"We finally out!"

Noel shouted in joy, his face is full of dirt and stinks. However, he doesn't care, for five days in the dungeon and seeking an exit. He finally gets out.

"Never though i will see a sky." Clara walks beside her. All this time inside the dungeon. They are depending each other’s and hunting monsters for eating.

"What about those guys? The one who wanted you?" Noel asked Clara. But she just shrugged her shoulders.

"Maybe they already give up or die? Who cares? Let's go home already. I'm tired."

"Yes, but wait."

"What?" Clara stopped and looking at Noel.

"Your place, will it be safe? If you don't mind, you could stay in the same inn as mine." Noel scratched his head in embarrassment as if he is inviting a girl to his house.

"Good idea, it's better be like that." Clara smiled. Noel was taken back by Clara straightforward answer and coughing.

"Let's go."

Returning to the inn, they became attention in bad ways. After renting a room, Clara quickly went to take a bath. Noel did the same and felt refreshed.

"Did i become stronger?" Noel mumbled while looking to the mirror. He remembered about what he went through inside the dungeon. It could be called luck after disaster, and that luck also brings disaster too. If he were giving up back then, he might be not like this. Noel didn't show the green fire in front of Clara yet. But she already knew that Noel has been improved greatly.

Knock.

"Yes?"

"Noel, do you have clothes? I didn't have anything to change."

"Ah, wait a moment. Just return to your room, i'll bring my clothes to you."

Noel somehow panicked and picked his clothes randomly then walks to Clara's room.

"Enter."

Noel slowly opened the door and then saw Clara covered by towel only. He gasped and in instant put his clothes inside the room then close the door

Clara laughed after looking at his reaction. She laughed hard and picked his clothes.

"Noel, you there?"

"Yeah."

"You may come in."

With trembling hand, Noel slowly opening the door and found Clara sits on the bed with his clothes. He gulped and felt embarrassed that his clothes is now wore by a girl.

"Your body is quite big." Clara spoke, Noel's clothes are bit bigger than her and it's showing mysterious charm coming out from her.

"Evan's body is bigger."

"Don't compare yourself okay? You became strong, you might be already surpassed him." She clearly showing displease when Noel tried to compare himself with Evan.

"Maybe, maybe not. Somehow, i never know how strong Evan is. Clara, if you meet him, you will understand why i'm comparing myself to him."

"If i meet him... but his whereabouts is unknown and he might be dead."

In instant Noel had sour expression. He didn't receive any news about Evan. Of course, he doesn't know news about five days before. But still, he is worry to death about Evan and he also believes that Evan still alive. Though it was only his belief without backing.

"Soon, it will be the exam day isn't? Are you prepared?" Clara asked.

"I am."

"Great, you're confident. Then i'll be in your care."

"What?"

"I'm alone, as a man, you should protect me, right?"

"Yeah?"

"I'll be in your care, my knight."

Didn't expect this, Noel only gaped while Clara giggling. Looking at her, many men would be enticed by her. Noel is not an exception, but he remembered about Falecia and tried to keep himself down.

The next morning. As usual, Noel begin his daily exercise. A lonely exercise even though the city is crowded to prepare the festival.

Noel stopped at the gate to Rashburg Academy, he already registering for the exam with Clara. After a while looking at the gate, he sighed and then keep running.

While running, Noel trying to remembering Osion's memories within him.

Osion was born as a fire dragon. Powerful but wicked, he sought for power and wished to conquer the world. Once he grows old, his once red scale turned black and he obtained green fire. Unparalled in fire, he is called King of Fire. Leading Dragon race to destroy and conquer the land. Vicious, sly, domineering, Heartless, he is becoming the enemy of all kind.

Before arrival of the three heroes, Osion was unparalled. But once the heroes appeared and rebellion caused by Rivast. He is now become paralled. Seeking more power, he sacrificed many lives and obtained ashen fire. Yet, he never be able to use it all.

"Fire... i'm really lucky huh." That's the only thing he could said to himself. He isn't a genius or talented, his hardworking attitude might not be the best too. But he got lucky and that luck comes with a risk.

Afterwards, he accompanies Clara going back to her house. They already suspecting that the fake bodyguards will waiting for them.

Slowly, they entering the house but only to found a woman with black robe covered her face with hood and only showing her red lips smiling at them.

