"Here he issssss, Massssster," a familiar hissing voice roused me from my sleep. I yawned as the light in my cage switched from dim purple to bright yellow, then attempted to look towards the owner of the voice.

I tried to move, but I quickly discovered I could no longer move in the cage. I had uncurled in my sleep, but the limited space pinned my tail to the back wall behind me and pinned my wings to my sides. My muzzle rubbed against the bars as I attempted to stand, but before I raised myself far off the ground, my head hit the ceiling. Even when I lowered my head, my shoulders and hips also touched the top of my cage before I rose to my full height.

I am uncomfortable. Let me out. I pushed against the door in front of me and managed to bend the bars, but the lock held firm.

Master walked into sight as I released an annoyed growl, and he frowned as well. "Nageneral, why is Hoshiryu with the small monsters?"

"He met the ssssssize requirementssssss yesterday for the area, ssssssir." The four-armed snake woman stoically replied.

"And does he now?" Master spoke in an aggravated tone.

"No."

"What did you think the growth serum would do? What were you thinking?" Master glared at the trainer.

When Nageneral did not answer, the Master sighed in frustration. "That's right, you monsters don't think. You speak, you follow orders, you react, but you don't have any concept of free will and actual thought." He rubbed his temples, then opened the cage door with a swipe of his hand. "When I tell you a monster is special, that means take it to one of the cages for special monsters."

Nageneral started to reply, "ssssssir, the ssssssmallest of those cagessssss are too large f—"

"Put Hoshiryu in the smallest one then!" The Master barked to the snake monster as he grabbed my shoulders and pulled me out of the cage. I curled up slightly as Master held me at arm's length. "I want you to put him in a special monster cage at least one size larger than the one his size assigns him to. Those are my orders."

"Yes, Master." Nageneral bowed slightly.

I noticed I could feel the immense power inside of Master as he held me by my sides. I enjoyed the sensation and decided I would be just as powerful as him someday. I wanted Master's enemies to feel my raw power.

Master scowled as he noticed the wounds that marred my shoulders. However, when he gazed to the feline that had been my attacker, that scowl turned to a devilish grin. "Ah, good job Hoshiryu, excellent. You will be a fine addition to the army." He laughed, then thrust me into Nageneral's arms.

Three of the snake lady's arms wrapped around me as she swiftly took me from Master's arms. In comparison to Master, Nageneral's magic was weaker and flowed just below the surface as if she was hollow.

"After you give him more growth serum, take him to Mystican to begin his magical training today. He has magic, I want him able to use it. I am going to plan the raid on Stellopia. Give him some food on the way, I can see his ribs." Without waiting for an answer, Master left with a swish of his wings.

I am hungry. As if on command, my stomach growled noisily. I did not notice because I was so focused on getting out.

Nageneral shifted me from holding me with three arms to holding me under one. During the transfer, I snapped at her to see if I could perhaps steal some of her energy, but she slapped my nose in response and spoke in a harsh hissing tone. "Do not bite your trainerssssss."

"Ow!" I cried out as I covered my throbbing muzzle with my paw. That was unnecessary! I released a whimper.

"Usssssse your pain and turn it into anger." She spoke in the same rough tone as she continued to take me through the dark hallways.

I growled at her as she turned into a room filled with small round rust and beige beings. They lacked legs and just ran around on their orange feet and carried things with their four little gloved hands.

Without a word, the snake lady slithered into the room. Upon her arrival, the strange round beings noticed and fled to the edges of the room to escape her. Except for the pattering of their feet, they made no sounds.

They don't even have mouths to eat with. I blinked, then eventually looked up to the food in one of Nageneral's other hands. "So food?" I could smell various food-like smells in the area, such as meat.

"I was unaware you could already talk." She stated as she stole a large metal bowl off of a counter, much to the wordless dismay of the waddling creatures. They frantically waved their four arms with pleading eyes. However, they were unable to stop Nageneral as she slithered out of the new room.

"Can I—" I began as my stomach released a growl.

"You will get your food in the training room while I bring Mystican." Nageneral hissed as she continued to hold me under one arm and the food in an arm on the other side of her body. "Along with your growth serum."

I growled in a pout. I want food now; It's so close, I can smell it. When Nageneral still did not give me any food, I snorted and stared at the floor. I watched the different metal plates on the floor pass; Nothing else better to do.

