by Koren Rabe
William-astepped-aforward,-ahis-aeyes-afocused-aon-athe-asmall-adrake.-aA-aslight-adrop-aof-asweat-arolled-adown-ahis-aforehead-aas-ahe-aconcentrated,-anot-aletting-ahimself-aslip-aup.-aFor-asome-aodd-areason,-athe-adragon-ahe-awas-azoning-ain-aon-aseemed-ato-abe-aglaring-areproachfully-aat-ahim.-a
"Wood-aMagic:-aSeali-"-a
"WATCH-aOUT!"-aGraxital's-anormally-aquiet-avoice-ashook-athe-avalley-aas-ahe-aabruptly-ayelled-aout-aloud,-ainterrupting-aWilliam.-a
..
'Crap.'-aDrago-asplit-ainto-apanic-aas-ahe-asaw-athe-aapproaching-ahumans,-afreezing-aup.-aHe-ahad-ano-aidea-awhat-ato-ado.-aShould-ahe-arun?-aHe-aheld-athe-aroasted-adeer-athigh-ain-ahis-ahand,-aalmost-aas-aif-ato-ause-ait-aas-aa-aclub.-aHis-aheart-abegan-ato-apound,-acausing-ahim-ato-atremble-awith-awhatever-athe-adraconic-aequivalent-aof-aadrenaline-awas.-a
As-ahe-awas-anow,-ain-ahis-ababy-adragon-aform,-ahe-adefinitely-awasn't-aable-ato-aconfront-aanything-atough.-aIn-aaddition,-ahe-arecognized-aone-aof-athe-ahumans-ahere.-aIt-awas-athe-asame-ahuman-athat-ahad-atried-ato-aattack-ahim-ain-ahis-aRed-aSalamander-aform!-aOne-athat-ahad-aused-amagic!-aHe-agave-athe-ahuman-aa-aglare-afor-agood-ameasure.-a
"Hey-alittle-aguy!"-aOne-aof-athe-ahumans-abegan-aspeaking-aone-aof-athe-alanguages-aDrago-anow-aknew,-aCommon.-aHe-awas-aa-avery-aoverweight-aman-awearing-aa-aset-aof-aloose-ablue-arobes,-awith-aa-apoor-aattempt-aat-aa-afriendly-alook-aon-ahis-aface.-aThe-aman-awaved-aat-ahim-ain-aa-anon-threatening-amanner.-aAround-ahim,-ahowever,-aseveral-ahumans-awearing-ablack-aarmor-astarted-ato-asurround-aDrago.-a
"Just-arelax,-awe're-ajust-ahere-ato-acome-atalk.-aLet's-abe-afriends!"
Drago-amentally-arolled-ahis-aeyes-aat-athe-aman's-awords,-adespite-ahis-aheart-afull-aof-apanic.-a
'Sure-ayou-aare,-abuddy.'-aHe-athought,-ahis-aeyes-adarting-afrom-aside-ato-aside.-a
He-afelt-aoddly-athreatened-aby-athe-ahumans-ain-afront-aof-ahim,-ahis-asenses-atelling-ahim-athat-athey-awere-astronger-athan-ahim.-aThe-acloser-athe-awarriors-agot,-athe-acloser-athe-arobed-amen-agot,-athe-abigger-athat-asense-awas.-a
'Can-aI-arun?'-aDrago's-aeyes-adarted-ato-athe-aside,-ahis-abody-atensing.-aThe-awarriors-ain-ablack-aarmor,-ahowever,-aseemed-ato-amore-afar-amore-aswiftly-athan-athey-aappeared-ato-abe,-aalready-acutting-aoff-amost-aescape-aroutes.-aBy-athe-atime-aDrago-atried-ato-aflee,-ahe-afelt-aas-aif-athey-awould-ainstantly-acatch-aup-awith-ahim.-a
His-aeyes-aglinted-aas-ahe-aforced-ahimself-ato-acalm-adown,-acontrolling-ahis-afear-aand-aanalyzing-athe-asituation.-aIt-aseemed-ahe-awould-aneed-ato-arely-aon-athe-aAura-astored-aby-ahis-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix-ain-ahis-aSoul.-a
The-aWizard-ahe-ahad-aseen-abefore-astepped-aforward,-a
"Wood-aMagic:-aSeali-"
"WATCH-aOUT!"-a
He-awas-ajust-aabout-ato-adraw-aon-athat-aAura-awhen-aa-asmall-aexplosion-adetonated,-aknocking-ainto-aseveral-aof-athe-awarriors-athat-awere-asurrounding-ahim.-a
The-ablack-aarmored-amen-ato-ahis-aright-aand-aleft-awere-athrown-abackwards-aas-awhat-aappeared-ato-abe-aa-aseveral-ameter-alarge-aeruption-aof-ablood-aappeared,-ablasting-athem-abackwards.-aSmall-ashockwaves-aslammed-ainto-aDrago,-astunning-ahim-aas-athe-ascene-aaround-ahim-aabruptly-aunfolded-ainto-achaos.-a
..
