"So, this are my conditions. In two months, if I see you are capable to go this journey thatbl your dreamed of, then you can go.
But, if I see that you are not ready. You'll stay in the village. Forever.
Abd that is why, I will train you to become a flame mage, under the teachings of both the phoenix and the dragon. It's going to be harsh but I'm sure you can handle it, right?" Selena explained and closed the book before she patted her son, whom was under her, doing push ups while she sat on his back.
"No..problem..!" Said Nate, sweat rolling down his face. Selena felt irritated by how struggling her son is. She scoffed and threw her hair back, "You're over exaggerating, Nate." She said, with her arms crossed while Nate groaned and grunted under her.
Days went by and people at the fields noticed a change to Nate, he was more hard working, even taking other people's work. Mr Brown was surprised at first but quickly regain his compossure with a cough, "Easy there, little pup. Don't want you to burn out now." He said but Nate ignored him which infuriate the older man. "This little...! Fine! Work to the bone! Just so you know, I ain't going to pay you extra!" He said with a scoff and walked away.
Break time had arrived and Nate stumbled into the hut where his friends were wating. He collapsed on the floor and panted for air. Wallen poured some water over Nate, cooling him off. "Thanks..." Nate said with a relieved sigh until some of the water got inside his nose and made him cough like mad.
Wallen chuckled, feeling bad and grinned, "Haha, my bad.." He said. While Nate was glaring at him, Diana handed him a towel. "What's gotten into you these past few days? Mr Brown's right, you could burnout if keep this up." Said Diana, poured a cup of tea and handed it to him. Nate wiped his face and took the cup of tea from Diana. After a few gulps and an empty cup, Nate answered.
"My mother said that she will let me go on my adventure. But with some conditions. She wants me to be prepared for it, train my body and surpassing my limits." He said and ate his lunch, prepared by his mother. Diana and Wallen were surprised and exchanged looks at each other. "Wait, seriously? She's really okay with it? And you're really going?" Wallen asked, completely in disbelief that Nate would leave his mother after his father just passed away. "I thought you aren't going to be selfish, Nate!" He said, getting angry.
Nate lookes at Wallen, he wasn't confused on why he was angry at him because he understood hin. If they had exchanged places, he would have smacked him silly. Diana calmed Wallen down and turns to Nate, "Wallen, it's his decision. As his friends, we should support him." Said Diana, putting her hand on his shoulder.
"So, Greywind wants to go on an adventure, huh? Like you could stand a day outside the village. You could die on the side of the road and people wouldn't cared." A voice chimed in, from a young man and behind him his two friends whom snickered and grinned at Nate and his friends.
"What does it matter to you, Marlo? God, don't you have anyone else to bother?" Nate said with a groan. Marlo scoffed and shoved Wallen aside, making him stumbles out of the hut while he took Wallen's place next to Nate. "Careful, Nate. One more word and I would get your friends fired from working on my dad's fields. Where else would they find good work in this place?" Said Marlo, and he laughed with his friends. Nate gripped his hands, balled up into fists. "Don't you dare, Marlo..This is between you and me.." Said Nate, with a low growl and intense glare towards the blonde young man. Marlo was hesitant and slightly frightened at first before he ignored what he felt and stood up.
"I ain't afraid of you, Greywind. Just like how I won't be afraid to have some fun with your friends while you're gone. Better yet, maybe with your mother!" He said and laughed. The other workers heard what he had said, gave looks at him but didn't dared to say anything as they afraid to lose their jobs.
Diana lost her patience and got up, walking up to Marlo. "That's enough, you jerk-!" She stopped when she felt somthing rushed passed her and before she knew it, Marlo was lifted in the air by no one other than Nate. She also noticed something weird around Nate, it looked wavy like water. When you see the heat emanating from a surface.
Nate gripped onto the collar of Marlo's shirt, his eyes were different went he glared at the person on his grasp. And this time, Marlo could feel the fear paralysing his whole body.
"W-what am I looking at?! A monster?!" Marlo thought as he stared into Nate's glowing red eyes, the heat coming from his body and the growl wscaping from his clenched teeth. Even Marlo's friends didn't dared to interfere to help him. Everyone else watched in surprise and silence. "Touch anyone I cared for while I'm gone, I will make sure you are remembered in the village for centuries to come...I swear to it." Nate then let go of him but Marlo's legs failed to support him and just let him fall on the ground. "Tell that sack of potato that I quit." Said Nate and walked past them, leaving the fields. Diana and Wallen quickly ran after him once they regain their senses.
"Nate! Come on, wait up!" Wallen called out, keeping up with Nate while Diana followed behind. They walked to the lake near the edge of the village, their usual hangout place. Nate stopped and sat down under a tree. Put his hands behind his head and relax. Until his friends arrived. "Nate, what was that about? You looked different and...since when you have heat coming out from your body?" Diana asked.
"First, you said you're going to pursue your dream and now you just quit your job- Are you sure about this? What are you trying to find out there, Nate?" Diana continued while Wallen stood in silence, waiting for Nate's answer. Nate leaned forward and sat cross-legged. "I already talked to my mom, she even gave me her blessing and support but with some conditions. Become stronger, strong enough to for what is out there. And to stop that evil witch, Elra Sinis. So that people don't have to cry for their lost loved ones because of her ever again..." Said Nate, the memory of his mother on her knees, crying devastatingly flashed in his mind.