Eventually, Nageneral stopped and dropped me. "Oof," I exhaled, then stood to my feet and turned to glare at her with the hair along my spine standing on end. She wants me to turn pain into anger, then I will.

Of course, my anger only lasted until Nageneral shoved the food bowl in front of my face. It wasn't steak or covered in magic, but food's proximity dragged my muzzle into the food. I took large bites of the food without savoring it much. I was too hungry to care about what I was eating. However, I did manage to taste a bit of cooked meat within a mixture of bland grains and vegetables.

As I ate, Nageneral grabbed the back of my neck. Shortly after, pain once again filled the area and spread to the rest of my body. I growled and scrunched my nose. My misery kept me from eating, much to my annoyance.

I lifted my face from my food and snarled as I exhaled in pain. After I bared my teeth for a few moments, I continued to eat, despite the fact my entire body burned. The irritation had somewhat waned. Eating was less enjoyable, but the discomfort was an annoyance I needed to learn to ignore.

As I licked the bowl clean, a burst of high-pitched, maniacal laughter filled the room. I stood low to the ground and flattened my ears as I slowly looked around, but didn't see any living thing in the room with me.

The room was full of balls, blocks, and other random objects from smaller than my paw to larger than Nageneral scattered around the area, but I did not see any monsters other than myself in the room.

Suddenly, something landed behind me with a quieter chuckle. I spun and lashed at her with extended claws, but the dark-furred being simply avoided the swipe with an annoying laugh.

"Ah, ah, ah, use your magic, foolish beast!" The black armless creature with large ears and wings similar to mine spoke in an accented masculine tone as he dodged my attacks. "Allow the energy inside of you to freely flow. Use the rage, use the energy." The being cuffed my ears with the tip of his wing, then flew on top of a massive ball before I could hit him.

I angrily snarled at him as I unfurled my wings. I jumped and flapped, only to humiliatingly land on my stomach. "Come down here!" I roared and quickly jumped back to my feet. I am not going to show him just how humiliated I am.

"No. I prefer to drive you batty from up here," the monster flashed a fanged grin, "And I will stay up here." He laughed as if I was pathetic. "Unless that is, you can hit me with a spell." He waved the spindly fingers at his wing joint as a dark cloud formed around them. His red eyes gleamed as he launched the smokey magic at me at a surprising speed.

The magic flew towards me like how Nageneral slithered around, but through the air instead of on the ground.

I jumped sideways and swiped at the stream with my claws, but the magic simply reformed back into a steady stream. The magic stung as it slammed into me but did not do any real damage.

How does he expect me to do this? I snarled as, who I assume to be Mystican, hurls another spell at me. I once again dodge, but the magic turned around and slammed into my back. I wince, but I withhold a pained yelp. That attack hurt more than the last; how am I supposed to do this? Something about using my inner energy or something like that? How do I do that?

Mystican prepared another spell while I tried to focus. If I can feel my master's energy, maybe I can feel my own if I try hard enough. I followed my instincts as I took a deep breath and search for the magic inside of me.

I hear the other monster in the room launch another spell at me. "Let me think!" I angrily roared and slashed at the energy. Strangely, this time my attack destroyed and dissipated the cloud of dark magic.

"That wasn't so hard," Mystican laughed, "remember that feeling, use it. now, the real training begins."

I blinked, then looked down at my paw and noticed the fading dark energy that swirled around my paw. I did it! A grin spread across my face. However, my excitement only lasted a short time as another spell slammed into me with enough force to knock me off my paws.

I quickly recovered and rose to my feet. "You won't get away with that!" I barked at the bat monster as he glided in a circle above me. I am going to hit him and drain his magic. I will show him who can do what.

"Come, you inept weakling! Take a shot if you dare!" Mystican laughed jeeringly and fired another dark spell at my face. This spell was different and appeared like an unfurling net as it fell towards me.

I am not going to get captured. I growled and tried to create the magical extension to my paw as I swiped my claws at the incoming energy mesh. I gleefully watched as the mesh spit and dissolved.

Now I just have to hit him. I stared at my opponent as he continued to circle above me. Maybe I can throw the magic as he can.

"Are you a one-trick magic pony? Fight! Use your magic!" The armless flying trainer yelled down in his strange accent. "Don't just rely on your claws! Fight with everything at your disposal." 

