An Explosion fills the sky as several birds flutter away in sudden fear. This definitely ruined their peaceful morning, in fact it ruined several people's mornings here in Ryoko. I'm sure of it.
"Someone! Call for Koen! Quick!"
"Healers! Come Quick! We have several dragons injured!"
Young white dragon Shiro laid on the ground having been thrown back by the explosion of the Ryoko's Hunters Guild, the headquarters for the best mercenaries for hire. Now such a building is left with a gaping hole for its front entrance and several busted windows. Dust and debris are sprawled out around him.
He looks around in shock and surprise at what he had done and soon he sinks into himself, curling up in a ball; His white hair covering his face in shame. The nineteen year old knows he will never be able to pay for the extensive damages to the guild master or the city.
Shiro thought he could run? But he's too weak to try after walking a whole week here after a two day boat ride from the Isles with nothing but the clothes on his back and five-hundred dracs which he all but spent to get meager scrapes to not starve.
Is it the end? Will he just spend the rest of his life rotting in a jail cell?
Shiro is snapped out of his thoughts by a rough, cold hand grabbing his shoulder and lifting him to his feet.
"Get Off!"
"Not likely, Koen wants to speak to you, Chalk!"
Shiro looks up at the dragon incredulously, having just called him one of the many slurs for his race like it's second nature.
The dragon was freakishly tall compared to Shiro, who is considered average height among his people, even though white dragons are the shortest among the six dragon clans, so there isn't much to compare.
Shiro is effortlessly dragged to wherever the other dragon was taking him like a ragdoll; He is thrown to the ground again in front of three people.
"This is the guy that started it all, Master Koen!"
"Koen, it's him! That's the boy who just signed his guild papers!He must have done so on purpose to get access!!"
Shiro remains silent, not feeling up for fighting when he barely stands on his own two feet. He knows for a fact this wasn't an act of arson. Just a bar fight gone wrong.
He couldn't help it when a drunkard thought he was a barmaid and made a pass at him like he was a whore. He just slapped him to make a point to the bastard.
"Shiro Hanamura"
"...?"
Shiro looks up and sees a fat red dragon almost 4 feet tall, shorter than him, and balding with a red beard braided with gold bands. His short tan horns are covered with gold bands and his old face is covered in tattoos of the sun. What an off putting figure.
"Is that your name, boy?"
"Y-yes" Shiro nodded.
"Did you do this to my beloved guild?"
"Y-es! Well no! I didn't do it on-!"
"Perfect!"
"Eh?" Shiro looks up at the dragon who is eye level with him. He is pretty sure he hit his head because he must have heard him wrong.
The smaller Dragons companions spoke up, just as shocked as Shiro is over this.
"Master Koen! What are you saying!?!"
"This isn't in the budget! How is this good!?!"
Koen grabs the two others by their shirts to get them to his level since they were several feet taller than him.
"This is perfect because we have found our solution, boys!"
Solution? Shiro thought to himself
"S-sir" one of the dragons stammered, "exactly...what solution are we talking about?"
Koen shakes him vigorously as he yells
"We have a partner for Kurosu! We don't have to get rid of him!!!"
Shiro is about ready to call the police and go to jail because he is not sure if these lunatics are making this seem like a good idea. Jail seems preferable.
"Uhhh….I'm only 19?"
"It doesn't matter boy! I love your strength!! You'll make me millions in the long run! I just need you to sign a contract and all of this will be fine! Oh! You must meet Kurosu!"
Koen grabs one of his men by the collar again
"Fetch me Kurosu!"
Shiro is then pressed into writing his name on a contract that looks so worn and torn, it might crumple at the slightest touch. He didn't even read it unless you count the title: Hunter Camaraderie Partnership Agreement.
Koen takes the contract and hides under his belt. He flicks his hands and out comes fire at the tip of his fingers.
"Thank the gods, I can save my business!" Koen exclaimed
He pulls out a plaque and with his flaming finger, he presses it on the plaque; leaving a crest on the bottom of it.
"Congratulations, Shiro Hanamura! You are now in the Camaraderie Partnership program and your new partner will be Kurosu!"
"W-what!!! W-wait! This is so fast! I'm not even a level 1 hunter!"
Shiro fails his arms in worry. Hunters are supposed to be top of the line mercenaries for hire with each level indicative of their power.
Dragons come far and wide to become a member and level up to earn riches and glory.
Shiro did just that...and got a level 0.
"Here!" Shiro pulls out his newly acquired hunters plaque with his name and rank, showing it to Koen, "I can't even be eligible for it!"
"Nonsense! It must be a clerical error! Level 0 Hunters don't even exist!"
Level 0 isn't even a thing? Shiro thinks his luck couldn't get any worse.
"And don't worry, members of the program will be paired with higher ranking Hunters so they have a mentor, which I believe you probably won't even need!"
"T-then what the hell is this for?"
