I awoke in the infirmary. I was a little dazed, my body felt like it was still being burned by the flames apart from that I was fine. My fur blackened, and skin burned from the fire. I didn’t understand what had happened. I remembered doing the obstacle course when the flames flickered, turning into a flaming beast.

“Oh, thank god, you’re awake.” I looked to my right to see Tigra’s worried expression filled with relief.

“What happened?” I asked.

“Instructor Willis said the flames on the obstacle course became fierce and the framework collapsed on you,” replied Tigra.

“No.” I shook my head. “The fire became possessed and attacked me.”

“How is that even possible?” questioned Tigra.

“You don’t believe me?” I glared at her.

“I do, it’s just…” She wasn’t even sure how to respond.

“I was there.” Ibiki had been silent, sat next to me this whole time. He bowed slightly to show Tigra respect. “I can tell you your highness, that was no accident.”

“I saw Dumah just before it happened,” I mentioned, remembering his face.

Larana appeared on my shoulder. “I apologise master. I could hardly protect you from the flames.” I looked at her face, she held an expression of sadness, perhaps she felt she’d let me down.

“That was not your fault, you couldn’t defend me properly because I have yet to master your power,” I said trying to reassure her.

“Only because you’ve been slacking,” commented Tigra.

I snarled at her comment, but quickly stopped, she was right. Even though I had been training with dad, I had stopped taking it seriously or how important it was to both him as my dad and Tigra who I promised I would become her Guardian.

My attention returned to Larana, perhaps being the talisman she was, she might have picked up on something I had missed. “Do you know who attacked me Larana?” I questioned.

“That was the power from a fire demon talisman,” she answered. “He is usually in the form of a sword passed down within the Leo Prides.”

“Leo Prides.” Ibiki was thinking again. “Definitely Dumah then.”

“Master that attack was no accident,” added Larana.

“Yeah, but nothing bad can be said against him, not while everyone follows him so blindly.” I sighed, again he had prevented me from progressing and now even looked worthless with patches of my fur burned away.

“Ah Fang.” Instructor Willis came in and Larana vanished. “Thank goodness you are awake. The medics told me you would be unable to train for a few days.”

“I am fine.” I pushed the covers off and stood up. The fire had burned away more of my fur than I had first thought, but I wasn’t really bothered by it.

“Please be careful Fang,” warned Instructor Willis. I glanced at him, like he cared, he was just here to see how much damage his master’s flames had done to me.

“I like a stubborn warrior.” I looked over to the door seeing Master Lance.

“Uncle.” Ibiki stood up.

“Master Lance.” Instructor Willis stood at attention. It made me pleased to actually see him turn into a blunder in the presence of someone of a higher rank than him.

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“I think I will take this one under my wing,” smiled Master Lance.

“But sir, I’ve already told you before, he is a low ranking cadet and couldn’t even pull off the obstacle course,” argued Instructor Willis.

“I didn’t fail,” I protested. “It was rigged, like every year.”

“How can that be, Ibiki passed with flying colours.” Instructor Willis wasn’t going to let me have this, he continued to fight against my progress, just like he and the other masters did before. I feared I’d be stuck at the academy forever.

“Ibiki.” Master Lance looked at his nephew.

“The course was influenced by some sort of demon ranked talisman.” Ibiki answered straight away. “I saw everything that happened.”

“I see.” Master Lance looked Instructor Willis in the eyes, he seemed to back down a little. “You fail to see this young Feles potential, he has been stuck in your care for far too long now.”

“Aren’t you already training someone?” questioned Instructor Willis.

“I am, and I can handle another,” responded Master Lance.

“Really, two rejects,” sighed Instructor Willis.

Tigra hissed. “How dare you talk ill about my brother in my presence.”

“My apologise your highness.” Instructor Willis bowed, going completely quiet as he quickly realised he had stepped out of line.

“Neither Loki nor Fang are rejects, next time you say so your job is over.” Tigra crossed her arms. Instructor Willis said no more, insulting royalty was never a good idea.

“Wait brother? Loki?” I looked at Tigra, really thinking about it. Had I seen another Album Tigris.

“I have two,” smiled Tigra. “Loki is the youngest and Hunter is my twin, who I’m sure you’ve seen following dad; unlike me he hasn’t really taken much interest in training.”

“Two.” I remembered seeing the king holding a baby Album Tigris when I first started my training with dad.

“I must remind you Master Lance you were already out voted to take him on as a student by the other masters last year and the years before that,” mentioned Instructor Willis.

I looked at Master Lance surprised to hear he had been trying to recruit me on as his student, all these years and I could have been training with a real master. I felt a mixture of emotion, anger, frustration and hope, something I hadn’t felt in a while. Would things change for me?

“That may be the case, but this time is different.” Master Lance was grinning, almost like he knew something Instructor Willis didn’t.

“What makes you say that?” Instructor Willis was not going to give me up without one of his usual fights.

“A few hours ago, I had a private meeting with King Alton and Yamato.” His eyes gleamed with a sense of pride. “They both agreed young Fang would make much more progress under my tutelage.”

“What about the other masters… Uh and Dumah.” He stumbled over his words, perhaps he knew he was beaten.

“Dumah has no say in such matters, he is not a part of the masters, the royal courts or had any say in royal degree.”

Instructor Willis was speechless, the first time I’d seen this. “Fine.” He seemed to give up at the mention of the king and dad.

I was filled with an uncontrollable excitement; I wouldn’t be stuck in the basic class anymore. I hugged the closest Animalia to me, Tigra.

Tigra patted me on the back, just as excited as I was. “Well done Fang.” She hugged me back. “I’ll warn you now; Loki can be a little…” She pulled away smirking, not even finishing. “Have fun.” She stood up. “I have class now; I’ll see you later Fang.”

“Later Tigra.” I waved as she quickly left.

“Come with me Fang.” Master Lance wasn’t giving me much of a choice, but anything was better than spending another six years with Instructor Willis.

“Good luck,” encouraged Ibiki. “My uncle is pretty tough with his training, nothing like Instructor Willis’s you’re doing it wrong.” He laughed a little.

“Thanks.” I wasn’t sure what to make of what he just said. “Nothing like dad I’m sure.”

Master Lance headed off. I followed after him glancing back at Instructor Willis, I was finally rid of him, but I was sad I wouldn’t be in the same class as Ibiki, but I knew I would see him around, after all the academy wasn’t that big of a place.

I walked beside Master Lance, feeling relaxed as I didn’t see the same dark misty stuff around him as I had seen with Instructor Willis. What made him different? I had noticed only a handful of Animalia I met were not consumed by it. My parents, Tigra, Queen Daz, Gual and Ibiki. If I could somehow figure out what made them different perhaps, I could stop it from consuming the king.

I had more than one goal and now I was out of the basics class I would finally be able to accomplish it. I looked up at Master Lance, grateful to the one who had pulled me out of that pointless struggle.