Chapter Twelve:Meeting The Dragon Raiders

*The day*

"I wonder what's taking Sage so long?"

Kaius said as he looked towards the stairs.

He wore a sleek gray training suit, with the sliver lion crest at the back.

"Stop pacing around. You are making too much noise,"

Zephyr complained as he closed the book he was reading.

He was also donning a sleek training suit, but his was blue-ish.

"Sorry for caring about our-no- my sister!"

Zephyr simply rolled his eyes at Kaius.

"I have no time for your pettiness," Zephyr sat on a chair next to the stairs and closed his eyes.

Kiaus held his waist as he pointed his right hand at Zephyr, "So you are chickening out? Get up and face me like a man!"

Suddenly, footsteps from up the stairs could bee heard. But since Kaius was to busy shouting at Zephyr, he did not hear it.

As Kiaus kept shouting at Zephyr, who was still ignoring him, a dainty fair hand tapped his shoulder followed by a voice, "Dear second brother what are shouting for?"

Kaius shook in fright hearing that gentle voice. He quickly put his hands down, then turned towards Sage, who was still smiling gently.

But her eyes, though also smiling felt intimidating.

'Oh crap! I forgot Sage does not like noise early in the morning.'

"Oh h-hey Sage. I was just..."

"Oh Sage you're ready. Let's get going, father is waiting for us at the entrance of the Dragon Raiders training grounds." Zephyr opened his eyes. The light from the window made his emerald eyes shimmer.

Sage nodded as she let go of Kiaus' shoulder.

She walked out first as she tighted her hand guard. She was dressed in a black training suit.

Zephyr quietly wiped his cold sweat. Kiaus looked at Zephyr as he said, "Thank you brother! I'll never forget this,"

He launched himself towards Zephyr with his hands opened for a hug. Tears gathering in his eyes.

Zephyr pushed his head away as he said, "Well if we're late, you're dealing with father yourself."

"S***! Well hurry up, let's go!" Kaius speedily ran after Sage as Zephyr held his forehead exasperated. Following right after.

*Dragon Raiders Training Ground*

"Good morning father," Sage greeted a she stood next to him.

Duke Argent's stern expression quickly melted as a smile filled his handsome face. The three siblings did inherit some of their father good looks.

"Good morning princess, did you sleep well?" He rubbed Sages soft white hair that was tied up in a high ponytail.

Hesitation flashed through her eyes. But she smiled so much her eyes closed and nodded, "Yep."

Zephyr and Kiaus arrived a few seconds later, and greeted their father as well.

Duke Argent nodded back at them with a faint smile.

"We will come for you after you are done talking to the Dragon Raiders," Duke Argent said.

"I am their leader, nothing will happen to me. Plus we haven't left the Duchy, and you guys have to train." She pointed towards her brother. "And you have to visit the Emperor," she looked at her father as she said that.

"He is your Uncle, so in private you can call him Uncle Lachlon." Duke Argent rubbed Sages hair as he said.

Sage grabbed his hand as she nodded. "Well I'm going, bye!"

She quickly ran towards the entrance gate of the training ground.

The three men sighed, as they simply walked off to continue the daily schedule.

***

Sage stood in front of the gate that had intricately carved dragons on it. She looked around the gate looking for a way to enter since there was no handle to pull or push the gate open.

After looking around for 3 minutes, she stopped and looked straight at the gate. "Am I forgetting something?"

She kept staring untill her eyes blurred. Suddenly she notice a hallowed part of the craving. She walked closer and touched it.

'It feels like, a hole? Wait, it shape feels familiar.'

Sages eyes narrowed in realization. She took out the dagger she found yesterday from her boots, and stabbed it into the hallowed part of the door.

The gate snapped open.

Looking at the scene, a hint of familiarity hit her on the head.

Shaking the unnecessary thoughts from her head she walked forward. Entering, the gate closed with snap.

As she walked on, she noticed the training ground was much large than she had initially thought.

As she continued walking, the sight of people training in outfits similar to hers, she finally remembered.

'I should really visit a few more places after this. 27 years is enough time for me to forget a lot of things about my life here.'

Looking at the slightly gray sky since it was early morning, Sage sighed, 'I wonder how everyone on Earth is doing? I hope my instruments have not been sold,'

Tucking the dagger back in her boot, she called out, "Lyle!"

A whoosh was heard as a tall, imposing man with a strong jawline and piercing blue eyes appeared. He wore a black leather jacket, adorned with intricate silver embroidery over his black training suit similar to Sage.

He got on one knee as he shouted, "Welcome back, Captain!"

This caused a chain reaction. All the other stopped training and knelt down as well.

Sage watched them with cold eyes as her smile remained unchanged. "Rise!"

As they rose to their feet, Sage's gaze swept across the gathering, her eyes lingering on each face. Lyle remained kneeling, his eyes fixed on hers, awaiting further instruction.

"Captain, we've missed you," he said, his deep voice filled with a mix of emotions.

Sage smiled. "I've returned."

With a nod, Lyle stood up, his movements fluid and graceful. "We've got a lot to catch up on, Captain. The Dragon Raiders have gathered a lot of information in your absence."

Sage's eyes narrowed, "Well talk about that later,"

Looking at the Raiders training, Sage asked, "I need you to do something for me."

She looked straight into Lyle's eyes, "Can you do that?"

A soft smile highlighted his handsome face. "Yes,"

Sighing, Sage asked, "You should ask what I need you to do. Don't just say yes."

"But, I know you won't ask something, I or anyone in the Raiders can't do,"