Rays of sunshine broke through the wooden shutters of Elioâ€™s bedroom window. His body woke him up on schedule so he began getting ready for the market. After getting dressed Elio made his way out the front door, glancing out to the forest but didnâ€™t have the same feeling as yesterday.<br/><br/>â€œElio come over here please and help me with these.â€ His mother called out loading the cart with a few smaller baskets of their farmed goods. Elio quickly ran over and began lifting the heavier baskets into the cart, then prepared the horse for the ride into town. With the cart loaded and attached to the horse, Elio stood next to it with the leash attached to the horsesâ€™ bit. With a simple wave to his mother and sister Elio began leading the horse up the main path towards the great city gates of Sanctum.<br/><br/>It was early but there was still a line of merchant farmers and their carts forming at the gates. Elio looked up at the massive stone frame that housed the enormous and thick iron doors that were the entrance to Sanctum. The closer Elio got, the bigger they seemed. After the guards waved him through, Elio quickly looked around for a good spot to be seen. Ahead on the right, there was an unoccupied corner that was at the opening of the main street into the beginning of the merchantâ€™s square. As Elio led his horse there he glanced around the square and saw the many merchants who had already set up their respective shops. Time after time the square seemed to get smaller and smaller as more merchants would come earlier in the day desperately trying to sell their goods first. This was something Elio could never truly get the mindset for. To him, this was a time to sell what you could and make do with it. Elio knew his mother would disagree with him but deep down it didnâ€™t really bother him.<br/><br/>Hours passed and the day grew hotter, much hotter than usual at this time of day. Suddenly Elio began to feel it again, the sensation and urge to head towards the woods. Elio peered his head around the corner of his stand and looked out through the main gate, towards the woods. Once again he found himself entranced by this oddly familiar presence that beckoned him. Suddenly a sharp pain on the side of his head snapped him back to reality and Elio turned to see a small group of some of the local troublemakers. The first one was a young red headed fellow that stood about Elioâ€™s height but outweighed Elio by at least one hundred pounds. He stood with a cocky grin on his face tossing up a vegetable from Elioâ€™s stand.<br/><br/>â€œHow much, worm?â€ the red head taunted with his derogative remark towards Elio, who remained unchanged by it. Elio simply held up four fingers and the red head along with his crew laughed.<br/><br/>â€œFour gold? This is garbage! My pigs wouldnâ€™t eat these, much less for four gold! You farmers are all alike pricing high for mere dirt, you should be ashamed!â€ with that the red head turned and began walking away with the vegetable in hand. Elio clenched his fists as he was here to sell the food, not give them away to petty crooks.<br/><br/>â€œIf you donâ€™t like it, buy from someone else and put that back in my cartâ€¦.now!â€ Between the strange pull he felt towards the woods and the outright audacity of this crook, Elioâ€™s emotions and temper flared. The mere tone of his voice was threatening, even for a seasoned guard who happened to be nearby, but turned the other direction waiting for a more opportune time to intervene. The red head turned back around then approached Elio, standing mere feet away with three others.<br/><br/>â€œYou want your precious worm food back? Then pick it up!â€ and with a hard downward swing, the red head slammed the vegetable down hard on the cobblestone ground then turned back to his crew laughing. But as he turned back around to face Elio, he caught a surprised hard right hook across the left side of his head instead, dropping him to the ground instantly. Elio stumbled back momentarily surprised at his actions. He glanced down at his balled up and now aching fist. This had been the first time he had ever intentionally hit someone. With his mind elsewhere, Elio was brought out of his shock by a hard hit to his stomach from one of the other crooks, then another hit to the side of his face. Elio hit the ground hard, his head ringing and his stomach sore already from the blow. The red head finally stood up with the help of his lackeys then stepped towards Elio before landing another vicious kick to Elioâ€™s stomach, followed by another, and then another. The group spat on Elio then turned to walk away and all Elio could do was watch in humility. This set off another fit of aggression inside Elio and he felt compelled to get back on his feet. In doing so the group turned back around to see Elio bloodied and beaten standing back on his feet.<br/><br/>â€œYou still owe me four gold for thatâ€¦â€ Elio taunted with a smile as he pointed at the smashed vegetable. He didnâ€™t know what recently came over him but it felt right. The red head motioned for one of his crew to approach Elio but before he could take a step forward, Elio was in full sprint running straight for the four troublemakers. Completely caught off guard the first man fell victim to a hard tackle from Elio followed by a few hard right fists to the face knocking him out cold. The two other young men sprung forward and tackled Elio off of their comrade and began to beat him again. But this time Elio was ready. After taking a few more hits to the abdomen, Elio managed to free his right arm and retaliated with a vicious right hook to the first man holding his left arm, then backhanded the second man he broke free from. This minor victory was short lived as the red head rushed forward tackling Elio to the ground and began wailing on Elioâ€™s face. Elio desperately tried covering his head with his arms but the force of the continuous blows were beginning to take their toll and Elio began to feel dizzy. In one last burst of energy, Elio managed to block one of the strikes and returned one of his own that hit the red head hard. Elio took the opportunity to roll the red head off of him, then mounted himself on top of his attacker. As Elio raised his fist to deliver the last blow, but a large gloved hand quickly grabbed hold of Elioâ€™s wrist and squeezed hard. Elio turned to look up at one of the guards who then lifted Elio up and held his hands behind his back while the Captain approached.