"Cyrie?"
Tiana, the daughter of Theo, looked at the young dragon prince with worry in her eyes. She was a three-year-old girl with short brown hair and amber eyes. Being only three, her vocabulary wasn't all that great, and instead of calling him Cyrus, she called him Cyrie.
Theo thought it was the cutest thing in the world.
"You k?" she asked, her voice small and uncertain.
Cyrus blinked, pulled from his thoughts by the innocent voice. He smiled at her brightly. "Of course I am! Hey, after we're done here, let's go play out back."
Tiana grinned. "K!"
Theo, standing nearby, smiled at the scene. Cyrus had forged a bond with Tiana almost immediately after meeting the young dragon. She'd taken to him like an older brother. But the smile slowly faded from Theo's face. Cyrus did well to put on a brave front, but the man could see it—deep down, the boy was hurting. Just yesterday, he'd learned the truth of his heritage… and how his parents had died.
I guess I'll give him time to process everything, Theo thought, closing his eyes. I wonder what path the boy will choose…
About fifteen minutes later, Tiana jumped to her feet and bolted out the patio door, her little legs carrying her swiftly. Cyrus blinked and scratched his head before standing up and following her with a chuckle.
The two played for hours. They ran through the grass, laughed under the sun, and even rolled around in the dirt. Eventually, Cyrus noticed Tiana was getting sleepy. He suggested they head inside and get some rest for the night.
Tiana pouted, crossing her arms. "I'm not tired."
Cyrus gave her a look.
She sighed. "Fine…"
Once Tiana went into her room, Cyrus retreated to his own. He lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. His thoughts drifted again. He thought of his parents—two warriors who gave their lives for him. He never got to meet them, never got to hear their voices or feel their embrace. But even without memories, Cyrus respected them deeply. They hadn't just fought for him. They fought for peace… for everyone.
The raven-haired boy closed his eyes. In that moment, he made a decision.
A silent promise.
He would grow stronger under Theo's guidance. No matter what, he would stop the Fire Dragons. He would protect others the way his parents had. He would become someone others could rely on. That night, Cyrus fell asleep with resolve burning in his heart.
In the days that followed, Theo began to notice a shift in Cyrus. The boy trained more often, and not just during scheduled sessions. Theo would find him out on the patio in the early hours of the morning, practicing hand-to-hand combat and honing his lightning abilities. There was something different about him—an intensity in his movements, a purpose in every punch.
The leader of the Lightning Dragon Clan stepped outside one day and leaned against the railing of the patio, quietly observing.
He's grown strong, Theo thought. Stronger than I expected in such a short time. At this rate, he might even surpass me someday. I just hope he doesn't suffer more than he already has…
Theo still didn't know of any other surviving members of the royal family. Cade had hunted them down relentlessly. And yet… here Cyrus stood.
"Cyrus," Theo called out.
The boy paused and turned. "Theo?"
"Are you okay?"
There was a brief frown before Cyrus nodded. "I'm the son of heroes. They died protecting me… and I'm proud to be their son."
He smiled, and it was a genuine one.
"It makes me mad that I never got to meet them. But the thought of Cade taking away more families? That makes me furious. I want to get stronger, Theo. Strong enough to stop him."
Theo met the boy's eyes and saw it—the fire, the conviction. He grinned.
"Then let's begin your next phase of training. I'll warn you now—what you've done up until now is child's play compared to what's coming."
Cyrus grinned right back. "Do your worst."
Theo chuckled. "I intend to."
The training that followed was nothing short of brutal.
Every morning began with 800 push-ups, 800 pull-ups, and a 100-lap run around the compound. And that was just the warm-up. The afternoons were reserved for strikes—500 punches to a tree with each hand, and 600 kicks with each leg.
Day in and day out, Cyrus trained relentlessly. The pain became his companion, and fatigue became second nature. But the results were undeniable. Muscles formed. Movements sharpened. Lightning surged through his veins with precision and power. Anyone who faced him would know—he was the son of the former Lightning Dragon King.
Time passed.
Days turned into months, and months into years.
Six years later…
A twelve-year-old Cyrus yawned, dragging his feet as he strolled into town. He had just finished his afternoon training, and Theo had sent him on an errand to buy milk. He didn't mind—getting out of the house was refreshing sometimes.
