Heir of the Dragon’s Blood

6 : The Journey to the Lost Clan

The dawn slowly broke, banishing the remnants of the night’s darkness. Elden opened his eyes, feeling slightly refreshed after a few hours of sleep. However, his mind was still filled with worry.

Nearby, Kaelar was already preparing their gear. As usual, the man looked vigilant, checking his sword and bag before finally glancing at Elden.

“We need to move now,” Kaelar said curtly. “Merida mentioned someone who could help you control your power. We have to find them before the kingdom finds us first.”

Elden nodded and got up. The pain in his shoulder from a sword slash still lingered, but he tried to ignore it.

“Do you know where this person is?” Elden asked.

Kaelar sighed. “I have a lead. They are part of the dragon guardians, a clan that disappeared long ago. If they’re still alive, they’re most likely hiding in the ruins of an ancient temple to the north, at the foot of Mount Veldrath.”

Elden hesitated. “Mount Veldrath? Isn’t that place considered cursed?”

Kaelar smirked slightly. “Yes, that’s what most people believe. But that’s exactly why it’s the perfect hiding place.”

Elden felt his heart race. They would have to travel to a place filled with danger, but he had no other choice. Without wasting time, they began their journey northward. Their path led them into a dense and silent forest. The ancient trees towered high, their branches casting eerie shadows.

“I don’t like this place,” Elden muttered.

Kaelar glanced at him. “That’s natural. This forest has a bad reputation. Many hunters and adventurers have entered but never returned.”

Elden swallowed. “What happened to them?”

Kaelar shrugged. “Some say ancient spirits haunt this place. Others believe that terrible creatures lurk among the trees.”

A shiver ran down Elden’s spine. He didn’t entirely believe in folklore, but after everything he had experienced, he knew the world was far more vast and dangerous than he had imagined.

They continued walking cautiously. But after a few hours, Elden began to feel something strange. The air around them grew heavier, and the usual sounds of the forest faded into an eerie silence. No birds, no wind.

“Do you feel that?” Elden whispered.

Kaelar nodded, his hand already on the hilt of his sword. “Something is here.”

Suddenly, the bushes ahead rustled. Elden tensed, ready to fight. From the foliage emerged a black-furred creature with glowing red eyes. Its fangs were sharp, and its claws were long as daggers.

The creature let out a low growl before leaping toward them. Kaelar reacted swiftly, swinging his sword and slashing the beast across the chest. However, instead of collapsing, the creature merely staggered back, the wound on its chest closing rapidly.

“This is bad,” Kaelar muttered.

Elden clenched his fists, trying to summon his power. He remembered how fire had appeared when he was in danger, but this time, nothing happened. The creature growled and lunged again, its claws nearly reaching him.

Kaelar shoved Elden aside and blocked the attack with his sword, but the sheer force pushed him backward. Elden fell to the ground, panicking. He tried to focus, to feel the flow of power within him.

“Come on… please…!”

Suddenly, heat surged through his body. Flames began to form in his hands, but this time, they felt more stable.

The creature lunged at him, but Elden thrust his hands forward, releasing a burst of fire that engulfed it. The beast let out a painful roar before turning to ash. Elden gasped for breath, his body weak from the exertion.

Kaelar helped him up. “Good. You’re starting to control it.”

Elden nodded slowly. “But I still don’t know how to do it properly.”

Kaelar patted his shoulder. “That’s why we need to find the one who can train you.”

They continued their journey, leaving the creature’s ashes behind.

After hours of walking, they finally reached the foot of Mount Veldrath. There, they found an ancient, abandoned temple. Large stones lay scattered, covered in moss and tree roots. The once-majestic pillars now stood cracked and leaning.

“This place feels… ancient,” Elden murmured.

Kaelar nodded. “These are the remnants of an old civilization. A place where dragon guardians once lived.”

They cautiously entered the ruins. The air inside was cold, and their footsteps echoed off the crumbling walls.

As they reached the temple’s deepest chamber, they encountered something unexpected. In the center of a vast room filled with fallen pillars stood an old man with closed eyes. His long white hair cascaded over his shoulders, and his body was draped in a black robe adorned with golden embroidery.

Slowly, he opened his eyes and looked directly at Elden.

“You have finally arrived,” he said in a deep voice.

Elden was startled. “You knew I was coming?”

The man gave a faint smile. “I have waited for the next heir of the dragon’s blood for many years.”

Kaelar stepped forward. “So, you’re the last guardian?”

The man nodded. “My name is Vaelis. I am one of the few remaining from the dragon guardian clan.”

Elden gazed at him with hope. “Can you teach me how to control my power?”

Vaelis studied Elden for a moment before replying. “Your power is still wild. If you do not learn to control it, it will control you.”

Elden nodded. “I am willing to learn. I want to become stronger.”

Vaelis’ lips curled into a slight smile. “Very well. Then your journey begins now.”

Elden felt something shift within him. He had found someone who could guide him. But he knew this was only the beginning.

---

The temple chamber was silent, with only the sound of Elden and Kaelar’s breathing. Vaelis, the old man who claimed to be the last of the dragon guardians, stood calmly before them. “If you wish to control your power,” Vaelis said, “you must first pass the initial trial.”

Elden swallowed. “The first trial?”

Vaelis nodded. “The power of dragon’s blood is not just fire emerging from your body. It is a part of your soul, and if you do not understand your own soul, you will never master it.”

Kaelar crossed his arms. “And what is this trial?”

Vaelis gave a faint smile. “Follow me.”

They walked through a narrow, dimly lit corridor. Sunlight filtered through cracks in the ruins, casting a mystical glow. Eventually, they arrived in a large room with a stone floor covered in dragon engravings. In the center lay a vast circle inscribed with ancient symbols.

“Step into the circle, Elden,” Vaelis instructed.

Elden hesitated, then obeyed. As soon as he stood inside, the symbols on the floor began to glow with a golden-red light. Vaelis closed his eyes and chanted in a language Elden did not understand.

Suddenly, Elden felt weightless. The world around him changed. When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in the temple. Instead, he stood in a vast grassland beneath a burning red sky. Before him stood a figure, one that looked exactly like him, but with blazing red eyes and a body wreathed in fire.

“Who are you?” Elden asked.

The figure smirked. “I am you… or rather, the part of you that you deny.”

Elden frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“You’re afraid of your power, aren’t you?” the figure’s voice was cold. “You fear that the fire within you will hurt others.”

Elden remained silent. It was true, ever since his power had awakened, he had felt it was more of a curse than a gift.

The figure stepped closer. “If you keep denying yourself, you will never become strong. I am part of your power. If you wish to master the dragon’s fire, you must accept me.”

Elden hesitated, “How do I know you’re not a threat?” he asked.

The figure chuckled. “That is your trial, Elden. You must decide whether to reject or accept me.”

With newfound resolve, Elden embraced his power. The world shattered into light. When he awoke, he was back in the temple.

Vaelis nodded in approval. “You have passed the first trial.”

Elden felt different. His journey had only just begun.