2 Chapter Two - Isan's Guidance

A silence fell in the house. The loom stopped moving and Nereem stared up at the unexpected guest. Her face was full of shock at this guest who had just followed Noah in.

"Oran saved you? ..."

"Yes, he saved both my partner and myself. I heard what happened and had to come to see you both. I owe him a life debt and nothing made me sadder than hearing how he passed." Isan slowly lowered his cloak off his head to show his long dark brown hair, that matched his eyes. "Could I take a seat?"

Nereen nodded, gesturing towards a seat by Noah.

After sitting down slowly, there were small clanks coming from underneath his cloak. Noah oddly stared at Isan as this happened.

Looking at Noah he gently smiled before looking back up at Nereem.

"Oran was a kind and powerful man, the monster that took his life will be hunted by my Dragon Squad. Please do not worry this will not happen to any other Hunters in the area. I promise on my honour as a Dragon Trooper."

There was a faint smile on Noah's mother's face, "That doesn't stop what has already happened. Oran and I have been together for a long time, I knew I loved him since we were young teenagers. We grew up together houses apart. Helping our parents and playing when we weren't. When we were finally old enough to drink he admitted he had fallen for me. The oaf. Drinking was the only way he would be completely honest with himself, as well as turning him into a mess haha.."

An awkward silence fell between the group.

"I understand how much this loss means to both of you." Roughing Noah's hair, "When we were in the mountains together I was gravely injured. It was only thanks to Oran's small knowledge of basic herbs that I was able to recover. He would hunt both myself and my partner food every day, which is not an easy task. Erik has one of the biggest appetites in the Dragon Troop yet he would always bring back enough to stave his hunger off aha!" Isan smiled towards Nereem. "Your husband was a great man and he will always be remembered."

Nereem started to cry, she was still grieving and hearing how her husband had even earned the respect of this Dragon Trooper was enough to stir the pot of feelings in her stomach. She couldn't hold back the feelings any longer. Every day was impossibly hard, especially as every time she looked at Noah she would see Oran's smile. It broke her heart that he was going to grow up without getting to have his father watch as he grew. How Oran wouldn't get to see how strong Noah became or what he chooses to do in life.

Isan stood up and seemed to pull a handkerchief out of nowhere. Walking over and gently handing it to her.

"I have a gift for you. It is something that took longer than expected to be made but it is the least I could do after what Oran did for me."

He put his hand into his cloak and pulled out a square frame. The frame itself was covered in gold. Both Noah and Nereem let out a shocked gasp. Gold wasn't something that many villagers would ever get to see unless they went to the capital, it certainly was something they would never own.

On the inside of the frame, there were multiple colours, a piece of art. It was a painting of Oran, so lifelike, you would think you could reach out and touch him.

Nereem burst out into even heavier tears, even little Noah's eyes were watering. They didn't think they would ever get to see him again.

Isan smiled moving to Nereems side, "Noah comes here, come see this with your mother."

Both Noah and his mother were both a bit confused but Noah came and stood beside them.

Moving his hand onto the top of the frame, Isan whispered the word, "Pylare"

There was a moment of nothing happening and then suddenly the painting started moving, The Oran in the painting smiled, moving his lips. "Isan, my boy will be a great hunter, even greater than me. He already sneaks up on Nereen and scares her for fun! Hahaha"

Both Noah and his mum were shocked and crying. They would never have expected this painting to talk. Noah reached towards the painting, "Father!" Isan had a small smile on his face but you could tell he was sad. He gently roughed Noah's hair. "It is just a memory from the time I spent with him, I am afraid.."

Noah stared longingly at the painting. "Noah is so energetic, I am getting too old to keep up with him! He is going to be a great man! Nereem is so beautiful, her eyes are like a deep lagoon. The deeper you look the more mystified you are. I can't believe that she fell in love with me. I am a very lucky man, Isan. I can't wait to get back to them, maybe I could introduce you once you're back on your feet?" The memory started to slow down and finished with Oran looking into the sky, staring at the stars.

Both Nereem and Noah silently held their breaths, tears coming out their eyes but not a sound was made. Isan stayed still in the moment, knowing the two would need a few seconds. After some time had passed Isan stood up, handing the painting to Nereem.

"I have engraved some magic runes onto this frame, whenever you miss Oran and want to hear his voice simply hold the top of the frame and say the word, 'Pylare.'" Isan brushed down his cloak and raised his hood to just passed his ears.

Before they could say anything he turned and left. Noah stood with his mouth open and Nereem cradled the painting close to her chest making sure not to get any of her tears onto the precious gift. She had no idea what the painting cost but to her, it would cost the world before she lost this gift.

Noah rushed out after the mysterious Isan. quickly catching up to him down the street. "Sir, how did you do that magic? You taught my father to read and write, could you teach me too? Can I meet your dragon?" He was full of questions and curiosity.

Isan looked at the young child full of life and energy. "Oran was right, you are full of energy. Even now you are trying to learn" 'No wonder reading and writing is something he want's to learn.' What Isan didn't know is that Noah just wanted to read his fathers letters and remember the stormy nights his father would tell him stories from the letters.

Crouching down to look Noah in the eyes, "If you want to read and write, I will give you a proper education when you turn 16 and can leave home. I will treat you like my own son and train you in everything from horsemanship to sword fighting techniques... even magic if you want." Noah didn't realise the opportunity he was being offered at the time but in the future, he would come to understand what this all meant from Isan. "First you must talk to your mother and tell her what you want to do. Do not do this today as she is very emotionally tired. Once you tell her this you must start practising swinging a sword, I will give you a wooden one that will last until you are 16. How does that sound, Noah?"

Noah smiled, the tears from earlier made his blue eyes shine in the dark. He would do exactly what this Dragon Trooper said and become a great man just like his father said in the memory. He nodded not managing to say words to Isan.

Isan looked around and saw an oak tree nearby, he walked over breaking a large branch off it. Pulling out a knife he whittled the branch down until it was a long sturdy stick. Turning away from Noah he pressed his hand against the base mumbling words.

As he was doing this a dim light appeared along the branch, as if it was the branch that was the light source. Noah had never seen anything like this, the only magic he had ever truly seen was the painting that Isan had gifted his mother earlier.

After a few minutes of this Isan turned and faced Noah again, handing him a wooden sword. It had symbols engraved onto the wooden blade. When Noah took the sword and held it with his two hands the symbols began to shine in the light, it looked like the symbols were reflecting the suns light back up to it.

"When you swing the sword it will send you an image in your head, practise swinging like this until it sends you the next image." Isan started to walk away from Noah, "Remember Noah, speak to your mother and make sure she agrees, otherwise when you are 16 I will not take you in."

Noah nodded, shocked that the second time he would witness magic would be so soon after the first. He wanted to follow Isan and make his father proud at what a great man he would become. Noah just stood on the road, hearing the music from the festival which he forgot was on today.

As Isan walked away he thought to himself, 'Even if Noah does not get his mother permission, that sword will teach him basic sword techniques that he can use if he gets himself into bad situations when he becomes a hunter.'

Little did Isan know that at that moment he had changed the history of empire. That the little child he was trying to make sure would be safe when he became a hunter would not become a hunter, but would instead grow to be a powerful Dragon Trooper.