"Your ID, sir..." She gives it back....
"This isn't right..." Ashter looked at it...
"Platinum...?" He looked at the students, who were outraged in their way.
For one, some are outraged by how this boy is a Platinum Rank. The rich students...
"THIS ISN'T RIGHT! YOU GIVE ME A GOLD RANK YET THIS PEASANT GETS A PLATINUM RANK!?!" They were ANGRY.
"Settle down, students!" Janus tried to calm them down, but...
"ROOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!" A roar is heard, as Lukas is seen holding a... Sword? But from it, a roar is heard,
"That's the special skill of a Dragon Rider!" A special skill that shapes the dragon into a weapon, like the wisp form, they can become a weapon for the Dragon Rider.
The advanced form is the Bond Skill, with Fran being an expert on it.
"..." Everyone was intimidated, as if their confidence faded in an instant.
"..." Janus peeked at Lukas as the man sat down, his sword placed on his lap.
"..." Everyone is silent... The silence was prominent... It was LOUD.
"... It seems the presence of the new Platinum Ranked Dragon Rider has caused a stir. I wish for everyone to get along, but it seems I am sorely mistaken." Janus steps forward,
"Listen up." An aura of power washed over him,
"I will not tolerate bullying, insubordination, anything in the slightest. Here at Dragon Rider Academy, we're all students trying to learn the ways of the Dragon Rider legacy. So I expect all students to behave or... It's the doors of termination from the Dragon Rider Academy."
"HUH!?!" Some students protest,
"But sir-"
"I do not care," Janus said, before...
"I hope we all can get along, alright?" Janus comes back to his old self, as everyone stared...
'That was scary...!' Ashter even flinched,
"You're all dismissed to your dorms., Janus said, as when Ashter tried to leave...
"You," Janus said, standing behind him,
"..." Ashter froze in place...
'Crap... Am I in trouble?' He wondered, turning around as Bismuth was sound asleep at this point.
"... Congratulations on obtaining Platinum Rank." He said,
"I hope you stay here at the Dragon Rider Academy. We provide exclusive facilities for dragons such as this little one." Janus said,
"... What... What about his growth?" Ashter was concerned,
"... Platinum Ranked Dragons... Their potential for growth far exceeds that of a normal dragon. Now they look like a young Juvenile dragon. Nearing such size but not quite there. We do not have much more knowledge about Platinum Rank dragons, but we do have services that can help in their growth with as few restrictions as possible." Janus said,
"Come." He said, as the three professors stared.
"Shall we head off to guide students?" Lola wondered,
"... Yeah," Janus said, as from the outside...
"Come." He ordered, as the wisp transformed, as a blazing fire surrounded the area, as Ashter's eyes widened in awe,
"..." The large dragon stared, bigger than buildings,
"Thank you," Janus said, as...
"!?!" Ashter is forced in the air by unknown means, as...
"..." He is seated on a saddle,
"Here in Dragon Rider Academy, whenever the dragon is capable of such work, we offer saddles for the dragon in question. But for this one... Only a special resting place where the king's dragons are kept." Janus said,
"HUH!?! T-The king!?!" Ashter grew horrified. Will they take away Bismuth!?! Hopefully not.
"Hold on," Janus said,
"WOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Ashter screamed in horror, holding onto the man, Bismuth looked at his master...
"Krrrmmmkkkk..." It's as if saying, "This is my master?"
"...?" Ashter opened his eyes...
"!" And the view...
"Woah..." Below and around him... Brilliant sights were seen. The kingdom of Castalixs... A truly large kingdom... Bigger than... It's almost never-ending...
"The king and his dragons are all the best of the best. Elders, Adults, to Young. They're Platinum Rank dragons and the only 6 in this kingdom." Janus said,
"... So we're going there for...?"
"To not cause a scene. The dragon's resting areas are generally capable of housing Diamond Rank dragons due to all Platinum Rank dragons never being in the hands of such... Nevermind. The point is, once he sees your dragon, it would be resistant to his special locations and will be cared for at all times due to their diets and the rapid growth during their younger years." Janus explained,
"For example, Blackfire here eats one large shark every day." He explained, as Ashter grew concerned by what kind of food Bismuth would need...
"This is why we provide such services. We raise not only the riders but the dragons." Soon, Blackfire is seen slamming its feet in a large open area.
"Headmaster Janus!" Guards said,
"What brings you today, One soon walked to him, as...
"?" He noticed a boy...
"It's urgent. Is His Highness available?" Janus asked, as the guards looked at one another... Unsure what this means...
"We will inform his highness of your presence." The guard said, gesturing one to go to find the king.
"Follow me, Janus." Soon, the guard asked him to follow, as Janus wore a robe of sorts. A cloth-like cape reached his lower back, but hewores a long sleeve dark blue shirt with golden accents and black pants.
"Fwoosh!" Blackfire shifts into a weapon, two swords formed, and sets themselves on his side.
"..." Ashter grew curious about what kind of weapon he would have with Bismuth... Maybe an axe? A spear? Who knows.
"... Wow..." Ashter however can't help but be awed. So many dragon decorations... The pillars, paintings... Everything. All in gold... Pricless indeed.
"Just follow my lead when we meet the king. Don't speak unless spoken t,o and do not look at him unless ordered to. You may have... Bismuth... But like any contra,ct it can be broken if the dragon isn't old enough to fend for itself." Janus warned... As...
