Chapter 3 – The Dragon’s Eyes
The wind from the dragon’s wings struck like a storm, knocking carts over and tearing thatch from rooftops. Villagers screamed as they fled, but Ash stood rooted to the earth, his heart hammering like a war drum.
The dragon landed at the edge of the square, talons sinking into the soil with a weight that shook the ground. Its scales shimmered like bronze beneath the fading light, each one the size of a shield. Heat radiated from its body, and its breath curled out in smoke.
“Ash!” Lira’s voice was sharp with fear. She pulled at his arm, trying to drag him back. “We have to run!”
But Ash couldn’t. The creature’s eyes—molten gold with black slits—were fixed on him alone. It was as though the rest of the village didn’t exist.
The dragon lowered its head, nostrils flaring as it inhaled deeply. Then, to the astonishment of all, it spoke.
“At last,” the voice rumbled, deep and ancient, yet carrying perfectly into every ear. “The bloodline endures.”
Gasps rose from the crowd. Ash staggered backward, shaking his head. “N-no… you can’t mean me.”
The dragon’s gaze sharpened. “You are the heir. The last spark of the crown. The kingdom calls for its rightful bearer.”
“What are you talking about?” Ash shouted. “I’m just a farmer’s son!”
The dragon’s wings flared, sending dust and straw flying. “You are more than that. The fire within you cannot be hidden. It answers me even now.”
Ash’s chest burned again, hotter this time, until it felt like flames licked beneath his skin. He clutched his shirt, his vision blurring.
The villagers stared in stunned silence. Some crossed themselves, others dropped to their knees in fear.
Halric, the elder, stepped forward with trembling hands. “If this boy is truly what you claim… what do you intend, beast?”
The dragon’s golden eyes swept over the old man, then returned to Ash. “The kingdom is broken. Darkness spreads. Only the heir can restore the Crown of Flames. Without him… all will be ash.”
Ash’s breath caught. The words hit him like a hammer—the heir? The Crown of Flames? None of this made sense, yet deep down, something in him stirred with recognition, as though the dragon’s words unlocked a door he hadn’t known existed.
Lira’s grip tightened on his sleeve. “Ash… don’t listen. You don’t have to be what it wants.”
But before Ash could answer, the dragon’s head snapped toward the forest. Its pupils narrowed. Smoke thickened from its nostrils.
“Too late,” it growled. “The enemy comes.”
And from the shadows of the trees, dark figures began to emerge—cloaked, armored, and carrying blades that drank the last light of day.
