The dragon's roar still echoed in Darian's ears as chaos erupted in the village. The once peaceful streets were filled with panic as villagers screamed and ran for shelter. The storm above twisted and turned, and lightning illuminated the darkened sky like fire dancing through the clouds.
Darian's heart raced, but his feet were rooted to the ground. His eyes stayed fixed on the figure in the sky, the dragon, Sumner, circling ominously above. It was something out of a legend, something that shouldn't exist. Yet, there it was, real as the storm it commanded.
"Darian, move!" His mother yanked him by the arm, pulling him toward the house.
He stumbled, finally tearing his gaze away. They ran through the narrow streets, past the collapsing buildings and frightened neighbors, and into their small cottage. His mother slammed the door shut, locking it as if that would keep the storm—and the dragon—away.
Inside, it was eerily quiet. The only sounds were their ragged breathing and the faint rumbles from outside. His mother's face was pale, her hands trembling.
"It's true then," she whispered, staring blankly at the door. "The prophecy… Sumner has returned."
Darian swallowed hard. "What do we do? We can't just hide here. The village—everyone's in danger."
His mother grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to look at her. "Listen to me, Darian. There's something you need to know."
Before she could continue, the door burst open, and a gust of wind sent them both tumbling backward. In the doorway stood an old man, cloaked in dark robes, his eyes gleaming with knowledge and purpose.
"It's time," the man said, his voice deep and commanding. "The boy must come with me."
Darian scrambled to his feet, standing protectively in front of his mother. "Who are you?"
The old man stepped into the room, his presence somehow calming the chaos around them. "I am Oryn, the Keeper of the Prophecy. And you, Darian, are the one destined to stand with Sumner."
Darian's mind raced. This couldn't be real. He was just a boy from a small village—what did he have to do with an ancient dragon?
"I don't understand," Darian stammered. "Why me?"
Oryn's gaze softened. "You were chosen long ago, by forces older than you or I can comprehend. The bond between you and Sumner is not by chance. The dragon has awakened, and so too must you."
His mother's face was stricken with fear, but she nodded. "Go with him, Darian. It's the only way."
Darian hesitated, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. But deep down, he knew that nothing would ever be the same. The dragon had returned, and with it, a destiny he could no longer ignore.
He took a deep breath, nodding to Oryn. "I'll go."
Without another word, Oryn turned and stepped out into the storm, and Darian followed him into the night, leaving behind the only life he had ever known.
The dragon's roar echoed again, louder this time, as if calling him forward.