CHII Path of Knighthood

Ever since that incident from the Group of Lizard Bandits, this one memory shall never be forgotten by this young boy. It haunts him to this day but it becomes a sole reminder to not give up and sore through life. A goal that his deceased parents would want from him at best as hit time progresses.

It has been 2 years since that day as the young dragon who is now 13 years old was swinging a wooden sword. He had been practicing his swings to increase his grip, reflexes, and maneuverability when wielding a weapon. He sweats as he had his shirt off, revealing the scars on his back where his wings were one present. Breathing heavily, Lumino would face against a Practice Dummy, a home made object shaped to look like those lizard bandits to practice on strikes. Left to right, he swings and thrusts at specific points on the dummy, studying specific weakspots of the anatomy to gain an edge.

Pushing himself to the limit, Lumino charges to the dummy with an enraged expression.
“ Yeeeeaaaaaw!!!” Screaming from the top of his lungs, the little dragon focused on slaying his opponent. Before he could swing his wooden sword, his grip on it suddenly changed as he swings without his weapon.
“Woah woah woooaaaah!!” due to this sudden moment made Lumino lose his balance as he crashed into the dummy head on and fell. “OOF!!” Confused by this, he looked at his hands that they were all soaked with sweat his palms. “Huh….what the…?”

As he looks around wanting to know what just happened, a slight chuckle came from behind as Lumino gazed upon their direction.

It was none other than the figure himself who saved Lumino 2 years ago holding the wooden sword from the blade. “Hehe you seem to be so busy that I had to come get you.
Lunch is ready my boy!” As he said, his name was Reydark as he was the one who had saved Lumino from the bandits.

“Oh…. it`s lunchtime already? Sorry about that….em….” Lumino who blushed with bright red for not tracking time looks down embarrassed.

“Not to worry me boy,after all you seem to be training hard day in, day out. Now come along before it gets cold or else Iam gonna have it all to muself.~” Reydark smirks as with him, a huge stochy sky blue dragon wearing a chef`s uniform be taking Lumi`s share.

Not wanting to miss out on luch, Lumino gets up as he dust himself off from all the straw he got on himself from crashing into his dummy. “Coming coming!!” He ran to catch up while putting his shirt back on as they head toward the table with all the goods nice and baked with Reydark`s best effort.

Gazing upon the feast with it`s alluring aroma of spices and herbs used to cook up these dishes. Sausage links marinated with curry and around with stir fried potatoes drenched with melted cheddar cheese as it side dish.
All this makes Lumino very excited to chow down this very meal he earned.

As they both enjoyed their meal together, it give wonders to why someone like Reydark to be caring for a little dragon boy like Lumino. The reason was due to an event that became his last duty as member of the Royal Guard.

That event was an assassination attempt on one of the Royal Blood decendats of Reignar. That day, Reydark successfully protected em from the assassin but it nearly costed his life. It was due to caring for little Lumino when he was on the verge of death due to the loss of blood. Reydark was too occupied for the little boy that an assassin was able to sneak into the festivities without detection.
It was there that after Lumino was gonna be okay, Reydark returns to his duty until he sensed danger toward the decendant. There they were about to give off a welcoming speech in the Herner Festival. What they didn`t noticed was that under the podium stage was a mine where if given enough pressure, it would detonate. It was even visible only to the side of the podium that no one else can see due to the barricades. Reydark was over the barricades as he noticed the mine, he surely knew this was very bad.

“Watch out!!” making a scene, Reydark dashed forward when the decendant stepped on the trigger. The moment it ignites, Reydark managed to tackle em but it ended up being a too little too late as the mine detonated. The explosion caused btis of debree with massive pressure toward Reydark as his legs were caught in the blast as well as his chest where he suffered injuries to his legs and his chest.
That day was that Reydark fulfilled his last duty to protect the Royal Family from harm. It nearly costed his life but was spared by the medics who did what they could. Ever since on this incident, it was given that Reydark can no longer resume his duties as a menber of the Royal Guard. Therefore he was removed from his position and marked as a hero to remenber by.

“Yep, that`s basically how i retired from the Royal Guard, but I don`r regret it one bit.” Reydark smiles as Lumino felt bad that his mentor had to give up on being part of them.
Especially the fact that if Lumino and his parents didn`t took that shortcut, Reydark probs wouldn`t have to suffer too.

