. Let me explain. The Cortex is the base for almost everything magical in the world. There are many thinks that can be applied to when dealing with its 6 properties including the main power source it self. Long story short, by gaining the power to do magic I will be able to use only a fraction of its power. Which apparently is a big deal here.

     I began remembering mother's words. "Feel the energy of the Cortex all around you and gather it within. Keep going until it fills you up. Concentrate on making it hot and funnel it out. Releasing it out your throat." As Gloria described it.

     I tried it again. I felt the power of the Cortex gathering within my body and expanding inside. I felt the pressure as it was continuing to build. I want to release it as quickly as possible. Instead of firing out my mouth, I shot fire out my butt. I almost literally set fire to my rear end. It took a second before all three of us were laughing to hard to even stand up. Except father, who was watching, didn't partake in the humorous moment. I hanged my head low in disgrace, so did Mei and Torren.

     "Class dismissed," he said. All of us left feeling sorry for ourselves. I left feeling way worst. Useless.

                             *****

     That very same night I left the nest while everyone was asleep. I walked toward the entrance of the cave. Being very cautious to not be caught by my mother and father or by any other creature that may travel by night. I slowly peeked my head out to listen to the nightly sounds of the jungle/forest. Listening to every chirp, snap and hoot sound, when the close was cleared I made my wah to the training grounds.

     Our training grounds was maybe 40 yards away from the cave entrance. Quickly o made my way there. I began thinking about today's events and my standing as a student. I am horrible, Torren proved to be a better hunter than me and also at cave digging. Mei could hold her breath longer than any of us and great at navigation. I felt useless.

     The training grounds had a medium sized ring with two lines perpendicular to each other, like a sumo ring. It also had a tree with marks on hit. Tiscrienian made them to see how high we could jump. I was highest, due to my smaller frame and springy legs. Along with some target praise and our huge boulder that was lodged within the cliff next to out cave but still far away that I believed was far away to not wake the dragons from their slumber when I hit it.

     I made a scarecrow out of sticks, straw, and twigs. It proved difficult to make considering I didn't have opposable thumbs, it was going to be my combat dummy named: "CJ." HAHA. I was thinking about today's events and then it accrued to me I should use a movement move from the game Warrior's Road. I memorized the movements of  dragons in the game, some always moved in a serpentine fashion and them attacked. I wanted to try this method first as it was what seem most interesting to try, besides trying to breathe fire.

     In combat training it was obvious that I fast and very agile, given my nature and appearance as a dragon. I began moving from side to side becoming faster with each step. Coming closer and closer to my target. I was going on the attack from the right I missed, my back legs tripped over each other. Making me fall face forward into the ground. Ah, my legs crossed. I must have not timed it right. I got back up and tried it again over and over until I finally hit it.

     It became difficult quickly. I started to become irritated and annoyed because every time I tried I tasted the ground. So I saved it for later and walked over to the boulder. It was clearly taller and heavier than me. I pushed off the ground and stood on my back legs, finally standing on 2 legs again. Walking the way I am used to walk

     The trick was to train the tail to keep it down because it was heavier than my actual body. The reason it was the tail was because it carried the most weight, which held my body from standing up.

     Lowering my stance in a karate position. I balled up both my claws, my left bent at a 90 degree angle close to my face and my right to my side near my hips. I began punching the boulder repeatedly unable to feel the pain of hitting a rock, there was clearly a difference in strength compared to my life as a human.

     I was getting the rhythm from alternating between my claws I decided to apply the power of the Cortex into my last strike. Applying just a little, I swung hard with my right claw making contact. I the impact alone made a huge bang, this scared away most of the forest nightlife to either to silence or to run away. I was impressed and scared, to see that the boulder cracked and broken but not completely destroyed. I then became scared when I realized how loud it was.

     Standing still, I checked all around me and listening for any changes. A sigh of relief was my sign of thinking the close was clear. "Man, I thought I was in trouble there for a second." I then sensed something behind me; in reaction to it I turned around, it was Tisurien and he was furious. Flames shot out of his snout and said, "Trouble? You don't even know the meaning of the word."