But just as he was about to step into the local supercenter, his instincts screamed.
He jumped back, narrowly dodging a flame-empowered kick aimed at his head.
Cyrus glared at the attacker—a man with brown hair and cruel brown eyes. Fire crackled around him. He was definitely a member of the Fire Dragon Clan.
The man grinned. "I've always wanted to meet you… Dragon Prince."
Cyrus's eyes narrowed. But then he felt it—an immense surge of power near his home.
His heart sank.
Cade.
Panic gripped him. Cade was here. The King of Flames. And if Theo and Tiana were there…
Cade would kill them. Just like that.
The enemy before him launched a flurry of flame bullets from his fingers, mimicking a gun. "Thinking about others? You really think that's a luxury you have?!"
Cyrus snapped out of it. He expertly dodged each projectile, his body moving on instinct. His eyes glowed blue. His pupils became slits. Lightning danced across his skin.
The man's eyes widened. This power… his Core… it's unreal!
Before he could react, Cyrus vanished and reappeared behind him, striking hard. The man screamed as the force sent him crashing through crates.
Meanwhile, Cade stood calmly before Theo, who shielded Tiana with his body.
"You're gonna die today, Theo," Cade sneered. "Just like Allen and Katie did."
Theo's expression darkened, hatred blazing in his eyes. "CADE!"
In a flash, Cyrus arrived, fist surging with lightning. He punched Cade square in the face, lightning bursting outward and tearing up both Cade's skin and the land beneath them.
Theo blinked, momentarily stunned.
Cyrus… you've come so far.
But Cade got back up, grinning, his face bloodied.
"You definitely take after them," he said. "Your parents. That was quite the attack, boy."
Cyrus growled and dashed forward again.
"Cyrus, no!" Theo shouted, but it was too late. Cade's men appeared, blocking his path.
Cyrus and Cade clashed.
Fists collided, energy exploded, and neither seemed to back down. Cyrus fought with everything he had—his speed, his strength, his resolve. He leapt up, charging his palm with lightning. The energy crackled violently.
"Take this!" he roared, slamming it down.
Cade screamed as the lightning tore into him, burning through his flesh. Blood splattered the ground.
But then Cade laughed.
Laughed as his wounds healed before their eyes.
Theo held his own against the enemy forces. Fire surged all around him, but the veteran warrior stood his ground. Dozens of Cade's men lay unconscious around him. Tiana floated above, watching helplessly.
Theo caught a punch, then retaliated with a bone-shattering blow. But there were still more enemies closing in.
His eyes shifted to Cyrus and Cade. The battle raged on.
But Cyrus couldn't win this.
Not yet.
Cade's body began to glow an eerie orange. Heat radiated from him like a furnace.
Cyrus gasped as Cade appeared behind him. "You're strong, kid… but you're not me."
Cade whispered the words into his ear before swinging his arm.
Cyrus screamed.
Cade's flaming strike tore through his torso like a blade. Blood flew. His body split in two and hit the ground.
"You… bastard," Cyrus coughed, barely conscious, writhing in agony.
"Cyrus!" Theo cried, rage overtaking him.
He charged Cade.
"You know," Cade smirked, "anger isn't a good look on you."
The two vanished in a blur, fists flying. Cade launched flaming spears; Theo evaded and retaliated with a massive lightning strike that blew Cade's arm clean off.
But it was already growing back.
Theo snarled and landed a vicious combo—punches, a knee to the face, more blood.
"Tiana!" Theo shouted. "Grab Cyrus and get out of here!"
Tiana flew down, landing beside her brother.
"What are you doing?!" Cyrus cried, already healing—his body slowly stitching itself together.
Theo kicked Cade back. "Look after Tiana, son. I love you both. Now go!!"
Tears welled in both of their eyes.
"D-Daddy…"
"Dad…"
"Look after your sister!"
Tiana shut her eyes, picked Cyrus up, and tried to ascend.
But the enemy forces stirred again, rising to their feet with sinister grins.
Before they could close in, a deep, commanding voice cut through the chaos.
It was Cade. And everyone froze.
To be continued…