Commander Grayson and I went to the other side of the mountain through a zigzag trail path. There, the Flash warriors even build another campsite. In it were tents so tall it's probably thirty feet in height. This other camp had a central area like an arena. A few hours later, we had a dinner party. Man, I wish my family could see what I'm seeing right now. And yet there was this anxious feeling that I wanted to get rid of. 

 

Fireflies kept changing colors as they illuminate, so were the mushrooms. We had so many delicious, appetizing, and overwhelming scents of food, desserts, and beverages on every circular table that we occupied. No matter how many foods there were, the warriors still able to munch as many as they desire as if they were in an eating contest. The chairs and tables surrounded the center of the camp.

 

At the dinner party, Claes and Sean found and accompanied me to a table to talk. They were sitting facing me. For the first time, Sean was dressed as a wizard with a violet robe with a golden emblem of the fused F and W, but his indigo glasses remained. "So . . . where have you guys been?" I asked them, glad to see their faces honestly. 

 

Sean flexed his shoulders by rolling them backward. "We took care of some other stuff, but never mind that. Anywaaaaay, how it goes with the commander?" He leaned on the table with his arms while smiling at me.

 

"Good. He seems like a nice guy. But his brother never mentioned him." I looked at Claes who was sipping his tea. 

 

"Yeah, about that." Sean cleared his throat. "Claes and commander have a little-" Claes stopped Sean by nudging him on the arm. I knew what that meant, so I didn't bother asking another question about the commander and his brother. Instead, I asked them about me. 

 

"Okaaay." I started to change the subject. "I suppose I should thank you for saving me."

 

"Oh, about that, don't mention it. Just doing our job. Commander Grayson is holding this camp so yeah," said Sean, sipping his coffee. I had no idea why he drinks coffee in the evening. I mean, isn't it suppose to be taken in the mornings, or if he's stressed? Maybe he's drinking coffee because it helps him to relax.

 

"Commander also told me about the Flash warriors. You guys are like magical heroes, right, like . . . for real?" I asked, turning my head from Sean to Claes.

 

"We are magical heroes, or call us magical protectors," Sean replied. "Since the beginning, every one of us trained to control our magic before we're ready to settle the score around the globe. It's like the magical heroes organization with school lectures." That sounded boring, no offense to them.

 

"But." Sean raised a finger. "We can live normally like other people."

 

"Let me guess." I narrowed my eyes, looking at my unfinished bread. "You're living like normal people, but you guys also risk your life?" 

 

Sean nodded. "Mhmm, that's the Flash warrior in a nutshell." 

 

I started to ask, "If that's the case, what do you guys deal with?"

 

"Oh, you know, rescuing people, beating up casual pirates, thieves, and a bunch of thugs. Then, the are the hard ones, which involve monsters, spirits, demons, supernatural forces, and Shadow knights. Trust me, you do not want to know those people." And I did. I didn't mind who those people were. They're probably bad . . . or worse.

 

"Don't you guys have a hard time fighting all the time?" I shook my head from all that info.

 

"Well, even we have limits, but when there's a job that needs to be done, we need to get it done. But even if you have magic, it's up to you if you want to join us or not." Sean sipped his coffee again. Something was missing, something that I have to tell, oh, wait, got it. 

 

"Okay, you got a point there. Here is another thing that you need to know. I can be one of you guys." They weren't surprised. Instead, Claes just smiled for the very first time I've seen him and Sean just laughed with joy and patted me on the shoulder painfully. I felt that.

 

"Well, waddya know,  I tentatively welcome you to the family!" Sean opened his arms wide. "Uh . . . can we call you Max or Xabiere or-"

 

"Xabe is the usual one, so you know what to call me." I grinned, feeling welcomed, but still uncomfortable. Despite the amazing men and women, no matter what race, from what they do and what they have, and this huge dinner party, I still feel like I'm an alien.

 

"Hmm . . . Xabe does sound short and good enough, okay then, Xabe it is!" Sean beamed.

 

Suddenly, the sound of trumpets got our attention towards the center. A huge stage (I had no idea how they built the stage for a couple of hours, but the past is in the past, I'll never know. Hmm . . . maybe I should ask Claes about this part) and the chairs and the tables were to the center anyway.

 

Commander Grayson appeared on top of the stage, standing in a firm position, arms at the back, shin up, and ready to speak up. "Campers!" His voice was like thunder. "I have good news and terrible news. The good news is that the victims of the poison clouds are officially better, thanks to the health experts." 

 

Sean smiled then turned to Claes. "I told you I'm a health expert, hehe."

