The drums of the taming ceremony thundered through the canyon, echoing off the rocky walls and mingling with the sharp smell of burning incense. Every heartbeat felt like it was matching the rhythm, growing louder as the moment approached. Kaelen gripped the hilt of his sword, fighting the tremor in his hands. He was a warrior, a chosen one, destined for greatness, or so he had been told. Tonight, he would meet the Flame Wyrm, a beast of legend feared by all. And tonight, he would tame it, binding its power to his own.
He forced himself to breathe evenly, gazing out at the assembled crowd. Men and women, young and old, were watching him, anticipation clear on their faces. His mother's face flashed in his mind, the way she used to sing to him about glory and legacy. She was long gone now, but he'd make her proud. He had to.
A sharp, ancient voice cut through the air. "Step forward, Kaelen."
Elder Sorin, the head of the taming guild, gestured toward the rocky outcrop where the ritual circle glowed with runes in shifting shades of orange and red. Kaelen steeled himself, taking a few steps toward the center of the circle as the runes began to burn brighter, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
Elder Sorin held up a fist, and the drums ceased. "Tonight, Kaelen son of Erek, we call forth Vyre, the Flame Wyrm, to be bound. Are you ready?"
Kaelen nodded, his voice rough. "I am ready."
"Then awaken the Flame."
As Sorin's hand hit the earth, the circle exploded into blinding fire. Kaelen staggered back as the air thickened, every breath searing his lungs. Flames spiraled upward, and a deep, reverberating growl filled the canyon. Slowly, the fire parted, and Kaelen's heart stopped.
There, looming above him, was Vyre.
Vyre was enormous, his scaled body rippling with muscles like molten stone. His eyes were pits of pure flame, piercing Kaelen with a predatory gaze that seemed to reach into his soul. Long claws dug into the ground, and each step the beast took made the earth tremble. Vyre's maw opened, revealing fangs sharp enough to slice through stone. The heat rolling off him was unbearable, and Kaelen felt his skin prickling, beads of sweat forming along his brow.
Kaelen's hand tightened around his sword. He knew the stories of Vyre's might, of the flames that could incinerate armies. But nothing had prepared him for this raw, visceral power. Still, he couldn't falter—not now, not with the entire guild watching.
He took a step forward, raising his voice to address the beast. "Vyre, I am Kaelen, and I have come to—"
A guttural roar cut him off, and Vyre lunged.
Kaelen barely had time to throw himself to the side as a wall of fire erupted where he'd been standing. The heat singed his arm, the pain shocking him into action. He rolled, clambering to his feet, his sword drawn. Vyre's eyes followed him, smoldering with fury and something deeper—resentment, defiance, maybe even hatred.
This isn't going as planned, Kaelen thought, gritting his teeth. He had expected a beast with some spirit, yes, but not one this wild, this untamed. He'd been trained to command, to dominate, but here, facing Vyre's towering form, he felt a sliver of doubt creep into his mind.
"You will obey me," Kaelen shouted, trying to mask his fear. He raised his sword, letting it catch the light of the flames. "I am your master now!"
Vyre let out a rumbling snarl, his gaze narrowing. He took a step closer, lowering his head until his flaming eyes were level with Kaelen's. There was intelligence there, a dangerous, calculating awareness. And in that instant, Kaelen realized that Vyre was not just a beast. He was something more—an ancient force that refused to bow to mere words.
"Do you think I am some mindless creature?" Vyre's voice was a crackle of flame, low and deadly, echoing in Kaelen's mind. The crowd gasped, murmuring in shock. Only the oldest and most powerful beasts were capable of speech.
Kaelen swallowed, his defiance wavering. "You... you will obey, or I'll—"
"Or you'll what?" Vyre's fiery gaze didn't waver. "Strike me down? Bind me by force? You seek to master me without even understanding what I am."
Kaelen felt his pulse quicken. This was unlike anything he had prepared for. His trainers had always spoken of beasts as creatures to be subdued, weapons to be wielded. But standing here, facing Vyre's unbroken will, he felt a pang of doubt.
Vyre's voice softened, a flicker of amusement in his fiery eyes. "So tell me, Kaelen, why do you seek to tame me?"
Kaelen gritted his teeth. The answer was simple, wasn't it? He wanted power, to fulfill his destiny, to make his family proud. He was meant to be the greatest tamer of his generation, the one who would wield the Flame Wyrm. And yet, with those blazing eyes staring into him, he found himself hesitating.
"For power," he answered, voice unsteady.
Vyre's eyes narrowed, disappointment flashing through them. "Power alone will not be enough to bind me. Perhaps one day, if you survive long enough, you'll understand that."
Before Kaelen could respond, Vyre reared back, a roar tearing from his throat. Flames erupted around them, forcing Kaelen to stumble backward, shielding his face. When he lowered his arm, Vyre was gone, leaving only a smoldering scorch mark where he had stood.
The silence was deafening. Kaelen turned, his face flushed, as he met the stunned stares of the crowd. Elder Sorin looked down at him, a mixture of disappointment and curiosity in his gaze.
"Remember this, Kaelen," Sorin said, his voice low. "A true bond cannot be forged through dominance alone. Until you learn that, you will never tame Vyre."
Kaelen clenched his fists, shame and frustration swirling within him. But beneath it all was something else, a strange, unfamiliar feeling—admiration. Vyre was unlike any creature he had ever encountered, and if he was honest with himself, he knew that he wanted to try again. To find a way to reach Vyre that went beyond orders and commands.
As he walked away from the ceremony, the flickering image of Vyre's flaming eyes lingered in his mind, haunting and defiant. And deep down, he realized that this journey would be unlike anything he had ever imagined.