Kaida sat in the corner of her damp, stone cell, her knees pulled tightly to her chest. The dungeon walls were oppressive, cold, and unyielding, their surface rough against her back. Above her, the distant hum of the top city's life echoed faintly through the narrow ventilation shafts, a constant reminder of how far she had fallen. The silence here was deafening, punctuated only by the faint drip of water from the ceiling and the occasional shuffle of guards' boots outside her cell. It felt as though the world had forgotten her, swallowed her whole, leaving her with nothing but her thoughts and the cold metal shackles that bound her wrists and ankles.
Her fingers idly traced the contours of the iron cuffs, testing their unyielding strength for the hundredth time. They were heavy, rusted, and bruised her skin, but they served their purpose well. Kaida had felt the guards' fear as they placed them on her, their hands trembling beneath thick gloves as if touching her bare skin might ignite something they couldn't control. They didn't understand her. They didn't understand the tattoo, the power they thought she possessed. And yet, that ignorance terrified them more than anything.
She shifted slightly, wincing as the chains around her ankles clinked together. The sound echoed in the cell, loud in the oppressive silence. Kaida closed her eyes and let her head fall back against the wall, her breath shaky. She could feel the tattoo on her back, an ever-present weight she couldn't escape. It wasn't just a mark on her skin; it was alive, a presence within her that she had spent her entire life trying to ignore.
Her thoughts drifted to Elara. The betrayal still cut deeper than any blade ever could. Elara had promised to stand by her, to protect her, to understand her. And yet, the moment she saw the tattoo, everything changed. Kaida had watched the trust in Elara's eyes dissolve into something colder, something harder. It wasn't fear—not entirely. It was something worse: ambition. Kaida should have seen it coming. The top-siders were all the same, even Elara. They couldn't resist the allure of power, couldn't resist the idea of something they could control, manipulate, use.
Kaida clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as anger surged through her. She had trusted Elara, and now she was here, locked away like a caged animal. The guards hadn't said much when they brought her to the dungeon, but their actions spoke louder than words. They were afraid of her, but they didn't know why. They didn't know what she could do, and for now, that ignorance was her only advantage.
The tattoo burned faintly, a low hum of energy that thrummed beneath her skin. It had been quiet for years, a dormant presence she had grown accustomed to, but now it felt restless. Kaida tried to push the sensation away, tried to focus on the cool stone beneath her and the rhythmic drip of water in the corner. But the tattoo wouldn't let her. It was as if it knew something she didn't, as if it was waiting for her to act, to do something.
The sound of approaching footsteps pulled Kaida from her thoughts. She sat up straighter, her chains rattling as she moved. The door to her cell creaked open, and a sliver of torchlight spilled into the room. Two guards entered, their faces obscured by helmets, their hands gripping spears tightly. Behind them, a third figure stepped into view.
The woman was tall and imposing, her dark robes flowing behind her like a shadow. Her face was sharp, with high cheekbones and piercing gray eyes that seemed to see straight through Kaida. She carried herself with an air of authority, her every movement deliberate and controlled. Kaida didn't need to ask who she was; the aura of power around her was unmistakable.
"So," the woman said, her voice smooth and cold, "this is the girl with the dragon tattoo."
Kaida didn't respond. She kept her gaze fixed on the woman, her expression blank. She had learned long ago that silence was often the best defense.
The woman stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she studied Kaida. "You've caused quite a stir, you know. The council is very interested in you. They think you might be the answer to our... problems."
Kaida's stomach churned, but she didn't let it show. She had no idea what the woman was talking about, but she didn't like the sound of it.
"I don't have any answers for you," Kaida said finally, her voice steady despite the knot of fear in her chest.
The woman's lips curved into a faint smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Oh, I think you do," she said. "You just don't know it yet."
She reached out suddenly, her fingers brushing against Kaida's cheek. Kaida flinched, her instincts screaming at her to pull away, but the chains held her in place.
"There's something special about you," the woman murmured, her gaze flicking to Kaida's back. "Something... ancient."
Kaida felt a surge of heat beneath her skin, the tattoo reacting to the woman's touch. She clenched her jaw, forcing herself to stay still, to hide the panic that was threatening to consume her.
The woman stepped back, her smile widening. "You're going to help us, whether you want to or not," she said.
Kaida's heart pounded in her chest as the woman turned and walked out of the cell, her robes swirling around her. The guards followed, slamming the door shut behind them.
Kaida let out a shaky breath, her mind racing. The woman's words echoed in her head, filling her with a sense of dread she couldn't shake. What did they want from her? What did they think she could do?
The tattoo burned again, more intensely this time. Kaida gritted her teeth, pressing her hands against the cold stone floor to ground herself. She didn't know what was happening, but she could feel the power within her stirring, waking up after years of dormancy.
A low voice echoed in her mind, deep and resonant, like the rumble of distant thunder.
"You are not alone, Kaida."
Kaida froze, her breath catching in her throat. The voice was unfamiliar, but it felt... ancient. It felt like it had been with her all along, waiting for this moment.
"Who are you?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"I am the God of Dragons," the voice replied. "And you are my chosen vessel."
Kaida's blood ran cold. The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. She had always known the tattoo was more than just a mark, but this... this was something else entirely.
"What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"I want what you want," the God said. "Freedom."
Kaida closed her eyes, her mind reeling. She didn't know what to believe, didn't know if she could trust this voice. But one thing was clear: she couldn't stay in this dungeon.
The chains around her wrists and ankles suddenly felt lighter, the weight less oppressive. Kaida opened her eyes, a spark of determination igniting in her chest. She didn't know how she was going to escape, but she knew she had to try.
The voice spoke again, softer this time. "Your time will come, Kaida. Be patient."
Kaida nodded, her resolve strengthening. She didn't know what the future held, but she wasn't going to let them use her. She would fight, even if it meant unleashing the power she had spent her entire life trying to suppress.
She leaned back against the wall, her gaze fixed on the small window high above her. The stars were just visible through the iron bars, a reminder of the world beyond these walls. Kaida took a deep breath, her fingers brushing against the rough fabric of her cloak.
She wasn't alone anymore.
And she wasn't giving up.