Heir of the Dragon’s Blood

7 : The Unquenchable Fire

Elden stood in the center of the ritual circle, panting heavily. Sweat trickled down his temples, and within his chest, he could feel something different. No longer was he shackled by fear. The fire within him was no longer just a wild force, it was a part of him that he had to accept.

Vaelis observed Elden closely. "Good. You have passed the first trial, but this is only the beginning. The dragon's fire within you has now merged more deeply with your soul, but to master it fully, you must learn to control it."

Kaelar, who had been silently watching, crossed his arms. "What’s the next step?"

Vaelis raised his wooden staff and tapped it against the stone floor. "Training begins now."

Immediately, flames erupted around Elden, forming a blazing ring. The heat was so intense that he could feel his sweat evaporating instantly.

"Maintain your control!" Vaelis commanded. "If you cannot tame these flames, you may burn yourself alive!"

Elden struggled to remain calm, but this fire felt different from before. Usually, it emerged instinctively in moments of danger, but now it surrounded him without his command. He raised his hands, imagining the fire fading, but instead, it flared even higher.

Kaelar stepped forward anxiously. "Are you sure he can do this without guidance?"

Vaelis did not answer, his gaze fixed on Elden.

Elden clenched his fists. He had to think clearly. This power was a part of him. If this fire was part of his soul, then he had to speak to his own soul. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

Calm…

He felt the heat around him. Instead of resisting it, he embraced it. He let the fire become a part of him, flowing through his veins like blood. When he opened his eyes, the flames surrounding him began to subside, then vanished completely.

Vaelis gave a small smile. "Good. You are beginning to understand the essence of this power."

Elden exhaled in relief. "I feel… more connected to it."

Vaelis nodded. "And this is only the beginning."

They were about to continue their training when a loud rumbling came from outside the temple.

Kaelar immediately drew his sword. "Something’s out there."

Vaelis closed his eyes for a moment before sighing. "They’ve found us."

Elden tensed. "Who?"

Before Vaelis could answer, an explosion shattered the temple’s stone doors. Dust filled the air, and from the rubble, armored soldiers emerged with drawn swords.

Among them, a man in a black cloak walked calmly. His face was partially hidden by his hood, but his piercing gaze revealed that he was no ordinary man.

"Elden, heir of the dragon’s blood," the man said coldly. "At last, I’ve found you."

Elden felt his body tense. He didn’t recognize the man, but the aura emanating from him made his skin crawl.

Vaelis stepped forward. "Leave. We do not wish for bloodshed."

The man smirked. "Unfortunately, I have direct orders from the King. The heir of the dragon’s blood must be surrendered to the kingdom… dead or alive."

Without warning, the soldiers attacked.

Kaelar charged into battle, his sword clashing against enemy steel. His movements were swift and precise, deflecting and striking in a seamless flow.

Vaelis swung his staff, summoning a powerful gust of wind that sent several soldiers tumbling backward.

Elden, though still unaccustomed to combat, knew he couldn’t just stand idle. He raised his hands, calling upon the fire he had just trained with.

But before he could attack, the cloaked man lifted his hand, and instantly, Elden’s flames vanished.

Elden’s eyes widened. "What…?"

The man smirked. "You are still too weak."

In an instant, he lunged toward Elden, a black dagger flashing in his hand. Elden barely had time to react before Kaelar leaped between them, blocking the strike with his sword.

"I won’t let you touch him!" Kaelar growled.

The man clicked his tongue. "You’re merely delaying the inevitable."

He stepped back and raised his hands toward the sky. Instantly, darkness spread across the room like creeping shadows.

Vaelis’s eyes widened. "Dark magic…"

The man grinned. "I will take Elden, and nothing will stop me."

The shadows lunged at Elden, wrapping around him like black tendrils.

Elden struggled, but the more he resisted, the tighter the shadows constricted.

Kaelar tried to strike, but the man flicked his wrist, sending an invisible force slamming Kaelar into the wall.

"Elden!" Kaelar shouted.

Elden felt himself sinking deeper into the darkness. A numbing cold pierced into his soul like a thousand needles. Suddenly, a voice echoed within him.

"Do not fear. Trust in your power."

Elden’s eyes snapped open. He wouldn’t give in so easily. Summoning all his resolve, he called upon the fire within, not as a weapon, but as a part of himself. A burst of golden-red light erupted from his body, incinerating the dark tendrils binding him.

The cloaked man’s eyes widened. "What…?"

With a roar, Elden unleashed a wave of fire, forcing the darkness to retreat. The man stumbled back, disbelief flickering in his eyes.

"Interesting," he muttered. "You are progressing faster than I expected."

Glancing at his fallen soldiers, he clicked his tongue. "It seems my time here is up."

With a flick of his hand, shadows engulfed him, and he vanished. Elden gasped for breath, but he knew this wasn’t over.

Kaelar groaned as he pushed himself up, clutching his ribs. "Who… was that?"

Vaelis exhaled heavily. "A far more dangerous enemy than we thought. He is Malagar, the king’s right hand… and a dark sorcerer."

Elden clenched his fists. Now, he knew his enemy was far more powerful than he had imagined. But he would not back down. The fire within him had awakened… and nothing would extinguish it.

---

That night, as the temple lay shrouded in the flickering glow of a small campfire, Elden leaned against a stone pillar, steadying his breath after the battle. The heat from his own flames still lingered in his body.

Kaelar tended to his wounds, while Vaelis stood at the temple entrance, gazing into the distant forest.

"Who is Malagar, really?" Elden finally asked, his voice hoarse.

Vaelis sighed. "Malagar serves King Eldric as a dark sorcerer. He is not just the king’s right hand but one of the few who understand ancient magic. If he is after you, the kingdom will not stop until they have you."

Elden clenched his fists. "So I’m really a fugitive now."

Kaelar chuckled dryly. "Seems like it, kid. At least now you know how serious this is."

Elden closed his eyes. He had learned he was the heir of the dragon’s blood, but he still didn’t understand the true meaning of that legacy. Why did the kingdom want him so badly?

Vaelis turned to him. "We can’t stay here. Malagar will return with greater forces."

Kaelar sighed. "Then where do we go?"

Vaelis hesitated before answering. "There is one place. Ardent Fortress. It was the last refuge of the dragon-blooded before the kingdom slaughtered them."

Elden looked at him in surprise. "Ardent Fortress? I’ve never heard of it."

"Because it was erased from history," Vaelis replied. "But if we can reach it, we may find answers about your power… and why the kingdom fears you so much."

Elden took a deep breath. He didn’t know what awaited him at Ardent Fortress, but one thing was clear—he couldn’t turn back now.

"Then we leave at dawn."

And so, their journey continued. The fire within Elden burned brighter than ever, and no force in the world would put it out.