 

"But, the terrible news is the dragon went global. It left Quarté, but it will come towards the rest of the entire region, which is the worst part. The dragon attack is still unknown, but the news will hopefully provide answers."

 

The warriors began murmuring and muttering indistinctly. No way, I thought, it can't be. My family, what about my family, also Sam? What could the three-headed dragon do to them?! It will pay! Inside of me shouted with fury.

 

A brown owl came and landed on the commander's right arm. He took a tiny scroll from the owl's left leg. He unrolled it and read the letter. "I have other good news," the commander told the crowd. "The village of Northern Quarté is safe, but the warriors were injured. So the others have to stay in the village to set camp." Phew, my family was all right and at the same time, I felt bad for the ones who sacrificed themselves. There was a sense of relief that I could stop being anxious. Everyone was happy by nodding to each other even patting on the shoulder, though some warriors were wary about the ones who protected my home.

 

"The villagers will be just fine as soon as our men in the northern village are completely healed." commander looked at me and his eyes widened as he saw me. "Oh yes, I almost forgot. I have other news." The noise finally faded so we could hear what the commander has to say. "Yesterday, my brother and the other troops found a survivor. They have witnessed something very spectacular." The warriors began to mutter again. How much news is there?

 

"He has magical abilities, but not like any other. Ever since I met him, I sensed his aura, it's way too different. I've told him that he can be one of us. He can be a Flash warrior." I could tell that everyone is staring at me. My blood began to run cold because of nervousness. "I summon the survivor to come on stage." There were noises again. As I stood up, I heard Sean muttered go.

 

I had never thought of myself thinking I would walk to a stage to confront many people, especially come to think of it- I never thought that I would be standing while facing a bunch of Flash warriors.

 

"This is MaXabiere." Commander Grayson gestured at me as I stood next to him on stage. "A male member of the Berrygrewd family. Courtesy to SeanLeo Kenslin," he whispered. "He is a hunter providing for his family. And now, he has the magic to protect." He gave me a serious look and went back to the crowd. I know you want to see your family, but you have to trust me. 

 

I gasped, What just happened?

 

"This kid possesses the magic that is so inexplicable, even I couldn't understand. But, we will figure it out by training him for several weeks." Everyone was staring at me. Sooooooo awkward. "After that, he may go home and be with his family for the sake of comfort." They stayed quiet until someone with silver hair and blue eyes entered. His purple cloak glittering like stars. "If I am correct, this could be our chance." The warriors all turned to him. "Just like the prophecy, he could be the one."

 

"Hey, Gius! How are you? I heard you were seasick." The commander beamed, glad to see him. So that's Giuseppe? His face was not of an old man but an adult. Unlike the commander's chiseled face, the wizard's face was slimmer and his chin was pointed.

 

Giuseppe sighed. "Forget that. From what you said earlier, this kid could be the one."

 

"Pff, what are you talking about? Just because the prophecy says it, it means that this kid is the one?"

 

"He might be. This is it. The time has come." I stepped back, shocked by what Giuseppe said. Now my mind was driven further because of all the new questions.

 

"Oh right, the prophecy, my bad. But, we're not sure if this kid is truly the one. What if someone out there is beyond him? And he just got here," the commander told his friend.

 

"That is impossible because he is the beyond." Giuseppe looked towards the crowd while raising his arms just like the way people praise the high heavens. "The heavenly almighty himself has sent us hope."

 

"Um . . . ," I said. "What exactly is he talking about?" I looked at the commander.

 

"It means-" Commander Grayson was about to say a word, but he stopped as a large BANG! fell on us. The stage was destroyed. We were thrown to the ground. I heard swords being unsheathed and arrows being drawn. It was a good thing that I'm still conscious. As I looked around, the fire stretched across the camp. The battle starts here. Quickly, the commander picked me up by the arm. "What happened?" I asked.

 

"It's here, it's here." He was facing the terror of destruction. I looked up to the sky and widened my eyes. Behind those smoky clouds was the three-headed dragon, revolving around like a vulture. "Oh, come on! Is there any other place where these three ugly faces won't find me?!" I complained.

 

"We don't have much time! You have to go before-" The dragon produced a smashing blast that almost killed both of us as it descended towards the camp before flying upward. Its massive body caused everything to be blown away. Commander rolled onto the ground and stood up, but we both tripped as I bumped him from the explosion. "Sorry about that," I whimpered.

 

"It's all right, kid. You must find Claes and Sean." The commander grunted. "Could you please get your knee off my chest?" I looked down and saw my knee pushing down his chest. I quickly stood up. "Whoops." As he rose to his feet, he unsheathed his obsidian sword. "Get out now, nice meeting you by the way." Risky as it looked, he ran off to face the dragon. I was about to say something, but Claes stopped me by grabbing my arm. 

