4 Dread Bear

At first nothing happened, then like a flash of light a huge Bear 40 foot tall appear before him. The bear's eyes were glowing crimson red, like there was burning flame in them, the Dread Bear's fang were as big as three of Max fingers together. It paws could easily wrap around his body, the beast gave a deep and loud growl that shook the leaves. Just when it made its mind to attack Max, Zephrax appeared from nowhere. Max was amazed to see the huge Dragon, it was bigger than the Dread Bear, it scales were black even his wings, the Black Dragon was a magnificent beast, it could awe anyone who saw it. Zephrax gave a huge roar, which pacify the bear, Max could see there was a deep respect coming from the bear shown to the Dragon, it became quiet, and its crimson eye had reduced in brightness, Max also felt them communicating telepathically through the connection he had with Zephrax, soon he sensed the joy in the Dragon then he notice that the huge Bear had began turning into a dark brown mist, and the mist was moving towards him, he could feel the itchy sensation he felt when Zephrax tattoo was appearing on his hand, now the sensation was on his left chest, he quickly unbuttoned his cloth so he could see what was happening, a tattoo identical to the Dread Bear was been formed there. when the tattoo was finished he felt that the strength in him had increased, the bear was quiet, unlike Zephrax that made himself known immediately, it took Zephrax a while to be able to fish out the bears name for Max.

Max could not feel anything hostile from the bear, he could sense it was the bear way of doing thing, it would only speak when it felt it very important, Max didn't bother much about the bear's silence, he can always try and break the ice later, so he kept communicating with Zephrax, " what do we do next" Max asked " your training begins now, you have a long way to go if you don't want to be looking over your back" the Dragon replied " I know, I was hoping you would teach me some few things" what I know I can't teach you, our magic is different from yours, we are beast, we derive our source of power from a pure foundation, but, you humans are weak in the body so you can't derive power from a pure foundation, that is why you need to bond to us in other to do magic" " you should also know that it not impossible for your kind to derive power from the pure foundation, first you must acquire a strong body like a beast, then you must also develop your mind, then you must be bond to at least 3 beast of high quality, and they must be willing to do so." Max was silent as the Dragon continued " you, why I wanted you to bond naturally with Barok" Barok was the Dread Bear's name "all you need to do now is find a third beast as strong as both I and Barok, to bond with, then make ur body strong enough, but remember that there are other ways which your kind can derive power the pure foundation, but this way is the best without no backlash, because others have backlash doesn't make less effective as the one have choose for you, and always be mindful how you flex your strength, there are those in the shadows stronger than you and I, even those that have been living since the time of our ancestors till now, so tell me me are those fish easy fish you can trample on because you have me and Barok or a few years of training, when they have had hundreds if not thousands of years to train" Max couldn't believe what he was hearing, "you see that book the hold man left you with, start with that, learn and master all that is in it, it is not much compared to what you will need in defeating your enemies, but it is a good place to start learning" Max picked up the book, and start going through it, it was written in a language Max would not have been able to read before but somehow he could read it easily, Max believe it was because he had been bonded to a beast, he was surprised to see that he could only perform only few of the magic, he had been practising all day, it was until the sun began to set that, Max realize that he had not been to the work shop or eaten lunch, he put all the remaining items back in his bag and began to head back home.

on his way, Max and Zephrax discuss so many things about the magic he had just learn. When he got home, it was already late, William, Max's father knew his son was going to get his first beast that day, the boy had been saving his money so he could acquire a beast, just like every boy, William was sure that Max was out there playing with his new pet, when the boy finally came, he didn't question him, he kept doing his work, hammering at a hot iron. "father, you wouldn't believe what happened today" "what?" his father asked as he kept hammering at the iron before him " I got magical beasts I have always wanted " "so what kind of beast did you get" William asked, " a Dread Bear and..." there was a loud clattering sound as the heavy hammer in William's hand fell, " a dread?, only the king and the General's son Ardonihz can boast of a Dread Bear in Erindale, how did you get it," Max was smiling "that is not all father, I got a Black Dragon too" there was both shock and fear all over William face, Max wasn't sure what his father was feeling, "please don't waste my time with some joke, just tell me the real beast you got, there is no point in lying when am still going to see them anyway," Max shook his head and replied "am not lying see for yourself" Max took off his shirt, then he partially unleash his aura, which made the two tattoo on his body glow a Ruby red color, William's mouth fell open as he took in in the view before him, he could feel the aura even as he wasn't bond to a beast, and could make the outline of both a bear and a dragon from the tattoo "I have never seen anything like this before, tell me everything that happened, don't leave anything out" Max had knew he would have to tell his father everything from the beginning, so he ready and prepared.

After going through the whole experience with his father, William finally spoke, " you said the old man and your Dragon warned you about an enemy you don't know" "yes, they wanted me to become strong quick so that I can be able to defend myself when the time comes" " Max, I haven't told you this, because of fear of what my real ancestors were running from, that they abandoned my great ancestors to the childless Thornbridge then, that was how we grew up to be called Thornbridge, my grandfather and my father had tried tracing the real name of our ancestors but failed, to find any concrete information, the only thing I can tell you now is that the enemy which they are talking about must be very powerful, so I want you to join Erindale Black Dragon knights" Max knew his father had always been against him joining the Dragon knights, so his change of heart was surprising " this was a had decision for me to make, but for your safety, you must join them, yo u know their slogan, WE PROTECT OUR OWN, WITH BLOOD AND FIRE, they would protect you at all cost when you become part of them" "but it is not easy to join the Dragon knights" "don't worry, being a blacksmith as it advantage, I heard from one of the knights that came to fix his sword that the Dragon knights would be holding a competition in three days time for entry into their ranks, this is the first time they are trying such, to see if this method could be adopted in future" Max was happy here this "am sure when the knights get to see either of your beast, they will be willing to accept you" "so I want you to start practicing, I would give you some of the powerful magic scrolls in our family, didn't wanted you to know about it earlier so you won't have an advantage over others to get into the knights" William grinned, "now go eat and sleep, tomorrow you will go show me and your mother that Dragon of yours, am sure we would be the second people to see a dragon" Max said his good bye and left.