I continue to keep my head down even after the Elder finished his explanation. I dare not look up for the possible looks of disappointment or fear from anyone in the room.

"So all we have to do is make sure he doesn't try to break the seal right?"-Cassandra

"Yes. That is all."-Elder

"But that means I can't teach him magic!"-Corwin

Shouted my dad. His voice filled the entire library, making an echo. Is he really worried about that at a time like this?

"You fool! Of course you can't teach him magic. You've seen what the affect of breaking the seal will do."-Elder

"But he's such a good boy. I'm sure he can overcome it!"-Corwin

"No! If we were to break that seal, your sweet and innocent little boy would become a completely different person! He would feel nothing but hatred and envy!"-Elder

Hearing this, my head droops even lower than before. Now you can't see my face at all. Why do these kind of things have to happen to me? As if my previous life wasn't hard enough!

Suddenly I feel a gentle touch on the top of my head. I know it's my mom's hand since my dad's would be rough and coarse. Involuntarily I lift my head up to look at her. Instead of the disappointed and fearful look I was expecting, it was a peaceful gaze which contained pity and kindness. She gave me one of her infamously beautiful smiles which could make even the toughest man look like a tomato. This smile almost instantly calmed my heart.

"You don't need to feel bad sweetie. We know it's not your fault."-Cassandra

After saying this, she turns her head towards dad.

"Honey I think it would be best to discuss how exactly we are going to be dealing with Cyril's training. I know it must be hard for you to not be able to teach your son magic, but you can still teach him different combat styles."-Cassandra

"..."-Corwin

Dad keeps quiet at this with a strange look on his face.

"I think we should talk about this in private. Atlas would you please bring Cyril outside with his brother? Oh while you're at it, how about you bring them both to play with your daughter?"-Elder

Atlas seems to be hesitating towards that last part. After seeing what I can do he must not want me near his daughter very much.

"Atlas?"-Elder

"Yes...Right away Elder."-Atlas

He then gets up and escorts me out of the library. After we are out of the library, Lucas is nowhere to be seen. I become a little worried at this, but I feel at ease shortly after Atlas says this.

"Don't worry kid, he probably just went to play with Tide."-Atlas

He must have seen the expression on my face...

"Let's go to my home. Lucas and Tide are probably waiting for you there."-Atlas

"...ok." 

With that said, we walk in silence towards his house. Since I feel really awkward with this guy, I decide to try and start a conversation with him.

"Big bro and Tide get along really well don't they?"

"Yes. Yes they do."-Atlas

Just that short reply and he is already finished talking? This guy really isn't much of a talker.

"I think they look really good together."-Cyril

This should get him talking!

"They sure do. I hope that someday they can..."-Atlas

He says all of this with a bright smile. I haven't ever seen him smile like this out of all the few times I've seen him! He must like Lucas a lot. I look up at him and ask this question.

"Hope they can what?"

He then stops his footsteps, so I also stop mine.

"We are here."-Atlas

He no longer has that gentle smile on his face like before. Instead it's his usual expressionless face.

"What are you looking at? Go inside and play."-Atlas

I give him a nod and walk towards the small wooden house. Atlas doesn't follow, but instead walks off in a different direction. I watch him walk away until he finally turns a corner and I can't see him anymore.

"Cyril!"-Tide

From behind comes Tide's voice calling my name. Before I could turn around, she tackles me to the ground. It was supposed to be a hug but she isn't exactly good at controlling her strength.

" Ouch! Tide, what are you doing?!"

She gets up off of the ground and looks at me with teary eyes.

"I haven't seen you in forever! Why haven't you come to play with me?!"-Tide

"But it was only for a few days."-Lucas

Then Lucas walks out of the house trying to calm her down.

"No buts!"-Tide

Now she is definitely being difficult...

"Sweetie calm down and bring Cyril inside. Wipe all that dirt off your clothes too."-???

