William," Shu says quietly, "let me tell you something."
I stay still, listening carefully.
"For the past ten years, I served as a predecessor to my grandfather," he continues, voice low and deliberate. "He was the Dragon Keeper's master—my sensei. He carried more than anyone ever realized."
Shu's eyes darken, and his hands clench slightly at his sides. "I watched him give everything to the team. His time. His strength. His life. He carried secrets none of the others could bear. And those secrets… they caused damage. At the time, some of the team didn't understand. They thought he went too far."
A shadow of grief crosses his face. "Years later… they understood. But it cost them… and him… everything."
I stay quiet, letting his words settle. Shu's voice is heavy, haunted by memory, and I can feel the weight pressing down like the room itself is leaning in with him.
"Back then," Shu continues, voice trembling slightly, "things were worse than they are now. Shadowviel didn't appear in small waves. It came… relentless. Nonstop. The Dragon Keepers fought without pause, without mercy, doing everything they could to stop it."
He pauses, jaw tight. "And in the end… all four of them died. Including my grandfather."
The words hit harder than I expected. Shu looks away, breath tight, reliving it. "I'm not telling you this to scare you, William. I'm telling you because there will come a time when I tell you… something. And when I tell the team… they won't like it. They may not understand it. But it's necessary. It always is."
I try to ask a question, but my thoughts circle around the word key again. I don't push it out loud. I can feel the weight of it, but not yet its meaning.
"This place," Shu says, gesturing at the Dragon Keeper palace, "holds more than you realize. Do you know what happened to the last one?"
"No," I whisper.
"It was destroyed," he says. "By Drakna."
Silence stretches between us, thick and heavy.
"So the statues in the dojo…" I say carefully, "they're not the first Dragon Keepers?"
"No," Shu replies. "They're the most recent. From ten years ago… my grandfather's team."
He swallows hard, shoulders tense. "Something big is coming, William. These incidents… they're not random. Drakna doesn't act without reason. Even the Dragon Keeper Society has noticed. His attacks are planned. Aggressive. Escalating."
"What's the Dragon Keeper Society?" I ask.
Shu lets out a small, bitter laugh. "I never explained this properly. They oversee Dragon Keepers everywhere. Mentors, senseis… the ones who guide those before and after. They maintain order. They make the big decisions."
He meets my eyes, voice firm but weighed down by years of responsibility. "Across every state, there's a set of Dragon Keepers. Different elements: Steel, Ice, Speed, Nature, Light, Dark… And above them, four elders who make the largest decisions. Soon, they're hosting a tournament in Japan to test abilities. You'll attend. But that's not why I'm telling you this now."
His shoulders sag slightly, the first hint of weariness I've seen. "I left you all partially prepared. Your first mission didn't end cleanly. But it wasn't failure. It was… learning. You'll understand why some truths must wait."
The distant creak of the pipes announces movement. Maya, Cameron, and Jordan slide down the pipe, landing in a cloud of dust and laughter.
I step forward to them, heart lighter but still carrying the tension of Shu's words. "Maya… you're okay?"
"Yeah," she says, rubbing her arm. "Still hurts, though. How is it fixed? How is it not still broken?"
Shu turns, voice patient and precise. "Dragon Keepers have accelerated healing processes. Just like your enhanced strength, senses, and reflexes, your bodies heal faster. That's why Maya's arm isn't broken anymore, and why you can take more hits, William."
"I'm glad," Cameron says, exhaling. "Because I really thought you were going to die."
"The last thing we were going to do is die at those docks," Jordan says, smirking faintly.
"Yeah, but I'm glad we all left okay," Maya adds.
"Well… we didn't leave okay," I correct softly. "But now we're okay."
Maya shakes her head, smiling. "You know what I meant."
We all let out a small laugh, a rare lightness in the palace's heavy air. It feels… good. Almost like before.
Shu claps his hands lightly. "Enough, enough. I'm glad to see you all together again, but there's more you need to understand. You aren't the only Dragon Keepers. There are teams across every state, each with their own elements and abilities. And the Dragon Keeper Society… it's our responsibility to guide them, mentor them, and keep order. You'll learn more, soon enough. But for now, focus. Your training, your teamwork, and understanding what comes next."
I nod, feeling the weight of Shu's words settle in my chest.
"Hold on," Cameron says, brows furrowed, voice sharp. "Did you just say there are multiple Dragon Keepers?"
"I thought we were the only ones," Jordan adds, arms crossed, frowning.
Maya tilts her head, curiosity softening her features. "So… we don't all have the same abilities?"
They all look at me. Waiting.
"Did you know about this?" Cameron presses.
I shake my head. "No. I just figured it out too."
