The forest was deathly still, the air heavy with the scent of rust and blood.
A lone man trudged forward, his armor battered, his steps faltering.
His hand lingered on the pendant around his neck, the ancient carvings glowing faintly in the dim light.
"Does a kingdom truly believe in its people?" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
His words echoed in the stillness, unanswered. He glanced at the dense trees around him, their towering forms casting long, ominous shadows.
His mind raced with unanswered questions.
"If the truth lies buried, what is it they fear us knowing?"His words were bitter, laced with frustration.
The ground trembled beneath his feet. A low rumble rose from the depths of the forest, growing louder with each passing second. His fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword as he turned toward the sound.
Emerging from the darkness was a colossal dragon with three heads, its crimson scales glistening like molten metal. Wisps of white fur lined its necks, contrasting its fiery appearance.
Each head bore piercing eyes that gleamed with intelligence and malice.
The man's heart pounded in his chest. "So... you're the one," he whispered, his voice steady despite the terror coursing through him.
The dragon's central head let out a deafening roar, its breath scorching the earth and filling the air with the stench of sulfur.
The man raised his sword, defiance flickering in his eyes.
But he was no match.
In a flash, the dragon lunged. His head was severed in a single, brutal strike, soaring into the air before landing with a lifeless thud. Blood pooled around his body, staining the ground.
The pendant slipped from his grasp, its glow intensifying. A faint pulse rippled outward, as if marking the end of one story and the beginning of another.
The dragon let out a low growl, its three heads turning skyward as it disappeared into the forest's shadows.
And silence returned, leaving only the blood-soaked ground and the faint, unearthly hum of the pendant lying amidst the carnage.