"Blood-aMagic!-aIt's-asome-adamned-aNobles!-aLook-aalive!"-aGraxital-ayelled-aout-aloud,-alaunching-athe-aball-aof-aBlack-aLightning-ahe-ahad-aformed-aearlier-aforward,-atowards-aa-aspot-aon-athe-aopposite-aside-aof-athe-aclearing.-a
A-apair-aof-atall-aoak-atrees-aexploded-ainto-awooden-ashrapnel-aas-ahis-aattack-aslammed-ainto-athat-aarea,-acreating-aa-asmall-adistraction.-a
He-aimmediately-aclapped-ahis-ahands-atogether-aand-athen-araised-athem-aup,-acasting-aa-aspell.-a
"Black-aLightning-aMagic:-aBlack-aCalling!"-aOverhead,-anearly-aa-athousand-ameters-aabove-athem,-aseveral-alines-aof-ablack-aenergy-aformed,-astarting-ato-arotate.-aGradually,-anearly-aclouds-abecame-adrawn-ainto-athis-avortex,-aslowly-abecoming-asomething-aominous.-aA-aheavy,-ablack-aaura-aof-aenergy-asurrounded-aGraxital,-ashivering-aaround-ahim.-a
Aymon,-athe-aRoyal-aWizard,-awaved-ahis-ahands,-aconcentrating-aas-ahe-acreated-aa-atransparent-aSpatial-aBarrier-athat-asurrounded-ahis-abody,-aprotecting-ahim.-aCasting-aspells-awithout-acalling-atheir-anames-aaloud-awas-aan-aextremely-adifficult-afeat-athat-aone-acould-aonly-amanage-aafter-amany-ayears-aof-aexperience-aand-apractice-atargeting-aone-aspecific-aspell.-a
Oblong-agave-ahim-aa-asidelong-airritated-aglance-afor-aan-ainstant.-aCreating-aa-aSpatial-aBarrier-ato-aprotect-aonly-ahimself…-aIt-awasn't-aexactly-aunexpected,-asince-athey-aweren't-acomrades,-aand-ait-awasn't-awrong-aof-ahim-aeither.-aYour-aown-apersonal-asafety-aas-aa-awizard-awas-aparamount,-aand-aeven-aDepartment-aWizards-acouldn't-aforce-aother-awizards-ato-ado-awhat-athey-asaid,-anot-aif-athey-awere-aof-aequal-aor-agreater-astrength-aunder-athe-alaws-aof-athe-aBorrel-aAutarchy.-a
But-ait-astill-aannoyed-ahim.-a
Oblong-agrunted-aand-aheld-ahis-ahands-aout-ain-afront-aof-ahim,-ahis-along-aexperience-aas-aa-aDepartment-aWizard-acoming-ainto-aplay-aas-ahe-amaintained-ahis-acalm,-a
"Fate-aMagic:-aLucky-aGuard!"-aA-agreen-aglow-abriefly-asurrounded-ahim.-a
Not-aa-asplit-asecond-alater,-aseveral-adozen-aarrows-aof-aglowing-ared-ablood-ashot-aforward,-atargeting-athe-awizards-aat-athe-abase-aof-athe-agroup,-aignoring-athe-ascattered-aand-awounded-awarriors.-aThese-aarrows-ahurtled-aforward-aat-abreakneck-aspeed,-acarrying-aa-adeadly-astrength.-a