"We've arrived." The two guards open the door, leading to a long carpet... Red and gold...
'So much gold.' Ashter thinks that wild dragons do love gold.
"..." A man sits on a throne, a woman beside him, as...
"!!!" Ashter felt the presence...
"Krr..." Bismuth growls a bit,
"Bismuth!" Ashter whispered,
"..." But he can't blame him... As in front of them... Two large eyes peer from the shadows...
"Professor Janus. It has been a long time since you have came to visit me." The man said, a king... His presence so relaxed... Yet... It's as if he knows what to do.
"..." Janus bows, as Ashter does the same... But Bismuth... Well, he's as if trying to intimidate the LARGE FRICKEN DRAGON BEHIND THE KING.
"..." Janus looked at the dragon...
"A while dragon with rainbow eyes... Is the boy it's attached to his?" The king asked,
"... Yes, your majesty. In fact... It appears this one is special." Janus said, keeping his eyes off,
"Kr-!" Bismuth is repeatedly tugged to put his head down,
"Put it down!" Ashter whispered,
"..." The king, however, found this... Amusing.
"How so? The only time you would ever request me... Is the reason related to... The Platinum Rank."
"!!!" The guards looked at the small dragon, as if sweat dripped down their faces.
"... Yes. This boy and his dragon... They're of the Platinum Rank." Janus said,
"Hahaha! Now that explains why this little one is being so fiesty with my companion!" The king said, as crawling out of the shadows, as even the large room is being grazed... A large, LARGE HEAD OF AN ENORMOUS DRAGON is seen. Its skin is a deep blue, with purple accents. It stared, growling, its eyes ruby in color. It stared.
'Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit!!!' Ashter was going to crap himself, as the dragon stared at...
"Shinnnn..." The marking glows... As Bismuth barked,
"KROW! KROW!"
"HNG!!!" Ashter's breath constricts, it was as if...
His head was in the jaws of a beast...!
"... Groo..." The beast's nose pulls back, before the size grows small, as a fire heads to the king.
"Seems... He made his assessment. It seems the Castalix Kingdom is in the presence of its 7th Platinum Rank dragon." The king said, as out of the 5 circles... Each of his children watches over it, wielding one of the 6 Platinum Rank dragons.
"..." The pair is silent,
"Hahaha! Don't be so afraid! Come, child, I wish to see you closely." The king ordered, as Ashter got up, sweating bullets.
"..." He stood in front of the king, the stairs ensuring he wasn't inches from him,
"... What's your name, which circle did you come from?" He asked,
"A-Ashter Lake. I come from the 5th Circle." He said,
"The 5th? My son is meant to... Nevermind. Ashter Lake of the 5th Circle... It's my honor to raise such a promising Dragon Rider."
"!!!" The guard's eyes widened, never did...
"Come." He ordered, as...
"...?" The king removes a long pin...
"!" A hair stick. A decorative item. When given to someone...
"I wish that we could associate with each other in the future. I might even allow you to marry one of my daughters if you wish!" The kingsaysy, laughing even, but stops when hearing:
"Darling..." The queen said,
"Oh, my mistake." He chuckled,
"This hair stick symbolizes you in my favor. Wear it with pride. Wear it with honor." Different from Chinese hairpins and or sticks, one like this... Means the person who gifted it isn't necessarily doing it out of affection but out of a "favor" of sorts.
While inspired by China, it's given a small twist.
"Just... Don't use it to your advantage. I will request your presence whenever necessary." The king said, as Ashter, a bit winded, nodded,
"Y-Yes, sir."
"Before you go." But before leaving...
"Escort him to the dragon's private quarters. Perferably the smaller ones for the time being." The man said, as a guard nodded,
"Yes, my lord." Soon, he is guided to these private quarters.
"... I hope this won't disturb our promising Dragon Rider's education, right, Professor Janus?" The king wondered, as the wife, still seething a bit, remained calm.
"... No, not at all. We still run off the three-class schedule after all. There will be plenty of time for makeup work." He said, as the king nodded,
"Good! I hope he won't die before his dragon reaches full maturity... After all... It is a nationwide disaster that needs to be contained." The king stared as Janus nodded,
"Of course, your majesty." He responds, as Janus sighed in his head, but grew worried...
The king always wants power... But sometimes it comes off weird... Who knows, maybe it's his way of speaking, who knows? God maybe.
***
Moments later, Ashter is seen placing his palm out. A small glow was seen as the location from which Bismuth will come and has been marked.
"This is simple, magical control. A basic command a normal Dragon Rider has." A guard said, as Ashter nodded, as a large space was seen, as Bismuth flew, landing on a large net.
"Seems he likes it." Ashter sighed, looking at the guard,
"Will Bismuth receive the best of the best?" He wondered,
"Of course. Every day, when a dragon is out and before going into battle, we bathe, feed, and allow the dragon to do whatever they wants. When summoned, we are on standby with doctors and other items to ensure the top quality of the dragon." He explained, as Ashter felt a little better.
"Alright..." He said, as about to walk away, Bismuth quickly attached himself to his back,
"Aw..." Ashter smiled,
"..." He sighed,
"Alright, Bismuth. Let's go then." He soon walked out...
'Alright...' Soon standing outside the castle, he looked forward...
'To a bright future.' He thinks to himself, as hopefully, just hopefully, he will get a better life for his mother and himself.
End of chapter 3.