The Medallion

'This guy seems to be looking at me weirdly. What have I ever done to him? Did I take his woman or something?' Rocky thought to himself as he returned the man's stare.

"We have gathered here today to celebrate our thirty new-born royal spirit manipulators, who will ride dragons in the service of our country!" The emperor of the Holy Dragon Empire declared with great passion. He took a grand step forward and looked at the crowd.

Cheers and applause erupted in the Grand Dragon Hall.

"I declare the beginning of the ritual! Salute to the Holy Dragon Bead!" Priest Dean announced, standing next to the Emperor.

Everyone knelt on one leg and bowed down to a tarnished bead on a pedestal in the shape of a dragon talon.

It was a holy item of the Holy Dragon Empire with a history that stretched back hundreds of years. This Holy Dragon Bead had once been a Dragon Spirit Bead. Legend had it that when this Bead was borne by the Dragon Master Clan, the earth shook and transformed. It shone brightly and contained so much power of spiritual race within. The Elder of the Dragon Master Clan prophesized that whoever fused with this Dragon Spirit Bead would be the King of Spiritual Manipulators.

That very year, that Dragon Spirit Bead had been brought to the Holy Dragon Empire for the humans to attempt to fuse with it. Yet it was too strong and too powerful for the human body, and no one was successful. Years went by, and no one succeeded. Finally, the Holy Dragon Empire gave up and ordained this Dragon Spirit Bead as the holy item of the Empire. They changed its name to Holy Dragon Bead and enshrined it in the Grand Dragon Hall for eternity.

Rocky knelt down like everyone else. 'Do as the Romans do, ' he figured.

"Please welcome the Witch to open the door for the arrival of the messenger of the Dragon Master Clan!" Priest Dean announced next.

There came another round of warm applause.

Lena emerged and curtly nodded at everyone. She then turned and went up the stairs, all the way to the step right below the topmost one. She held up her arms and faced the round platform on the top floor. Holy light shone like sun out of her body and bathed the entire hall with a golden color. Everyone immersed in the light felt peaceful and comfortable.

Rocky stared at Lena without blinking. A look of surprise flashed through his eyes. Although he had seen her power before, he was still shocked to witness it so close.

A ball of golden light appeared in Lena's hand and slowly floated up into the sky. Suddenly, a beam light fell like rain directly onto the round platform on the top floor. Instantly, a human silhouette surrounded with thirty twirling multicolored oval light beams appeared on the platform. The light beam quickly faded and was soon gone without a trace.

welcome you, messenger of the Dragon Master Clan," Lena saluted, addressing

Dean, and everyone else bowed to the messenger to show respect, all except for

He then spoke to Lena in an indistinguishable voice

said that he had brought thirty Dragon Spirit Beads here so our ceremony may begin right away," Lena translated the message to the

nodded and then stepped

the thirty young boys on both sides. "Our empire is proud of you all. Don't let us down! You

spirits. They couldn't wait to establish their own legacy.

instructing him to put his hand on one of the Dragon Spirit Beads. The messenger of the Dragon Master Clan began to chant a spell and soon, the Dragon Spirit Bead began

turned into colorful light stripes which snaked up the arm of the boy and finally became a mark. On his skin, its

second grade of Mortal Stage after acquiring the

Dragon Spirit Bead, which would grant them some spiritual

that simple to become a spirit manipulator that can ride a dragon? I really can't understand why this prince Basil has been unable to fuse with Dragon Spirit Bead yet...' Rocky was growing increasingly fascinated by everything he witnessed. This

the ritual, warm applause erupted from every corner in the hall. The boy held up his arm and showed with great pride the evidence that he had become a royal

of the candidates went on to the altar one by one for their processes, which all went without a hitch. The ceremony drew to a close as the last candidate stepped up. Those who had fused with Dragon Spirit

went much more smoothly than past years when some imbeciles were kicked out..." Priest Dean said, glancing at Rocky in the corner.

beginning. One will have to go through countless trials and hardships in order to be a true royal spirit manipulator. After all, they have different duties from other ordinary spirit manipulators. So this is not the time for total celebration yet," Lena shot a look at Priest Dean and responded solemnly.

Priest Dean replied,

and saw the last candidate screaming

shocked at this scene.

through Lena's face. She managed to keep her composure and said, "If we

showed up, overflowing with power. Priest Dean grabbed his hand, his face growing rigid with concentration as he employed his power. Suddenly, silver light shone from his palm. It was as bright as the rising

Rocky was wide-eyed at what was happening.