"Approach," the dragon's voice reverberated through my very bones, paralyzing me with terror. Yet, despite the fear that gripped me, I found the courage to step closer to the gargantuan beast. Its body was armored in black and red scales, with vast, darkened wings folded at its sides. The dragon's eyes glowed a sinister crimson, speckled with twinkling stars that mirrored the cosmos. Chains, pulsing with an ominous black aura, encased its wings, neck, and limbs, surely the work of powerful sorcery to imprison such a formidable creature.
"What is your name, child?" the dragon demanded, its gaze piercing into my soul as tendrils of smoke spiraled from its nostrils. I hesitated before responding, my voice quivering, "Leon."
"Ah, Leon," the dragon replied, this time its words resonating within my mind, bypassing my ears. Its mental voice was rich and aged, like the timbre of an ancient tree. "Surprised that I can speak to you through my thoughts?"
"Tell me, Leon," the dragon continued, lowering its immense head until its razor-sharp teeth were mere inches from my face, a grin of anticipation etched across its visage, "do you know what I am?"
"A dragon, clearly," I responded, daring to communicate telepathically with the beast.
"A dragon, indeed," it chuckled. "And what else do you know?"
"I know that if I kill you and devour your heart, I'll gain immortality," I declared, my confidence returning as the tension in the air dissipated.
The dragon laughed heartily. "My boy, you are clever. And where did you learn such tales?"
"A dwarf named Petre told me," I replied.
"Dwarves," the dragon scoffed, "such insignificant creatures. Small and stocky, and utterly useless. You are correct, Leon. Consuming a dragon's heart can grant immortality and even bestow the dragon's powers upon you. But that is not why I summoned you here."
My heart raced. "Summoned me here?"
"Yes, Leon. I sensed the ruby ring's presence the moment you entered the jungle."
"My ruby ring?" I echoed. "So, you know of Orpheases?" As the dragon's face contorted with rage, I pressed on, "If you know I'm one of Orpheases' damned, how can you trust me?"
"I can sense the darkness within you, boy, but I also perceive something different," the dragon replied, its voice laden with secrets and the promise of untold power.
"Even if you wield Orpheases' powers and spells, you are no match for me. Nevertheless, I admire your courage, human," the dragon declared, a plume of smoke billowing from its maw. I stared at the colossal creature, struggling to process the reality before me.
"Tell me, Leon, do you truly know what I am?" The dragon's voice was low, vibrating through the ancient stone around us, as though it could bend the world itself with a mere whisper.
A rumbling chuckle escaped its massive throat, dark and deep as a starless night. "Yes, we've established that. But what kind of dragon?" The tone was sharp, commanding reverence. Archeus's vast, timeless eyes bore down on me, as if drawing from epochs that spanned far beyond human understanding. This creature wasn't simply a wise elder; he was a force, an echo of cosmic events, and a being whose existence had marked the ages. Just being in his presence felt like standing on the edge of an unending abyss, looking into the secrets of time itself.
"I don't know," I admitted, my voice tinged with indifference. The specifics of the dragon's nature hadn't crossed my mind, for I was simply awestruck by its presence.
The dragon's expression turned disdainful at my response. "My name is Archeus. You never even bothered to ask, boy." Pausing, it appeared to collect its thoughts before continuing. "I am a Blackened Star Dragon, one of the most ancient and revered of breeds. My kin have annihilated entire planets and waged war against gods, sometimes even fighting alongside them."
Archeus' gaze drifted to the stone walls, as if lost in the memories of bygone eras. "So, how did you end up here?" I asked, curious about the dragon's captivity.
Archeus' eyes flared with renewed intensity as it refocused on me, snapping out of its reverie. "Orpheases trapped me here. We once fought together, conquering and obliterating nations that dared defy us. But in time, he grew to fear my kind's burgeoning power. He had witnessed the chaos we unleashed upon the gods themselves and envy gnawed at his heart. He betrayed us, slaughtering my brethren, obliterating our hearts, and imprisoning me in this accursed chamber."
I edged closer to the dragon, captivated by its tale. "What makes your kind so special?" I asked, eager to learn more.
Archeus locked its gaze onto mine, its voice laden with emotion. "We are the cosmic harbingers of destruction, Leon. Through death comes life, and we emerged from the demise of a star. We can endure countless assaults and elements, and we live to wage battle. The cosmos gifted us the tools to fulfill our purpose. But most importantly, our bodies house two hearts."
As Archeus shared these revelations, I felt my fascination deepen, my soul stirring with a newfound understanding of this ancient, powerful being.
I gazed at the immense creature towering above me, the fear in my gut dissipating as I now better comprehended this magnificent being. "So, what did you want with me? Why did you summon me here?" I inquired.
The dragon studied me for a moment before lowering its head, its colossal snout mere inches from my face, tendrils of smoke escaping its nostrils. "I wish to offer you a deal," Archeus spoke, his voice rich with wonder and intrigue.
"What kind of deal?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"A deal you cannot refuse, for I know the very thing you desire," the dragon continued. "You see, I've been imprisoned here for an eternity, and you are the first soul I've spoken to in over a millennium. I apologize if I've rambled on, but I sense a fierce rage burning within you – a flame Orpheases himself cannot control."