"I am TRYING!" I furiously bellowed and blasted an uncontrolled and unstable sphere of magic at him.

Of course, he effortlessly dodged, but I had done managed to create and fire a ranged attack. I did it. I did it! Ha! In your face! I grinned and celebrated my victory with a gloating purr.

While I reveled in my small victory, Mystican dove from his perch and knocked me off of my feet again. "Focus! Always know where your enemies are and know your surroundings! Attacks can come from anywhere at any time! Celebrate only when the mission is complete!"

I rolled to my feet. I could feel liquid begin to well up in the scratch marks on my back. Thankfully, the blood loss did not cause me pain or haziness like the last time.

"Stupid bat." I cursed under my breath, then attempted to gather more magic to launch at him; a ball of dark energy formed in front of me. I grinned devilishly, then sent the sphere flying in his direction.

"Better," Mystican dodged my attack by rolling midair, "Now that you can summon magic, start giving it instruction and direction instead of blindly summoning and using it." He sent another spell, but instead of sending it at me, this time at one of the large rubber balls in the room.

The spell entered the ball and briefly caused it to glow before it suddenly animated itself and started to bounce towards me.

I swiftly dodged the ball as it barreled towards me, then released a pained roar as the flying monster hit me between the shoulders with another spell. I became furious. Maybe I can summon my magic around me like a shield so he can't hit me. For some reason, the idea felt somewhat familiar.

I summoned magic as I had with my paw, but this time around my entire body. I felt the black and purple magic surround me and solidify into a barrier that roughy outlined my form, but it never impeded my movements. I could feel the magic bend around me as I moved, but I did not feel it brush my fur.

CLICKCLICK.

Though my ears perked at the sound, I focused on the monster trainer and the ball. Finally, I did something worth noting. This guy does not like to give out rewards.

"Impressive technique for someone so new at magic." Mystican paused and hovered in the air, then continued in his flight in a circle around me.

The ball came back towards me after hitting the far wall. I swatted the ball with my now-magically armored tail and aimed towards Mystican.

POP! The ball screamed in a high-pitched whine as it rocketed towards my opponent and trainer and hit one of his wings.

I ran towards him as he briefly careened towards the ground, but he recovered and swooped out of the dive just in time to avoid my pounce.

CLICK.

I grinned as the bat resumed his original flight path. Thanks to the spikes in my armor, I knew I was safe from his diving attacks, but though the magic extended the range of my claws, I was still too weak to fly after him. Just you wait until I can fly. I growled as I glared. I need to knock him down to my level.

The ball had worked, but now the animated object laid lifeless and deflated on the other side of the room. I attempted to animate a nearby ball of my own, but my magic simply destroyed the rubber sphere the second it touched the plaything.

I need a different plan. I caught Mystican's next magical attack in my mouth and swallowed the delicious dark energy. Delicious. I grinned, then paused and studied my opponent. Maybe I can trick him into coming down here...

He launched another spell at me, and this time, I allowed it to hit me and knock me down on my side. I held my breath and reabsorbed my magical protection, then laid still.

After a few seconds, I heard Mystican landed near me and approached with a huff. "Not as strong as I thought."

I waited until he was close enough that I could feel the energy flowing inside Mystican, then burst out of my ruse and clamped m teeth into his shoulder.

As I began to drain his magic, the larger winged creature struggled to grab the clicker that dangled from the cord around his neck with his thin clawed fingers on his one useable wing.

CLICKCLICKCLICK.

I did not want to let go and continued to devour the magic within him. His magic is delicious.

Mystican flattened his ears, then released a high-pitched screech straight into my ears so loudly you could almost see the sound waves.

I released in a panic and rolled off of him. My head hurt and my ears rang, and for some reason, I felt nauseous as I laid on the floor with my paws over my ears.

Mystican said something and snorted, but I could not hear anything through the deafening sound that filled my ears and mind. He picked me up and slung me under his arm like how Nageneral had carried me here.

I could not even hear my thoughts as he continued to carry me towards the door. My brain was so incapacitated I could not struggle and only continued to cover my ears with my paws.

Before Mystican opened the door, it opened for him. Nageneral said something I had a feeling included my name. I could hear a bit better, but I still struggled to understand.

Mystican threw me into Nageneral's possession, so she roughly slung me under her arm and slithered away from Mystican.

