A tale of forbidden magic, unlikely friendships, and a dragon's fiery heart.
(Author's Note: This is the first chapter of a serialized fantasy novel. I'm an avid fantasy writer with a passion for crafting immersive worlds and compelling characters. You can find more of my work on [Link to Author's Website/Social Media – Remember to replace this bracketed information with actual links if you are publishing this ].)
The Whispers of the Wyrm
The air hung thick with the scent of ash and ozone, a lingering testament to the recent volcanic eruption that had scarred the landscape of Eldoria. I, Elara, a mage barely out of her apprenticeship, knelt amidst the devastation, my fingers tracing the jagged edges of obsidian shards. My task: to salvage what I could from the ruined village of Oakhaven. Not for glory, but for survival. The Guild was demanding a report, and a meager compensation for my efforts would barely keep the roof over my head.
My magic, however, was… unconventional. While other mages channeled the earth's energy, or summoned the power of storms, I… consumed it. Specifically, the embers of fire. A dangerous practice, one whispered about in hushed tones within the Guild. They called it "Dragon Devouring," a practice deemed heretical and unstable. But it was the only magic I knew, the only magic that flowed through my veins like molten gold.
A Shadow in the Smoke
As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of blood orange and bruised purple, a flicker of movement caught my eye. Within the smoldering ruins of a once-proud manor, a shadow stirred. It was humanoid in shape, but impossibly large, its form obscured by the swirling smoke. Fear, sharp and cold, pierced through me. This was no ordinary survivor.
Slowly, cautiously, I approached, my staff clutched tightly in my hand. The air grew hotter, the smell of sulfur intensifying. As the smoke thinned, I saw it: a dragon.
Not the colossal, winged beasts of legend, but a creature of shadow and flame, its scales shimmering like obsidian in the fading light. It was young, perhaps not even fully grown, but its power was palpable, a tangible weight pressing down on me. Its eyes, twin embers burning with an intelligence that chilled me to the bone, fixed on me.
An Unexpected Encounter
Instead of the expected roar or attack, a low growl rumbled in its chest, a sound more akin to a mournful sigh. It was injured, its wing drooping, a deep gash marring its flank. This was no monstrous threat, but a creature in pain.
My instincts screamed at me to flee, to report this dangerous creature to the Guild. But something within me, a flicker of empathy mirroring the embers within my own soul, held me back. I had always felt a kinship with fire, a strange connection to its destructive, yet creative power. This dragon...it was different. It felt… lonely.
The First Taste of Trust
Hesitantly, I extended my hand, a small offering of purified water drawn from my flask. The dragon watched me, its gaze unwavering. For a long moment, time seemed to stand still. Then, slowly, cautiously, it lowered its head, its snout brushing against my offering. A spark of warmth, of understanding, passed between us – a silent promise of a most unusual alliance. The dragon devoured the water, then looked up at me, its eyes, for the first time, showing not menace, but a flicker of… gratitude?
This was the beginning. The beginning of my journey with the shadow dragon, a journey that would test my magic, my courage, and my very understanding of what it meant to be a mage in a world that feared both dragons and those who dared to walk alongside them.
(To be continued…)
