"For the ensuing, and rather critical, period of your early magical development," Winters announced, her voice resonating with a gentle authority, "this particur cavern shall serve as your designated cssroom, your primary locus of learning and practice."

  Saying that, Winters carefully, almost tenderly, pced Celine, Billy, Ao, Dinnett, and myself, all of whom had been comfortably ensconced in the protective curl of her massive hands, down onto the cool stone floor, and then proceeded to slowly, thoughtfully, survey the expansive cave that y open before us.

  This new learning space, I noted, was situated on the fourth accessible floor of the Academy structure.

  The cavern itself was exceedingly, almost surprisingly, spacious, its overall dimensions appearing to be approximately the same impressive size as the familiar, deeper recesses of our own Dragon's Den.

  However, what immediately distinguished this space was the fact that, positioned strategically in the very center of the wide cavern, there stood a long, imposing row of various, life-sized Dragon Beast targets, each crafted with remarkable detail.

  Gazing upon these meticulously rendered targets, a subtle, almost imperceptible trace of nostalgic reminiscence flickered briefly within Winters' ancient, golden eyes.

  It could be said, with a fair degree of accuracy, that every single young dragon who had ever passed through the hallowed halls of this esteemed Academy had, at some point in their formative years, spent a considerable amount of time, engaged in diligent practice, within this very cssroom, including, she silently acknowledged, herself, many long centuries ago.

  And now, in this present era of the Academy, almost every young dragon currently enrolled had learned, and subsequently honed, the fundamentals of magic within this selfsame, time-honored cssroom, all under her patient, experienced tutege.

  The True Dragon Academy, it was important to remember, is an institution specifically, and exclusively, established for the education and nurturing of young, developing dragons.

  When these younglings eventually, after many years of growth and learning, reach the significant milestone of the Juvenile Dragon stage, they will then, as is customary, depart from the protective confines of the Academy and truly begin to live their lives independently, forging their own paths.

  Of course, this initial phase of "independent living" primarily refers to existing and operating within the retively safe, demarcated confines of the greater Dragon Lair itself.

  Only when they have matured further, finally reaching the cusp of the full Young Dragon stage, will they then be granted the coveted permission to venture forth, to leave the familiar territory of the Dragon Lair and explore the wider, often more perilous, world beyond.

  At that more advanced stage of their development, they will, it is hoped, possess a certain, reasonably effective degree of self-preservation ability, a capacity to navigate and survive the manifold dangers that lurk outside.

  Moreover, it was not the case that she, Winters, constantly, and without respite, oversaw the day-to-day activities of these numerous young dragons.

  If that were indeed her sole, unceasing responsibility, she would, without a doubt, be excessively, almost impossibly, occupied, with no time for her own pursuits or rest.

  Typically, when the current cohort of young dragons are approximately twenty sor years of age, and have, by that point, learned nearly all the essential magical knowledge and skills they require for their initial independence, her primary instructional work with that particur group is considered effectively completed.

  And then, for her, it becomes a continuous, often lengthy, period of patiently waiting, of anticipating the auspicious birth of a brand new clutch of young, unhatched dragons, much like Celine, Billy, Ao, Dinnett, and I represented in this current cycle.

  The retively low fertility rate of the Dragon Cn has, throughout the long millennia of its existence, always been a persistent, somewhat worrying issue.

  An adult, reproductively capable female dragon will, at the absolute most, typically y only three precious Dragon Eggs during her entire fertile lifespan, and indeed, some unfortunate individuals may not succeed in ying even a single viable egg.

  There are, of course, a myriad of complex, contributing reasons for this low fecundity, but the most fundamental, underlying factor is that it is simply, and inherently, an excessively difficult, energetically demanding process for a female dragon to successfully gestate and bring forth a healthy Dragon Egg.

  And, it must be noted, among all the diverse branches of the wider Dragon Cn, the esteemed True Dragon Species, in particur, suffers from the very lowest, most challenging hatching rate of all.

  Moreover, True Dragons, as a species, possess a rather peculiar, almost counterintuitive characteristic: they very rarely, if ever, undertake the task of personally raising the Dragon Eggs they themselves have id.

