"No, lad, the training is tough enough without trying to fiddle with a blade in your brain."

Again, Danny looked at him with confusion.

"Sorry, lad, I'll not spoil that surprise," Mick said with a smile. "Besides, as Tyramear already explained, there are those that choose not to continue their training. What good would it do to waste a Bonded on someone who would never use it?"

"I suppose I see your point."

"You mean, I came all this way and I'm not even gonna get a sword?" Alonso asked, apparently listening in on the conversation.

Mick produced a wide smile. "Don't worry, boy, by the time you're done, you won't want to see another sword ever again."

"This is as far as I go," said Tyramear from behind them.

Danny turned to see Sabrina standing in front of her father, Tyramear cradling her head in his hands.

"I am proud of you, my daughter," Tyramear said to Sabrina.

Danny felt a slight pressure on his shoulder and turned to find Mick's left hand resting on him, his right hand extended for a handshake. Danny obliged him and once again felt the power in the man's grip.

"Any friend of Tyramear is a friend of mine," said Mick. "I wish you the best of luck."

"Thank you, Mick."

Mick released his grip with a smile and then moved on to Chris, shaking his arm at the wrist, wishing him luck.

Danny watched as Mick went through the ritual three more times.

"Danny."

Danny turned at the sound of his name, finding Tyramear standing before him with Sabrina by his side.

"You are brave, Danny, to have stood before a Shadow in an attempt to defend my daughter. Forgive me, but I never thanked you for your actions that night."

"I didn't really do anything."

"But, you did," replied Tyramear, placing a sturdy hand on Danny's shoulder. "You stood up to evil incarnate. You put yourself in harm's way without any thought to your own safety, for Sabrina's sake. Unknown were the odds against you, but still you did what you considered was right. Such is a display of incredible courage. I look forward to learning of your progress at the Academy of Illumination. I shall watch you closely, Danny Firoth."

Danny didn't know what to say except, "Thank you," the short affirmation stuttered from his stunned lips. Swiveling toward Sabrina, he noticed an approving smile stretch across her mouth.

"You are welcome," said Tyramear, extending his hand. "And thank you again," he added as Danny met him in a shake, gripping his forearm. "Now, I believe you all have a ship to catch."

With that said, Sabrina moved off toward the towering masts of the Radiance. Danny followed behind, catching up quickly. Doug, Matt, Chris, and Alonso joined them; together they began the short trip toward the boat.

"Sabrina," yelled someone, causing the group to look to the right, a boy of similar age with long blond hair waved with vigorous energy.

Sabrina waved back as the blond-haired boy closed the distance at a jog, carrying a brown backpack.

"Hey, Rogen," she said, once the boy stopped in front of her.

Upon closer inspection, Danny noticed that the boy was well-muscled with skin tanned to a golden brown. His deep blue eyes regarded Sabrina excitedly as he dropped his bag and hugged her. Danny became jealous instantly.

"You know this guy?"

Holding Sabrina at length, Rogen turned toward Danny, "Who are the newbs?"

"Newbs!" repeated Danny in a raised tone, wondering if he'd just been insulted.

"Friends," said Sabrina with a smile, pulling away from Rogen's embrace. "This is Danny Firoth, and behind him, Doug Garrett, Matt Mickler, Alonso Martinez and Chris Greene."

"What are you doing with a bunch of first-years?"

"They are my friends," said Sabrina again, her voice carrying a hint of annoyance at having to repeat herself.

"Okay," conceded Rogen, scratching his head. "Well, are you coming?" He motioned toward the Radiance.

"I am going to make sure they get on properly," said Sabrina.

Rogen shrugged, "Okay. I guess I'll see you when you board." With that, he turned and walked off toward the awaiting ship.

"Who was that?"

"We were both first-year squires together. I met Rogen at the Academy last year. He is not the brightest of the lot but he's got decent technique with a sword and he is a good friend."

"Last year?" repeated Danny, something he seemed to be doing a lot lately.

"Yes," said Sabrina matter-of-factly, "this will be my second year at the Academy."

Danny was dumbfounded. He stared at her in disbelief. He felt betrayed as well as stupid. "Why didn't you tell me that you had already attended the Academy?"

"You never asked me," she said simply.

Dumbstruck again, Danny kept his words to himself, they wouldn't have been pleasant spoken aloud.

"So, you've already been through your first year at the Academy of Illumination?" Matt repeated.

"Yes," said Sabrina in a sharp tone, getting annoyed, having to repeat herself.

"What's it like?" pressed Matt.

"Challenging," said Sabrina. Matt was clearly waiting to hear more but she refused to go into detail.

"...How?" Danny asked, still stuck on the previous subject.

"...How what?" Sabrina inquired, confused by the sudden shift in topic.

"How'd you get into the school? You would've been too young. You're the same age as us," Danny added.

"No, I am not the same age as you, I am a half-blood Dragonic, and as such, I age much faster than Humans. If I were a pureblood Dragonic, I would practically be an adult by now."

"Then how old are you?"

"I am half a year away from my tenth birthday."

"You're only nine and a half years old?" Matt asked, adjusting the thick lenses of his glasses, in light of the shocking realization.

Danny's jaw dropped, he shook his head. This whole time, he'd assumed that Sabrina was about the same age as himself . . . but to be so much younger? Danny nearly fainted. However, he felt a steadying hand on his right shoulder. He turned to find Chris standing next to him.

Chris's expression was empathetic, acknowledging Danny's inner struggle. However, it vanished as Chris turned to regard the Radiance. "Perhaps we should get on board."

