Heir of the Dragon’s Blood

2 : The Hunt Begins

Elden began to run out of breath as the current of the water pushed him closer to death.

"I have to... get out of here..." he thought in panic.

Then, something strange happened. The mark on his arm started glowing faintly underwater, and suddenly, his body felt lighter. His muscles reacted faster, and it was as if his instincts were guiding him on how to fight the current.

With his newfound strength, Elden kicked hard and swam toward the riverbank. It took a few seconds, but he finally reached the edge, dragging himself onto the rocks, gasping for air.

In the distance, he could still hear the muffled voices of the knights. They seemed to be struggling to find a way across the gorge.

"I made it..." Elden exhaled, relief washing over him despite his exhaustion.

But he couldn't stay there for long. He had to keep moving.

Hours later, Elden continued walking along the riverbank, trying to put as much distance as possible between himself and his pursuers. The forest grew denser, with sunlight barely penetrating the thick canopy above.

He had no idea where to go. The only thing he knew was that he could never return to his village. They had betrayed him.

Elden clenched his fists.

"What happened to me? Why is the kingdom hunting me?" he muttered.

The mark on his arm remained. The dragon symbol stood out clearly, as if it were carved into his skin. Ever since that strange wolf had scratched him, his body had started to change. He felt stronger, faster, and his senses had sharpened.

But it came at a great cost.

Now, he was a fugitive.

As Elden ventured deeper into the forest, he suddenly heard something—the faint sound of light footsteps behind him.

He stopped, his body tensing.

Someone was following him.

With a swift movement, he grabbed his bow and nocked an arrow. "Who's there?" he called out.

Silence.

But Elden knew someone was hiding among the trees.

"Come out," he warned.

A few seconds passed before a figure finally stepped out of the shadows.

It was a man wearing a long, dark cloak. His face was covered in scars, and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s.

"You’re quick for someone your age," the man said in a deep voice.

Elden didn’t lower his bow. "Who are you?"

The man smirked slightly. "I am someone looking for an heir like you."

Elden frowned. "What do you mean?"

The man took a step closer, but Elden remained on guard.

"The mark on your arm," the man said. "It’s not an ordinary wound. It’s the mark of the Dragon Bloodline."

Elden stiffened.

"Dragon Bloodline?" he repeated, disbelief creeping into his voice.

The man nodded. "And now, the kingdom knows who you are. They will do anything to capture you… or kill you."

A chill ran down Elden’s spine.

"Why?" he asked. "Why do they want me dead?"

The man crossed his arms. "Because they fear your power."

Elden fell silent, trying to process everything. His whole life, he had been just an ordinary hunter. He never imagined he had any kind of special power, let alone something that would make the kingdom hunt him down.

"And you?" Elden asked cautiously. "What do you want from me?"

The man's smirk widened. "I want to help you survive. If you stay alone, you won’t last long. But if you come with me, I can teach you how to use your power."

Elden hesitated. He didn’t know if he could trust this man. But he also knew that if he remained alone, he wouldn’t stand a chance against the kingdom.

The man extended his hand.

"The choice is yours, Dragon Heir."

Elden looked at the man’s hand, then at the mark on his own arm.

He knew his life would never be the same again.

...

Elden cautiously eyed the stranger’s outstretched hand. Every instinct screamed at him not to trust so easily, but the man’s words echoed in his head, "If you stay alone, you won’t survive for long."

He tightened his grip on his bow. "Before I decide, tell me who you really are."

The man gave a faint smile. "My name is Kaelar. I was once the last remaining Dragon Keeper in this world."

Elden frowned. "Dragon Keeper?"

Kaelar nodded. "Long ago, dragons lived alongside humans. They were wise beings, the protectors of this world. But humans grew greedy. They betrayed the dragons, hunted them to extinction, and erased all traces of their existence from history."

He looked at Elden intently. "But the last dragons never truly vanished. They sealed themselves within the blood of their descendants, and you, Elden, are one of them."

Elden’s heartbeat quickened. "I… have dragon blood in me?"

"That is why the kingdom hunts you," Kaelar continued. "Because if you manage to awaken that power fully, you will become their greatest threat."

Elden glanced down at the mark on his arm. Though it no longer glowed, it still looked as if it were fused with his skin. Could this really be true? Did he truly possess something so valuable that the kingdom wanted him dead?

"What do you want from me?" he finally asked.

Kaelar gave a small smile. "I want to train you. To teach you how to control the power that is beginning to awaken within you. Because if you don’t learn to master it, that power will destroy you instead."

Elden was silent for a moment. Ever since the incident in the forest, his body had felt different. He was faster, stronger—but he also felt as if something inside him was constantly stirring, as though something wanted to rise but was being held back.

He took a deep breath, then finally nodded. "Alright. I’ll go with you."

Kaelar smiled in satisfaction. "A wise decision, kid. But our journey won’t be easy."

Elden met his gaze sharply. "I’ve already lost my home. There’s no going back. The only path left for me is forward."

Kaelar nodded in agreement. "Good. Then we must move quickly. The kingdom’s soldiers won’t stop hunting you."

---

Their journey took them westward, deeper into the forest. Kaelar had told him they needed to reach a place called Sanctum Draconis, the last refuge for those with dragon blood.

As night fell, they found a small cave by the river to rest. Elden leaned against the cold stone wall while Kaelar started a small fire.

"So," Elden began, "how exactly does this power work?"

Kaelar studied him for a moment before answering, "Dragon blood is an extraordinary force. But it doesn’t awaken fully on its own. Like a muscle, it must be trained and honed."

Elden frowned. "And how do I train it?"

Kaelar smirked slightly. "First, you must learn to feel it."

He looked at Elden seriously. "Close your eyes and focus on the mark on your arm."

Elden hesitated, but then obeyed. He shut his eyes and tried to focus on the dragon mark. At first, he felt nothing but the exhaustion in his body. But the more he concentrated, the more he sensed something, like embers slowly burning beneath his skin.

"Feel the flow of energy," Kaelar instructed. "Don’t resist it. Let it move, but keep control."

Elden controlled his breathing, letting the warmth spread within him. And as he sank deeper into the sensation, something suddenly happened.

A surge of heat rose sharply in his palm, and then---

Blar!

A small burst of fire erupted from his hand, making him jerk back in shock.

"What was that?!" he exclaimed, panicked.

Kaelar simply chuckled. "Congratulations. That was your first power."

Elden stared at his hand in disbelief. The flames had already disappeared, but he could still feel the lingering heat on his skin.

"I can… control fire?"

"Fire is the dragons’ primary element," Kaelar said. "And this is only the beginning."

Elden swallowed hard. He knew his journey had only just begun, and he barely understood what was happening to him.