"You'll see in a minute" Koen smiles and starts dancing excitedly, "I already have the money flying my way!"
Shiro can only look at the shorter dragon and think he is being saved by a madman.
"Master Koen! We found him!" The other member of Koen's group called out.
He brings in someone far worse than what Shiro was expecting.
"Korosu, I finally found you a partner!"
Koen proudly proclaims to the new dragon among the group.
Shiro gets a good look at the dragon. They have jet black hair that reaches past their shoulders and curled black horns on both sides of their head. Typical features of a dreaded black dragon. What luck.
Most of the hair covers the dragon's face, but their skin is pale white and ghostly. A purple scarf covers his neck and collar bone. His clothes are dark and shaded with dark purple and his armor is light; only a waist guard and gauntlets.
"Kurosu, meet your new partner: Shiro Hanamura!"
This "Kurosu" seemed dissatisfied with this.
"I don't need a partner. I'm doing just fine by myself"
Kurosu had a low but even tone. His voice is gravelly and rough, very much like a man Shiro thought.
"Go get someone else for this weakling, I don't need him"
Shiro could see Kurosu's face better now that he was looking up.
It wasn't bad looking, Shiro thought. His face was pale and porcelain like, well mostly. If you got rid of the dark rings around his eyes, he would look almost like a doll. Not very fitting for a fighter but perfect for a beautiful maiden.
Kurosu's eyes stood out the most with their strikingly bright irises like melted gold.
It's a shame, he would almost be handsome if he weren't being so rude.
"Kurosu, I have already signed the papers. Here's yours now!"
"Koen-!"
"You'll get 1800 dracs every month for training him as per the contract stipulation"
"...fine"
"Perfect now officially you two go! You'll be living together from now on!"
"What!?!"
"What!?!"
The room stayed silent for a while as Shiro and Kurosu chose to not talk to each other in the lounge of Koen's office, the only room that wasn't destroyed in the explosion. Koen practically locked them in here in order to get them to break the ice and get to know each other.
"Like that would happen" Shiro thought to himself.
Kurosu was sulking on the couch on the far opposite corner. Away from Shiro obviously.
Shiro didn't care. He didn't even know what to say to the jerk anyway. He likes to talk but not when it's to someone like him.
They're are 6 clans of Dragons, each one inheriting an element which they can control. Black Dragons control the element of darkness. Shiro always heard stories that Black Dragons could make the dead walk or invoke curses on others far away, but he's never seen such things happen. But he is sure of one thing. They are dicks.
Shiro puts his head down, wanting all of this to be over. Maybe it's just a bad dream and he'll wake up back at home.
They're probably still wondering where he is.
"Mom...Dad...Ira...Himiko..I'm sure you guys must be worried sick" Shiro thinks to himself.
"Your a long way from home, Chalk"
Shiro props his head up and glares at the other dragon.
"You're the one to talk when you look like you just crawled out of your casket!"
"I'm not the one who put a giant hole through a building!"
The two Dragons start spouting venom at each other. Shiro stood up from his side, mostly in an effort to look tougher even though he was probably two feet shorter than Kurosu.
"Look I get it. You don't want a partner! I'm sure your old one was probably great!"
"I never had one and never needed one. So you better go tell Koen to get this contract voided."
Shiro gave Kuro a disgusted look. He knew what he was playing at.
Kurosu didn't care, really. He just didn't like Koen and would rather have this twink do the work for him.
Kurosu had to admit it, This new guy wasn't bad looking.
He was short like all the white dragons were white snow white hair that puffed out like a cloud. Most of the white dragons were androgynous in appearance but it was part of their allure I guess. He had rose red eyes and his pupils were slanted like all dragons do when agitated, not to mention his eyebrows were furrowed in a way that made him more cute then scary. Kurosu noticed that the boy had no blemishes on his tan skin and sported a beauty mark under his left eye.
This boy could have made a better whore than a hunter with his face alone. Not to mention his lithe body and slender arms. The boy even wore a yellow and orange sash that accentuated his slim waist; Only a woman would do that.
"I'm not doing YOUR dirty work! Personally, I need this job so I'll just have to get used to you so I can make money!"
Shiro blurted, annoyed and pouting like a hatchling who just got told no by their mother.
Kurosu got up and stood toe to toe with Shiro. He was very tall compared to Shiro, at least six feet four to his mere five feet eight.
"I don't care if you need money. You'd do better as a whore than as my partner!"
Shiro looked ready to explode.
A whore. Him. A whore.
Shiro will admit, he's gorgeous but he's more than any run of the mill whore!
How dare this low life compare him to trash!
CRACK
Kurosu could feel the bones in his left foot break into small bits as Shiro took his foot and jammed into it with such force, Kurose was sure it would snap his foot in two.
