The sun had barely pierced the horizon when Swift arrived at the central training courtyard of the Silver Dojo. Mist curled along the polished stone floors, and the air was thick with the scent of heated metal and ozone—a residue of dragon energy left by the earlier sessions. Swift could feel the green star embedded in his chestplate pulsing faintly, a steady heartbeat that reminded him of his otherworldly origin, and of the power he was beginning to harness.
Master Kael had summoned him for his first sparring session with another apprentice—a test designed not just for physical skill, but for energy control, focus, and instinct under pressure.
"Swift," Kael's voice boomed from the observation platform, "today you face Kaelen. He is no ordinary student. His mastery of the Silver Dragon's energy is advanced for someone your age. Do not underestimate him. The purpose of this exercise is not to win—it is to understand the Dragon within yourself and control it."
Swift nodded, gripping the hilt of his broadsword. Kaelen stepped forward, and Swift's breath caught in his throat. Kaelen's presence was commanding, his silver armor glinting like the moon on still water. The faint hum of energy along his blades and the faint shimmer of silver across his eyes gave him an almost spectral aura. He bowed briefly, a gesture of respect tempered with the challenge of impending battle.
The courtyard fell silent, save for the sound of the wind whispering through the trees surrounding the dojo. Swift and Kaelen squared off, circling one another like predators assessing their prey. Every step Swift took resonated with energy, the green star in his chestplate thrumming in response to his heartbeat.
Kaelen moved first, sweeping forward with a spinning slash that emitted a faint silver glow. Swift barely managed to parry with his broadsword, sparks flying from the impact. The collision sent vibrations up his arms, testing the strength of his bones, the precision of his strikes, and the focus of his mind.
"Concentrate!" Kael shouted. "The Silver Dragon does not merely fight—it anticipates, flows, and overpowers. Strike with intent, not emotion!"
Swift exhaled, letting the rhythm of his movements align with the energy coursing through him. He focused not on Kaelen's sword, but on the flow of his energy—the way it pulsed along his muscles, through the ground, into the stone pillars of the courtyard. With a deep breath, he channeled it into a sweeping arc, his sword glowing with a faint green-silver light. The blade cut through the mist, and Kaelen barely blocked it, their weapons clanging together in a shockwave that rattled the courtyard.
Kaelen's eyes widened with respect—and challenge. "Impressive," he said, voice low. He adjusted his stance, drawing more energy into himself. Swift could feel the shift in the air, a pull of power like gravity. Kaelen's form began to shimmer, scales of silver emerging along his arms and shoulders, his eyes burning with dragon fire. Swift realized with a jolt—Kaelen was partially shifting into the Silver Dragon already.
Swift's pulse quickened. He could feel his own dragon energy stirring, responding instinctively to Kaelen's display. His vision sharpened, and he could sense the flow of energy around Kaelen—the points where the attacks would strike, the openings that could be exploited. It was instinct and awareness heightened beyond human limits, the beginning of the transformation into a warrior shaped by dragon power.
The next exchange was a blur. Kaelen lunged, wings of shimmering silver energy flicking behind him, while Swift ducked, rolled, and countered, his broadsword leaving trails of green-silver light with every strike. Sparks, shards of energy, and the crackle of pure power erupted with every blow. Swift's muscles screamed, sweat and blood mixing with the mist, yet he moved with the precision and fluidity of the Silver Dragon Kael had taught him to embody.
Kaelen grinned, a flash of teeth in the shimmering silver light. "Not bad, human-born," he said, launching a vertical strike that forced Swift to block while simultaneously drawing energy into his feet. Swift leapt backward, slamming the tip of his sword into the ground, sending a pulse of energy radiating outward. The force knocked Kaelen off balance for a brief moment—enough for Swift to press the advantage.
They clashed again, sword against sword, energy against energy. Each strike was a test of control, of intent, of raw power. Swift began to notice patterns—Kaelen's strikes followed the rhythm of his own breathing, the subtle shifts in his stance revealing weaknesses, moments when Swift could push his energy outward to overwhelm. For the first time, Swift felt the raw thrill of the Silver Dragon awakening inside him—not just as an extension of power, but as a force of instinct and intuition.
Kaelen roared, partially shifting fully into dragon form, wings spreading wide, the courtyard glowing with silver light as he drew a massive arc of energy from the ground and air. Swift's instincts screamed—this attack could kill him if he miscalculated. He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing inward, letting the green star pulse in his chestplate, and allowed the energy to flow. When he opened his eyes, a wave of silver-green energy radiated from him, meeting Kaelen's strike head-on. The force of the collision sent both warriors skidding back, their breaths ragged, their bodies burning with the strain.
The courtyard was silent again, the mist curling around the shattered stone and glowing residue from their clash. Kaelen, still partially in dragon form, looked at Swift with a mixture of astonishment and respect. "You… you are different," he said. "I can feel it now. The Dragon inside you is awake—and it listens."
Swift wiped blood from his lip, breathing hard, feeling the hum of power thrumming through his entire body. "I…I'm only beginning," he replied, his voice steady despite the exhaustion. "This… this is just the start."
Kael's voice rang out from the observation platform. "Enough! You will stop before one of you dies. Today, you have learned what the Silver Dragon demands: focus, control, and awareness. Swift, Kaelen—you will train together from now on. You will push one another, test one another, and awaken the Dragon fully. Only then will you be ready for the world beyond this dojo."
Swift looked at Kaelen, who now reverted fully to human form but still shimmered faintly in the moonlight. The mutual respect between them was tangible, a bond forged in battle and energy. Swift knew that Kaelen would be both ally and rival—an essential part of his growth in the Silver Dojo.
As Swift walked to the edge of the courtyard, the green star in his chestplate pulsed with renewed intensity. The Silver Dragon's awakening was no longer a distant concept; it was alive, flowing through him, coiling like fire in his veins. He clenched his fist, feeling the weight of his power and the responsibility it demanded. This training was grueling, but it was exactly what he needed to confront the darkness that had destroyed Espearia and to eventually face Bones again.
The path of the Silver Dragon was brutal, merciless, and consuming—but Swift had already tasted its fire, and he would rise.
Tomorrow, the trials would intensify. Swift would learn to strike like the Dragon, to move like it, and to awaken the full force that pulsed in his chest. And when that day came, no force—no being, human or god-like—would stand in his way.