"Young Dragon, why are you here outside the ancient forest? I don't want to hurt you. Go back now and your life will be spared."
The Dragon roared and spew the liquid fire at Pheonix but, he didn't dodged the attack.
"Nooooooo.... " everyone shouted but it was too late. After spewing the fire for more than 10 seconds, the dragon stopped and turned towards the others and started walking towards them.
Everyone were standing there stunned and unable to move due to the sudden chain of events. When they felt that they would also be obliterated like Pheonix, they heard a voice from behind the dragon.
"Hey, is that all you got? I thought you might give me a good fight. Alas, I was hoping for too much." After saying that he shot towards the dragon with such speed that he became a blurr to the onlookers.
Sensing the danger from behind, the dragon turned it's head, but it was too late. Something smashed into its face so hard that, the impact made its head turn a complete circle and then the dragon fell down, unconscious!
All the nine others there, were staring at Phoenix in awe and disbelief.
"Is it dead lad? Did you kill it?" Xavier asked after coming back to his senses.
"No, Master Xavier. I just knocked it down. it's still an youngling. It would be such a waste to kill it. You guys carry on. I will have a word with this one as soon as it regains its senses and will send it back to the forest depth.
"Thats good my boy. You are a true hero in the making. I don't think even your father was this strong or this kind hearted when he was in the academy. Take care. We will be on our way back. Everyone, lets move back."
Both Kate and Samantha looked reluctant to leave but, did not had any other option and followed others. While returning, Samantha was completely silent, her head bowed down in shame.
"Xavier, is that boy really from the Dragonheart's family?"
"Yes Derric, he is the son of Simon Dragonheart."
" No wonder he is such a strong lad. As the saying goes. Like father, Like son."
"You are wrong there Derric. As you saw today, Pheonix is as powerful as his father now if not even stronger at just 15 years of age itself. And I can definitely say it would be unjust if we don't give the boy the credit he deserve and compare him to his father for all his deeds. Simon is no doubt a hero and a legend. But even he could not have knocked down a red dragon with just a single punch at the age of 20, even with his manapool doubled. Mark my word Derric, this boy would be a legend amongst the legends."
Both Kate and Samantha listened to the conversation between the two adults and had different expressions.
One had a proud feeling with a broad smile and another felt shame, embarrassment and regretful.
The light was almost fading and the sky was getting dark as they return to their quarters, and Kate started towards her side of the staircases when, Samantha spoke.
" Kate do you really think that I am that bad of a person?"
Kate stopped in her tracks, but didn't turned. " Not really Sammy but your behavior towards Pheonix is not something easily forgivable. He is a true gentleman who didn't blamed you but the thing you said doubting about his identity was truely over the board. Imagin if he would have doubted you of being a princess and questioning you if the King is truely your father." After that, she walked away into her room.
Samantha stood their speachless, tears silently flowing down her cheeks. This time she knew she had crossed the limits by doubting a man's father's identity.
After almost 2 hours Phoenix came back.
"Are you alright? What happened to the Dragon? Why did you took so long to come back?" Kate started bombarding Phoenix with questions.
" I am absolutely alright Mom, It took sometime for the dragon to get back up and then some more time to convince it. Now it's safely back inside the ancient forest and here I am, safely back."
As soon as he finished speaking, he noticed Samantha coming down from her room. But, Phoenix did not even glanced at her.
"Come then, let's go for the dinner."
"It's alright Kate, you go on without me. I have some work and also want to take a bath and then will go. Don't wait for me." Waving his hands with a warm smile at Kate, Pheonix ignored Samantha Completely and went inside the tiny store room, which had became his changing room now.
Samantha felt like being given a tight slap and tears welled up in her eyes. Kate felt helpless as this was what she had brought upon herself. Infact if it were anyone else, the outcome would have been even worse.
Sighing inwardly, she dragged Samantha out for dinner after giving her a few minutes to get her composure back.
When they were about to leave the Dining hall, they noticed Pheonix entering and as soon as he entered a few seniors who were present during their examination the day before surrounded him and dragged him to have dinner with them.
"He is one hell of a guy, he is. Not even 2 days old inside the academy but already famous amongst the ladies. That's Phoenix for you." Kate smiled wryly and started walking out. Samantha felt a pang in her heart but followed Kate without saying anything.
Both the girls were reading when Pheonix came back. " Hey, you jerk. Since when are you able to use magic? Don't lie, tell me honestly. " Kate stood up from the chair, hands on her hips and with a serious face like an angry mother confronting her mischievous child.
Phoenix scratched the back of his head looking embarrassed. "It's almost 3 years since I can access my mana pool Kate. And it's all thanks to my Master."
"What is his name? Where is he? Can he take me in as his student and teach me how to punch a dragon like you did?"
"Ha ha ha...." Pheonix laughed for a solid minute before he was able to speak again.
"Hey! Don't you dare make fun of me. I am serious." Kate said looking seriously at Phoenix who was laughing like a maniac.
"His name is Remus, he is a kind of hermit who has his house at the edge of the ancient forest. But he doesn't live there. He will be roaming around the kingdom or may be even the whole of the world!!! Who know what runs inside that old man's mind. But long ago he took my father as his disciple. When I was born the old man came to visit my father and promised him to take me as his disciple."
"Unfortunately, he is not someone who takes in disciples easily Kate. I believe I was lucky enough to have him as my master. I miss that old man so much sometimes." Pheonix felt a pang in his heart and smiled sadly sighing deeply.
Samantha was also listening to Pheonix's words and was tempted to ask a few more questions, but controlled herself.
"Is he such a nice man, that you miss him so much?" Kate asked curiously by noticing Pheonix's reaction.
" Yes, now I can say he is like a grandfather to me. If you would have asked the same thing a couple of years ago, I might have said that, he is the worst person in the entire world."
"You know what, there was a day when, I thought of Killing him in his sleep and running away."
Kate burst out laughing. Even Samantha laughed. But, as usual, her presence was ignored by him.
"Seriously!!!"
"Yes, he never appreciated anything I did and would always find mistakes in whatever I did. That made the old man my biggest enemy in this world. However things changed a couple of years ago when my Initial training was completed."
" From that time onwards, he always treated me like his own grandson. Even though, I was away from my family for 5 years, in wilderness fighting with beasts, bandits murderous and what not, he was always there with me like a family." Pheonix smiled.
Sighing deeply again he said, "Ok Kate, I will take my leave. I have to meditate before sleeping. Good night." Waving his hand he turned around to leave.
"Phoenix I....." Samantha started to say something but as usual, he ignored her and went out of the study room.