The same night during the Molten Marauder campus attack.

In the stately dining room of Daniel's mansion on the island, he and his disciples gathered around the elegantly set table, relishing the camaraderie of the past months of development. Amidst the soft clink of silverware and the murmur of congenial conversation, an unexpected disruption shattered the serene ambiance.

With wrath rivaling celestial fury, the Molten Marauder plummeted from the sky, its descent a cataclysmic spectacle that rivaled the most fearsome meteorites. It crashed into the tranquil field behind the mansion, its terrifying impact sending tremors rippling through the earth beneath the manor.

Unfazed by his tumultuous entry, the Marauder rose from the scorched earth. His bare chest had a consistent flow of lava. His approach towards the mansion's back door was silent, a stark contrast to his thunderous arrival.

"Daniel! You have led me into a labyrinth of deception and treachery!" The Molten Marauder boomed.

From the dining table, Daniel and his disciples couldn't understand what the Molten Marauder said, but Daniel grinned at everyone. "How terrific! He's back! I hope you're already to be a lot richer!" Daniel cackled and ran to the backyard, but his excitement dwindled as he saw the Molten Marauder's glare.

"Daniel! Your words steered me astray and toward the shadowy doorstep of death itself!"

Daniel furrowed his brow. "What are you talking about? What happened to your armor? I didn't lie to you about anything!"

"A mage held the Orb of the Gargantuan. Then, from among the island, a figure stepped forth, their veins coursing with the inherited lifeblood of the Dragon Tamer. That I stand before you now, breathing, is nothing short of a miracle."

Daniel felt his chest sink and the blood drain from his face. "You can't be serious."

"In the face of peril, I was forced to forsake my duty, seeking instead the preservation of my existence. Had I been forewarned of the orb's presence and the arrival of the Dragon Tamer's progeny, I would have fortified my defenses. In this, you have failed me."

"Hey! I didn't fail you!" Daniel pointed. "I have someone who works for the school! They had no idea about any of this, if they did, they would have told me. So you didn't come away with anything, huh?"

The Marauder shook his head. "No. I lost my armor."

Daniel glowered. "I'm so sorry this happened to you. This is my mistake. I had no idea someone on campus had an orb. Was it an old bald man?"

The Marauder nodded.

"Then it was the principal, Wendell Pine. Of course. Describe to me what The Dragon Tamer descendent looked like."

The Maruader exhaled a plume of black smoke from his nostrils. "I'm uncertain. My vision blurred after the strike from the orb."

Daniel clenched his fist. "Well, this is not good at all."

"That I continue to draw breath is a testament to fortune's favor."

Daniel stared at the mansion and turned back to The Marauder. "I need to construct a new plan."

"And I beseech you to construct a plate of armor befitting my stature."

Daniel scoffed. "Right. One thing at a time. I'll get to that, though, I promise."

"I shall retire to a period of respite beneath the lake's tranquil depths. Should urgency demand my presence, signal me with the bright charge of a few iox bolts shot into these silent waters." The Marauder hovered toward the lake with its wings of lava, a silver transparent sphere appeared around him, and he sank to the bottom.

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Before braving the return to his mansion, Daniel succumbed to the gravity of his emotions, collapsing onto the earth like a marionette cut from its strings. He concealed his gaze behind trembling hands, surrendering to the torrent of tears that had threatened to spill over.

Daniel was filled with raw grief, his quiet whimpers piercing the silence around him. Each breath he drew was a battle, a desperate gulp of air that echoed the tumult within him. He remained there, ensnared in his sorrow, until a semblance of control returned to him. Only when his breathing steadied, a tentative sign of his regained composure, did he find the strength to rise and face the looming mansion once more.

***

"Hey, Rollie, since we have a good room dynamic going here, do you want to live with all of us next year?" Mortimer asked me from the common room.