Only-aa-afew-ablood-aarrows-awent-atowards-athe-aRoyal-aWizard,-aand-aall-aof-athem-afailed-ato-aeven-ascratch-aAymon's-aSpatial-aBarrier.-aEvery-asingle-aarrow-athat-awent-atowards-aOblong-aseemed-ato-ajust-abarely-amiss-ahim,-aentirely-aby-alucky-achance.-a
The-aarrows-athat-atried-ato-aslam-ainto-aGraxital-ashriveled-aas-athey-acame-ainto-acontact-awith-athe-ablack-aaura-asurrounding-ahim,-afailing-ato-ado-aany-aharm.-a
William,-aunfortunately,-atook-athe-abrunt-aof-athe-adamage-ahere.-a
He-awas-aknocked-abackwards-aoff-ahis-afeet,-aslamming-aseveral-ameters-athrough-athe-aair.-aOblong-acursed-amentally-aat-athis,-ablaming-ahis-aown-apoor-aplanning.
The-adifference-abetween-aa-aMaster-aClass-aand-aa-aSky-aClass-aWizard-awasn't-ajust-ain-atheir-aconcentration-aof-aenergy.-a
Once-aany-aWizard-areached-athe-aMaster-aClass,-atheir-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix-atransformed-aslightly,-agranting-athem-aa-apowerful-ainnate-abarrier.-aThis-abarrier-awould-abe-aactive-aat-aall-atimes,-abut-aonly-adrawing-aenergy-awhen-aan-aattack-alanded-aon-ait.-a
The-abarrier-aitself-aused-aa-ahuge-aamount-aof-aenergy,-aand-awas-ainefficient-acompared-ato-aprotective-aMagic.-aHowever,-asimply-ahaving-athis-aprotective-abarrier-awas-aa-ahuge-asafeguard-aagainst-asurprise-aattacks,-aor-aphysical-aattacks.-a
William,-aunfortunately,-ahad-ano-asuch-abarrier,-aand-aeither-awasn't-aexperienced-aenough-aor-astrong-aenough-ato-araise-aa-apowerful-aprotective-aspell-ain-atime.-a
The-abastard-ason-aof-aan-aimportant-afamily-alooked-adown-aat-ahis-abody-aas-ahe-acrashed-ainto-aa-aset-aof-atrees-ahard,-afeeling-ahis-aribs-aand-alegs-afracture.-aTwo-aenormous-aholes-acould-abe-aseen,-aone-ain-athe-alower-aportion-aof-ahis-achest,-aand-aone-aon-ahis-ahip,-aholes-athat-acompletely-adrilled-athrough-abone-aand-aflesh.-aNot-aa-atrace-aof-ablood-acould-abe-aseen-ain-athese-awounds.-a
His-alips-aturned-apale-aas-ahe-awas-aoverwhelmed-awith-apain.-aWith-ashaky-ahands,-ahe-atwirled-aboth-afingers,-astuttering-aout,
"Wood-aMagic:-aGreat-aElm's-aHealing-aBranches."-a
Shortly-aafter,-ahe-acollapsed,-ahis-abody-agoing-ainto-ashock-aat-athe-ahorrendous-awounds,-afalling-aunconscious.-aAround-ahim,-aseveral-asmall-abranches-agrew-afrom-athe-aground-aand-abegan-ato-acover-ahis-abody-ain-aa-acocoon.-a