Shu steps forward, calm but heavy with authority. "There's a society—the Dragon Keeper Society. Mentors and elders who oversee all Dragon Keepers. Their headquarters is in Japan—the origin of everything."
Cameron blinks, then exhales. "Japan, huh…"
Shu continues, measured, deliberate. "Every state has teams. Different elements, different abilities. No, you don't all share the same powers."
Jordan leans back, taking it in. "Okay… that's… a lot."
"And soon," Shu adds, eyes narrowing, "they'll host a tournament. Every active Dragon Keeper will compete. The elders want to see the next generation. How strong you are. How dangerous you could become."
Cameron's grin spreads, excitement flickering. "So basically… to see who's the strongest?"
"In simple terms, yes," Shu replies, calm but firm, every word weighted.
Cameron laughs, more nervously now. "So if we beat everyone… we're the strongest in the world?"
Shu shakes his head, stern. "That's not why we're here."
The air tightens. Shu's voice softens slightly. "I know I left you unprepared. A week of training wasn't enough. Your first mission… it didn't end cleanly. But that doesn't mean you failed. It means there's more to learn."
Maya straightens, her calmness returning like armor. "The one we fought… he wasn't normal."
"No," Shu says firmly. "He wasn't a foot soldier. He wasn't low rank. Drakna never sends someone like that randomly."
"So what does that mean?" Maya asks, voice steady.
"It means he's planning something bigger," Shu replies. "That was a lieutenant. One of three. Each one dangerous enough that even an experienced Dragon Keeper would struggle. One could overwhelm someone considered the strongest."
Cameron exhales sharply. "So… we'd stand no chance?"
Shu meets all our eyes. "In your current state… no. You'd be defeated instantly. But today, that changes. Today is about preparation."
"Preparation how?" Cameron asks, curiosity and worry mixing.
Shu folds his arms. "By giving you an upgrade."
Maya leans forward, excitement flickering in her eyes. "An upgrade?"
"Yes," Shu says. "You'll tap deeper into your weapons. Through that connection, you'll receive armor."
"…Armor?" Maya whispers, awe creeping in.
Shu's expression softens slightly. "Not ordinary armor. Shinobi‑gi. Suits forged for stealth, durability, and protection. They were worn by the first Dragon Keepers, connected to their dragons and weapons. You'll wear them, and your bond with your weapon will strengthen."
He gestures to the floor. "Place your weapons before you. Sit. Meditate."
We obey, cross-legged, hands on our weapons. The silence is thick.
"Focus on your connection," Shu instructs. "Envision your dragon. The place you usually meet. Feel them as they feel you."
Then—
"William. Come with me."
I open my eyes. My sword is blazing brighter than ever. Crimson light dances along the edges, almost alive. My chest tightens, heartbeat hammering.
I walk to Shu. He lowers his voice, the weight of concern heavy in every word.
"I heard about the docks," he says. "Your emotions ran unchecked. Every time you lose control, the line between you and your dragon thins. Your ideals blend with theirs. You must remember—you control the dragon. They do not control you. They do not have your best interests at heart. Never fall into temptation."
I swallow, tense, and return to my spot, closing my eyes.
The air thickens. Heat presses against my skin. Flames coil around me, twisting into a palace of fire that stretches impossibly high. And there he is.
The red dragon lands, wings folding like shadows. Smoke drifts from his nostrils, curling and sharp. His eyes burn, molten and unreadable. His presence presses down, heavy and alive, making my chest ache.
"Why have you come?" he rumbles, voice deep, rolling like thunder. "To bargain? To surrender to fire and rage?"
"No," I reply, voice steady despite the pounding in my chest. "I came to connect… to receive my shinobi‑gi."
The dragon studies me, smoke curling from his jaws. "So you resist… yet still ask. Bold."
"I'm not here for a deal," I insist. "Just to bond, to understand, to be ready."
His eyes flicker, fire pulsing around him like liquid light. "Very well," he rumbles. "Then take it… but lose control, and I'll take it."
Flames roar and twist, heat and light spiraling around me. My chest sears with raw energy. The bond thrums violently.
The shinobi‑gi forms.
It molds over me, scales overlapping like the dragon's own, flexible yet armored. A hood drapes over my head, shadowing my face, ready for stealth. The colors mirror the dragon—deep crimson fading to ember along the edges, glowing faintly like living fire. The armor hums, alive, testing me with every heartbeat.
I glance down. The suit is more than protection. It is a challenge. A reflection of the dragon. Alive. Dangerous. Waiting.
The flames recede. The palace fades. But the heat, the hum, the presence linger. The dragon watches, indifferent, patient. Waiting to see if I survive.
I ignore his voice, focusing instead on the power humming through the shinobi‑gi and my sword. Fear, awe, and tension coil tight in my chest. I do not trust him. I will not