  After the arduous process of ying their precious Dragon Eggs, they will, in all likelihood, meticulously conceal them in what they deem to be a suitably safe, secluded location and then, quite unceremoniously, depart from the area, leaving the eggs to their fate.

  As for whether the subsequently hatched young dragon will ultimately survive the myriad perils of its early existence… well, that is often left to chance.

  In truth, they will typically endeavor to hide their Dragon Eggs in locations reasonably near to an established, active Dragon Nest, hoping, perhaps, that others might find and care for their offspring.

  Therefore, in each significant Dragon Lair, a dedicated, specialized team is permanently established, tasked with the crucial responsibility of diligently searching the surrounding wilderness for any abandoned, forgotten Dragon Eggs that may have been left behind by these somewhat irresponsible, or perhaps merely pragmatic, parents.

  Occasionally, these search teams also succeed in retrieving some very young, recently hatched dragons who have somehow managed to survive their initial, perilous days alone.

  Whether it is a fragile Dragon Egg or a vulnerable, newly hatched young dragon, it is an undeniable fact that it is exceedingly difficult to successfully preserve and protect them in the harsh, unforgiving conditions of the perilous, untamed wilderness, especially, it must be said, the tter.

  If a Dragon Egg is particurly well hidden, concealed with exceptional cunning and foresight, it is actually, by comparison, retively safe from most immediate threats.

  Furthermore, if the ambient environmental conditions surrounding a Dragon Egg are found to be unsuitable, or less than optimal for development, the intricate incubation process of that Dragon Egg can become quite noticeably slow, sometimes even ceasing altogether for extended periods, entering a state of suspended animation.

  If this crucial incubation process, for whatever reason, exceeds a total duration of one hundred sor years, then that particur Dragon Egg will, regrettably, never successfully hatch a living young dragon; its potential for life will have been extinguished.

  Moreover, it is an unfortunate reality that not every single Dragon Egg, even those incubated under seemingly ideal conditions, can, or will, successfully hatch a viable young dragon.

  My own clutch and I, numbering five healthy hatchlings, are, by current standards, considered to be a remarkably, almost unusually, rge and successful number.

  Therefore, the indeterminate period of time that she, Winters, often waits for a new young dragon to be successfully born and brought to the Academy could, quite literally, be either very, very long, spanning many decades, or, on rarer occasions, surprisingly, refreshingly short.

  During the longest, most fallow periods in the Academy's history, the entire sprawling True Dragon Academy complex did not, in fact, contain even a single, solitary young dragon within its ancient walls.

  The current, bustling state of the True Dragon Academy, teeming with life and youthful energy, is, to her experienced eyes, almost unimaginable, a veritable golden age.

  A full one hundred and three young dragons currently resided within its care!

  Small wonder, then, that she often seemed so preoccupied, so burdened with responsibility.

  In point of fact, most of the historically documented, vanished Dragon Lairs of ages past were not, as one might assume, catastrophically breached or destroyed by invading forces of other, hostile dragons or rival species; rather, they simply, and tragically, faded into oblivion because there were, quite simply, no new young dragons, no succeeding generations, to carry on their legacy and maintain their strength.

  Just as Winters found herself momentarily lost in contemption, looking forward with a cautious optimism to the potentially bright and prosperous future of their current Dragon Nest, Celine, Billy, Ao, Dinnett, and I were all, in our own ways, thoroughly captivated and attracted by the silent, imposing presence of the various Dragon Beast targets arrayed neatly in the center of the expansive cssroom.

  Celine and Dinnett, as befitting their nature as young female dragons, were perhaps somewhat more reserved, more demure in their initial reactions, contenting themselves for the moment with curiously, and from a slight distance, observing these intricately detailed targets.

  The diverse Dragon Beasts so skillfully depicted upon these practice targets all existed, in some form or another, within the tapestry of their inherited memories, and they could, with retive ease, recognize and identify each one.

  Unlike the more restrained observations of their female counterparts, the young male dragons in our group were, quite clearly and predictably, far more overtly aggressive, more physically demonstrative, in their initial engagement with these new objects.

