Sweat dripped from Xolor’s forehead as he grit his teeth and concentrated on his final reps. He squeezed his muscles despite his shaking arms and pulled himself to the bar with all his might. A gleam of light peered into his single-floor apartment building as the bustle of the early morning city hummed along in the background.

Panting, the young adult sprawled on the floor, exhausted and grinned widely as the towel fell gently over his face.

“Morning workout complete,” he murmured between his raspy breaths. “Another day; Another step closer to our goal.”

Xolor yawned and slowly picked himself off the ground as the apartment gym’s TV blasted breaking news on Channel 7.

“There have been several signs of an elder dragon rampage in downtown New York. Make sure to run if you spot these dangerous creatures in their non-human form, and remember to report all information to the DAF through your handy emergency device. And remember folks…”

Xolor saluted attentively and pulled his thin yellow receiver from his right pocket, synchronizing his thoughts with the buzzing TV.

“The loss of a life is but a sacrifice, and nothing is greater than one’s contribution to the golden city; Whatever it takes to create a world without dragons!” he said in perfect rhythm with the news anchor.

He tossed his sweaty towel in the bin and headed for the door as a flash of dark brown crossed his eye.

For a second, it stopped, briskly turning its attention to the young man.

“Xolor! There you are!” screamed an adorable brunette with a mixed feeling of happiness and disappointment. “Hurry! Hurry! You can’t be late again, or you’ll lose your chance for promotion!”

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She gently smacked him on the cheek and dragged him by the hand, reprimanding him as they went.

“You never change, huh?” she sighed deeply, her stunning emerald eyes flickering with joy. “What would you do without me? Ever since you were a kid, you…”

Xolor kissed her hand gracefully in a show of gratitude and bowed slightly as his mother had always taught him.

“Thank you, Miry. I’ll get changed and be out in a second,” he said with a whole-hearted smile. “Oh but you should go ahead first. After all, the star student of the Dragon Trainee Force shouldn’t be late either.”

He disappeared with a wink as a wave of bright red spread across Miranda’s face.

“Jeez, that troublemaker!” she pouted, slamming her heel to the floor. “Always so…so…ughhh I don’t know!”

She leaned her back against the wall and stared up at the ceiling with embarrassment. Her orange training pack fell by her side with a thud, and she clasped the golden locket dangling from her neck with her right hand.

“I wonder if Mother would’ve approved of him,” she thought somberly to herself. “I’m sure she would know what to do if she were still here.”

A rush of emotions came over the young woman, creating weakness in her knees, and she gnashed her teeth in anger.

“I will get revenge one day,” she seethed under her tongue. “Those wicked parasitic beasts don’t deserve to live another day.”

The door in front of her swung open, its hinges creaking along the way, and a neon-orange suited Xolor rushed to her side.

“Are you okay?” he asked gently. “You seem pale.”

“No…it’s nothing,” she murmured lightly. “I just…you know, some bad memories of Mom.”

Xolor shook his head with compassion and hugged her tightly, patting her back.

Suddenly, he gripped her tightly, and a cold, emotionless gaze spread across Xolor’s face.

“Those god-forsaken reptiles will all pay for this!” he muttered under his tongue. “I will not rest until our dream of extermination becomes true.”

The young adult thought back to the shivering woman in his arms and slowly forced a small smile on his face, releasing his clenched hands with a deep inhale.

“I understand, Miry. It happens to me too sometimes,” he finally said after a long pause. “Don’t worry, that’s why we’re working towards our dream, right?”

He reached to grab her training pack from the floor and slung it over his shoulder, the sudden chill in his gaze replaced by the warmth of affection within an instant.

“To make sure the evil in this world gets wiped for generations to come.”

Miranda’s almond hair bobbed up and down as she nodded slowly and with a final squeeze, she let go and ran to the front door with a sprint.

“Hey! Miry! You can’t get a headstart. That’s not fair,” he shouted in hot pursuit.

“Last one to work is a dragon~” she teased playfully, sticking out her tongue.

A gust of wind smacked Xolor in the face as he opened the front door, and the two rushed to the DAF headquarters.