While I'm in a deep slumber, I heard the sound of hooves stomping, people yelling indistinctly, and metals chimed like heavy-weight bells. As I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on a white bed with a soft blanket placed perfectly above me. My head was wrapped in bandages. On the other side, my scarf and jacket were hanging on a hook. The rosy-red color of my scarf became maroon with ashes. I could feel that my right arm was wrapped with bandages as well.

 

I grimaced and held my head as I sat up. I was in a large tent, though no one's here except me. Where am I? I tried to get up, but the pain kept holding me down. "Well, well, well, good afternoon." It was Sean who showed up, this time he didn't look like a hippie with style, he looked more like he was going on a trip to the beach. His ponytail was wavy as ever while showing of wearing a purple floral jacket, caramel shorts, and black shoes.

 

"Sean?" I peered to see the details of his face. 

 

Sean looked back outside. "Claes, he's awake. He's all right, well . . . sort of."

 

Claes entered, looking the same as ever. "I didn't expect such a young boy to survive."

 

The words put a smile on my face. "Glad I did."

 

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

 

I gently shook my head. "Bad." Sean stepped in and showed a bottle from his pocket. 

 

"Not for long. Here, drink this, it will help you feel better." I grabbed the bottle and drank it. The cold refreshing beverage lifted the heavy headache of the brain. The feeling of my wounds became less sore. 

 

"Thank you," I said.

 

"Told ya," Sean smirked. On the table, I could see my burned bow and quiver. My sword! What happened to my sword?! It's currently burned, ash black, and damaged- with minor cracks that I couldn't bear to stare at for too long. Claes turned to look at the weapons at the table. "So you're a hunter."  

 

I nodded. "Instead of buying imported meats, my father thought me how to hunt, since Northern Quarté is currently populated with creatures that we can eat."

 

Claes didn't comment, neither did Sean. He just nodded and kept staring at my weapons. "So, what happened to me?" I finally asked. 

 

Claes looked back at me. "We found you in the icy lake. We thought that you were dead when we brought you on our boat, but our friend checked your heart and pulse that still pumps." He nodded to Sean.

 

"Wow. Thank you for the rescue," I told him. I was extremely grateful for these guys, if it wasn't for them, my thought of giving up might actually kill me.

 

"Sure thing kid."

 

Then, I thought about something, something that I have to do. "My family," I muttered. "I have to go back. They'll worry."

 

"Who?" Sean asked.

 

"My family. I have to go." As I stood up, Claes and Sean marched toward me just to calm me down. 

 

"Whoa, whoa. Easy, we cannot bring you to your family yet," Sean said.

 

"And why is that?" I asked. 

 

I had no clue why they're hesitating, but Claes replied, "After we brought you to our vessel, we saw the three-headed dragon heading north."

 

"Which was a bad thing," Sean interrupted. "Because . . . the dragon is heading to your village. Yeah, I know. Wizard powers."

 

"We can't go after the dragon, but we have men near your village. They will do everything to stop the dragon," Claes added. How didn't I know that?

 

"Have you guys lost your minds?!" I blurted. "It's suicide! There is no way to stop that thing."

 

"We don't need to stop it, yet. We need to distract it away from your village."

 

"How do you guys know?"

 

"Owls will come here," Sean replied. "On their legs tied a small scroll. They will bring a message from your village."

 

"So, I have to wait until an owl gets here?" I got frustrated with that fact.

 

"Yes, indeed." Sean nodded.

 

"You need more rest," Claes said, "Uh . . . what's your name again?"

 

"MaXabiere."

 

"Oh, right. Well then, you still need plenty of rest, MaXabiere. We're glad you're okay." Claes and Sean went outside the tent. To be honest, I didn't feel like I need a rest, I'm stressing out right now that I wanted to see my family and Sam.

 

The more I thought about the three-headed dragon, the more I remember the event during the triumph of the Flash warriors seven years ago. The dancing flames of inferno, burning houses, people suffering, and even me. Why do I have to urge myself? Why did I risk doing something so hopeless? Why do I even have this power in me?

 

A thought crossed my mind. I remember . . . wait, the three-headed-dragon was the same dragon seven years ago! The attack, the villagers and the queen evacuating, the mother and the poor baby falling, and I saved them. I saved them! But I foolishly sacrificed my life. I shouldn't be here right now.

 

***

 

I couldn't sleep actually, so I read a book called The Whisper that was on the table right next to me. I expected it to be a love story, but it turns out to be horror. Seriously, who put a horror book here? I covered myself with a blanket along with the pillow in front of my face acting as a shield just in case the Whisper wanted my soul despite the vengeful ghost only hunts bad people.