A-amoment-alater,-atwo-afigures-awalked-ainto-athe-aclearing.-aOne-aenormous-ahulking-abrute-aof-aman,-awith-aa-aset-aof-acrimson-agauntlets-aon-ahis-ahands-aand-aarms,-aand-aanother-agorgeous-awoman,-awearing-aa-athin,-arevealing-aset-aof-ablack-aleather-aarmor.-aTheir-askin-ahad-aa-afaint,-agrey-askin-atone,-aand-aan-aaura-aof-ablood-asurrounded-aboth.-a
"Damne
d-aNobles."-aOblong-aswore-aaloud,-aholding-ahis-ahands-abefore-ahim-aas-ahe-atook-acharge.-aAymon-awatched-aeverything-ain-ahis-acontinued-adispassion,-anot-aeven-atrying-ato-ahelp.-aOblong-acould-aeven-asense-ahim-apreparing-ato-aflee,-ausing-ahis-aSpace-aMagic.-aHe-amentally-aswore-aagain.-a
"This-ais-ahuman-aterritory!-aYou-ahave-ano-aright-ato-abe-ahere.-aLeave-aimmediately!"-aOblong-athreatened-athem,-astalling-afor-atime-awhile-aGraxital-acharged-aup-ahis-aspell.-a
Vampire-aNobles,-aor-aNobles-aas-athey-awere-aoft-acalled,-awere-aone-aof-athe-acontenders-afor-adominance-ain-athe-a30,000-aWorlds.-aWhile-athe-aBorrel-aAutrachy-acontrolled-amore-athan-a10,000-aWorlds,-athe-athree-aVampire-aFamilies-acontrolled-aonly-a91-aWorlds.-a
That-awasn't-abecause-athey-awere-aweak.-aFar-afrom-ait,-athe-aHighlords-aat-athe-ahelm-aof-aeach-aVampire-aFamily-awere-aable-ato-acontend-awith-athe-aMad-aKin--athe-aWizard-aKing-aTelmon,-aOblong-amentally-acorrected-ahimself,-acarefully-astudying-athe-atwo-afigures-abefore-ahim.-aThat-asaid,-athe-aHighlords-acould-aonly-acontend.-aEven-aif-aall-athree-aworked-atogether,-athey-awould-abe-aunable-ato-adefeat-aTelmon.-aThat-aman-awas-asimply-aan-aabnormality-ain-ahis-aown-aright.
The-aNobles-aseemed-ato-aabhor-achange,-ausually-aremaining-ain-athe-aworlds-athey-ahad-aalready-aconquered,-aruling-athem-aas-athey-asaw-afit.-aThus,-athe-aAutrachy-aand-athe-aNoble-aFamilies-adidn't-acollide-atoo-aoften,-anot-aafter-athe-aAutrachy-alearned-awhich-aworlds-athey-acontrolled.-aEven-athe-aweakest-aVampire-awas-aequivalent-ain-astrength-ato-aan-aEarth-aClass-abeast,-aafter-aall,-afar-asurpassing-athe-aweakest-ahumans.-a
The-aAutrachy-ahad-afar-abigger-aproblems-ato-afocus-aon,-alike-athe-aDraconic-aTribes-aor-athe-aGraal-aalliance.-a
Oblong-ashook-athe-astray-athoughts-afrom-ahis-amind-aas-ahe-afocused-aon-athe-aNobles-ain-afront-aof-ahim,-areadying-ahimself-ato-areact.-aThere-awas-ano-achance-athese-atwo-awere-ahere-aby-achance.-aThey-amust-abe-aafter-athe-adisturbance-ain-afate-atoo.-a