Archeus paused, sniffing me as if to assess my intentions. "Foolish boy, you cannot possibly challenge Orpheases in your current state," the dragon scoffed. "How did you know?" I asked, puzzled by its insight. I had never revealed my intentions to destroy Orpheases, the one responsible for cursing me with dark powers and an insatiable hunger for souls.
"I know who you are, Leon. I'm well aware of your abilities, your limitations, and the haunted visages that invade your dreams each night," Archeus replied, unveiling my most closely guarded secrets – secrets I had never intended to share.
"Leon, I offer you one of my very own hearts to consume. I shall retain the other, and you shall become Dragonborne. You will inherit my abilities, and above all, you will gain immortality." I pondered the proposition laid before me, the notion of eternal life both alluring and daunting. But I knew I had to do whatever it took to grow stronger, to become powerful enough to confront Orpheases.
"What's the catch, Archeus?" I asked, wary of the dragon's true motives.
"The catch is that our souls will be forever entwined. I will see through your eyes and experience your emotions, granting me insight into the world beyond these walls. Together, we might stand a chance against the formidable Orpheases and, perhaps, free me from this accursed chamber."
As Archeus spoke, I felt the weight of our intertwined fates pressing upon my chest, a gravity that went beyond words. In that moment, the allure of power surged within me, whispering promises of vengeance and strength. But I knew, too, that this choice would leave a mark on me, as unshakable as any scar, binding me to forces I couldn't fully control. I was standing on the edge, ready to jump—but who would I become once I leapt? The choice was mine, but the consequences would be shared by both man and dragon.
"So, we will be connected? And what are the limitations of this power?" My voice wavered, my mind flickering through half-formed fears. Becoming entangled with a dragon—living with its thoughts and its ancient, untamed spirit—what would that do to me? Power like this, I knew, never came without a cost.
Archeus's lips curled back, his teeth gleaming like ivory knives. "Indeed, Leon, we shall be bound, and you'll feel me with you always, like an ancient shadow woven into your soul. Our thoughts, our burdens—these we will share." His voice softened. "Think of me as both your strength and your watchful companion." The dragon's warm, smoky breath carried a hint of solemnity that unnerved me.
"As for immortality," the dragon continued, "you will indeed live forever, but should a god manage to tear out your heart and consume it, you will perish." He paused, his tone solemn as he warned me of the perils that lay ahead. "Once you have consumed my heart, the essence of the dragon will infuse your very being. Other dragons will sense your aura, and your rank among them shall be exalted."
"And what is my rank amongst other dragons?" I asked, curiosity creeping into my voice.
"Have you not been listening, boy?" Archeus snarled. "I am a Blackened Star Dragon. We stand atop the food chain, feared and revered by all living creatures."
The mighty beast scrutinized me, anticipating my response. I took a step back and placed my hand on Archeus' head. "I accept your offer," I declared.
Archeus's roar shattered the silence, the walls quaking as bits of ancient stone and dust cascaded around us. Then, with a single talon, he tore into the scaled armor of his chest, exposing something both awe-inspiring and terrifying. A light—pure, violent, and burning as though it held the universe's essence—emerged, its red glow casting streaks of starlight across the chamber. This was no simple heart; it was a radiant, pulsing star, its fiery essence locked in an intricate sphere of crystal-like veins.
I could barely move, transfixed by the sight. As Archeus extended his massive claw, the heart hovered between us, its heat so intense it felt as though it might incinerate me on the spot. "Take it," Archeus intoned, his voice a quiet, commanding presence in my mind.
"Take the heart, Leon, and become Dragonborne," Archeus commanded, proffering the heart in his massive claw. I reached out, the heart's flames searing my flesh as I grasped it. Ignoring the pain, I focused on the ethereal aura it emitted. "Consume it," the dragon urged.
As I raised the heart to my lips, a wave of heat surged through my skin, an ache so primal it felt as though it were carving its essence into my bones. With a deep breath, I swallowed, and the moment it hit my tongue, fire ripped through me. The flame wasn't just heat; it was pure, consuming energy, igniting every cell in my body.
I collapsed, clutching at my chest as the heart's essence burned through my veins, each beat hammering against my ribs like molten iron. My vision blurred, and pain blazed up my spine, searing through sinew and muscle. Through the haze, Archeus's voice whispered, "This may sting a bit, Leon." His words barely registered; my own screams were tearing through the chamber as my body convulsed, my flesh seeming to writhe as it adjusted, reshaping itself to contain this raw, unimaginable power.
And then, as though a thousand flames had been doused all at once, the pain ceased. I lay gasping, steam rising from my skin, the air around me filled with the faint scent of smoldering embers. Slowly, I opened my eyes, and the world was new, sharp in ways it had never been, every detail bright and vivid. I was reborn.
And then, as abruptly as a lightning bolt cleaves the sky, the pain ceased. My body was bathed in cool relief, steam rising from my sweat-slick skin. I opened my eyes, my vision transformed. Every detail, every subtle glow was now vividly apparent, as if I were viewing the world through a veil of mystical clarity.
"How do you feel, Leon?" Archeus asked, waiting patiently for me to regain my composure. I rose to my feet, my hand instinctively curling into a fist. A grin spread across my face as I looked up at the colossal dragon and proclaimed, "I feel incredible."