Kael couldn't sleep that night. The visions from the archives replayed in his mind like fragments of a song he couldn't shake. Every time he closed his eyes, the dragon's chained form loomed over him, its molten-gold scales glinting with despair. The voice that called his name reverberated through his chest, impossibly familiar.
He sat on his narrow cot in the small chamber he called home, staring at the blackened leather book resting on the desk across from him. The room was sparsely furnished, little more than a bed, a writing table, and shelves lined with reference scrolls. A single flickering candle cast long shadows across the walls.
Kael hesitated, his fingers twitching in his lap. He shouldn't have taken the book. The restricted archives were off-limits without permission, and Elder Lorys would flay him alive if he discovered the theft. But the book's call was undeniable. It wasn't just the prophecy etched within its pages—it was the way it seemed to resonate with something deep inside him, as if it had been waiting for him to find it.
Finally, unable to resist any longer, Kael rose and approached the desk. The book's surface gleamed faintly in the dim light, its dragon-eye emblem seeming to watch him. He opened it again, careful not to disturb the fragile parchment. The text shimmered faintly, written in an ancient language he barely recognized.
Kael's training as an archivist had given him some understanding of old tongues, but this script was different—more fluid, almost alive. He traced the lines with his finger, the words forming hesitant shapes in his mind.
The Eternal Flame burns only for the bondkeeper. When the wings of ash descend and fire meets shadow, the last shall rise.
"What does it mean?" Kael murmured aloud, his voice barely audible. The word "bondkeeper" lingered on his tongue like an unfamiliar taste. He'd read of the bondkeepers in scattered fragments, always mentioned in hushed tones. They were an ancient order, long extinct, who had once forged sacred connections with dragons. But the dragons had vanished over a century ago, and with them, the bondkeepers.
A faint sound broke the silence, pulling Kael from his thoughts. At first, he thought it was the wind, but it came again—a low, melodic hum, like the resonant tone of a crystal bowl being struck. It was coming from the book.
Kael froze, his breath catching. The hum deepened, and the dragon-eye emblem on the book's cover began to glow. A soft pulse of light spread across the surface, and Kael stumbled back, knocking his chair over.
Before he could react, a sharp flash blinded him. When the light faded, the book was no longer alone.
Resting atop its open pages was an object unlike anything Kael had ever seen—a smooth, iridescent orb the size of a melon. It glimmered faintly, its surface shifting between shades of deep crimson and gold, like the embers of a dying fire.
Kael's heart raced as he stepped closer. The object gave off a gentle warmth, and as he extended a trembling hand, he felt a strange pull—like a thread drawing him closer. The moment his fingers brushed its surface, his mind was flooded with images.
The skies of Eryndor were aflame. Dragons soared through the heavens, their roars shaking the earth below. Armies clashed in fiery chaos, their banners scorched and torn. At the center of it all was the mountain he'd seen in his visions—the one wreathed in eternal fire.
A voice pierced the maelstrom, ancient and commanding. The bonds are broken. They must be restored. You must awaken me, Kael.
The vision shifted. He stood in a vast chamber carved from black stone, its walls etched with glowing runes. The orb rested in the center of the room, atop a pedestal shaped like a dragon's claw. Surrounding it were shadowy figures cloaked in darkness, their forms writhing unnaturally. One of them stepped forward, its eyes burning like coals.
"The boy is unworthy," it hissed. "He will destroy us all."
The voice from before thundered in response. He is the last. He will choose the flame or the void.
Kael's knees buckled as the vision released him. He gasped for air, his hands gripping the edge of the desk for support. The orb sat before him, silent and unyielding, as if nothing had happened.
"What are you?" Kael whispered, his voice trembling.
The orb didn't answer, but its faint glow seemed almost expectant, as if waiting for something.
By morning, Kael was no closer to understanding what he had witnessed. He wrapped the orb in a cloth and tucked it into his satchel alongside the book, resolving to keep them hidden. Whatever secrets they held, he would need time to unravel them. And time was something he didn't have much of.
The library was bustling with activity when Kael arrived for his morning duties. Scholars and scribes flitted between shelves, their arms laden with scrolls and ledgers. Elder Lorys was barking orders from atop a balcony, his voice carrying over the din.
Kael kept his head down as he made his way to the central hall. His hands itched to examine the book and orb further, but the risk of being caught was too great. He would need to find a private moment later in the day.
As he passed a group of junior archivists, he overheard snippets of their conversation.
"...Another dragon sighting near the northern ranges," one whispered.
"Impossible," said another. "Dragons have been extinct for over a century."
Kael paused, his heart skipping a beat. "What did you hear?" he asked, trying to keep his voice casual.
The others turned to him, their expressions wary. "Just rumors," the first said. "Travelers claim to have seen something flying over the mountains. Probably just a storm."
"Or a wyvern," the second added. "They're common enough in the north."
Kael nodded, though his mind raced. If there was even a chance that dragons still existed...
"Kael!" Elder Lorys's voice boomed, making him flinch. The elder descended the stairs with the precision of a hawk swooping on prey. "Stop dawdling and attend to your duties. The archives won't organize themselves."
"Yes, Elder," Kael said, ducking his head. He hurried away, clutching his satchel tightly. The weight of the orb seemed to press against him, a constant reminder of the mysteries waiting to be uncovered.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Kael sorted manuscripts, repaired fraying scrolls, and carried endless stacks of tomes between wings. All the while, his thoughts remained fixed on the book and the orb. What were they? Why had they appeared to him? And what did the visions mean?
By the time the sun began to set, Kael's resolve had solidified. He couldn't face these questions alone. If dragons still existed—if the bondkeepers' legacy truly lingered in the shadows—he needed guidance. And there was only one person in Skathar who might have answers.
Kael found Elder Lorys in the library's observatory, a circular chamber with walls of glass that offered a panoramic view of the city below. The elder was poring over a chart of constellations, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Elder Lorys," Kael began hesitantly.
The elder didn't look up. "What is it, boy?"
"I... I need your advice." Kael hesitated, his fingers tightening around the strap of his satchel. "Have you ever heard of the bondkeepers?"
At that, Lorys froze. He straightened slowly, his piercing gaze locking onto Kael. "Why do you ask?"
Kael swallowed hard. "I found a text in the archives. It mentioned a prophecy... and the Eternal Flame."
Lorys's expression darkened, and for a moment, Kael thought the elder might strike him. Instead, Lorys stepped forward, his voice low and dangerous.
"Listen to me, boy. Whatever you think you've found, you must forget it. The bondkeepers are a relic of a forgotten age, and their secrets are better left buried."
"But—"
"Enough!" Lorys's voice thundered, silencing Kael's protest. "You are an archivist, not a hero. Your duty is to preserve knowledge, not meddle in things you don't understand. Do I make myself clear?"
Kael nodded mutely, though his resolve only hardened. Lorys might be afraid of the past, but Kael couldn't ignore the call of the orb—or the voice in his visions.
As he left the observatory, Kael glanced over his shoulder. Lorys was staring out at the horizon, his expression troubled. For the first time, Kael wondered what secrets the elder might be hiding—and whether they, too, were tied to the flames of the past.