A gentle breeze rustled the luscious greenery of a pristinely landscaped manor. The sprawling grounds were recognized by the people of Lumen and had become the talk of neighboring towns. One would expect nothing less from the great city’s Governor. The land, much like its owners, was neat and orderly. It was the one thing that people throughout the entirety of the nation of Alger-Kain adored. Those who looked upon the grounds of the expansive manor often forgot about the governor’s controversial policies.

However, the Governor was nowhere in sight. His eldest son, Jasper, a soon to be knight of the great Dragonguard, was reclining in the grass. Dirt and sweat caked his forehead after a long afternoon of training. His brown pants were stained with green and even darker shades of brown, and his light blue tunic was not in any better shape. He used his helmet as a way to prop up his head to get a better angle on reading his guidebook on the ancient beasts he would soon be sworn to slay. Jasper took a deep breath, wiped his brow with his sleeve, and placed the book on his chest.

Looking up at the clear blue sky, Jasper imagined what it would be like to see a dragon fly into his field of vision. His heart began to pound as the adrenaline of merely thinking about being able to protect his family rolled through his chest. He held one calloused hand up toward the sky and gripped the imaginary horn of the great beast that would one day be unlucky enough to cross his path.

Jasper got caught up in his daydream and didn’t hear the pitter patter of feet running toward him. Suddenly, there was a face directly in Jasper’s, blocking out the sun. 

“Jasper, were you reading a dumb book about dragons again?” Jasper blinked up at the boy who had interrupted his imaginary adventure and sighed. Ryker, Jasper’s adopted younger brother, was standing over him with his eyebrows furrowed together and a condescending grin plastered across his face. His bright green eyes stared down at Jasper as strands of wild brown hair fell in his face. 

Ryker never understood Jasper’s fascination with dragons. When Jasper was Ryker’s age, his mind was already running wild with images of the monstrous beasts soaring through the sky over their great home of Lumen. Though dragons were never spotted over populated areas, Jasper’s creativity was enough to fill his days with endless entertainment. 

But Ryker, at only eleven years old, was nothing like his older brother. Where Jasper’s joy came from his imagination, Ryker’s came from hour upon hour of playtime. Whether he was scaling the trees of the local orchard or catching frogs in the stream behind their manor, Ryker was active from dawn till dusk. More often than not, Ryker was covered in scrapes and bruises from his adventures and required longer than normal baths to scrub away the dirt. 

Despite their very different personalities, Ryker and Jasper loved each other fiercely. And Ryker’s particular brand of expressing his love for his big brother was energetic teasing. 

In one swift motion, Ryker grabbed the book from where it rested between Jasper’s chest and his left hand and waved it in the air. 

“Ryker! Give that back!” Jasper jumped to his feet and reached for the younger boy’s arm in hopes to retrieve the book just as quickly as it was taken. Ryker was quick, jumping backward and laughing as he waved it around out of Jasper’s reach.

Ryker flipped through the pages and stopped on a drawing of a particularly small dragon perched on the highest branch of a tree. Jasper stopped grabbing at the book as he watched Ryker briefly express interest in what was on the page. 

“Why is this dragon so small?” Ryker asked bluntly, turning the book toward Jasper. Jasper’s eyes lit up. Ryker never once asked him about dragons. Even if this was just to get Jasper to cease grabbing for his book, Jasper took the opportunity to dump as much information on his little brother as he could. 

“That is a green dragon, my dear brother. They happen to be the smallest breed, but that doesn’t make them any less danger–” 

“Boring!” Ryker stuck his tongue out and tossed the book back in Jasper’s direction. Jasper caught the book and scowled at Ryker. 

“Go catch one of those dragons on your quest tomorrow, then. They look easy enough, even for you!” Ryker teased and reached up to pat Jasper on the head. Jasper rolled his eyes and playfully swatted his little brother’s hand away. 

“For your information,” Jasper corrected, “Even small dragons are fierce! Green dragons are especially dangerous if someone threatens their family.”

“So don’t threaten their family,” Ryker retorted as he waved his hand around in Jasper’s face. “Speaking of family, Daddy wants you home for dinner now. Just be ready for Dad to be grumpy.” 

Jasper gathered the rest of his belongings from the lawn and walked in stride with Ryker toward their home. 

Jasper adjusted his book under his arm and threw the other over Ryker’s shoulders.

“Why is Dad grumpy? Did you track dirt through the kitchen again?” Jasper raised his eyebrow in suspicion. Ryker shrugged Jasper’s arm off and quickly jumped onto Jasper’s back. Jasper stumbled forward at the sudden weight. He laughed through his nose and used both arms to adjust not only the items he had been carrying, but also the smaller boy on his back.

Ryker wrapped his arms around Jasper, his hands draped over Jasper’s chest. 

“Dad never gets mad at me. I’m his favorite.”

“Our dads don’t play favorites, Ryker.” Jasper knocked his head against Ryker’s, which elicited a small ow from the younger boy. Once Jasper trudged himself and his brother back to the house, he reached for the doorknob but was met with an open door. Jasper met his father’s hazel eyes with a soft smile. 

“Are you tracking us, Dad?” 

Keirian chuckled and gestured for the boys to come inside.

“I don’t need a tracking spell to know my kids will be home in time for dinner.” Like clockwork, Jasper’s stomach let out a grumble that rivaled a small earthquake. Keirian laughed again and closed the door behind his sons. 

Ryker jumped off of Jasper’s back, dragging Jasper’s belongings onto the floor. 

“Don’t you dare go anywhere near the kitchen without washing up first, Ryker!” Jasper pushed his items off to the side, out of the way. “You know how Dad gets with his kitchen!” 

Ryker grumbled and sauntered toward the bathroom, but not before narrowing his eyes and sticking his tongue out at his big brother.

“And you too, Jasper,” Keirian rested his hands on his hips and eyed his eldest son from head to toe. “Your father is already – how do I put this – in a mood this evening. I was met with a spatula to the hand when trying to taste test dinner.” 

“Oh boy,” Jasper retorted as he shucked off his shoes. “Must be serious.”