The night sky was torn apart by the thunderous roar of a dragon. Its shadow loomed over the small village of Thornhaven, where the forest met the jagged cliffs of Mount Valtara. The villagers cowered in their homes, their prayers drowned by the beast's fury. Fires raged, casting eerie orange hues on the desperate faces of those who dared peek through cracked windows. 

Amid the chaos, seventeen-year-old Seris stood in the village square, clutching a rusted longsword. Her heart pounded, but her emerald eyes burned with defiance. She was no warrior, just a blacksmith's daughter, but tonight, that didn't matter. The dragon had taken everything from her—her home, her brother—and she refused to let it take more. 

The creature descended with a deafening crash, its obsidian scales gleaming in the firelight. Its eyes, molten gold, locked onto Seris, and it let out a guttural snarl. 

"Another fool seeking to challenge me?" the dragon's voice boomed, echoing in her mind. 

Seris swallowed hard, gripping her sword tightly. "You've destroyed enough. Leave, or I'll make you." 

The dragon tilted its massive head, amused. "You? A mere child? What can you possibly do?" 

Seris didn't answer. She lunged, her sword aimed at the creature's neck. The dragon's tail lashed out, faster than she could react, and struck her side. She was thrown across the square, her body slamming into the cobblestone wall of the tavern. Pain radiated through her ribs, but she forced herself to her feet. 

"You're brave," the dragon mocked, circling her like a predator. "But bravery alone cannot slay me." 

Gritting her teeth, Seris charged again. This time, she dodged the dragon's tail and drove her blade into its foreleg. The beast roared, the ground trembling beneath its rage. With a swipe of its claw, it sent her flying once more, but this time, she managed to roll and land on her feet. 

The villagers watched from their hiding places, their fear mingled with hope. No one had dared stand against the dragon before. 

"Why do you fight, girl?" the dragon growled, its voice dripping with disdain. "Your kind is weak, fleeting. You cannot win." 

Seris spat blood, her voice hoarse but unwavering. "Because someone has to. If no one stands, we lose everything." 

The dragon paused, its golden eyes narrowing. For a moment, the flames seemed to dim, the world holding its breath. Then, it lunged, jaws wide, aiming to end the fight in one swift strike. 

Seris dove to the side, barely avoiding the beast's teeth. As she rolled to her feet, she spotted something—a crack in the dragon's armor-like scales near its chest, glowing faintly. A weak spot. 

Her mind raced. She couldn't reach it with the sword alone. She needed height, speed. Her eyes darted to the burning remains of the bell tower at the square's edge. 

With a burst of adrenaline, Seris sprinted for the tower, the dragon's roar chasing her. It unleashed a torrent of fire, but she dove into the rubble, the flames missing her by inches. Climbing the charred beams, she ignored the searing pain in her hands, her focus locked on her plan. 

The dragon smashed into the tower, its claws ripping through the structure. As it reared back for another attack, Seris leaped from the top, her sword aimed for the glowing crack. 

Time seemed to slow as she plunged downward, her blade piercing the dragon's chest. The beast let out an ear-splitting scream, its wings thrashing wildly. It collapsed, the ground quaking beneath its massive form. 

Seris rolled off the dragon, gasping for air. She had done it—or so she thought. 

The dragon's golden eyes flickered open, and a low chuckle escaped its maw. "You have fire in you, girl. Perhaps… enough to be worthy." 

Before she could react, the dragon's claw reached out, touching her shoulder. A searing pain shot through her, and she screamed as a glowing mark appeared on her skin. 

"What did you—" 

"Silence," the dragon rumbled. "I've spared your life, and now, it belongs to me. Fight alongside me, or face what comes alone. The storm approaches, and even I cannot face it without aid." 

Seris stared at the dragon, her body trembling. She had set out to kill the beast but had instead been bound to it. As the mark pulsed with an otherworldly heat, she realized her battle had only just begun.