  I, for my part, tentatively attempted to scratch one of the nearer targets with my still-developing cws, managing only to leave a few faint, superficial white marks upon its resilient, magically treated surface.

  Ao, by contrast, scratched the same target with a fierce, almost violent energy, leaving several deep, gouging cw marks clearly visible upon its hide, and then, with a certain smug satisfaction, he gnced pointedly in my direction and raised his small, horned head high in a gesture of unambiguous, if juvenile, pride.

  As for the ever-unpredictable Billy... his approach was, as usual, entirely unique.

  Winters, who had by now returned from her brief reverie, frowned with a mixture of exasperation and concern as she watched Billy's rather unorthodox movements and intentions.

  "Billy, my dear, impulsive child," she began, her voice tinged with a weary patience, "have you so quickly, so completely, forgotten what I have told you on numerous previous occasions?

  Why, oh why, do you persist in this inexplicable habit of attempting to put absolutely everything you encounter directly into your mouth?

  Also... Ao," she continued, her gaze shifting to him, "these structures are specifically designed as targets for practicing the arcane art of magic, not as convenient posts for honing your already formidable cws.

  They are indeed enchanted to withstand the considerable impact of various magical energies, but for your sharp, physical cws, they are, in essence, no different, no more resilient, than common, ordinary dirt.

  There is, therefore, nothing particurly noteworthy or praiseworthy in your ability to mar their surfaces.

  And as for you, Vet..." she paused, her gaze settling on me, a complex expression on her face, then she seemed to relent slightly, "forget it; considering that you did not, at least, manage to actually break or significantly damage the target, I shall refrain from saying anything further on this specific occasion.

  But, please, I implore all of you, endeavor to remember that not everything you encounter in this world can, or should, be indiscriminately scratched or mauled with your cws.

  If you find yourselves unable to consistently remember and adhere to this simple, yet crucial, piece of advice, then do not, I beg of you, subsequently bme me for not having adequately warned you when you inevitably, and avoidably, get yourselves into some manner of unfortunate trouble in the future."

  Saying that, Winters looked with a palpable, almost visible headache at us three young male Dragons—Ao, Billy, and myself—who now stood somewhat abashedly before her.

  Sure enough, it was an undeniable truth: newly born, inexperienced young dragons are, by their very nature, absolutely brimming with an insatiable, often reckless, curiosity about everything they encounter in their new world, and one simply cannot, with any degree of safety or sanity, take one's eyes off them for too long, lest they find new and inventive ways to invite mischief or peril.

  After being thus gently, yet firmly, reprimanded on a few pertinent points, Ao, Billy, and I all ceased our respective, rather destructive activities, our faces now adorned with suitably embarrassed, contrite expressions, especially Ao, whose proud head now drooped so low it almost brushed the dusty cavern floor.

  Celine, observing our collective discomfiture, looked at us with an expression of quiet, almost smug triumph.

  Young dragons, it seemed, always possess a remarkably strong, almost primal, desire to compete with one another, often in all sorts of strange, inexplicable, and occasionally rather foolish, ways.

  Now, in Celine's bright, discerning eyes, she was, quite clearly and satisfyingly, the undisputed victor of this particur, unspoken contest of decorum.

  Dinnett, on the other hand, with her characteristic quietude, simply y pcidly before one of the untouched targets, looking at us other, more boisterous young dragons with a gentle, understanding smile pying on her lips.

  She is, I was beginning to realize, always, invariably like this: calm, observant, and serenely composed.

  "Alright now, my little charges," Winters decred, her voice recalling us to the purpose of our gathering, "it is high time for us to formally commence today's lesson.

  You may each, if you so choose, select a particur target from the array before you, one that, for whatever reason, appears pleasing or interesting to your individual eye.

  Of course," she added, a stern note entering her tone, "it is most certainly not for you to then proceed to scratch, bite, or otherwise physically deface your chosen target, but rather, to utilize it as a focus, a recipient, for your initial attempts at testing your nascent magical abilities."