A sweet voice reaches all of our ears. I look towards the house and in the window is Tide's mother. Her name is Joanna and she is the nicest person I've ever met. It is definitely where Tide gets her innocence from. Anyways, her long and sleek hair is a jet black with hazel eyes. Her skin is tan and she is a very stubborn woman. Tide also gets her strength from her.

"Auntie!" 

I like to call her Auntie since neither my mom or dad have any siblings. However, I don't call Atlas Uncle since I do not  see him nearly as much as Joanna. They also do not have any parents. I haven't heard the story, but I'm sure they'll tell me about that eventually.

Anyway, all three of us run into the house. After Auntie gives me an extra shirt they had lying around, I play with Lucas and Tide. Whilst I'm putting on my usual act of being an innocent kid, I can't help but wonder what the Elder and my parents are talking about.

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Cassandra pov

Ever since Cyril left we immediately began discussing the matter of Cyril's training. Corwin was very upset that he couldn't teach Cyril any magic. Of course he is teaching Lucas magic and how to fight but Lucas isn't really interested in his kind of magic, which is flame and wind magic. Lucas is more interested in illusion magic.

Both the Elder and Corwin had a very heated discussion about it. Corwin did eventually give up, but we still haven't told him about how Cyril already seems to know Dark Gods Hand. Originally I doubted he could know a martial arts like that without anyone even teaching him. Now I am not so sure about that...

"Elder, Cyril seems to already know a martial arts."

Since they were both done with their argument I decided to chime in.

"How could he possibly know a fighting style already? He's only two years old and neither of you have taught him anything."-Elder

He gives me a doubtful look from across the table.

"Well the martial arts he used seemed a lot like Dark Gods Hand. He was able to disable my leg for a couple of minutes by using a pressure point."

"He was also able to knock out two guards at the front gate, which you must already know."-Corwin

He was able to knock out two guards?! He must have tricked them into lowering their guards since he is still only a child.

"I did not know that he was the one to knock them unconscious. I just thought they were being lazy!"-Elder

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Seriously?"-Corwin

The Elder looks very troubled and Corwin is looking at him with a complicated gaze.

"They are being punished right now for being lazy. Even now that I know that being lazy wasn't the reason for them sleeping instead of guarding the village, they were beat by a child. I'm definitely extending the time on their punishment."-Elder

How cruel...

"Well anyways, we don't know how he learned that martial arts. We were hoping you would know."

"Has Cyril shown any strange behavior other than brutally murdering a Vampchicken and cursing?"-Elder

"Last night he was screaming in his sleep. He was covered in sweat when we woke him up and he said it was just a bad dream."

Remembering the event that occurred and how I cried all night last night, my heart quivers. To relive myself of stress I take a sip of the green tea on the coffee table.

"Sheesh that must have frightened you both very much. Indeed, that is very strange. First he does something like that, then the next day he knows such a martial arts...? I think I can tell you who taught him such a thing."-Elder

I can tell whatever the Elder is going to say is not good. Beads of sweat start to form on my face as we both sit on the edge of the couch nervously waiting for him to tell us who could possibly teach Cyril such a frightening martial arts.

"It must have been Tayrn."-Elder

"As in the god that blessed Cyril? I thought gods weren't allowed to interfere with mortals other than blessing them."-Corwin

"Normally that would be true but Tayrn is a dark god and a god of madness at that. Do you seriously expect him to follow the rules?"-Elder

"Why would Tayrn do such a thing?" 

Elder turns his head towards me. His gaze shows a hint of pity.

"...Isn't it obvious? That bastard wants to make Cyril his new toy."-Elder

"His toy?"-Corwin

Corwin doesn't seem to understand. I understand though! This motherfucker is trying to make my baby into a crazed murderer for his entertainment.

Since I understand what's happening I'm really fuckin' pissed off! It is obvious that I am angry because I accidentally broke the teacup that was in my hand. Thankfully dragons have thick skin or the broken glass would have cut my hands. Not only this but both the Elder and my husband seem to be frightened. 

"H-Honey! Try not to break others things please?"-Corwin

"You idiot! How could you not understand the first time? He's planning on turning my baby boy into nothing more than a puppet!"

