Chapter 9 - Chapter 8

After riding through the sky for a long time as night began to fall David heard Binaru say, "take a look David, we are finally here".

David then looked down below and saw massive building that bared the crust of all five dragons; a water dragon, fire dragon, air dragon, earth dragon and a massive golden dragon at the center.

David then realized that the building must have been the Dragon Academy Binaru told him about.

As they flew down closer to the Dragon Academy David noticed what looked like an ancient golden temple not too far from the academy.

"What is that?" asked David, pointing at the golden temple.

"That, it's the Temple of The Golden Dragon Warrior, not much is known about it other than its doors can only be opened by a golden dragon warrior. Legend says that within the temple walls is hidden an artifact of great and immense power" said Binaru.

"What kind of artifact?" asked David?

"No more knows for sure though rumors say the artifact hidden inside the temple was what the last golden dragon warrior, Ibierana used to defeat the Dark Dragon Lord all those years ago *sigh* Maybe if the Golden Dragon Guard had that artifact we would be able to deal with the menace that is the dark dragon warriors" said Binaru thinking about how if the Golden Dragon Guard had the artifact in the temple they might have been able to put an end to the dark dragon warriors once and for all.

David looked at the temple with curious eyes, wondering what kind of artifact was hidden within it.

"Binaru, do you think anyone other than the golden dragon warrior can go in to the temple and retrieve the artifact" asked David.

"No, many have tried to open the temples doors but none of them were successful. Legend says the temple doors will open for the golden dragon warrior and since the golden dragon warrior is gone it's safe to say those doors will never open" said Binaru.

David upon hearing what Binaru said sighed with disappointed as he hoped that there was a way he could possibly go in to the temple and see what was hidden away within it.

Binaru landed the dragon in front of the academy's gates and immediately he did so a burst of wind blew out of nowhere.

The wind then calmed down and then turned in to a man.

"I am Araban, the Dragon Academy's gate keeper. Tell me why you two have come to the academy so late at night," said the man.

The man was a gate keeper and the person in charge of let anyone in and out of the academy, without him allowing it no one may leave or enter the academy.

"I am Binaru, a member of the Golden Dragon Guard and this is David, he is a young promising air dragon warrior and I wish to have him enrolled into the Dragon Academy" said Binaru.

The gate keeper upon hearing what Binaru said turned to David, examining him very closely.

"He doesn't look like much, in fact from his looks alone I don't think he is worthy of being is a school as prestigious as the Dragon Academy but I respect the words a member Golden Dragon Guard so I'll allow the both of you to enter but to be enrolled the Head master must accept the boy as a worthy student, and mere words from Golden Dragon Guard may not be enough to convince him" said the gate keeper before he left, turning to air only o reform on the other side of the gate and the opening it.

Binaru then turned to David and then asked, "Are you ready?"

"Yes, at least I think so. Is it right that my heart is beating more than normally" asked David as he felt his heart beating like a drum from within his chest.

Binaru just smiled upon hearing what he said and seeing how nervous he was just by looking at him.

"It's quite alright, just close you're your eyes and take a deep breath" said Binaru.

"Alright then" said David before doing what Binaru said, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath but after doing it he still felt his heart racing.

"That didn't help" said David, feeling exactly just as nervous as he did before.

"Yep, it never does" said Binaru with a smile on his face.

"Then why did you tell me to do?" asked David.

"I'm not really sure, I guess I just thought it would have been funny" said Binaru jokingly which caused David to smile a little.

Binaru upon seeing the smile on David's face smiled as well before saying, "that right there, that smile on your face, never lose it because that smile has the power to make you feel alright even when that world turns upside down".

"A simple smile can't change the way I feel" said David, thinking about how silly it was to think that something as simple as a smile can change the way a person feels.

"Really, then let me ask you something. Is your heart still beating faster than normal?" asked Binaru.

David then placed his hand on his chest and then realized that his heart was no longer beating as fast as a drum but gently and calm.

David then looked at Binaru with a shocked look on his face.

"See, that's how powerful a smile it. Now come on, we still need to see the Head master to get you enrolled" said Binaru before the both went in to the Dragon Academy through the opened gate.

David and Binaru made their way to the Head master's office.

They made their way to through the academy halls which was lit up by flaming torches which firmly by the side of the wall.