Wait, didn't I earn something from that session? My stomach growled softly as the ringing lowered to an intensity where I could finally hear, even if my hearing impairment temporarily muffled the words.

"What did I tell you about biting thosssssse over you?" Nageneral glared at me with an angered hiss.

"But—" I attempted to defend myself, "—OW!" Nageneral slapped my nose with one of her free hands.

I moved one of my paws to my nose as I growled and glared up at her. I was going to say that bat wanted me to attack him!

The snake monster carried me into a strange new room filled with large cages, only a few of which were empty. Many of the cells were the sizes of the pit I had been in for my first training session, and even the smallest was the size of the largest block in Mystican's training area.

Nageneral approached the smallest empty kennel and threw me into the pen and closed the door. It automatically locked. Without a word, she left the room.

"What's a pipsqueak doing here?" A deep voice asked in a condescending and angry tone.

I stood to my feet on the strange floor covered in wood chips and looked around for the source of the voice. "Hello?" I questioned.

CLANK.

I whipped around and faced the source of the sound, then noticed a monster three times my size lower a paw from the lock and nudged the door open. His fur was a dark golden orange with black stripes and a lighter underside, and he was almost as big as my cage was tall and long.

How did he get out of his cage like that?

I watched as he approached my cage with his bobtail raised. "A bit small for this place, aren't ya, pipsqueak?" As he circled, I wondered how he was able to speak with the four massive fangs that jutted out of the sides of his upper jaw. "Well, ya goin' to answer pipsqueak, or were ya put here by mistake?"

I scrunched my nose and bare my teeth. "Master wants me here. I deserve to be here." I release a growl and try not to show how intimidated I am. "I am Hoshiryu, and you will respect me." I tried to ignore how high-pitched my voice was in comparison to the larger monster just outside my cell.

The room erupted into deep laughs from all the monsters in the room. I growled in anger, but that only made the laughter increase in ferocity.

"Cute," he emitted a rumbling chuckle. "Ya got spunk Ryu, but that doesn't mean ya belong here. Ya have not proved ya'rself in a real battle yet. Ya even allowed ya'rself to get injured." He motioned to the long, scabbed scratch marks across my back. "Ya'r a blood monster, sure, but that doesn't mean anythin'."

I'LL SHOW HIM! "I will be the strongest monster Master has ever made!" I roared with my wings partially spread, then calmed to a growl and a glare.

"Ya have spunk, pipsqueak." The monster laughed. "How 'bout this, if ya become strong enough to beat me in single combat, I'll show ya how to pick locks with ya claws like me."

"Deal." I nodded, then heard shuffling coming from the other side of the entry door. I looked to the entrance to the room as a heard of the strange short stubby things arrived hauling large carts piled with bowls of food.

I glanced at the other monster. Somehow, the tiger monster had already slipped back into his cage and closed the door. "Call me Killico."

I blinked, then refocused as I heard something happen in the front of my cage and looked towards the source of the sound. One of the brown creatures opened a concealed slot and began to slide a large bowl of food through the access point.

Food. I ran towards the bowl with my mouth wide open and drool leaking from my jaws.

The creature silently panicked and pushed the food towards me, then slammed the door loudly. I did not care about either the short being or the contents of my food as I buried my face into the bowl and scarf down the meal.

"Pipsqueak, if you want food, do not scare the dees," a nearby fire wolf monster growled, but I continued to scarf down my food. The bowl was for a monster larger than me, but I continued to eat until I finished it all. "And don't bother attacking them, they're immune to magic."

Overfull, I looked for a place to sleep and finally properly surveyed my new cage. No other cage stood adjacent to it, and on the far end of the enclosure stood a large hollow block with a yellowish red glow coming from inside. I entered through the hole, then sighed as the warm light engulfed me. I yawned, then settled down on the wood chip floor. The reddish-yellow light turned off, but the warm bedding still felt nice, especially as I turned it into a nest.

Just as I began to fall asleep, I heard the door open. I opened an eye halfway, but I was drowsy to resist as a dee entered my hollow box with an armload of black bandages. Like me, it seemed to resist the effects of the dark light, but my full stomach and warm bedding soon lured me to sleep even as the dee lifted my paw and wrapped my arm in the dark magic gauze that felt nice to the touch, even on my sensitive wounds.

Author Notes!

More training, but this time, it's a magic lesson!

What do you guys thing about the dees? Are they cute?