Danny followed Chris's gaze and noticed that the line to board had dwindled to but a few, as if to emphasize his friend's words further, a large golden bell rang out atop the highest mast, signaling the ship's final preparations for departure.

"Chris is right, let's get moving," said Sabrina with a momentary smile. She turned and headed toward the ship. Unfazed by Sabrina's age difference, Doug and Alonso followed behind her. Before Danny could do the same, Chris's hand lingered and squeezed, holding him in place.

"You should tell her how you feel about her, man."

"Easier said than done," said Danny, turning to regard his closest friend.

"The hard things always are and it's usually worth the struggle." He gave Danny's shoulder one final squeeze before moving toward the others.

Danny lingered for a moment before he followed in his friend's footsteps. He felt unsure of the events unfolding around him. Last in the line, he stopped before a man with a scraggly-looking beard, the man held a worn clipboard with a yellowed parchment. His friends had already passed this particular checkpoint and waited for him on the boarding plank. The man wore a white uniform with the symbol of Light stitched on the upper left chest, marking him as part of the crew.

"Name," said the man in a rough voice.

"Danny Firoth."

With a swipe of his hand, he made a check mark on the bottom part of the paper. "Okay, you're the last to board," he said, looking up, smiling, showing a series of missing teeth.

Danny couldn't help but stare.

"Well, get on with it, Squire, get on board," shooing Danny up the gangplank.

Danny raced up the ramp to join his friends as they boarded the Radiance.

"All crew and passengers accounted for, Captain!" the man yelled from the dock.

"All hands, prepare to cast off!" the captain boomed in response.

Danny turned toward the sound of the echoing voice.

Standing at the helm, behind a large wooden steering wheel, was a man dressed like the other crew, but with some unsubtle differences. He wore a tall sweeping hat accented with silver trim, and a series of silver tassels draped on his shoulders, signifying the rank of captain. But the most eye-catching piece of equipment he possessed was an ivory-hilted blade strapped to his side, the pommel was carved to resemble the head of a great white shark.

"That is Sir Rodrick Hemlin, captain of the Radiance," said Sabrina as she followed Danny's gaze.

"He's a Knight of the Light?" Danny asked.

"Yes."

"Cast off!" Captain Rodrick yelled, stepping to the side of the boat to investigate the progress of his crew.

Many more commands followed, most of which Danny didn't understand. The boat began to rock back and forth with a soft sway and the crew fell into a standard practiced rhythm, pulling a rope taut here and wrapping one around there.

"We should get out of their way," said Sabrina. She began to move toward the bow, the foremost part of the ship.

Danny followed, moving between the busy crew. Once at the bow, he noticed that most of the first and second-year squires had gathered in this area.

"Most of the senior squires are in the passenger quarters below decks," explained Sabrina as if reading Danny's thoughts. "I suppose after once or twice, casting off is not as exciting to them, but it's my favorite part."

Before Danny could ask why, he felt the Radiance lurch beneath him.

"Hoist sail!" Captain Rodrick yelled, his voice was clear and crisp despite his position aft, the back of the ship. The sails unfurled, draping downward, flapping in a strong breeze. The crew went to work, pulling the sails taut, catching the power of the wind. The fabric of the sails ballooned outward, causing the ship to creak from the pressure of the jerk as the Radiance took on a quick forward motion.

The deck groaned beneath Danny's feet as the ship bounded forward, forcing him to place a steadying foot behind him. Combined with a mist of seawater, the air smelled salty and pure as it whipped past his face. It was an exhilarating feeling, almost as if he was flying. However, due to his recent experience with flight atop a dragon, Danny had to admit that this experience fell short, but it was amazing, nonetheless.

"I can see why you like it," conceded Danny, turning toward Sabrina.

"It gets better," said Sabrina, her smile widening as the ship swayed back and forth. They passed the towering cruise ships, navigated the dockyard and then angled out to sea.

Puzzled by her comment, Danny decided to wait and see.

"What do you mean, it gets better?" Alonso asked, unwilling to wait.

"You are about to find out," said Sabrina cryptically, turning away.

Danny followed her gaze as a man in flowing white robes with the symbol of Light stitched boldly across his chest in black thread crossed the deck, heading toward him. Despite the sway of the ship, the man appeared to be sure-footed. His hood was folded over his head, hiding his features. He stopped before Danny and said, "Excuse me, Squire." His voice was deep and commanding, but polite.

Danny jumped aside, clearing a path.

The robed man nodded his thanks and moved forward; everyone else parted before him.

"Who's that?" Alonso asked in a whisper, once he was sure the mysterious man was out of earshot.

Taking his eyes off the robed man, Danny turned toward Sabrina, also curious.

"He is a Navi."

"What's a Navi?" Matt asked.

"You are about to find out," said Sabrina, pointing to where the Navi had stopped.

Climbing up a pair of steps, the Navi moved to the farthest end of the bow, a pointed perch that hung over the edge of the ocean. Shuffling his robes beneath him, he sat down cross-legged, rested his closed fists on the tops of his knees and began to chant in a language Danny didn't recognize.

"What's he doing?" Alonso asked.

"Just watch," Sabrina said, her tone hinting at her annoyance with Alonso's constant questions.

Alonso waited a little and said, "I don't see anything."

However, before Alonso could say anything else, the Navi's chanting stopped. His hands parted, releasing a swirl of wind that expanded into a twisting tornado around him. The tunnel of air caused the Navi's robes to flutter out as the churning wind ascended into the sky and disappeared.