 

"He's right, we have to go," he urged.

 

"He's your brother!" I yelled through the exploding noise. "You can't just leave him! Or them . . . maybe."

 

"Commander's orders. Let's go." He brought me to a shore where a small vessel was parked. I could see Sean gesturing us to hurry. 

 

"Get your butts over here. We have to leave." Sean ordered.

 

"I know," Claes spat. As we entered the vessel, Sean cast a magic spell to untie the ropes. We set sail where we could be safe. I saw the camp burning in flames while the dragon was still flying, roaring with rage. I thought all of them could be burning right now. It was a scary imagination. "What about them?" I asked. Claes and Sean came up next to me and leaned their arms on the wooden railing. "Don't worry, Xabe," Sean told me. "They have many experiences . . . well, so much for experiences am I right?"

 

"This is unexpected." Claes snorted. "We haven't expected a visitor who likes killing people. And we thought it flew far away from here."

 

"And burn them alive," I added. "I-I need to help-"

 

"We need to go to your village. At least we can have some resources that are not destroyed."

 

"Wait a minute." I noticed. "If you two are here, then who's driving . . . ?"

 

Claes darted at Sean. "Sean!" He yelled. 

 

"Whoopsies. On it." Sean turned back and controlled the steering wheel.

 

***

 

Later at night, when the sky turned completely dark blue, I kept watching the moon shining from the sun's light. "Hey." Sean came up next to me. 

 

"Hey." I turned to him.

 

"I brought your scarf, together with your other things." He lifted a sack in his hand. He looked like was carrying a garbage bag.

 

"Thank you, I forgot about these." I looked down towards the ocean. 

 

He then sighed. "I know that face." Sean looked at me. 

 

"What if the Giuseppe guy's right?" 

 

He pouted his mouth. "About that prophecy which isn't mentioned before."

 

"I don't know." I shook my head. "I don't believe in prophecies but . . . it's just that . . .  I always felt this urge to save others as if I want to save myself. And the way my magic got awakened when I face the dragon, it's too incredible."

 

"We all know the truth when we feel it," Sean said. "Besides, we saw you flying around while the three heads had a triple headache." 

 

I chuckled as I imagined it. "If I'm one of you guys, I have to get myself stronger along with my abilities." 

 

Sean patted me on the shoulder. "Look, I know you have the magic, but you're too young."

 

"They're not the only one who wants to find out my power." I looked at my clenched hands. As the commander stated: I have the power like no other, despite me being a shooting star yesterday. "I have to train."

 

"Whoa, whoa. take it easy, man. We have no idea what your powers are capable of, so I have to analyze it." He put his thumb on my forehead. After that, he was stunned. "Whoa."

 

"What do you mean whoa?'"

 

"I never thought I'd say this, but, you have something else inside of you." Sean pointed at my chest. That made me so excited to know my power. "I have got to train. If the commander said I'll train for several weeks, then I will."

 

"Sometimes Commander Grayson can be a doing-it-in-advance guy." Sean nodded. 

 

I had to change the subject. "I know it's not my business but are Claes and commander okay? They seem to ignore each other. A lot."

 

As I said that, Sean just shrugged. "I don't know. He never told me about their brotherhood relationship. Instead, he told me that it was complicated." I sighed. I looked at Claes, who was driving the vessel. Looking way too serious.

 

"Hope they're okay." I looked at the moon again. "My family, if-"

 

"Trust me, the troops we sent to the dragon were way better than the ones in the camp, aside from them being health experts." Sean smiled.

 

"It's like there's no stopping it as if it's indestructible." My rage increased. It's like I wanted to crush the dragon in hell and burn it till it exploded into millions of pieces.

 

"As a king once said back in the old days, 'Nothing is indestructible'. Well, except for the All-Father himself. Look, the point is, everything and everyone has fatal flaws. Even the three-headed dragon."

 

"I'm not so sure about that."

 

"Giuseppe's right. I don't know what the prophecy says, but you got this, Xabe. We saw what you did there. What if you're are the-"

 

"Sean, I need you here!" Claes' voice boomed from far away.

 

Sean looked back at Claes before looking at me. "Better go. Enjoy your view." I watched as he hurriedly went to Claes and see what's going on. I turned back, staring at where I was looking in the first place. If the three-headed dragon went global, then there's nowhere safe. But, on the bright side, I had to pray for my family to be safe. If only the Lord sends one of his angels to tell me about myself. If only my parents had told me this.