Titus—no, not Titus any more. His old name felt foreign, like a distant memory. Now, he was something new, something ancient and powerful. A dragon.
As he blinked his eyes open, the world around him slowly came into focus. He was in a cavern bathed in soft light. The air was warm, thick with the scent of earth and stone. Broken shards of what had once been his egg lay scattered around him, glistening in the faint glow.
Instinctively, he felt an overwhelming urge to consume the shattered remains of his shell. It wasn't like the hunger he had experienced in the void, but a primal, natural compulsion. Without hesitation, he began to eat. Each bite was filled with raw power, and with every fragment he devoured, knowledge flowed into him.
Images flashed in his mind—ancient memories of dragons soaring through the skies, breathing fire, manipulating the elements, ruling vast lands. These were not just fragments of the past; they were memories of his ancestors, dragons whose very souls he had absorbed in the void. And with these memories came something deeper: an understanding of his true nature.
He was no longer human. He was Talon.
The name felt right, as though it had always been his. The old identity of Titus Tanner was fading, replaced by something greater, more primal. His body was larger, stronger, and covered in sleek, glossy scales. His claws flexed instinctively, sharp and powerful. He could feel the muscles in his wings twitch, though they were not yet strong enough to carry him through the air.
As Talon finished the last piece of the shell, he felt a presence nearby. He turned, and there, watching him with a calm, knowing gaze, was a towering figure—a dragon unlike anything he had ever seen before.
The dragon was massive, her scales shimmering in an iridescent rainbow of colours. Her wings were folded gracefully at her sides, and her eyes glowed with ancient wisdom. She radiated power and authority, and though Talon had never met her before, he knew instinctively who she was.
She was the Mother of All Dragons.
"You have awakened, little one," she said, her voice deep and resonant, filling the cavern with its gentle power. "And you have consumed the shell, as is tradition. Good. You are Talon now."
Her words were not a question but a statement of fact, as though his new name had been a part of him all along, just waiting for this moment to be spoken.
"Who… are you?" Talon asked, his voice still rough from the recent transformation.
The Mother of Dragons smiled, a slow, graceful curve of her lips. "I am the one who gave you life, as I have done for many of your kind. You and your sister have been reborn as true dragons, but your journey is only beginning. You have much to learn before you can claim your place among us."
"Sister?" Talon's eyes widened. He hadn't realized he wasn't alone.
From the shadows of the cavern, a smaller figure stepped forward. She was about his size, with pale pinkish-white scales that shimmered softly in the light. Her horns, shaped like a delicate crown, framed her face. She looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and caution, her tail swishing gently behind her.
"I'm Lyra," she said, her voice soft but filled with a sense of quiet strength. "Your sister."
Talon stared at her for a moment, trying to reconcile the rush of emotions and new sensations swirling inside him. He had a sister. Not by blood, but by birth in this new life. The connection he felt to her was immediate and undeniable.
"You are both juveniles now," the Mother continued, her gaze shifting between them. "Young, but filled with potential. Your training will begin soon, and you will learn what it means to be dragons. To survive. To rule."
Talon's mind raced with questions. What was this new world? How would they train? What did it mean to be a dragon? But before he could ask, the Mother of Dragons continued.
"Our world is vast," she said, stepping closer, her massive form casting a shadow over the two young dragons. "The oceans stretch far beyond what you can imagine, and the skies are endless. Each of the five great continents holds unique challenges, and in time, you will travel to them. But for now, you must learn the basics—how to hunt, how to fight, how to survive."
Lyra shifted nervously beside him, and Talon could feel her tension. He wasn't sure if it was fear or excitement, but he felt the same way. This world was new, and they were expected to thrive in it.
"Mother," Talon finally spoke, finding his voice. "What happens next?"
The Mother of Dragons smiled again, though this time there was something more serious in her expression. "Next, you will learn what it means to be a dragon. You will train with me for a time, learning how to harness the strength within you. But after that, you will be left to fend for yourselves, as is our way. Only through survival can you grow into the true power that lies within you."
Talon nodded, trying to absorb her words. It wasn't the comforting thought he had hoped for, but it made sense. Dragons were powerful, primal creatures. They didn't coddle their young—they pushed them to become stronger, to earn their place in the world.
"You and Lyra will learn together," the Mother added, her gaze softening slightly as she looked at them. "But be warned, the world is not kind. There are dangers, and you must be prepared for them. Only by unlocking your true potential will you survive the trials ahead."
Talon's instincts surged within him. He was ready. Or, at least, he wanted to be. The thought of power, of flight, of ruling the skies—it all called to him. He could feel the elemental energy swirling within, waiting to be unleashed.
"Now," the Mother said, her voice taking on a commanding tone. "We begin your first lesson."
With a sweep of her massive wings, she led Talon and Lyra deeper into the cavern. The lessons would not be easy, but Talon could feel the excitement building within him. This was his new life, his new destiny. And he would face it head-on, no matter what challenges lay in wait.
End of Chapter 2.