Rise of the Last Dragon Rider - Chapter 021 - Always training (Patreon)

Staring at the ceiling, Kaen felt Pammon watching him while he lay in bed.

It’s too late to stay in bed.  You need to get up and start working on what we discussed.

Turning his head sideways, he stuck his tongue out at Pammon and extended his middle finger.

Do you think I want to lay here?  I’m weighing everything in my head.  We have too much to do, and I’m not sure what to do first.  Besides, we have two days before we can head out anyway.  Ava said her dad is almost done with what he thinks will be a successful potion creation.

Keep showing me that finger, and unlike Hess, I will bite it off and swallow it.  I’m sure you don’t need that one to shoot a bow or swing a sword.

Laughing, Kaen sat up, rubbing his eyes with his finger before dropping out of his bed.

The servant who kept this place clean for him needed a raise.  The floor was free of dirt and he he wondered how much work it took to keep all that out, especially with the large sliding doors that opened so Pammon could get in.

If you keep growing, we are going to need a bigger place to stay.  You're almost too tall to fit in here.

Says the dragon rider who has kept tailors in business for the last two years with how much you have grown.  Hess is barely a few inches taller than you now, and you could easily beat him in a fight, and you know it.

Flexing, Kaen admired his body and ran his fingers over his abdominal muscles.  There was almost no fat on his body, and everywhere he looked, he rippled with the rewards of his hard work these last two years.

Regardless, we need to discuss our next plan.  Are you still ok with us hunting the griffons near the dwarven kingdom?  Rumor has it there are some there, and we both know you need to try and find a few creatures to eat that will help you grow faster.

Pammon thrummed as he lifted his head and started to smile.

I am always game for eating something new.  You never need to ask that question.

Laughing, Kaen walked over, reached up with his hands, and scratched the scales on Pammon’s neck.  He studied their size and shape as he did, following them down toward the base of his chest.

Comparing my scales to the ones you saw on the armor and the shield?

“I am,” he answered as he stopped at the largest scales right on Pammon’s lower breast area.  “The shield would have had to come from here, and the size of the dragon would have been at least three times the size you are now.  It would have been even bigger than Tharnok.”

Pammon’s chest heaved suddenly, catching Kaen off guard as Pammon lowered his head and began pushing Kaen down, playing with him.

Kaen pressed up on his dragon, laughing as he was able to hold his head up, even if it required him to give everything he had.

Now stop that before you hurt me, you fool.  Then I won’t be able to help you eat something new.

Lifting his head up, Pammon started trilling once Kaen began scratching his scales again.

Fine, but let’s stop talking about pulling scales off.  Just thinking about that hurts to imagine.

Four attacks came at him simultaneously, and Kaen knew he couldn’t block all of them.  Time was on his side as they were slower than him, but still, he needed to choose the best path.

The spear was going to force him into the sword coming at his head.  The mace that was on his left was a solid wide swing, preventing him from choosing that path lest he get caught by the attack.  That left the staff on his right.  The reach was good, but the trainer using it was not providing enough speed to prevent him from escaping it.

Rolling to his right, he lifted his wooden shield, absorbing the staff’s blow as it came down on him, letting him continue forward and tackling the trainer, knocking their wind out and giving him space once again from the other three.

They had all shifted and pursued, but they all knew their one chance was gone now.

Glancing at each other, they nodded and held up their weapons.

“We surrender; we will delay the inevitable.”

The sound of clapping and cheering echoed off the walls as the students cheered for Kaen and his successfully defeating six trainers.  The area they had given to duel in had provided too much open space.

That was too easy.  Where is Master Bren? He should be challenging you.

Glancing at Pammon, he noticed Callie trying to climb his tail as Hess stood by, watching her play.

He is at his place in town, dealing with some things there.  He is still upset after what happened, and even though I told him not to worry, he has pulled back some from here.

You people get upset about stuff like that.  If I make a mistake, I will fix it.  I won’t whine about it after the fact.

Shaking hands and patting the shoulders of the trainers he had sparred with, Kaen smiled, ignoring the fact he knew Pammon had indeed whined about things before.

“You all did great.  Just remember to work together as one.  A stronger opponent who is faster will require you to be smart.  A few more feints, a double feint, and a better use of your range are what will help win a fight like that.”

Each of them bowed and nodded before heading back to the students who cheered for them.

“Kaen!”

Turning, he saw Racha, the headmistress, coming toward him, having waited for the match to end.

As he handed the shield and mace to a young boy who was grinning like a fool up at him, Kaen waved and began walking toward her.

“What can I do for you, Headmistress?”

She covered the space between them, holding her gray skirt off the ground a little as strode quickly across the dirt.  She was biting her lip, and her usual well-kept hair was a bit undone.

“This contest of yours is causing me more grief than Finn will admit,” she declared, her voice tense as she threw her hands up in the air.  “These children are pushing themselves too hard!”