“My boy, are you felling bad for me? Don`t worry on that cause thanks to it, I can spend more time with you lad.” He pats Lumi`s head that makes the little boy blush. “ Now let me tell you this, the Royal Guard is no easy task my boy. Especially to how even new recrutis are more fierce than anyone can realize.” This makes Lumino peak with interest as he explain more abotu the Royal Guard.

His times to protect the Royalty, going on adventures to aid the kingdom for food, medicine, and so mcuh more. Especially to how the Royal Guard choose those who are qualified and the serious of test that these candidates must take to prove their worth. Marvelling with all this knowledge, Lumino was able to focus on the positives of baing a Royal Guard.

Since only a few candidates can pass, these individuals are proven to beingelite of the nation. Therefore proves they are capable of becoming part of the royal guard. A true path to show their loyalty and dedication to serve the monarch.

As they continued on with their meal, Lumino very satisfied with it as his tummy looked round and full. Before Lumino can go back to his practice, Reydark brings up something that caught Lumino`s nose . It was none other the desired dessert that he craved for. A filling Caramel Cinnamon Bun that this town is most famous for.

“Took the liberty to venture out and buy these for ya. Since I know you love these very much my boy.” With a smile, Raydark placed em as Lumino sparkles as he took a bite to em for their great flavor.
“Oh, thank you so much Rey… I mean Papa.” He cries with tears of joy as he knew these were something he would`ve enjoyed with his parents. But knew that Reydark ever since became more as father figure for adopting him.

“Other than that Lumino, I think it`s time for me to train you. Since I see you`re always out with that training dummy you made yourself, I can see the potential within you.”

“R….really!!? Train me youself...so I could one day be part of the royal guard!?” Exclaimed by this, Lumino wags his tail witu excitment as he eats another bun.

Rey smirks as he raised a brow. “ You could be, if you are capable on handling it, you may beacome a candidate for sure. So for now, we can start you training starting tomorrow.”

As Lumino hears this, he finished his buns as he began to head back to his training with a stuffed tummy. Seeing Lumino all fired up, Ray can tell that his little boy may have what it takes to fulfill his dream.

3 Years Later

As time progressed, Lumino had grown up to being a 16 years old teen. His body`s physique had improved drastically thanks to his adoptive father Reydark. Kis limbs got pleanty of muscle, his under belly plates look tought, his green hair grown out with his horns sharp and one of them pierced with a piercing. It was thanks to his mentor for giving Lumino on personal lesson to being a knight, give tactical advice in combat, and increase his mentality. The one innocent young boy has now become a dedicated young lad aiming to becoming a Royal Knight.

As Father and Son continued with their daily routine of training, the began usinh thin flexible rapier swords suited for this type of training. As they began with a friendly duel, Lumino was giving it his all against Rey.

With quick manuevers from Rey even with his old injury, Lumino struggled with defending himself and couldn`t find an opening to thrust toward em. This lead Rey to find an opening and thrust at Lumino`s chest as the bent rapier had indeed hit em. This caused Lumino to lose his balence and fall to his bottom.
“Darn it!!” seeing that his mentor got him againg
“Not bad Lumino, you`re improving tremendously against an old timer like me.” Rey reaches out t his son with a smile.

Angry to his defeat, he accepts as he held his hand and hoist em up. “ This ain`t fair dad!! How can I beat ya when you`re faster, let alone bigger than me!!?” Shouting at his father, he felts himself losing his motivation.

*Ray shows a smile, while he lifts him up strongly* “ Remenber Lumino, heights is not everything, you must always take advantage of his weakness”.

Lumino would fell a little frustrated and snorting, but he would remenber his advice for the next time, they would both sit near the shade of an apple tree growing in the garden of the house, to take a short brak for lunch, as usual Ray brought some muffins filled with cream, while they would drink a coffe in a very quiet way.*

His smile fades to a stern look, making Lumino realize he shouldn`t have said anything on that. “My son, you need to realize that difference in size one`s weakness, especially to someone bigger than you. Remenber this as a life lesson for you Lumino.”

As he heard from these words, Lumino knew that his father is right. Especially when he cannot let his emotions take hold on him or else he makes mistakes. As they agreed, Rey`s father demeanor came back as they decided to take a short break. They sat under a apple tree as Rey got some muffins today as the coffe he was brewing earlier was ready too. Relaxing after a good training as father and son, Lumino`s anger has subsided as he felt better now with this treat.

