Steven and Susan both arrived at the academy together but while Susan was brim with excitement upon reaching and entering the academy gates, Steven couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness and slight fear, having never really being so far away from home and the fact that his parents weren’t the ones who dropped them off at the academy as they were off deal with the dark dragon warriors terrorizing a village, leaving being only a handful of golden dragon guards to protect them to the academy, didn’t really make him feel better. Susan sensing that something was wrong Steven, made an attempt to try cheering him up, “Hey, every things going to be okay”.
She tried placing a hand on his shoulder to reassure him but just before her hands could reach him he took step forward, entering the academy before her leaving her behind. Steven couldn’t still bring himself to look Susan in the eye much less talk to her, not after what he did to her. He lost control and ended up hurt her, and with the image of her staring back at him with hurt eyes and a singed hand forever burned in to his head, Steven thought it best to just avoid and that was what he did. From their meeting with the Head master, who though, warned them about how the academy was meant solely for promising young dragon warriors before rambling on about how he expected great thing from both he and Susan before calling for Flani, who’s cold glares send chills down their spines the very moment they laid on them, to show them around the academy before taking them to their rooms, all through those moments until they eventually separated to their rooms, Steven did nothing but ignore and avoid meeting Susan’s gaze, an act that hurt though he was oblivious to the through extent of her pain.
Both Steven and Susan were given a pair of academy uniforms before being taken to their rooms with Susan’s bearing the symbol of the water dragon and Steven’s a fire dragon. Once within the confines of his room, Steven couldn’t help but feel a strange and suffocating air of unfamiliarity wash over him, didn’t want to be there in the academy and would much rather remain confined in his room within his own home. Everything, even the air around him felt foreign and it filled his heart with sense of dread and longing for home, the familiar, somewhere safe, not the academy.
Steven just let out a tired sigh before shifting his glance to the window, seeing the golden statue of Ibierana, the last golden dragon warriors. Recalling all the tales his parents would tell both him and Susan of how they fought alongside her along with the rest of the Golden Dragon Generals, and how she fell a hero, protecting and ridding the world of the great threat that was the Dark Dragon Lord. Recalling Susan’s reaction to the story and how upon hearing it her eyes filled up with awe and amazement, think about how amazing and incredible Ibierana must have been while him on the other hand who a face filled with dread and terror wondering why anybody would be willing to sacrifice themselves before casting his gaze at his parents wondering if they would be willing to do them in a similar situation. Steven hated the thought of having to lose his parents even if it was for a noble cause as saving them. It may be selfish of him but he would much rather see the world burn than his family.
Looking at the statue of Ibierana, he was thankful for her sacrifice as it was because of it he, Susan, his parents, and the rest of the world was still there but he still didn’t understand why she did. Thinking back to what his parents said about how she, never having a family of her own, died as last Golden Dragon Warrior without a child to continue the legacy of the Golden Dragon Warrior. He wondered if maybe the reason she was willing to sacrifice herself during the battle against the Dark Dragon Lord and his army of dark dragon warriors was because she didn’t have a family to go back to.
Letting out a tired sigh, Steven turned away from the statue as the twilight of the setting sun came with darkness following after. Attempting to get accustom to his new room in the academy and putting on his uniform before the dinner bell rung and he left the room.
Steven made his way to the cafeteria and once there he was overwhelmed by the vast crowd of the other students of the academy. The cafeteria buzzed with as the other students mingled and got acquainted with one another. Steven, not really wanting to talk to anyone, just grabbed a tray of food and sieved through the crowd of students looking for an empty table.
“Steven”, a familiar voice cried out, drawing his attention to a table not too far away from where he stood. There Susan, waving at him, beckoning him to come join her on her seat but Steven still couldn’t bring himself to be around her choice to simply walk away. Finding a single lonely table by the corner to have his meal alone, ignoring Susan’s gaze of sadness.