"Leave?"-aThe-awoman's-avoice-asoftly-afilled-athe-avalley-aair,-aa-ahint-aof-aglee-ain-ait.-aThe-abig-abrute-aof-aa-aman-astepped-aforward,-agiving-aa-agrin-athat-ashowed-ahis-apointed-ateeth.-a
"Why-awould-awe-aleave-aafter-afinding-asuch-adelightful-afood!-aSalum!-aCome!"-aShe-aclapped-aher-ahands-awith-aa-awarm-asmile.-a
Immediately-aafter,-aan-aenormous,-ahulking-aBlood-aWolf-aappeared,-astomping-ainto-athe-avalley-aproper.-a
Oblong's-aeyes-awidened-aas-ahe-asaw-ait,-aand-ahe-acursed-ayet-aagain.-aHe-aswiftly-abegan-aplanning-aa-awithdrawal-aroute-ain-acase-aGraxital-awas-aunable-ato-ahandle-athem.-a
The-afemale-aNoble-abefore-ahim-amust-abe-aat-athe-apeak-aof-athe-aGrandmaster-aClass,-aat-aminimum,-ato-ahave-asuch-aan-aenormous-aBlood-aWolf-afamiliar.-a
Vampires-ahad-aincredibly-aregenerative-askills,-ainnate-aaccess-ato-apowerful-aBlood-aMagic-awith-aexperience-athat-afar-aoutstripped-aeven-athe-amost-askilled-ahuman-aBlood-aWizards,-aand-aextreme-aphysical-aendurance-aand-astrength.-a
Oblong-aclenched-ahis-afists-ain-arage,-ahis-aeyes-aturning-abloodshot-aand-athe-afat-aon-ahis-abody-atrembling.-aHe'd-acome-aall-athis-away,-aand-aeven-afound-athe-adisturbance-ain-aFate,-athe-asmall,-aweak-agreen-adragon,-aand-ait-aseemed-ahe-amight-alose-aout-ato-aa-apair-aof-adeviled-abloodsuckers.-a
At-athis-athought,-aOblong-ashifted-ahis-aeyes-ato-athe-aground-abetween-athe-avampires-aand-ahim,-awhere-athe-agreen-adragon-alay-aon-athe-aground-ain-afear.-a
No,-anot-aon-athe-aground-ain-afear,-aOblong-aobserved-ain-athat-asplit-asecond.-aThe-adragon-awas,-aoddly-aenough,-aleaning-aforward-awith-aits-achest-apuffed-aout,-aas-aif-ait-awas-aabout-ato-ayell,-aits-abody-atrembling.-a
It-awas-aat-athat-amoment-athat-aevery-aliving-abeing-ain-athe-avalley-afroze-acompletely.-a
Every-aanimal-awithin-aten-amiles-aabruptly-abegan-ato-atremble,-aMaster-aClass-abeasts-aon-adistant-amountains-adirectly-acollapsing,-aGrandmaster-aClass-abeasts-ain-athe-amidst-aof-asleeping,-abattle,-aor-arest-afreezing-ain-aterror,-atheir-aeyes-awidening-ain-ahorror.-a
For-aat-athat-amoment,-aan-aAura-abegan-ato-aspread-aout,-aan-aAura-aso-adevastatingly-athreatening-athat-athe-aair-aitself-aseemed-ato-ashake.-aAn-aawe-ainspiring,-amajestic-ared-ahaze-adescended-aand-agathered-aupon-athe-atiny-agreen-scaled-adragon,-aas-aif-ahe-awas-aa-amythical-abeast-aof-alegend.-a
"YOU-aDARE-aIGNORE-aTHIS-aGODLY-aDRAGON?!"
