Kael had barely returned to Eldar Hollow when the village was thrown into a state of unease. The once peaceful place now felt heavy, as if the very earth beneath him knew that something had changed. The air was thick with whispers, the villagers sensing a shift that none of them could explain.

The first sign came when he reached the village square. A cloaked figure, tall and imposing, was waiting by the old well. Kael’s heart skipped a beat—the figure’s presence was unmistakable. The feeling of ancient power radiated from them, making the hairs on the back of Kael’s neck stand on end. He had never seen this person before, but he somehow knew they were connected to the dragon’s awakening.

"Kael Ardyn," the figure spoke, their voice smooth yet commanding. "I have been waiting for you."

Kael froze, the weight of the words settling heavily upon him. "Who are you?" he demanded, his hand instinctively reaching for the sword on his back.

The figure raised a gloved hand in a gesture of peace. "I am Valarion, a servant of the Dragon Order. But I am not here to harm you. On the contrary, I am here to help you understand your destiny."

Kael narrowed his eyes, studying the stranger. "I don't want any part of this," he muttered, his grip tightening around the hilt of the sword. "I'm just a boy from this village."

Valarion chuckled softly, as if amused by Kael’s defiance. "The dragon’s power resides within you now, Kael. You cannot deny it. You are a Dragonlord, the last hope of an ancient lineage. You must come with me."

Kael shook his head, confusion and fear swirling within him. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Before he could say more, the ground beneath his feet trembled, and a deep roar echoed through the valley. The earth cracked, and a great shadow passed overhead. Looking up, Kael’s eyes widened in horror as a massive black dragon soared across the sky, its scales gleaming like obsidian. The beast's wings beat with such force that it sent gusts of wind whipping through the village.

The villagers scattered in panic, but Kael stood frozen, unable to look away from the dragon. It was a creature from legend—one of the ancient beasts that had once ruled the skies. And it was heading straight for him.

Valarion’s voice cut through the chaos. "We don’t have time. Come with me, or the dragon will destroy everything you hold dear."

Without thinking, Kael grabbed the sword and ran after Valarion, his heart pounding in his chest. The village was in chaos, and the shadow of the dragon loomed larger with every passing moment. He could feel the fire of the dragon’s presence, its power burning the air around him.

Valarion led him through the narrow alleys and into the forest, the path winding through ancient trees that had stood for centuries. The sound of the dragon’s roar echoed in the distance, sending ripples of fear through Kael’s mind. His feet seemed to move on their own, the weight of the sword on his back a constant reminder of the power that had awakened within him.

Finally, they arrived at a secluded clearing, surrounded by towering stones covered in moss and vines. At the center of the clearing stood a stone altar, worn by time but still formidable. Valarion motioned for Kael to approach.

"This is the place where the Dragonlords once communed with their dragons," Valarion explained. "It is here that you will begin to understand your true power."

Kael hesitated, still reeling from everything that had happened. "I don’t understand. What do you want from me?"

"You must learn to control the power of the dragons within you," Valarion replied, his voice steady and reassuring. "You will not survive the coming battle unless you master this power. The Order of Ashes is already on their way, and they will stop at nothing to destroy you and the dragons. You are the only one who can stand against them."

Kael looked down at the sword in his hand, its blade now glowing with a faint red hue, as if it recognized the urgency of the situation. The weight of his destiny settled on his shoulders, and for the first time, he felt the gravity of his role in this ancient conflict.

"Teach me," Kael said, his voice resolute. "I’ll learn, whatever it takes."

Valarion nodded. "Good. Let the trials begin."

As Kael stood before the stone altar, he could feel the presence of the dragon’s essence within him stirring. The power was unlike anything he had ever felt before, a raw, untamed force that threatened to consume him. But as the heat of the dragon’s flame burned within him, Kael understood something he hadn’t before: this was his fate, and he would face it head-on.

The trials were not easy. Kael was pushed to his limits, his mind and body tested as Valarion taught him to harness the dragon’s power. There were moments of agony, where the fire within him threatened to burn him alive, and moments of fear, where Kael doubted his ability to control it. But with each passing day, he grew stronger, his bond with the dragon deepening.

As the trials continued, Kael learned to channel the dragon’s essence, to shape the fire that burned within him into a weapon of immense power. He learned to summon flames that could scorch the earth, to manipulate the very air around him, and to connect with the ancient spirits of the dragon’s lineage. Each new ability brought him closer to his true potential.

But Kael knew that this was only the beginning. The Order of Ashes was coming, and with them, the darkness of the past. And Kael would have to face it—whether he was ready or not.

Chapter 2: The Dragon's Flame

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