“Whoa,” was all David could bring himself to say about the story of the first Golden Dragon Warrior.

  “So you’re telling me the very first golden dragon warrior was human?” said David, unable to believe that the very first golden dragon warrior was born an ordinary man.

  “Yes, at least that’s what the texts say, though there are a few myths and unverified tales of him being the physical manifestation of the four elements,” said Araban.

  “What? Is that true? Was he some kind of a spirit?” said David.

  “No, those were simply tales with no evidence to back them. He was very much human; he was born and lived like them, without powers of any kind in a cruel and unforgiving world,” said Richard.

  “And yet he was the start of a magnificent legacy,” said Araban.

  Richard then walked up to David and, looking him directly in the eye, asked, “From what we’ve just said, what do you think the Golden Dragon Warrior symbolizes?”

  “What?” asked David, confused, not understanding what Richard meant.

  “What does the Golden Dragon Warrior stand for? Are they a symbol of overwhelming power great enough to keep all dragon warriors in line and prevent them from abusing their power, or is it something more than that?” asked Araban.

  “I…” David took a moment to think about it. Recalling everything he had just been told about the first-ever Golden Dragon Warrior and the war that nearly destroyed everything.

  If it wasn’t for him, the world he knew probably wouldn’t be there. He wouldn’t be there; Araban, the headmaster; Mrs. Flani; Boma, his friend; Susan, Flora, Akiri, and Steven, along with the rest of the academy; and Abari wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for him. But him stopping the war wasn’t just because of power; it was because of something more than that.

  “Unity,” said David.

  “What?” said Richard.

  “Unity—that’s what the Golden Dragon Warrior is meant to symbolize,” said David.

  “And why is that?” asked Araban.

  “Because the first Golden Dragon Warrior didn’t become the Golden Dragon Warrior because of the power he possessed. He was chosen to be the Golden Dragon Warrior because he was the only one that dreamt of a world where everyone, including all the four kinds of dragon warriors and humans alike, could live together in peace and harmony. They could stand united,” said David.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “That’s a good answer. It seemed as though you’ve managed to grasp the very first and most important lesson of being the Golden Dragon Warrior,” said Richard.

  “It’s not the power that makes the Golden Dragon Warrior the greatest of all dragon warriors; it’s the fact that the Golden Dragon Warrior is the only one to unite the entire world,” said Araban.

  “As the Golden Dragon Warrior, it will be your responsibility to maintain the peace in the world because you are the bridge that connects. That’s why Golden Dragon Warriors are the only ones that can command all four and are born as ordinary men and women awakening to their powers. They represent the kinds of dragon warriors along with the understanding of what it means to be powerless and human,” said Richard.

  “What? You mean Golden Dragon Warriors aren’t born with their powers?” said David.

  “Yes, every single Golden Dragon Warrior, from the first Golden Dragon Warrior to Tonyi, your mother, and even you, was born powerless,” said Richard.

  David, upon hearing what Richard said, looked down at the locket on his neck. He was beginning to understand just what exactly the role and responsibility of the Golden Dragon Warriors was. However, it didn’t lessen the overwhelming pressure he felt weighing on his shoulders as he wondered to himself how on earth he was meant to be a symbol of hope and unity. Especially with that dark power lurking within him.

  Richard, sensing David’s troubled mind, placed a hand on his shoulder and flashed a reassuring smile his way before saying, “I know, it’s a lot of responsibility, and you’re only just a child, but in time you’ll grow to become a truly great Golden Dragon Warrior.”

  David, reassured by the words from Richard, flashed a small smile his way in an attempt to hide the fact that his words did nothing to dispel his doubts and fears.

  “We can end the history class here. Let’s move on to power training,” said Richard.

  “Training?” David asked.

  “You need to learn how to fully control the powers of the four elements along with the golden power,” said Araban.

  “What? But I already know how to control the elements,” said David.

  “David, you’ve lived a significant amount of your life without any memory of who you are, and during that time the only element you could command was air. You’re unfamiliar with the other element in their core attributes,” said Richard.

  “Core attributes?” said David while scratching his head, confused.

  “Is there anything you know?” said Araban, pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance.

  “The core attribute is like the philosophy behind every element,” said Richard.

  “The core attribute of the wind is freedom and swiftness,” said Araban.

  “And earth’s still and tough,” said Richard.

  “For fire, fury, and passion,” said Flani as she and Boma joined them.

  “Its flow and flexibility for water,” said Boma.

  “These are the core philosophies of all four elements, and as the Golden Dragon Warrior, you must embody all four of them, as the unity of all four elements is the core attribute of the golden power,” said Richard.

  David’s eyes widened with shock upon hearing what they all said about the attributes of all four elements, realizing each of the four elements had their own core attribute. The golden power he wielded was the manifestation of the unification of those four attributes. From history to the very nature of the elements he commanded, it seemed as though he had a lot to learn about who he was and the legacy he was a part of as the next Golden Dragon Warrior. Even though his doubts lingered, he was willing to learn, and maybe by doing so he would understand more of who he was and what he was meant to be.