###-aChapter-a14-a--aBluffing
On-athe-aoutside,-aDrago-awas-athe-apicture-aof-aa-acool,-aconfident,-agodly-adragon-agiving-aoff-aan-aunsurpassed-aaura-awith-asimmering-aarrogance.-aHis-ascales-agleamed,-athe-ared-ahaze-aof-apower-athat-asurrounded-ahim-aaccenuating-ahis-adraconic-anature.-a
On-athe-ainside…-aDrago-awas-afreaking-aout.-a
Back-awhen-ahe-awas-aa-ahuman,-aone-aof-ahis-afavorite-ahobbies-ahad-abeen-adancing.-aHe'd-aperformed-aon-aseveral-asmall-adance-ateams-aat-ahis-acollege,-anothing-atoo-aserious,-abut-astill-asomething-ahe-aenjoyed.-aHe'd-aalso-aparticipated-ain-aa-afew-asmall-aplays-ain-ahigh-aschool,-aand-aa-asingle-amusical-ain-acollege.-a
Stage-afright-awas-aa-aterrible-athing,-abut-ait-awas-aa-afear-ahe-ahad-athought-aconquered.-a
Now,-ahowever,-aas-aDrago-aput-aup-aan-aangry-aface,-aglaring-ain-afury-aat-athe-awarriors-aand-awizards-asurrounding-ahim,-ahe-arealized-athat-awas-aa-asentiment-athat-acould-anot-abe-amore-awrong.-a
His-abody-atrembled-aagainst-ahis-awill-aas-ahe-aslowly-aturned-ahis-aneck,-aglaring-aat-aeach-aoffending-aside.-aHe-acould-aonly-apray-athey-adidn't-anotice.-aHe-awasn't-aeven-asure-aif-ahis-aface-aactually-alooked-aangry.-aHow-awas-ahe-asupposed-ato-aknow-ahow-aa-adragon's-afacial-aexpressions-alooked?-a
His-aeyes-aglowed-aas-ahe-aforced-ahimself-ato-afocus,-afeeling-aas-aif-ahe-awas-aabout-ato-abe-asick.-a
After-athe-atwo-asides-abegan-afighting,-aDrago-ahad-aimmediately-aseen-ahow-adangerous-aa-asituation-ahe-awas-ain.-aThe-asheer-apower-aand-astrength-aeach-aside-ashowed-aoff-awas-asomething-ahe-acould-aeasily-adie-afrom.-aA-astray-ablast-aof-athat-ablack-alightning-acould-aincinerate-ahim.-a
It-awould-abe-aimpossible-ato-asneak-aaway-asafely,-anot-awhen-ahe-awas-adirectly-abetween-athe-atwo-asides,-aand-astanding-astill-aand-adoing-anothing-awould-abe-alike-aasking-ato-adie.-a
So,-ahe-adid-athe-aonly-athing-ahe-acould-athink-aof.-a
'Ausra,-ahow-ado-aI-aactivate-athe-aAura-awe-astored?'-aHe'd-aasked-aas-athe-abattle-abegan-ato-aunfold.
'Simply-awill-ait-ato-asurround-ayou-afrom-ayour-aSoul,-alike-aa-awarm-ablanket-acovering-ayou.'-aAusra's-aresponse-ahad-abeen-aconcise,-abut-ainformative.-a
Just-alike-athe-agenie-ain-ahis-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix-asaid,-aactivating-athe-aAura-awas-alike-adrawing-aa-ablanket-aaround-ahim,-acovering-ahimself.-aHe'd-amentally-awilled-athe-asmall-ared-abead-ain-ahis-asoul-ato-amove,-adrawing-aupon-ait.-a
As-ahe-adid-aso,-athe-abead-avisible-agrew-asmaller,-alosing-aroughly-a1/4th-aits-amass.-a
An-aincredible-afeeling-aof-apower-aand-astrength-asweltered-aupon-ahim.-aHe-afelt-aas-aif-ahe-awas-alooking-aupon-athe-aworld-awith-adominance,-aas-aif-aevery-abeing-ahere-awas-amade-ato-alive-aunder-ahis-arule.-aThe-afeeling-awas-aaddicting,-asweeping-athrough-ahis-amind-awith-aabandon.-a
Drawing-afrom-athat-afeeling-aas-ainspiration,-aDrago-abegan-aacting-alike-ahow-ahe-athought-aa-agodly-adragon-awould-aact.-a
..
