C5: Fire

"Wake up, Xar."

The voice of my mother echoed in my head. My eyes quickly shot open upon hearing Melissa's words.

"Mother? What is it?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.

"It is a special day for you. Your first fire-breathing session is today," Melissa said, taking the blanket off me.

I sighed in relief and sat up in bed. For a moment there, I thought the castle was under attack.

The curtains of our room were closed, and the lamp was the only thing that kept our room illuminated. It was still dark outside.

Melissa was still in her black nightdress and her hair was messy. Her boobs were hanging loosely from the dress she was wearing. It was quite the sight to behold at the start of the day… and I had the opportunity to gaze at it every morning.

"Now now, get up kiddo," said Melissa, slapping my butt to throw me off the bed.

"God Mom! Stop doing that! I hate it!"

I don't like people touching my ass… it was unnecessary.

Melissa laughed out loud upon seeing my reaction.

"Ok ok then, big boy. Let's hurry. Everyone's waiting for this special moment."

I got off the bed, still in my loose pajamas. Yawning, I followed my mother from behind.

With the lamp in hand, Mother took us down the gloomy hallways of the castle. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and wondered what this fire-breathing session was. For all I knew, dragons should wait until they automatically unlock their [Fire Breathing] skill. According to the books, that is.

I have not achieved such a skill yet.

We stepped down the spiraling stairs until we reached some floor in the middle of the tower. For the past few years, I've gone to every little place of this tower with Chloe to explore things, and everything was so mysterious.

Even Chloe didn't know the purpose of some of these rooms.

"This way, dear," Melissa murmured, walking towards a room with a wooden door.

The door swung open with a creaking noise as we entered the room.

The room was a small place with a circular platform in the middle with carvings of dragon figures on the stone. It had a strangely ancient feeling to it.

Most of my family was there, standing in a circle around the stone platform. They were still in their nightdresses too. It was a surprise seeing my Aunt Crystal without her silver armor. Even the kids Kaya, my youngest sister, and Moro, my cousin were there. Only the twins were absent.

They constantly went on bounty hunting and adventuring to distant lands. They haven't returned since past Winter.

"Please, Xar the First, step onto the Stone of Fire." Melissa invited me, bowing to me with grace.

I nodded and stepped onto the Stone of Fire.

The stone had a strange feeling to it. It's as if my soul was not the only one who stood upon that stone.

"Chloe, go. Feed your little brother the potion." Melissa turned to Chloe.

Chloe nodded with a smile and stepped onto the Stone of Fire with me. There was a strange bottle in her hand with some yellow liquid inside it.

"Hey, you slept well?" she asked.

"Yeah," I replied. "Is something big going to happen?"

"No no, don't be scared little brother," she smiled, touching my face with her soft fingers. Then, she lifted my chin and said, "Open your mouth."

I opened my mouth.

She turned the lid of the bottle and gently poured the contents into my mouth.

"AH!" I flinched, and her grip tightened on my cheeks.

Whatever that liquid was, it was lava hot. My tongue burned but I could not close my mouth because of Chloe's tight grip.

"Sh sh, drink it," Chloe said, calmly pouring it further.

I closed my eyes and gulped the lava hot liquid down my throat. I felt like my entire body was burning as it went down my system.

"There you go," she poured the last drop of it into my mouth and loosened her grip.

"ARGH! Cough~" I fell down and coughed as hard as I could, but the liquid had already slipped down my throat.

My tongue was burnt.

The work was already done.

"Ha ha ha…" I breathed, trying to endure the pain that was erupting within me.

Chloe stepped back from the stone circle and everyone in my family gazed at me as I was crawling on the floor. I saw Kaya's eyes, sharply gazing down at me as if I was a peasant.

Upon seeing that sight, I pushed my strength and got back up on my feet. I could not stand to be the peasant that everybody looked down on.

I endured the painful warmth running through my body with heavy breaths.

"Everyone, start the chants." Melissa declared, raising her arms and spreading her wings wide.

"Oh, Eternal Flame. Light Xar and bring fire into his lungs. Oh, Eternal Flame, we plead you…"

"Light my brother."

"Light my son."

"Light my cousin."

"Light our prince."

My head suddenly felt like it was bursting into flames.

"ARGHHH!!!" I cried out, falling to my knees and banging the stone floor with my hands.

Images of a tall fire flashed in my head. A bright blue fire that looked as if it would burn eternally.

'Rise, Xar.' A strange voice in my head echoed.

[You have unlocked a general skill: 'Fire Manipulation.']

"ARGHHH!!" I screamed in pain as I felt the contents I had gulped before rushing back up through my lungs and out of my throat.

SWOOSH!

Flames burst out of my mouth right at that moment, burning the Stone of Fire and setting it on flames. My eyes began to water, and my conscience slowly started to fade away.

"Xar!" Melissa cried out as she saw me falling.

I fell face first on the flaming stone and drifted away into slumber.