Strings of Sin

Chapter 3

The father guided his curious son over to another gravestone. This one was much taller and grander and covered with beautiful roses. And Dignity put his claw on the handsome statue that shadowed the colorful grave.

"This here is the fool Amorous, a romantic and naughty nightwing warrior who always looked his best in battle; an idiot he was to fight alongside, he had no care for anything other than love. He was no true warrior, he just wanted pleasure, and of course, he died of a foul disease due to that unhealthy obsession," the disgusted father hated the dead warrior's guts. "Don't ever fall in love my son, for it will only cause trouble in your life and distract you from what really matters most in this world."

The nightwing father ignored the rest of the elegant gravestones and went to the center of the gloomy manor's front yard. The most elegant and best statue of them all lay in the spotlight where the sun always cast its shine. There was no gravestone and no marks, it was flawless, and it was his father's.

"Behold, my beloved statue! I am the best of all of them, I am The Bringer of Carnage, Dignity, and I'm still alive! These puny failures have nothing on me!" the mighty father never dared to place his dusty, bloody claw on the smooth, clean statue. "I hope that one day you find yourself in this yard too, and the determining all starts today."

"Indeed it does," a voice favored the warrior's statement. "You brought your son in, ruthless Carnagebringer. I can't wait to feel young again with immersive teachings to your youth, Stardom."

And Stardom turned to the dull manor's door and saw a tall, black nightwing, clearly grown wise with age. "Hello, are you my teacher?"

"Yes, I am the old war teacher, Enlightenment, but you may call me Chief," the nightwing spoke and beckoned the two dragons over to him.

"How are you doing old friend?" Dignity asked and brought his son over to the door.

"I am holding up well. I'm getting older, but that won't stop me if the sandwings declare another territory war against us," the owlish, nightwing teacher spoke. "But the wisest dragon avoids the action."

"Interesting, show my son inside," the busy nightwing father commanded. "I have things to do with the queen, so I have to leave now. Review the schedule, my friend, and teach him well. But I may warn you that he may refuse to fight."

The Carnagebringer abandoned his son with the old war teacher and went to do the secret business he never spoke of. Enlightenment took the father's dragonet inside and shut the door to keep the darkness of the coming night out. Then the Chief turned to his young warrior and took him further inside the rich home.

As they walked the long halls, Enlightenment spoke. "The wisest dragon avoids the action, and you choose not to fight. Maybe that is a good thing."

Stardom looked around at the paintings on the walls that depicted nightwings, sandwings and icewings in elegant, bloody battles. Framed in gold they hanged, and brave Stardom backed away near the tall, strong teacher beside him. The carpet they trailed was royal red and soft, and the lighting of the home was dull and moody. Then they reached a large chamber where the lighting grew, and the windows streaked orange and yellow stood out on the walls near fancy paintings and stone statues; there were weapons lined on racks and armor put on stands.

And the Chief opened his maw and ordered his student. "Your father asked me to train you The Art of War. He wants you to grow strong and not weak like the others. We will train every day at night as the true nocturnal warriors do, and soon, you should be strong, just like your father. But he doubts that you'll ever be stronger than him, and even I share the same thinking. Your father is no ordinary fighter because he outthinks his enemy rather than outfights them."