THUMP-aTHUMP
THUMP-aTHUMP
THUMP-aTHUMP
Graxital-asaw-ahis-adeath.-a
He-astood-aabsolutely-astill,-anot-adaring-ato-amove-aa-amuscle.-aHis-aheart-apounded,-asounding-alike-athe-afootsteps-aof-aa-agreat,-alumbering-abehemoth-ain-ahis-aears.-aHis-aeyes-awere-acompletely-aopen-aas-ahe-aput-ahis-afull-aand-acomplete-aattention-aon-athe-atiny-agreen-adragon-ain-afront-aof-ahim.-a
The-asmall-adragon-agave-aoff-aan-aaura-athat-awas-aso-aincredibly-amighty-athat-aGraxital-aknew-athat-aif-ahe-amoved,-ahe-awould-abe-akilled-awithin-aseconds.-aIts-adeep,-ablack-aeyes-agleamed-awith-aunspeakable-aanger-aas-ait-astared-ainto-ahis-asoul.-a
Even-anow,-ahe-acould-asee-athe-amonstrous-adragon-ashaking-ain-arage,-aits-aaura-apalpitatin
g-aoff-aof-ait.-aIts-aface-awas-apulled-aup-ain-aan-aunnatural,-ahideous-asnarl,-agrotesque-aand-ahorrifying-ato-alook-aat.-aThe-ahalf-aeaten-adeer-athighbone-ait-aheld-ain-aits-aclaws-awas-alike-aa-asword-aof-adestruction,-apower-apulsing-aaround-ait.-a
The-abeast-awas-aclearly-abeyond-areasoning-awith.-a
It-awas-aa-awonder-athat-ahe-awas-astill-aalive,-ain-afact.-a
Graxital-awas-aa-atried-aand-atrue-amagician,-aa-awizard-athat-ahad-abeen-atrained-ain-athe-aBlack-aLightning-aDepartment-afor-amore-athan-a12-ayears.-aHe-ahad-areached-athe-aGrandmaster-aClass-ajust-alast-ayear,-aand-awas-aconsidered-aone-aof-athe-amost-aexperienced-aWizards-ain-ahis-aage-agroup.-a
It-awas-abecause-aof-athis-athat-ahe-amanaged-ato-asecure-aa-aposition-aunder-aLord-aHadrion,-athe-aRising-aStar-aof-athe-aBlack-aLightning-aDepartment.-a
His-alate-afather-ahad-aalways-atold-ahim-athat-ahard-awork-awould-abring-aresults,-abut-aonly-aif-awhom-ayou-aworked-afor-awas-aan-ahonest-aman.-aAnd-aLord-aHadrion-awas-agruff,-aforbearing,-abut-amost-aof-aall-ahonest.-a
He'd-aonly-afollowed-athe-aman-afor-aa-ayear,-abut-ahad-abeen-aextremely-aimpressed-awith-ahis-aintegrity-aand-athe-acare-ahe-ashowed,-anot-aonly-afor-ahimself,-abut-afor-aall-athe-aWizards-aand-ahumans-aaround-ahim.-aHis-agruff,-asilent-apersonality-awas-amerely-aa-acloak-afor-aa-agreat-aman.-a
As-ahis-alife-aflashed-abefore-ahis-aeyes,-aGraxital-afelt-ahimself-areach-aa-asense-aof-ainner-apeace.-a
He-aneeded-ato-awarn-aLord-aHadrion.-aThis-avile,-atwisted-aDragon-abefore-ahim-aa-acreature-athat-awas-aat-aleast-aat-athe-apeak-aof-athe-aLord-aClass,-amaybe-astronger.-aEven-aLord-aHardion-acould-abe-akilled-aif-ataken-aby-asurprise.-a
He-acould-anot-alet-athat-aman-aperish.-a
And-ahe-awas-awilling-ato-adie-ato-aensure-athat.-a
Far,-aup-aabove,-ahis-aspell-aBlack-aCalling-ahad-afinished,-aseveral-aenormous-aclouds-ahaving-aformed-ain-athe-aair-aabove-athem,-aslowly-arotating.-aIt-awas-aa-apowerful-aelemental-agathering-aspell,-amaking-ause-aof-athe-aenvironment-ato-astrengthen-aone's-aattack.-a