“Too hard?  What do you mean by that?”

Grunting, she motioned at the crowd of a hundred children who had just finished watching him spar and had now moved off to pick up practice weapons and repeat what they had witnessed.

“Look at them! They will not stop.  Every day, they push themselves to the limit.  They are tired, bruised, sore, and exhausted.  They are fighting as if their lives depend on it.”

Kaen noticed she was wringing her hands together, and he put a hand on her shoulder, feeling her flinch a little from it.

“Racha,” he said in the softest voice he could muster at the moment.  “You are not caring for children.  These children are training this way because their lives and those who live in Ebonmount depend on them.  Soon, a day will come when we need children who are hard and prepared for pain.  It saddens me that this is true, but each sees that.  Why can’t you?”

Tears welled in her eyes as a heavy sigh escaped her lips.

“But what about when some of them die?”

Squeezing her shoulder, Kaen sighed with her.

“I feel that weight.  Trust me.  I know that burden more than anyone else here,” he answered.  “If there were any other way, I would take it, but I know what is coming.  You know what is coming.  They must be prepared this way.  Remember, each of them chose this path and passed the interviews.  Every child who was deemed to want to come here because their parent made that choice for them was sent back home.  Only those who are choosing this path are here.”

Moving to stand beside her, Kaen pointed to the children and the sounds of wooden weapons clacking together.

“We are building walls because something is trying to get in and destroy any future they will have.  I just pray that we have time to prepare them to help against it.”

“It’s just…” she began to say as she paused, watching the students as they played at fighting.

Turning to face Kaen, she gave a slight bow.  Her lips were drawn tight, but her eyes held his gaze.

“I’m sorry, last night was hard.  A few children required…

“Students, Miss Racha.  Students,” he interrupted, his voice firmer than it had been the last time he spoke.

“Students,” she stated, bobbing her head.  “A few students required healing for injuries received while sparing.  They are all fine, but it bothered me.  No one felt they were abused or bullied.  Just injuries gained in the process.  Even Phillip required some healing a few days ago, suffering a nasty crack to his head from one of the other students.”

“Good!” exclaimed Kaen.  “I know this might bother you, but Hess never took it easy on me when he trained me. I had bruises from rocks that he threw at me.  He did not take it easy on me because I was young or his charge.  Remember, we are in a race against time.  You, of all people, know what next month will bring.”

She nodded and grimaced.

“You understand the pressure you have put on Finn and myself.  Having over thirty lifestone students will change everything.  Even your mentor, Hess, has mentioned how things will change for that group.  This is why the older ones are fighting so hard.”

Laughing, Kaen nodded and thumped his chest where his lifestone was.

“They are being given a future and a chance to pursue their dream.  It will be six months before the next batch of lifestones comes in.  As has the king and others, I have paid a fortune to secure this many.  They will be the ones on the frontline someday.  For now, only those who are strong enough to push past the pain and focus on their goal will be chosen to get one.”

She grunted, and Kaen spun around, hearing laughter coming up from behind him.  He saw Hess and Callie laughing as he chased her toward Kaen.

“If you will excuse me, Miss Racha, I will continue to entrust these students to your care.  You are doing fine work.  Keep loving on them and pushing them.”

Striding off, he left her standing there, still wringing her hands, but her head bobbed.  Being in charge of this was never going to be an easy job.

“Callie!” Kaen shouted as he dashed toward her, snatching her off the ground and tossing her high into the sky.

She laughed and giggled as he caught her, dipping her low before throwing her once more into the air, watching her red hair bounce in the wind and her eyes sparkle.

“Kaan!” she squealed.  “Again!”

Tossing her once more, he caught her before bringing her in and giving her a hug.

“I missed you, little sister.  Is mom and dad being nice?”

Hess groaned as Callie turned and narrowed her eyes at him.

She nodded her head sharply and smiled.

“Yes! See Pammon!”

Bouncing her on his hip, he nodded and pointed at his dragon, who was watching the three of them.

She likes to grab my tail.  I have mentioned I don’t like my tail being grabbed, haven’t I?

Oh, you have, and yet not once have I heard you growl at her when she does.

Pammon remained silent, but Kaen saw his tail get tucked under himself as he laid his head on the dirt floor.

“Pammon loves you, but remember, don’t tug on his tail.  It hurts the dragon.  He isn’t strong like your brother.”

Laughing, she punched him in the chest, and he growled, tipping her upside down and tickling her.

“Remind me why I wanted kids when those punches she throws start to hurt,” joked Hess as he smiled, watching the two of them play.

“They hurt,” he answered as he dipped her down again, causing another cascade of laughter to fill the space around them.

Lost in that moment, Kaen tried to ignore the conversation he had just had with Racha.  He hoped that Callie could grow up without having to be that hard but knew the odds were not in her favor.