 

When someone entered the tent, I jumped, nearly throwing the book. "AHHHH! Please don't hurt me!" I quickly hid behind my bed after I tripped over.

 

"Relax, I'm not going to hurt you," said a man. Taking a quick peek, the guy had blond brushed-up hair with golden hues at the back. His irises were two separate colors, his left eye green, and right eye orange. His face and body had muscular features that I could even see the muscular tone of it. He was also wearing a black suit with obsidian armor. On his back, there was something big attached to it. "I am Commander Grayson. I'm here to speak with you." 

 

I slowly stood. The man looked at the book on the ground which I accidentally throw. "I see. You're reading it." 

 

I put the book on my bed and started, "Um . . . my name is MaXabiere . . . and uh . . .are you the one who put this or . . .?"

 

"My brother and his wizard colleague told me how you survived, and it's quite a miracle." The commander let out a wide smile.

 

His brother? No wonder why he looked kind of familiar, he's Claes' brother. "You're a Vortecse?" I watched him nodded as I said his surname. 

 

He then sighed. "My brother really doesn't like mentioning me, huh? Come, we'll talk outside."

 

***

 

The outside was beautiful and yet surprising, they brought me inside their campsite. It looked like the festival from Sir Robin hood's biography. The flags' colors were red, blue, violet, white, and black that had a sign of F and W fused (I know it was confusing to imagine the picture, but I have no idea why they made that symbol). And I wasn't in the north anymore. I had a feeling that I'm in the south.

 

The campers looked strange to me, all wearing the same yet different outfits. Armors, vests, coats, with random weapons on their hips, back, even on their boots. Above us, men and women were flying using majestic Pegasi (Plural Pegasus in case you're wondering. For the record, there were plenty of them in the Enchanted World).

 

"Um, I just realized now. Where exactly am I?" I asked.

 

"I guess my brother really didn't tell you anything at all." (I guess I really didn't ask when I had the chance). "In front of you is our camp where we are assigned on a mission. And these are warriors."

 

"Warriors?" I began to wonder. Wait . . .the symbol. Their outfits. The Pegasi.

 

"The ones who rescued you, kid, are Flash warriors. All of them are Flash warriors." My jaw dropped, eyes widened. I couldn't even believe it, I'm actually here. I am in a camp filled with Flash warriors that my neighbors had talked about. 

 

"Even-"

 

"The hippie with style, SeanLeo Kenslin? Yes." He brought up that bright smile again. I couldn't help but gaze at every single one of the marching warriors in any direction. The camp was packed with many stuff, magical stuff that I couldn't even describe all! I'm actually here with these guys. A male or a female could be a Flash warrior- even any race. "Whoa, I didn't even realize." I am clearly amazed by the sight.

 

"Yup, no doubt, my brother didn't tell you everything." The commander sighed. I noticed other warriors practicing, training, and meditating. As they did, random magic came to them, an ability to unleash elements, to control things, and anything else (For the record, they had many abilities).

 

"So I heard you guys are gifted with magic?" I said. 

 

He nodded. "All the Flash warriors are gifted in many ways. Our magical abilities came from our ancestors long ago." Commander Grayson stared at the evening sky. "They are gifted with magical powers that can be used for good, but legend has it, there was no magic before, they lived an ordinary people that have to deal with inevitable conflicts."

 

"Who taught you that?"

 

"My friend, Giuseppe, he's like a wise guy for us. But don't think of him as an old man. His age is similar to mine, thirty-four."

 

"Wow," I commented.

 

"Eh, although Gius still needs more research from the stars."

 

"How is that even possible?" I wondered, but he just shrugged. 

 

"I do not know, even I had a hard time reading his mind."

 

"So, with this magic, you guys can do anything."

 

"Something like that, kid. Anyways, I've never heard a survivor from the dragon's attack. Except you."

 

A late memory had flashed before me. "Um . . . commander?" I asked nervously. "What exactly did they tell you? About how I survived."

 

Commander Grayson looked me in the eye. "Before they brought you on their vessel, they saw you flying in flames while fighting the three-headed dragon."

 

"Oh . . . " I said.

 

"Yup . . . oh indeed." Even Commander Grayson realized what I thought. "It seems that you have a gift. A powerful one in fact. As far as I could tell you have had magical powers since birth. Like the rest of us." He then looked me in the eye. "Or did you even know?"

 

"My parents didn't even tell me this." How long did they keep this secret from me- or maybe I just got these abilities yesterday, but as he said, I had this since birth. But how?

 

Could it be . . . ?

 

"If I have this power . . . ." I'm trying to think about the words I'm going to say. 

 

"Well. You can be one of us, kid," said the commander. On that day, I was mind blown.