The dragon's roar shook the entire forest. The birds hiding in the trees immediately flew away, while the ground beneath Riven's feet trembled softly. The fog that had covered the mountain path began to move slowly, as if making way for the giant creature descending from the sky.
Riven stood frozen.
Even though he had seen the dragon before, seeing it from this close still made it difficult for him to move. Its black scales looked like obsidian struck by moonlight, while the red lines across its body glowed like embers that had yet to die out.
Kael, the leader of the dragon hunters, simply smiled.
"So you're still alive."
The dragon stared at Kael with its golden eyes.
"You humans always return with the same greed."
The dragon's voice was deep but clear. It was nothing like the voice of an ordinary animal. Every word it spoke made the air around them seem to vibrate.
Riven's eyes widened.
"You can talk?"
The dragon turned toward him.
"I always could."
Riven had no idea how to respond.
Nara, standing beside him, whispered,
"I'm not sure whether I should be afraid or impressed."
Egan stared at the dragon with a serious expression.
"His name is Vareth."
Riven turned to him.
"Vareth?"
"The first Guardian of Mount Arka."
Kael let out a quiet laugh.
"The first Guardian? Don't make an old story sound greater than it really is."
Vareth turned his gaze toward Kael.
"You still carry your family's hatred."
Kael's smile vanished.
"Don't mention my family."
Riven watched the change in the man's expression. A great fury had suddenly appeared.
Egan tightened his grip on his staff.
"Kael, stop this."
"You still defend dragons after what happened?"
"Because I know the truth."
Kael raised his hand.
"The truth according to you."
Several hunters began moving around them.
Riven realized they were trapped.
"Vareth," Riven called.
The dragon looked at him.
"What should we do?"
Vareth was silent for a moment.
"You've already brought the Dragon Coal."
Riven nodded.
"Why did this stone choose me?"
"Because of your blood."
Riven froze.
"What do you mean?"
Before Vareth could answer, Kael suddenly moved with incredible speed.
One of the hunters threw a special rope at the dragon. It was no ordinary rope. As it touched the air, blue light appeared, slowing Vareth's movements slightly.
The dragon growled.
"You still use the same weapon."
Kael stepped forward.
"This time, we've prepared for everything."
Riven saw that Vareth was struggling to move.
"We have to help him!"
Egan nodded.
"Right."
"But how?"
Egan pointed at Riven's bag.
"The stone."
Riven took it out.
"This stone can help?"
"The stone isn't the one doing the helping."
Egan looked at Riven.
"You are."
Riven gripped the Dragon Coal.
Red light immediately appeared, brighter than before.
The hunters backed away several steps.
"What's happening?" one of them shouted.
Vareth looked at Riven.
"Don't fight with anger."
Riven felt heat flowing from the stone into his hand.
"What should I do?"
"Believe."
The answer sounded simple, but Riven didn't understand.
Believe in whom?
The dragon he had only just met?
The power he didn't understand?
Or himself?
Suddenly, he remembered something his father had said.
Courage without preparation will only get you hurt.
But his father had also told him that he needed to learn to trust.
Riven drew a breath.
Then he raised the stone.
"I don't know what's going to happen."
Kael stared at him, his expression changing.
"Stop that boy!"
The hunters rushed forward.
But it was too late.
The red light from the Dragon Coal spread throughout the forest.
The ground trembled.
The tree roots began to move.
The air grew warm.
Then the blue rope binding Vareth began to crack.
One.
Two.
Three.
The rope shattered.
The dragon immediately spread its wings.
A powerful gust of wind forced the hunters back.
Kael braced himself to keep from falling.
"Impossible."
Vareth looked at Riven.
"You've awakened a power that has slept for a very long time."
Riven looked at his own hand.
"I didn't do anything."
"Exactly."
Vareth moved closer.
"True power isn't about controlling fire."
Riven listened in silence.
"It's about understanding when the fire must be lit."
Kael looked even angrier.
"Enough with that old story!"
He pulled a spear-shaped weapon from his back.
The weapon was black, with a crystal-like tip.
Egan's expression immediately changed.
"Kael, don't."
"I've waited too long."
Kael aimed the spear at Riven.
"If that boy is the new heir, then I'll stop him before it all begins."
Riven prepared himself.
But Nara stepped in front of him.
"You'll have to get through me first."
Riven was startled.
"Nara!"
"I knew you'd do something stupid again."
"You don't have to get involved."
"I know."
Nara gave him a small smile.
"But I'm staying anyway."
Riven had no time to reply because Kael had already attacked.
A small explosion erupted when his spear struck the ground.
Riven and Nara leaped out of the way.
Vareth growled.
"I won't let a human touch my heir."
Kael stared at the dragon.
"Heir?"
Everyone fell silent.
Riven looked at Vareth.
"What do you mean?"
But the dragon didn't answer.
From far away came another sound.
The sound of a massive crack from the direction of Mount Arka.
Egan looked toward the summit.
"No."
Riven followed his gaze.
More black smoke began pouring out.
Not just from the crater.
From inside the mountain came a sound like something waking up.
Vareth turned toward the mountain.
"It's too late."
Riven felt his heart pounding.
"What's happening?"
The dragon beat its wings.
"What has been sealed inside Mount Arka all this time has awakened."
Kael smiled.
"This time, it won't be just dragons coming out."
Egan tightened his grip on his staff.
"It's bringing an army."
Riven watched the mountain begin to glow red.
What he had initially thought would be a journey to find answers about the dragon had turned into something far greater.
Before him stood hunters who wanted to seize the dragon's power.
Behind him was a mountain concealing a new threat.
And in the middle of it all, Riven began to realize one thing.
His meeting with Vareth was no coincidence.
Something had chosen him.
And that something had just awakened him from a long sleep.