Elba awoke to the sound of crackling wood, his mind still groggy from the heavy sleep. The warmth of the bonfire flickered across his face, and as his eyes fluttered open, he found Ignis already standing over him, her crimson eyes locked on him with impatience.
"Get up," Ignis said firmly. "We have a long way to go, and you need to be ready."
Elba sat up, rubbing the back of his head. He wasn't used to sleeping out in the open, let alone with everything that had just happened. His parents... he clenched his fists, the grief still fresh, still raw. But there was no time to dwell on it now. He pushed it aside for the moment, focusing on the here and now.
As they began to pack up the camp, Ignis spoke again. "We're headed to the teleportation chamber for Ironhold. But on the way, I'm going to train you. If you're going to survive, you need to know how to fight."
Elba frowned. He hadn't thought much about training or fighting. In his mind, everything was still a chaotic blur, but if this was the path he had to take, then he'd face it. Ignis turned toward him, arms crossed. "What type of weapon do you usually prefer?" she asked.
Elba thought for a moment, his voice steady. "I'm fine with my fists, but if you could give me a small knife and a bow and arrow, I'd do better. I've been good at archery since elementary school."
"Archery?" Ignis raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Elba nodded. "I learned it in school, and I've been practicing for years. I'm quite skilled with a bow, but I also prefer hand-to-hand combat."
Ignis nodded, a hint of approval on her face. She rummaged through her pack and handed him a small, sharp knife. "Here, use this to protect yourself. As for the bow…" She pulled out an intricately designed bow and a single arrow. "This is a bit special. The bow and arrow are sealed with cursed magic. Whoever you shoot, the arrow will return to your hand, no matter where it goes."
Elba's eyes widened as he inspected the bow. It was unlike anything he'd ever seen. "That sounds... expensive," he said, hesitantly.
"It is," Ignis replied flatly. "And it's antique. I'm only lending it to you. Don't lose it."
Elba gave a short nod, gripping the bow tightly. He was already feeling more capable, more ready. But before they could move on, Ignis turned to him with a serious expression.
"Now, before we go any further, I need to teach you something else. You need to awaken your dragon core."
Elba blinked in confusion. "Dragon core?"
Ignis nodded, her voice calm but authoritative. "Every magician has a mana core, connected to their soul. Mana is the purest form of energy. You can use it to harden your body, heal wounds, or perform magic. But the dragon core is different. It's tied to your bloodline. It has certain abilities—a hidden skill, if you will—that's specific to the dragon family you belong to."
Elba's head spun with the new information. "So… what's your hidden ability?"
"I belong to the dragon of Hellfire," Ignis said, her voice hardening. "My hidden ability is summoning a fire guardian. I'm not perfect at it yet, but I'll show you when we fight." She paused, giving him a look. "Your ability will be different. It'll depend on your family. The closer you are to the head dragon of your bloodline, the stronger you'll be."
Elba took a deep breath, trying to absorb it all. He still didn't understand everything, but he didn't have time to ask questions. "And how do I awaken it?"
Ignis grinned slightly. "That, we'll figure out along the way. But it helps if you eat silgis—small balls of energy that help awaken the core. We'll find some while hunting."
As they started their journey again, Ignis took the lead, moving with purpose. "And one more thing," she said, glancing over her shoulder. "When we get to the academy, I'll be your senior. So, from now on, you should address me as such."
Elba raised an eyebrow, slightly annoyed but accepting. "Fine, senior."
Ignis smirked. "Good."
They continued through the forest, hunting for silgis and other creatures, and Elba slowly became more skilled with his bow and the knife Ignis had given him. The training was grueling, but it helped keep his mind off the immense grief he carried. Each day, he grew stronger, and he began to feel the stirrings of something within him—his dragon core, though still dormant.
By the time they were only a day away from the teleportation chamber, Elba felt like a different person. He was still grieving, still burdened with the pain of losing his parents, but something had changed. He was stronger. And as they set up camp for one last night before reaching Ironhold, he knew that his journey had only just begun.
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