  Saying that, Winters paused for a dramatic, attention-grabbing moment, and then continued, her voice now imbued with a teacher's focused intensity: "You are, I trust, by no means complete strangers to the fundamental concept of magic, for it is, in its purest form, an intrinsic ability, a potent force, that is deeply, almost indelibly, engraved within the very blood, the very essence, of our noble kind.

  Vet," she turned to me specifically, "you are, in this regard, the same as your clutch-mates; your powerful True Dragon breath, which you have already demonstrated, is also, in its fundamental nature, a distinct and potent form of innate magic.

  Do you, by any chance, recall with crity precisely what actions you undertook, what internal processes you initiated, when you so effectively employed your breath on that previous occasion?"

  "One must first employ their Inner Focus, their concentrated will," Celine interjected loudly, her voice clear and confident, effectively taking over Winters' intended pedagogical pause, "to consciously guide the nascent magical elements residing within one's own Dragon Crystal, and then, with precision, inject those gathered elements directly into the specialized Elemental Lung, and only then can one successfully, and with full power, utilize the breath."

  Winters nodded slowly, a gesture of approval for Celine's accurate recitation.

  "Very good, young Celine, your recollection is precise. But, do any of you happen to know *why* the act of injecting these elemental energies into your Elemental Lung specifically allows you to then successfully utilize your breath attack?"

  We five little ones looked at each other, our eyes wide with a shared, unspoken confusion, a collective bnkness in response to her probing question.

  Winters regarded our puzzled expressions with a gentle, knowing smile. "This particur query," she expined, "delves directly into the fundamental, underlying principles of all magic usage.

  So, what, precisely, *are* these core principles of magic usage?

  In essence, it is the art of utilizing the tent magic elements already residing within your own body to meticulously construct specific, stable formations known as Elemental Nodes.

  Then, by consciously connecting these carefully constructed Elemental Nodes with the focused power of your Inner Focus, you effectively build intricate Elemental Circuits.

  These active circuits, in turn, serve to attract and draw in the surrounding, free-floating ambient elements from the environment, causing them to gather and coalesce together—this, in its entirety, is the fundamental, sequential process of successfully casting any form of magic.

  So then, let us now return to our previous, pertinent question: why, specifically, can you effectively use your breath attack merely by injecting elemental energies into your Elemental Lung?"

  At her repeated question, a sudden spark of understanding ignited within my mind, my eyes lighting up with the dawning realization.

  "It is because, within the very structure of the Elemental Lung itself, there are already pre-existing, perfectly constructed Elemental Nodes, specifically designed for the breath attack!"

  Winters smiled, a genuine expression of approval spreading across her features. "That is remarkably, impressively close to the precise truth, young Vet.

  In point of fact, within the specialized tissues of the Elemental Lung, there are indeed innate, naturally formed Elemental Nodes, perfectly configured for the generation of True Dragon Breath, and these crucial nodes are, remarkably, naturally, almost automatically, generated as part of our inherent physiology.

  Remember now, what is the fundamental, constituent essence of any given magic node?

  It is, of course, comprised of concentrated magic elements.

  Therefore, it logically follows that the Elemental Lung is actually, in function, the secondary, specialized location within our True Dragon Species' complex bodies specifically designed for the safe storage and regution of potent magic elements, second only to the Dragon Crystal itself.

  However, it is important to note that the magic elements typically stored within the Elemental Lung appear to exist in a somewhat inert, almost dormant, state.

  Therefore, when we consciously, and with focused intent, transport additional elements from our Dragon Crystal to the Elemental Lung, we are not, in fact, actively constructing new Elemental Nodes from scratch, but rather, we are effectively *activating* the already present, though currently quiescent, magic elements that reside within the Lung.

  These newly activated, energized magic elements then, quite automatically and with incredible efficiency, construct and reinforce the pre-existing Elemental Nodes that are specifically attuned for the generation of True Dragon Breath, and simultaneously, they powerfully attract and draw in surrounding ambient elements to further gather and amplify the effect, thereby completely, and devastatingly, forming the full power of our True Dragon Breath.

  This particur, innate form of magic is entirely unique, exclusive to the True Dragon Species, and as such, it is appropriately termed Origin Magic, for it springs directly from our very being."