Wallen and Diana listened in silence, stories of the evil witch etched in their minds, told by the old folks in the village. About the cruelty that witch had done to different kingdoms.
"I'm not being arrogant, but I will stop her. Even if it's the last thing I do!" Nate grasp his hand and fire engulfed his fist. His eyes turned red. Wallen and Diana were stunned. It was as if they were stating into the eyes of a dragon.
Diana looked down, thinking over and grasped her dress. "I'm coming with you, Nate." She said, with determination in her eyes along with slight nervousness. Wallen was taken aback by Diana's sudden decision, Nate included, but after saw how determined she is, he gave her a nod. "Alright. Thanks, Ana." He said with a smile. Diana returned the smile, "Someone has to watch your back, Nathan. I want to see the world too! And learn lots of spells and echantments!" She said, excited.
"Whoa, whoa! Let's slow down for a bit!" Said Wallen and he sighed. He tapped his finger on his knee before he sat up straight, looking at his friends. "I guess...leaving this slice of heaven isn't so bad, isn't it?" He said with a smirk. Nate chuckled, happy and getting more excited for his journey. "Alright, let's prepare ourselves first. Don't wanna die just outside the village after all this gung ho, do we?" Said Nate, holding out his fist. Diana and Wallen held out their fists as well, bumping into Nate's. "Hell no-Owww! God-! Damn, your fist is hot as hell, Nate!" Wallen jumped up and waved his hand around before running to the lake and stuck his hand inside the body of water.
He then turned to Diana whom was unfazed, "And why the heck are you okay?!" Wallen asked, confused and irritated that she just sat there casually. "I cast a heat resisting enchantment on myself while we followed Nate here." Said Diana, in a matter of fact, tone while Nate laughed.
--------------------------------------------------
Nate told his mother everything that happened over dinner. Selena nodded, listening to her son. She smiled, "I'm glad that you already created a party for your adventure so early on. Knowing it's Diana and Wallen, I'm sure the three of you can protect each other. And you don't have to worry about quitting your job. This just arrived before you returned." Nate watched his mother got up and left the dining room but later came back with a heavy sack in her hands. Inside were a lot of gold coins, death benefits of Nate's father. "Captain Furlogh delivered this himself, along with a letter from the King." Said Selena, handing Nate the letter that has the royal crest on it. In the letter, the King expresses his condolences and gratitude to Nate and his mother. Praising of how good of knight Nate's father was.
Nate put down the letter and held his mother' hands, looking into her warm brown eyes. "Are you sure you'll be alright?" He asked. Selena smiled, couldn't believe the child that she took care of is asking her that question. She leaned forward and kissed on his forehead before she held him in a tight hug. "Don't worry about me...just..take care of yourself out there...and don't be reckless...you have friends with you, you have to think about them too.." She said. Nate nodded and kissed on her head, hugging her back.
Two months had passed...
Everyone in the village gathered by the gates, seeing Nate, Wallen and Diana off. Wallen and Diana say their goodbyes to their parents. Nate noticed the homeless man sitting next to a shop by the trash. Nate walked over to him and knelt down as he kept mumbling not able to connect to the internet. Whatever that is.
"Listen, weirdo. If you realky are from another world, instead of getting hung up how we don't use, whatcha call it? Cell bones? Try create similar to that by using resources in this world. Keep your chin up, man. Later." Said Nate and walked back to join his friends while the homless man's were widened in realization. He stood up and ripped the fake white beard with determination burning in his eyes. "I won't forget you, bro." He said and walked away, with no direction in mind.
Nate, Wallen and Diana looked ready and prepared for a journey that will take them Gid onows how long. "Try to send us letters, alright? And come back when you're done." Said Diana's mother as she fixed her daughter's hair and cupped her face. Her father patted her head and kissee on her forehead.
"Don't be such a wise ass out there. Nate has my permission to kick your ass." Said Wallen's father, making the other villagers laughed and snickered. Wallen rolled his eyea at him before he smiled and gave slight bow, the sunlight gleamed onto the sword on his side. "Thank you for everything, master." He said. Wallen's father pulled him into a hug, "Be safe and stay focused, my son." He said.
Nate looked down to his mother as she fixes his shirt, straightening any crease on it before she looks up at him. "You look just like your father, Nate. Keep a burning heart but a cool head, you hear?" She said. Nate hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. "Yes, ma'am." . The three left the village, waving at the vilagers as they finally begin their adventure.
Meanwhile, somewhere unknown. In a dimly lit cave, illuminated with a few floating green flames along the hallway, leading to a big room that resembles a throne room. And on the throne was none other than Elra Sinis. She closed her eyes as she could sense something. She chuckled and openes her eyes, "So, the dragon's spawn has left the nest...about time..." She said and green flames engulfed her hand and her eyes changed from cold blue to eerie bright green eyes. Eyes of a dragon. She erupted into a laughter, echoed throughout the empty castle.