Kurosu's senses were haywire as he felt pain he's never felt before in his work as a hunter. No amount of pierced arrows and sword wounds could compare to whatever raw power was crushing his foot at this moment.
He wanted to scream but his pride made him do otherwise.
"I'm no whore. It took me a full week to get here and I'm not about to turn tail and leave because some idiot thinks he's hot shit!"
Shiro pulled away from Kurosu.
He fell to the floor in agony. Dragons can heal wounds quickly but by God's he wishes it could be quicker. His Horns were glowing, not normally happening unless his emotions were heightened.
Oh boy they were.
Knock Knock
Shiro panicked as he heard someone knock on the door. He pushed Kurosu down on the floor to hide in front of the couch as it faced away from the door. Kurosu groaned in pain but Shiro held his hand over the other's mouth.
"Be quiet or I'll crush your other foot"
"...!"
Koen briefly stuck his head to check and see if the two were alright but Shiro dragged Kurosu out of sight and convinced Koen they were doing just fine. Soon he left, much to Kurosu's dismay.
"Y-you! Have made your point! At Least call a healer for me so I can get away from you!"
Kurosu was nearly in tears. He was sure all his bones in his foot were nothing but mesh at this point.
Shiro hovered over him. A brilliant plan formulated in his mind.
"How about we make a deal, Jerkface"
Kurosu was about ready to throw up from the pain.
"What the hell is wrong with you!"
"This will work for you so just hear me out!"
"What is it then! I can't even move!"
Shiro smirked as he moved closer to Kurosu and his injury.
"If I heal you, will you take me on as your apprentice?"
Kurosu looked like he was ready to die from second hand embarrassment.
"...Did you escape from a mental asylum?"
"Hey! I'm being serious! I can heal you!"
"You can't heal me, you idiot! Your mana doesn't mix with mine! Go get a real healer! Your just wasting my time"
"That's bullshit! I've healed loads of your kind before!"
Kurosu was on the verge of death, he must be hallucinating this. He was sure of it.
All dragons know that every dragon's mana is unique and holds different properties. Green Dragons mana can mix together with another's to speed up the process of healing. Blue Dragons can use their ice to freeze another. But there's one problem for when Black Dragons are used. Their mana is too poisonous to be mixed and can even cause blight on the recipient. White Dragons can purity it but due to their conflicting elements, they clash and will nullify can mixing.
"How can this White dragon lunatic think he could heal him!?! He must be out of his mind!!" Kurosu thought to himself.
"I'm serious about this!"
"Just stop! Call for a real healer!"
Shiro grabbed his injured foot.
"Aha-!!"
Kurosu yelped in intense pain
"Listen to me! If I can heal you, which I can, will take me on as your apprentice! I'll do whatever you ask of me! I need this!!"
"...and if it doesn't work?"
"...I'll call for a real healer and I'll nullify the contract"
".....you swear?"
"Dragons don't lie! I swear on my life's blood!"
Kurosu held out his left hand. Shiro took it. Signifying the swear upon his blood.
Shiro couldn't help but notice Kurosu's long black nails and cold hands that felt like death.
"....fine"
Shiro got to work as he gently pressed his hands on Kurosu's limp and mangled foot. A light teal aura engulfed Shiro's hands as his mana flowed into them.
Kurosu felt warmth around his body. The sensation felt good, not what he had expected.
His foot began to reform, bones piecing themselves back into place and tendons uncoiling from the strain. It didn't hurt, not like it would if it had healed on its own, which normally takes two or even three days for a healthy dragon. It felt incredibly relaxing. This aura. He's never felt it before.
It wasn't like a white dragon's aura, which was suffocating Kurosu. This one felt warm and soothing. Like a springfield.
"Done." Shiro proclaimed, pulling his hands away from Kurosu.
The taller dragon felt no more pain in his foot. He sat up and saw that his foot looked perfectly normal. Only minor dusting on his shoe from where Shiro had pressed on the top. It was like nothing had ever happened.
"See!?! I told you I could do it! I swore, didn't I!?!" Shiro exclaimed proudly. "Now I'm your apprentice! HaHaHa!!!"
"How did you do that!?!"
Kurosu stood up slowly, trying to check if what Shiro had done had actually happened.
He walked slowly and felt no pain in his foot. Nothing out of place at all.
Shiro stood up as well and kept proudly spouting about his skills.
"I'm just that good! I can heal just about anything! And you didn't even believe me!"
"Your smell...it's definitely pure blood"
Kurosu, like all dragons, has keen senses. He could smell the scent of pure blood. The smell is stronger than that of a halfling or weak blooded dragons.
Pure Bloods are few and far between so it's hard to fake a scent of one.
"No wonder Koen wanted him so badly. Pure Blooded White Dragons are hard to come by" Kurosu thought to himself.
"I don't why it matters that much but yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm one. Both my parents are white dragons." Shiro answered.
Kurosu grabbed Shiro's wrist.
"Come with me"