The muffins gave off a nice fluffy texture with it`s creaminess on it`s filling from it`s aroma of flavor straight from the local bakery.

As they relaxed, they talked more about Fencing Techniques as well as some that Rey had learned personally. Something that Lumino can definitely learn from its creator so it can be passed on to em. All this made Lumino fell motivated one more to train so he can one day be part of the Royal Guard just like his father with his skills an hand passed down.

One they finished their break, they got up and packed up their goodies before they can proceed with training. Before Rey can face his son, suddenly he braced with Lumino huggin him.

“….love you so much dad….really….” His face buried into Rey`s chest like so.

Surprised by all this, all he can do was stroke his son`s hair. “ Love you too….son.”

*Raydark fins it hard how much time has passed and how cheerful Lumino is, nowadays he is much happier than before, at least he got what he wanted, that he is happy.
“Wel w should get on with the training, Lumino” *smiles as he hands the sword to Lumino*.

Lumino nods his head, gripping the sword tightly and immediately the two of them would go to the training area to continue.*

Finding it hard to believe that time passed to this day that his cheerful son Lumino had become. This became Reydar`s happiest times after being retired from his duties to be a good father. Someone to making a miserable little boy have hope again with a smile one more.

One Lumino got to express his love for his father, he let`s go as he grabs his fencing sword ready to start his training. Rey nods as he won`t go easy as usual toward his son as treir training commences.

2 Years Later

Through harsh training from these past 2 years, Lumino has turned 18 years old. Through a window from his bedroom, the warm rays of light shine though it. The now grown up dragon boy who had been sleeping on the same bed for 7 years began to wake up, The warm reys were bright as he rubs his eyes as he began to yawn while stretching his arms. Had grown even further from his progress that his pjs were slightly too small now from his abs and muscles.

He gets up from bed as he heads to his bathroom sink to look at miself all tired, He began to wash his face from the mirror as he grooms himself by polishing his horns. Especially when he polishes his piercing on one of his horns as well as comb his long green hair. Looking at himself with those inverted golden eyes as he was set to get changed.

Changing into his clothes all washed up, he was itching to this day as today is the day. The day that he be leaving the capital for the first time in a long time to go on his new journey. Thinking about it now is making the grown boy nervous as he be officially leaving his home he had been staying all these years.

He checked himself as he put on his travel clothes that consists of a black T-shirt, grey jacket w/ black borders. Wearing brown fingerless leather gloves and boots, Puts on his blue pirate pants with a belt with a silver buckle.

As he was set, he went to grab his leather satchel filled with his equipment, money, and his memento that his father gave to him.

As he descends down the stairs, he looks over at the fireplace in the living room. There was where his father sitting on his armchair staring at the warm fire with a pleasant smile. Grabbing a chair nearby, Lumino sat next to his dad as he looked at he fire with him. Staring at it peacefully with his beloved father who cared for him these years. It lasted for a while before Rey breaks the silence.

“Lumino, do you remenber that time you fought against those boys, in order to defend that defenseless girl?”

“Uh… yeah I remenber, they were picking on her and i had to do soemthing to help her..” Thinking about it, he felt angry on that memory.

Thinking that, Rey laughs about it that took Lumino by surprise. “ In the end, you ended up getting pummelled back there. Beaten up badly, covered in bruises, and event scratches around ya.”

“And waht matter is that I won`t gibe up easily and try again!.”

They both laughed it out as they looked at each other on the good times.

“You know Son… I`m gonna miss you here since you`ll be leaving today. I just hope you take good care of yourself and apply everything that I taught you.”

Hearing that, Lumino smiles by those words. “Yeah… I know dad. But don`t worry about me. Besides I`m not a kid anymore, so I`ll be fine.”
Rey nooding that he is right, Lumino gives one last hug to his father. Rey hugs back as it was a big one for sure before he coes. Once Lumino looks back and grins as he waves good bye to his father which touched Rey to shed tears of joy. Knowing that his son is all grown up now as his years of raising his son has been fulfilled, Waves off to his son as he see`s him off to the distance.

As lumino walked off, he knows that for sure he will make his father proud. Shedding a single tear till he wipes it off lnowing he cannot be weak those years ago. Looking up in the sky, knowing his parint are watching up there rooting for their all grown up little boy. It was time for the Red Dragon to begin his long journey to the Main City of Rempter.

CHII-End


History and Characters:  Dracocogamer



Reissue and improvements to the story:  Cosmic-Drifter