"Cassandra please calm yourself! We still have other things to discuss!"-Elder

Calm down? How the hell am I supposed to calm myself when I know something like this?

"I'm gonna go and kick his ass!"

Saying this I stand up from the luxurious couch.

"Elder I think you should calm her down before she does something stupid!"-Corwin

I turn my attention towards the Elder to see what he'll do. He was no longer where he originally was though. Trying to find him, I begin searching the giant room. No matter where I looked I couldn't see him nor could I detect his presence with magic.

Out of no where a wrinkled hand appears in front of my face which is faintly glowing! This is obviously the Elder's hand. I try to get out of the way but I can't move at all! Then my mood gradually becomes better. The warmth from the light on the Elders hand is very soothing and I can feel it spreading through the rest of my body. How ever, I also lose all the strength that I previously had resulting in me falling to my knees.

Seeing me fall to my knees Corwin comes rushing over to make sure I'm okay.

"Honey, are you okay?"-Corwin

Now that my anger doesn't have a hold over me I just smile and give him a nod. I would have told him in words, but now I'm really tired.

"Jeez you are definitely where Lucas gets his temper from. That kids scary when he's angry..."-Elder

Normally I would have shot back by calling him something like an old fart or a crazed old bat.

"Honey I think it's best if you just take a nap. I'll tell you about everything once you wake up."-Corwin

"No. I want to be a part of this."

I definitely had to reject that idea! There's no way I am going to miss such an important conversation. I mean, it concerns with the safety and future of my baby after all!

"...No Corwin, Cassandra is definitely right. This is a very important conversation that she needs to be a part of. Now that we know Cyril is being toyed with, we need to discuss the matter of his ritual. Quickly bring her over to the couch."-Elder

"Yes."-Corwin

With that said, Corwin lifts me off of the ground princess style and carries me over to the couch. We are now back to our original seating positions. So I can stay awake the Elder takes out another cup of tea for me. He adds a special root to the tea that can give a person energy. i couldn't lift the cup so Corwin lifted it for me.

After about five minutes I was no longer as tired as I was before. It feels more like I just woke up from a peaceful nap.

"So first things first, Corwin you can not allow Cyril to use that fighting style anymore. We can not let Tayrn have his way. *Siiiiiiggggh* Now we reach the difficult part of our little talk."-Elder

The elder gives an exasperated sigh. Indeed this is a very troubling matter worthy of such a thing.

"The difficult part is theritual, right? Since using our dragon form and performing the ritual costs mana, then doesn't that mean Cyril won't be allowed to go through the ritual?"-Corwin

"Yes. That is exactly what the problem is. I am afraid that I cannot allow Cyril to go through the ritual."-Elder

"But why?! That ritual is exactly what makes a dragon a dragon! Cyril will become an outcast if that happens!"

The thought of him never being able to use magic nor will he ever have a dragon form is just too unbearable. Without ever being able to go through the ritual, the other dragons will never truly accept him as a dragon.

"Yes, I know. Please forgive me. This matter is very serious. As you know during the process of the ritual, the person must fight with their inner dragon. This also means that there is always the danger of someone going out of control, never to return to their original form and their inner dragon will take hold over the persons will."-Elder

Remembering a scene from the past both me and Corwin keep quiet to let Elder finish.

"I have a feeling that Cyril's inner dragon will be very strong. Please think for a second. Why would Tayrn try to make Cyril into his personal play thing if there wasn't anything special about him? Therefor, I have zero confidence in Cyril to complete this task. Coupled with all that negative energy and having to face such a powerful inner dragon, I am afraid that I just cannot take such a risk. You understand, right? "-elder

Silence filled the library. Unless we want him to become a bloodthirsty murderer then we really can't allow for him to proceed with becoming a dragon. Is there really so hope for my precious boy...?

"Yes. We understand Elder."-Corwin

My husband was the one to answer. It seems I just can't accept this kind of situation. Sweetie, mommy is sorry for putting you in such a difficult situation...