The dawn light crept over the village of Talmor, bathing the small cottages and muddy paths in a soft, golden glow. Marcus had barely slept after the vision he'd had, his mind buzzing with questions and a strange sense of anticipation. Clutching the dragon amulet tightly around his neck, he felt as though he was holding onto the last piece of a puzzle he didn't yet understand.
As he fed the chickens in his family's coop that morning, Marcus replayed the vision in his mind: the vast, scorched land, the creature's eyes filled with wisdom and sorrow, and that sense of connection that had felt so powerful and real. He'd tried to tell himself it was only a dream, but somehow, he knew it was more than that.
"Still daydreaming, I see," his father's voice interrupted, pulling Marcus back to the present.
Marcus glanced up, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry, I just… didn't sleep well."
His father raised an eyebrow, glancing briefly at the amulet around Marcus's neck. Though his father rarely spoke of Marcus's mother, Marcus could tell that the amulet held a deep meaning for him, too. There was an unspoken weight behind it that neither of them dared to address directly.
"Dreams are just dreams," his father muttered, though there was an unease in his voice. "Better to focus on what's right in front of you."
Marcus didn't reply, feeling a strange tug at his heart. He wondered if his father had ever believed in the stories his mother used to tell, if there had ever been a part of him that saw the world as something mysterious and wondrous. But that part, if it had ever existed, seemed long gone now.
After breakfast, Marcus made his way to the edge of the forest, unable to resist the pull of the trees that had once been his mother's favorite place. She used to say that the forest held secrets, that it was more alive than anyone realized. Standing there now, with the amulet warm against his chest, he felt as though he could almost sense the forest breathing.
As he walked along a familiar path, he felt the amulet grow warmer, its weight suddenly heavy, almost alive. Before he knew it, his feet had taken him to a spot he hadn't seen in years—a narrow opening between two ancient oak trees. The gap seemed to call to him, whispering promises of secrets hidden just beyond.
Driven by a force he couldn't quite understand, Marcus ducked under the low-hanging branches and made his way into the narrow path. The forest grew denser here, the trees taller, their leaves forming a thick canopy that filtered the sunlight into shards of green and gold. Each step he took felt as though he was moving deeper into another world, a world where the air hummed with magic and mystery.
After what felt like an eternity, Marcus came to a clearing. At its center lay a small, shallow pond, its water clear and still, reflecting the sky above. For a moment, Marcus thought he was alone—until he noticed a faint shimmer near the edge of the water.
Curious, he knelt down, peering closer. And there, nestled in a bed of moss and surrounded by wildflowers, lay an egg. But this was no ordinary egg—it was large, nearly the size of a loaf of bread, with a smooth, dark surface that seemed to catch and reflect the light. Fine veins of silver and blue twisted across its surface, giving it the appearance of stone polished to a mirror finish.
Marcus reached out, his hand hovering just above the egg. He felt a pulse—a faint, rhythmic beat that matched the pounding of his own heart. The amulet around his neck pulsed in time with the egg, as though they were linked by some invisible thread.
"Is this… is this real?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.
As if in response, the egg gave a tiny, almost imperceptible shudder. Marcus pulled his hand back, heart racing. He'd never seen anything like this before, and yet something deep within him recognized it, felt a connection to it that he couldn't explain.
Compelled by a force beyond understanding, Marcus gently placed his hands on the egg. The moment he made contact, a surge of warmth shot through him, filling him from his fingertips to his core. His vision blurred, and in the next instant, he was standing in a place that felt both strange and familiar—a vast, open sky, with clouds swirling around him and the sound of wings beating in the distance.
And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the vision ended. Marcus blinked, feeling the warmth of the egg seep through his hands, anchoring him in the present.
Before he could fully process what had happened, a tiny crack appeared along the surface of the egg, followed by another, and then another. Marcus held his breath, watching as the cracks spread, a soft light glowing from within. And then, with a final, tiny snap, the egg split open, and a small creature tumbled out, its scales glistening with a faint, otherworldly glow.
It was a dragon. Tiny and fragile, with scales that shimmered like a rainbow in the dappled sunlight, its wings were tucked close to its body, and its eyes—large, round, and filled with curiosity—peered up at him.
Marcus's heart pounded as he reached out, barely daring to breathe. The dragon let out a soft, almost purring sound, its eyes never leaving his. Slowly, he extended his hand, and to his amazement, the creature nudged its head against his palm, a warm, reassuring weight.
"Hello there," he murmured, unable to keep the awe from his voice. "What… what are you?"
The dragon blinked, as if understanding his question, and then closed its eyes, nestling into his hand with a contented sigh. Marcus felt a surge of warmth in his chest, the same warmth he had felt when he first held the amulet. It was as though the creature had bonded with him in some deep, unspoken way.
Just then, he heard a rustling from the edge of the clearing. Marcus froze, holding the dragon close to his chest as he scanned the trees. His heart pounded as he saw a figure emerging from the shadows, a tall man with silver hair and a long, dark cloak. The man's eyes were sharp, gleaming with a strange intensity as he looked between Marcus and the dragon in his arms.
"Do you know what you hold, boy?" the man asked, his voice low and even.
Marcus swallowed, feeling a mixture of fear and defiance. "A dragon," he replied, his voice steady despite the trembling in his hands.
The man gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable. "A dragon indeed. One that has chosen you, it seems."
Marcus glanced down at the tiny creature, which had fallen asleep in his arms, its breathing soft and even. "Chosen me?"
The man stepped closer, his gaze piercing. "Dragons do not bond easily. They are creatures of magic, ancient and wise beyond our understanding. For this one to have bonded with you… it means you have a destiny far greater than you realize."
Marcus felt a thrill of both excitement and dread. "Who… who are you?"
The man smiled faintly. "A friend, if you wish to call me that. My name is Eldric, and I am one of the last Dragon Keepers." He extended his hand. "If you wish to learn what it means to be chosen by a dragon, come with me."
Marcus hesitated, glancing between Eldric and the sleeping dragon in his arms. The life he'd known in Talmor felt like a distant memory, and for the first time, he felt the call of a new path opening before him—a path he couldn't ignore.
Taking a deep breath, Marcus met Eldric's gaze and nodded. "I'll go."
And with that, his journey truly began.
p.s: getting spicy 🔥