They passed many empty rooms, most of which looked like class room as they had boards which still had chalk writing as a sign that a lesson had been held not too long ago and chairs as desks for students.

David upon seeing all the empty rooms wondered where everyone was, according to Binaru the Dragon Academy was a school for dragon warriors but he hadn't seen any student since they arrived.

"Binaru, where is everybody. You told me this was a school for dragon warriors but so far, I haven't seen any of the students or even a teacher," said David.

"Hmm, they must be around somewhere. Its night, maybe they are all sleep in their rooms" said Binaru.

David remained silent upon hearing what Binaru said, thinking that it was possible for everyone to be sleeping but still thought it was a bit strange for them to be sleeping as the night was still young.

They continued to roam the halls, still on their way to the Head master's offices but then something caught David's eye.

David spotted on a wall a massive portrait of five people, one of them being a man wearing red wielding a bow and flaming arrow, a woman wielding a water trident, a man wielding a hammer that looked like it was made of stone, another man wielding a wind staff and finally a woman wield a sword with a golden blade.

"Who are these people?" asked David, pointing at the portrait on the wall.

"Oh" said Binaru upon seeing the portrait on the wall.

"These are the four Golden Dragon Generals, she" said Binaru while pointing at the woman with the golden dragon blade.

"Is the golden dragon warrior" said Binaru.

David's eyes widened, focusing more on the woman wielding the golden bladed sword upon hearing that she was the golden dragon warrior.

"David, are you coming or will you stare at that portrait all night" said Binaru upon seeing that David was focusing on the portrait so much that he had forgotten about the world around him.

"Oh, sorry about that" said David as snapped back to reality upon hearing what Binaru said.

They soon reached the Head master's office and Binaru was about to knock on the office doors when a voice from within the office spoke, saying "there is no need to knock just come in".

David was shocked to hear the voice, wondering how the person that they were standing outside the door.

Binaru just sighed before opening the door and then he walked him with David following from behind.

Inside the room they saw a man seated on a desk who looked at them with look void of emotion of any kind, he was the Head master and upon seeing him David felt a massive chill flow through his spine as seeing the Head master's face that expressed no emotion filled his mind with fear.

"Who are you and what I you doing in my academy" the Head master asked coldly.

"I am Binaru from the Golden Dragon Guard and this is David, an exceptional young wind dragon warrior from a small village name…" Binaru could not even complete his sentence before the Head master said, "I've heard enough, get out".

The Head master spoke with showing and respect to the crust Binaru wore on his armor, he didn't seem to care or respect the fact Binaru was a member of the Golden Dragon Guard enough to let him complete his sentence.

David upon hearing what the Head master said felt tears slowly sipping out of his eyes and making their way down to the ground as the thought of him coming all this way just to be rejected broke and shattered him.

Binaru upon seeing the tears that stood at the very edge of David's eyes sighed before turning back to the Head master.

"Sir, you don't let me finish" said Binaru to the Head master.

"You didn't need too; I already know what you're going to ask and the answer is no. A boy like this is not welcomed in the academy. The Dragon Academy is a place to for the best dragon warriors. Most of the students here are the descended from royal blood, others are children of great dragon warriors who fought with everything they had to maintain peace and order in our world during the era of darkness" said the Head master before turning to David.

"He is just an ordinary air dragon warrior and compared to the rest of the students here he is nothing" said the Head master.

Binaru upon hearing what the Head master said about David felt enraged, filled with anger at the Head master for calling David nothing.

"Shut up, you know nothing about this boy or what he is capable of. Just because he comes from a small village and isn't a descended from royal blood or the child of a warrior don't mean he is lesser than any of your student. If anything, he is worth more than any student here" said Binaru to the Head master with his eyes glowing red with pure rage.

"Oh, and why is that?" asked the Head master.

"Because he did the one thing no student in this academy has ever done, he saved the life of a Golden Dragon Guard" said Binaru.

The Head master upon hearing what Binaru said looked at David with a look of disbelief, unable to belief that someone like David could save a Golden Dragon Guard's life.

"Say that again" said the Head master to confirm if the words that came out from Binaru's mother was true.

"This boy" said Binaru pointing at David.

"Saved my life, me, Binaru a member of the Golden Dragon Guard" said Binaru.

The Head master looked at Binaru upon hearing what he said, examining him to see if he was lying about David saving his life.