I did one last visual sweep of the bedroom before turning around. "Sure. Put my name down or whatever. They'll figure it out. Have a good summer, I'll see you guys later." I smiled at them.

Leaving my room, I already had everything packed in the lobby. Most students were moving out the same day I was, but some stayed behind working on other projects. The construction crews were quickly assembling the educational hall, and I paused before I went to the docks.

I thought about taking one last stroll around campus to commemorate what was probably my final year studying at Attleton. I had my dragon bike next to me, all I had to do was hop on and fly around one last time. But as I looked back at all the buildings and all of the students walking around, I decided to get on the boat and wait until it filled up, and we sailed to Port Harbor.

Riding on the boats for a while, I ended up in the Englaria zone where my grandpa was waiting. We walked home together. Although I was moping along the trail.

"Rollie," my grandpa started, "I can't tell you how sad I am that you likely won't return to Attleton, but I am quite happy that you'll be living with me and potentially going to school at Loxton. I hope you can attend, it's a lot different than Attleton. Everything is all located in one building. The dorms, the study rooms, and the classrooms, they're all in the same spot. It's quite the beautiful palace."

"Fingers crossed I get in." My voice was low and defeated

"I had some of the best times of my life at Loxton. If you're able to go, I hope you have a similar experience." My grandpa had a glint in his eye as if recalling fond memories.

"That would be nice. I feel like no matter what, it would probably be better than my time at Attleton."

My grandpa frowned. "I'm sorry. I wish things could have been better for you there."

"Me too."

We were silent for a moment on our walk.

"So, when does your first therapy session start?" he asked me.

"I have to go to the Mage Shelter. That's downtown on Tuesday. Apparently, I stay there from Tuesday to Thursday. Then I return Friday morning and have to leave again Tuesday morning," I said.

"And how long do you do that for?"

"The whole summer." I rolled my eyes.

"Well, I know you're not looking forward to it, but it shouldn't be all that bad. I could think of worse ways to spend the summer. Believe me." My grandpa patted my back.

As we were walking, a bird flew toward us and landed on my shoulder. It had beautiful bright orange feathers with brown eyes. It tweeted merrily.

"Wow. So that happens to you too?" my grandpa said. His jaw dropped, and his eyes widened.

Checking out the bird, my spirits lifted, and I smiled. "Yeah, I get birds that land on my shoulder or arms or legs. They do that sometimes."

"That happens to me too. And people always thought I was strange, but I could never explain it. For some reason, they just liked to fly up to me. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy their company, but I never saw them do it to anyone else. Your mother, birds used to fly up to her too when she was growing up." My grandpa sighed. "It was the only thing that made her feel like she had any magic to her."

"Huh. I guess it runs in the family."

"I guess so."

Returning to my grandpa's house, I unpacked my bags and settled in. I hung out with the dog and cat for a little while, and they also helped boost my mood. It was nice to have a break from studying, Dragonstryke, and all the drama at Attleton. My grandpa and I cooked dinner, and then I cleaned up the kitchen.

"Rollie, would you like to go in the backyard and fly around the dragon bike for a bit? It's a beautiful day outside. The sun is still out, it's starting to go down, But there's still plenty of daylight left."

"Yeah, of course," I said.

Grandpa and I stepped outside, hopping onto our dragon bikes as the sun lit up the open field behind his house. Taking flight, we felt the ground fall away beneath us as we sailed into the clear sky. Grandpa gave me some fun drills and hoops to maneuver through, turning the whole thing into an airborne game. Each swoop and turn brought a rush of excitement, making me feel as if I could touch the sky.

As the afternoon wore on, the sun's rays softened, bathing the world below in a warm, golden glow. I felt a grin spread across my face, one that I couldn't wipe off even if I tried. I felt free and completely alive.

As the sunset painted the sky in a myriad of hues, I thought to myself - summer couldn't have kicked off in any better way. This was just the beginning of our adventure, and I was thrilled about the endless possibilities that lay ahead.