Pafuu Goldenia's Arc

Chapter 1 of 1

Pafuu unwrapped a sugar-dusted almond and popped it into her mouth. The sweetness dissolved on her tongue as magic hummed through her scales. She needed to grow seventy-two times bigger to reach maximum power. Then she would become the strongest dragon mage in history. Her claws trembled with excitement at the thought. She clutched her staff tighter and walked toward the town square. The Sunlit Crystal Arch stood tall before her, names etched into every glass panel. Warriors who had achieved greatness. Dragon mages who had grown strong enough to matter. Her breath caught in her throat. One day her name would shine there too. The morning sun hit the crystal and scattered rainbow light across the ground. Pafuu stepped closer and traced a claw along one inscription. These warriors had reached their maximum power through combat and training. She would reach hers through her secret method—through sweetness and growth. Heat rushed to her cheeks at the thought. No one could know. Not yet. Not until she stood before them, massive and unstoppable. She pulled another almond from her pouch and ate it quickly. The magic strengthened. She smiled. Past the arch, she spotted the training grounds. An opal stone sat in the center, its surface covered in branching cracks. Other mages used it to test their combat spells. Pafuu's tail swished nervously. She should practice too. She should prove she belonged among the warriors. She walked toward the stone and raised her staff. A chocolate truffle would give her enough power for a proper spell. Her claws dipped into her pouch. She hesitated, then pulled back empty-handed. Too many eyes watched the training grounds. Someone might notice the connection between her eating and her magic. She would return later, when the square emptied. For now, she had seen enough. The names on the arch burned in her mind. Soon, hers would join them. Beyond the square, a tower rose against the sky. Stone walls stretched upward, and high windows caught the light. A copper weathervane shaped like a dragon turned slowly at the top. The sweet smell of baked goods drifted from somewhere nearby. Pafuu's chest tightened. That tower would be hers one day. A place to train without watching eyes. A place to master every spell she had theorized. She would grow there, become powerful there, and emerge as the greatest dragon mage in history. Her staff glowed faintly as magic pulsed through it. She turned away from the square and headed home. Tomorrow she would begin again. One almond, one truffle, one step closer to her dream.