Chapter 4: The Awakening
Kaida's footsteps echoed through the narrow alley as she moved swiftly, her dark cloak sweeping against the cobblestones. She had always been careful, avoiding the eyes of the wealthy and the authority figures that patrolled the top city. But today, it felt different—there was a weight on her shoulders, a pressure that made it harder to breathe. It wasn't just the tattoo, though that too was a constant reminder of the curse that had become her power. It was something more.
As she reached the edge of the undercity, the chill in the air seemed to wrap around her, urging her to turn back. But Kaida wouldn't. Not now. Not when she was so close to the answers she'd been seeking for so long. Her mind raced with the memories of the betrayal—the look in Elara's eyes as she turned away. But it wasn't the loss of Elara that pained Kaida the most. It was the realization that her own strength, the very thing that had marked her for death in the eyes of the world, was more powerful than she had ever known.
"Kaida."
The voice broke through her thoughts, soft and steady. Kaida spun around, her hand instinctively reaching for the dagger at her side. But she stopped, recognizing the figure standing before her.
"Warren," she whispered, her breath catching in her throat. Warren was a warrior from the top city, the one who had been watching her since the day she first crossed paths with him. His eyes, dark and full of secrets, always seemed to follow her no matter where she went.
He smiled slightly, the corner of his mouth curling upward. "You're far from home," he said, his gaze scanning the shadows of the alley.
Kaida tightened her grip on the dagger's hilt but made no move to draw it. "What do you want, Warren? You don't belong here."
His eyes softened, and he stepped closer, closing the distance between them. "I came to make sure you're alright. After everything that happened…"
Kaida's expression hardened. "You think I need protection?"
"No," he said, shaking his head. "I think you need answers. And I think you're getting closer to finding them."
Kaida narrowed her eyes. "What do you know?"
Warren's gaze flickered briefly to the ground before returning to her. "There are things about your tattoo… things about your power that the top side doesn't understand. They've been watching you, waiting for you to make a move. But you're not like the others. You're not just a weapon. You're a key."
"A key to what?" Kaida's voice was cold, her patience wearing thin.
Warren's lips pressed together, and he hesitated before answering. "To the God of Dragons."
Kaida felt her heart stop. She took a step back, the cold air biting at her skin. "The God of Dragons? He's nothing but a myth."
"Is he?" Warren asked, his tone low and filled with something like sorrow. "You're the proof, Kaida. That tattoo on your back—it's not just a mark. It's a bond."
Kaida's mind raced. The God of Dragons. She had heard the stories—ancient tales of a time when dragons roamed the earth, their power unmatched. But they were just stories, weren't they? Fables meant to scare children, to teach them lessons about power, control, and the dangers of greed.
But then how did she explain the strange dreams, the whispers in the dead of night, the pulse of energy in her veins that seemed to grow stronger with each passing day? How did she explain the way the tattoo burned when she was angry, or when she was close to something important?
"Why are you telling me this?" Kaida demanded, trying to steady the shaking in her hands.
Warren's expression softened. "Because you need to understand what's at stake. The top city—they'll stop at nothing to control you, to control the power you hold. And if they can't control you, they'll destroy you."
Kaida's gaze dropped to the ground. The weight of his words pressed against her chest, suffocating her. "I'm just one person. What can I do against them?"
"You're more than you think," Warren said quietly. "You've always had the power inside you, Kaida. You just have to learn how to wield it."
She looked up at him, uncertainty clouding her eyes. "How? How do I unlock it?"
Warren reached out, his hand brushing against the back of her neck, sending a shock of heat through her skin. "You already know, Kaida. The question isn't how. The question is when."
As his words hung in the air, a low rumble sounded in the distance, like thunder, but Kaida knew it wasn't a storm. It was something else. Something older. Something waiting. Her heartbeat quickened, and she felt the power inside her stir.
The tattoo on her back began to pulse, hot and insistent. She winced, her body trembling from the force of it. "It's too much," she gasped, clutching her back.
Warren stepped back, his face filled with concern. "It's happening. The God of Dragons is awakening inside you."
"I can't control it," Kaida said, panic rising in her chest.
"You don't have to control it," Warren replied softly. "You have to let it guide you. You're not alone in this, Kaida. I'll help you."
Kaida shook her head, fighting the overwhelming flood of emotions that threatened to drown her. "I don't need anyone's help. I've been alone for too long."
Warren's expression softened, and he reached out to gently touch her arm. "You don't have to be alone anymore. Trust me."
Kaida met his gaze, and for a moment, she saw a flicker of something—something that made her hesitate. She wanted to believe him. Wanted to believe that there was someone she could rely on, someone who wouldn't betray her.
But she couldn't. Not after everything that had happened.
"I can't," she whispered, pulling away from him. "I have to do this on my own."
With that, she turned and fled into the shadows, her heart racing. Behind her, Warren's voice called out, but she couldn't bring herself to look back.
As Kaida disappeared into the darkness, the power inside her surged again, hotter and more urgent than ever before. She didn't know what would happen next. But she knew one thing for sure: she was no longer just a girl from the undercity. She was something more. And she was ready to face whatever came next.