"What's your relationship with this boy Golden Dragon Guard is he your son, nephew or the child of friend" asked the Head master thinking that Binaru was only vouching for David because of some kind of relationship shared between him and David.

"Me and him share no relation by blood nor do I have ties with his family, the only reason I know him is because he saved my life and to repay him for that I offered to bring him here" Binaru.

"Oh, I see" said the Head master before sighing deeply and turning to David.

"David, is it?" asked the Head master to David, with an unimpressed tone.

"Yes sir" said David softly.

"Is what Binaru saying true, did you actually save his life? I want a sincere answer from you" asked the Head master.

"Well, that day he was riding his dragon and…" David's sentence was cut short by the Head master saying, "I didn't ask for a detailed explanation about it, I just want a straight forward answer to my question, yes or no".

David just sighed deeply before saying, "yes I did".

The Head master upon hearing what David said cleared his throat and then took a few brief moments to think about what to do with David.

There was a moment of silence in the room with David and Binaru just staring at the Head master while he continued to think.

Finally, the silence ended with the Head master saying, "We are in the middle of a semester and it's the middle of the night, normal my reply to a case like this would be no but since you are a member of the Golden Dragon Guard and you claim that this child right here saved your life, I'll make an exception".

"An exception, does that mean you'll let me join the Dragon Academy?" asked David with a smile on his face, thinking that the Head master would enroll him in to the academy.

"No" said the Head master.

David's smile faded away upon hearing what the Head master said.

"But you said…" Binaru was stopped mid-sentence by the Head master saying, "I said I would make an exception but that doesn't mean I'll let him be enrolled in the academy. The Dragon Academy is the most prestigious school for dragon warriors in the world, and that is because we have the best students and frankly speaking, I'm not sure David is Dragon Academy material but I'm willing to give him a chance to prove me wrong".

"How?" asked both David and Binaru.

"Simple, I'll let you stay in the academy but only for a day, within that time you have to convince me you are right for the Dragon Academy but if you can't your enrollment in to the academy will be rejected, understood" said the Head master.

David stood still for a few brief moments thinking about what the Head master said, he was giving him only one day to prove himself worthy of being a student of the Dragon Academy but if he failed, he would not be allowed to be a student in the academy.

"Understood" said David, wanting to prove that he was worthy of being a student in the academy.

"Good" said the Head master.

"FLANI!!!!!" the Head master screamed and then a few moments later a woman walked out the door.

"This Flani, the care taker of the academy, Flani this is David and Binaru" said the Head master, introducing Binaru and David to Flani the academy's care taker.

"Binaru is a Golden Dragon Guard, and he brought David all the way from his village to the Dragon Academy because he believes he is special" said the Head master.

Flani then turned to David and examined him for a few moments before saying, "if there is anything special about him it's not from his looks".

The Head master smiled out of amusement upon hearing what Flani said about David which fueled Binaru with even more anger.

"That may be the case but Binaru claims he saved his life and so does the boy. I'm still not sure if what they say is the truth but I'm willing to take a chance on the boy. I'm allowing him to stay in the academy for only a day, he will participate in the classes like the other students during this time but if I see not unique or special about him before the day ends, he will oust from the academy grounds" said the Head master.

Flani upon hearing what the Head master said turned to David once again before turning back to the Head master.

"What kind of dragon warrior is he?" asked Flani.

"A wind dragon warrior" said the Head master.

"Alright then child" said Flani before grabbing David by the arm.

"Come with me" said Flani and then before David or Binaru could do anything Flani dragged David out the door.

"Where on earth is she taking him to?" asked Binaru.

"Relax; she is just taking him to his room, where he will be staying during his time in the academy. You may leave now" said the Head master.

"What?" asked Binaru confused?

"You may leave; the boy will remain here in the academy. You may return tomorrow to hear what I have to say about him and his enrollment in to the school" said the Head master.

Binaru, upon hearing what the Head master said sighed deeply, knowing he had to leave David all alone in an unfamiliar place.

"Promise me you'll take good care for him, if any harm comes, I'll" Binaru was silenced before he could complete his sentence by the Head master saying, "rest assure Golden Dragon Guard the boy is safe here. You may leave now".

Binaru just took a deep breath in before walking out the door, hoping and praying David would be alright in the Dragon Academy.