"Clara!" She exclaimed, "I thought you're never return."

"Master?" Clara's voice somewhat trembling and she running towards her master then hugs her.

"Master!!"

"Shhhh. There is a man watching us, aren't you embarrassed?"

"No!"

She buried her face into her master. Like daughter and mother, they are reflecting this situation. After crying for few minutes, Clara calmed herself.

"So, who is this man? You're boyfriend?"

"N-no! He is my knight!"

Noel got choked, he didn't think that Clara would called him that. Her master laughing heartily while looking at Noel and Clara.

"He is Noel Rishawd from Noguard kingdom."

"Oh? Both of you seem close? What happened?"

"We're friends." Clara answered with smile.

"I thought you wouldn't have a friend? Seems like you got one, good job Clara."

Clara didn't reply but she is also glad to have Noel. Glad to have someone she could trust.

"Master, about-"

"Your bodyguards? They were dead." She answered coldly.

"Master killed him?" Clara asked with anxious and worry.

"Yes, they harmed my cute apprentice and i would not give a mercy to them. Your father seems gave you weak bodyguards to be so easily killed and the fakes took over their roles."

"Master, they can summon white ice."

"I know, it's because of these." She took out papers and put it on the table. Noel felt familiarity with the papers and then he remembered about Evan had weird expression once saw these same kinds of papers.

Clara's master saw Noel's expression and says, "Do you know about these?"

"Not quite true, these papers are instant cast papers. I encountered them before along with my friend."

"Your friend, could it be Evan?" Clara was sensitive regarding Evan things.

"Yes, back then, he had weird expression towards these papers."

"Your friend is a mystery." Her master said with smile and continues, "The instant cast paper is existed ever since long ago. Invented by Hero Reifu and his disciple to help the war against dark army. Originally, these papers should be not existed anymore because the old Undead king destroyed the factories and massacred all those who knows about this. But seems like someone survived and passed down about this paper but it was not publicly known."

"They have a lot of these papers; how did they get them?" Clara asked.

"Possibly the one who invented these papers are working together with the one who wanted you or they may be a same person."

"What do they want with me? It couldn't be it has something related to the paper, too right?"

"You're right, it has related to the paper. Do you know why they can use such legendary white ice? It's because they have the copy of white ice from the real one. If they have you, they could copy your black fire and it would be dangerous."

Clara shivered once hearing this. Papers that could cast black fire easily. If people armed with these, it would be very dangerous and especially controlled by wrong people.

"Master, can you replicate the paper?" Clara asked.

"Impossible for me. The creation of this paper is ancient, lost for ages." She sighed. To be truth, she is excited to find out how to create this paper too, but the complex and unknown way to create the paper made her gave up.

"Well then, let's talk something else" her eyes moving towards Noel.

"Your knight. I would like to see how strong he is."

"How strong Noel is?"

"You need a strong knight. A knight that can protect you in any danger and save you anytime. That is your knight, if he is weak, then he can't be called your knight. At least he could be called your servant." She smiled viciously and stood.

"Let's go outside, we shall have a match." As she spoke that, Clara and Noel had stiff expression. Her master just giggled and went outside the house. With hurry, Clara and Noel also catching up with her.

Outside the house is a wide field and far from the crowds, it is fine for noise happening here. Clara's master stood with a black staff on her hand.

"Come Noel, if you just manage to withstand against me. It is good."

Noel gulped and looking at Clara. She also looking at him and nodded slightly. With bravery, he accumulates in instant, he steps forward and looking at Clara's master.

"Master mainly use fire magic too. But she is skilled in something else and rarely show it anyone. Becareful, master is ruthless when it comes to magic."

"O-okay." Noel is very nervous; he could feel that Clara's master is far stronger than him. On top of that, Clara also respected her very much and no joking about what she said to him.

"Fire.... control fire. Turn to ash to flame."

"Here i go!"

In instant, Clara's master shot a big fireball. Noel gulped and charging ahead towards the fireball. Clara who saw this gasped as she thought that Noel is an idiot.

She knew that Noel could control fire but she is afraid that he is lack control against her master. Yet, she doesn't have time to warn him.

The fireball distance to Noel is getting shorter, yet Noel didn't waver slightest and a spark of fire came out below his foots. He jumped and burst of fire boosted him to the sky and avoiding the fireball.