<br/><br/>â€œQuite a display of stamina and heart young man.â€ The Captain stated while looking over the four beaten men. He then motioned for his guards to seize them and take them away before glancing at Elio again.<br/><br/>â€œThey always cause trouble around here and this is the first time anyone else has stood up to them before my men could seize them, so for that I congratulate you. However you did throw the first punch so I am going to have my men escort you out with your things and request that you not return until the next market day next monthâ€ With that the Captain took his leave and left Elio with two of his guards. After repacking his cart, the guards proceeded to escort Elio out through the gate. The path back home never looked longer to Elio as he knew this news would surely upset his mother.<br/><br/>***********<br/><br/>â€œYou what?!â€ Elioâ€™s mother shouted followed by a harsh slap across the right cheek, which thankfully wasnâ€™t the one hit by the crooks. Efalna paced back and forth in anger and worry.<br/><br/>â€œWhat were you thinking Elio?â€ a question he honestly could not answer.<br/><br/>â€œThey stole from the cart, mom! Should I have just let that go? Then do the same thing for when otherâ€™s come around? We donâ€™t farm so people can just take it from us, itâ€™s how we make a living. Isnâ€™t that right?â€ Elio shouted back.<br/><br/>â€œHow true, and yet we donâ€™t get our monthâ€™s worth because you got yourself kicked out of the market!â€<br/><br/>â€œWell whatâ€™s the point trying to sell to people who just want to steal from you, and then not fight for it? Stealing from us doesnâ€™t get us money either!â€ Elio shot back again aggressively. Efalna stressfully ran her hand through her long dirty brown hair then let out a long aggravated sigh.<br/><br/>â€œYou sound just like your brother when you talk like thatâ€¦â€ she spoke quietly. Elio himself was at a loss for a response. The only thing he could do was walk out of the house and began heading towards the woods; not because he felt the pull, but because he felt it was the only place he could go to get his mind right.<br/><br/>Before long Elio realized he didnâ€™t know where he was going and quickly found himself lost; however, this didnâ€™t bother him as he felt more and more comfortable the further he went in. Eventually Elio found himself approaching a small creek in a clearing of the woods. Elio sat down at the edge of the water and flicked a stone downstream. After letting out a long sigh, Elio laid back on the cool grass and closed his eyes.<br/><br/><span style="color: #40BFFF"><span style="font-style: italic">â€œYou do carry yourself in a similar manner as him you know...â€</span></span>a strange and eerie voice echoed throughout the trees startling Elio enough to jump to his feet. Suddenly he felt the same presence as before but this time was much more powerful and almost overwhelming.<br/><br/>â€œWhoâ€™s there?!â€ Elio demanded, although deep down he was almost frightened by it.<br/><br/><span style="color: #40BFFF"><span style="font-style: italic">â€œYouâ€™re a bit more skittish though. No matter we shall fix that soon enoughâ€¦.â€</span></span>The voiced called out again. Elio turned in circles trying to find the source of the voice but it was as if it was surrounding him, almost inside of his head.<br/><br/>â€œWhat are you talking about? Who are you?!â€ Elio demanded forcibly again. The voice simply responded with a gusty chuckle, its breath passed through the trees from all directions.<br/><br/><span style="color: #40BFFF"><span style="font-style: italic">â€œYou have a strong heart Elio, and a good spirit. And from your actions earlier today, sloppy as they were, you show little fear. As I said, you carry yourself in quite a similar manner as himâ€¦â€</span></span>Elio stopped and looked down into the creek. His mind pondered who the voice could possibly be referring to and then he realized it; his brother Destan. At that moment Elio felt a surge in the presence, as if he knew where it was this time; directly behind him. As Elio turned slowly to confirm, he stood eye to eye with a white Dragon. The shock of the sight sent Elio stumbling backwards, falling into the creek then struggled to crawl away, splashing his way to the other side.<br/><br/><span style="color: #40BFFF"><span style="font-style: italic">â€œYou do not need to fear me Elio. My name is Olias, and your brother Destan was my previous rider. Therefore, you and I have a unique connection.â€</span></span>Elio stopped midway through the grass then turned to face the Dragon. Elio focused on the presence of the beast and of the times he felt it before. The more it lingered in his mind the more Elio realized that the familiarity he felt from it was indeed unique. His breathâ€™s slowed and he wiped water from his face then leaned back on his hands, continuing to look the magnificent creature over.<br/><br/><span style="color: #40BFFF"><span style="font-style: italic">â€œNow that you are a bit more calmed down, letâ€™s have a chat shall we?â€</span></span>