Clara's master widened her eyes for a moment as she didn't expect for Noel to jump over the fireball with booster. She casted small fireballs that coming at him.

Noel saw it once he landed down on the ground. He created a sword from fire and slashed the fireballs that coming at then he charging towards her.

Clara's master smiled and flicked her finger. Suddenly a fire like beast coming out from the ground with three pronged fangs. Noel was startled but he keeps moving forward and then use another booster to jump.

She saw this coming and casted a fire hammer swinging towards him. Noel aiming his hand at her and a burst of fire coming out. She shielded herself with magic barrier but then surprised that Noel used the fire to pushed himself away from the range of hammer and pushed himself to the sky.

'What is he trying to do?' She is curious, she never seen someone like this before. Daring and reckless like fire.

"Let's see if he could avoid this."

She chanted few words and then a red diagram appears on the ground. A long dragon made of fire rushing towards Noel.

"Dragon?!" Noel alerted and panicked but then he remembered about Osion and Rivast. They dragon he facing right now isn't scary as the real one.

"I'm going to become a phoenix! An eternal fire! I will become the fire itself!" Noel shouted and burst of fire wings spread out. Diving to the dragon's mouth, his body burning with red fire and he entering the dragon.

Clara and her master staring at the dragon, they were saw Noel went into the dragon and it's really a reckless thing to do. The dragon has swallowed Noel and it was clear for them. But somehow, it doesn't sound right at all.

The dragon has no tail and connected to the diagram. It only stands still after devoured Noel, but then, the dragon's fire flickering around with unusual behavior.

Clara's master squinted her eyes as she focusing to dragon and suddenly, the end of the dragon got teared off apart and a flame bird coming out towards her.

'Bird? How?' She didn't believe that there is a bird coming out from the dragon. The flame bird then changed into a human form and Noel appearing and shot a fireball.

Clara's master sweep her staff and bend down the fireball's trajectory then covering Noel with fire vortex.

"Stop." She spoke. "See your own body." She continued and looking at Noel through the vortex with insidious smile.

Noel looking at his body and shocked. He is literally naked, not even a slight of cloth covering his body. He quickly uses his fire to cover his body and walks out.

"Um..." he became embarrassed since two women are here with him.

"No worries, i'm more interested with how you turn into fire rather than your body." Clara's master shook her hand and walks to him.

"You developed seed of fire? You're not just normal fire mage." She spoke in astonishment but Noel showing sign of ignorant.

"What is seed of fire?"

"Basically it’s a seed growing from fire. This seed is your first step to become master of fire. Can only obtained by strong will, determination and luck."

"What's the benefit?"

"As you can see, you can turn yourself into fire. Your body right now can be dispersed like fire and formed another form in fire form."

"You're amazing Noel." Clara complimented him. Noel just scratched his head and don't know at all about seed of fire.

"Noel, consider yourself lucky. Even Clara still didn't have seed of fire. If you train more, you might be able to control your fire and not burn your clothes." With vicious smile, Clara's master laughed.

"My name is Teronna, consider yourself lucky again to know my name. Now, Clara, would you mind bring his clothes here? It would be total embarrassment for him."

"Y-yes!"

Noel gave her his room's key which is stored inside his magic ring, it was fortunate that his ring didn't melt. Teronna sighed after watching Clara left, she then looking at Noel with indifferent face.

"Noel Rishawd." She spoke.

"Yes?"

"Clara is a young girl, never interacted too much with her family. She feels lonely and you are her first friend. Please take care of her, she needs someone she could trust and also... keep yourself alive, she had enough to see people died protecting her and she doesn't want to see it anymore."

"Yes..." Noel firmly nodded.

"Good man, i can allow you to marry her."

"Wha- no! I have a fiancée!" Noel almost got a heart attack.

"You could just have two wives? What's the problem?"

Noel gaped, he couldn't believe that Teronna would say such a thing so easily. To have two wives, he wouldn't even think that. That's out of reach of his mind.

"Seems like you're not dragon amongst men. Why you're not taking an opportunity?"

"That's doesn't matter! I only want one wife and no more than that."

"Huh? You sure? Really?"

"Why are you asking about that?"

Teronna only smiled and then entering the house again. After Clara came back, Teronna decided that she will lives here for temporary till Clara accepted into the academy.

Since everything turns to normal again, Noel and Clara begin to train again but with Teronna's guidance.