The banquet is held outside, beneath the glittering expanse of stars. The cool night air wraps around me, bringing a sharp contrast to the warmth of the festivities. The city sprawls in the distance, half-constructed, its incomplete buildings rising like skeletal fingers reaching toward the heavens. It's a strange feeling, seeing the place in such disarray, but I suppose it's fitting—things are always a little broken before they are whole.
I glance over at Kell, sitting at the head of the long table, looking ever so regal. He's giving his speech now, thanking Zandu for the prosperous time we've had. He speaks with a confidence that only comes from being a ruler who's conquered more than just land.
"Thanks to Zandu, we have been forging forward," he says, his voice loud and clear over the banquet hall. "And I extend an open challenge—anyone may challenge anyone."
His words ripple through the crowd like a wave, causing murmurs to spread among the guests.
I feel A's eyes on me. He doesn't speak much, but I know he's always listening, always observing. He's the son of Loret, though I've always thought of him as more than just that. He's… different. Still, he's here because of his bloodline, and there's something about that that gnaws at me.
He looks up from his plate, his brow furrowing.
"Loret, What does Kell mean by 'challenge'?" he asks, his voice soft but laced with curiosity.
I hesitate for a moment, glancing at Kell, still holding court at the table. "It means that anyone can take a shot at anyone. Whether it's words, power, or combat—if someone wants to challenge another, they can."
A's gaze drifts back toward Kell, studying him.
"Does it mean you too, Loret?"
I look at him, trying to read his thoughts in the way his eyes shift.
"It could," I answer quietly, "but Kell is just another ruler. He's no different from the rest of us, except for the crown he wears."
A nods slowly, as if that makes sense to him, but his gaze remains distant. He doesn't ask any more questions, and I let the silence settle between us.
The night is alive with the sounds of celebration, but for me, it feels distant. The city outside the banquet grounds may be incomplete, but so too are the bonds between me and my son.
WHOOSH
I looked to the sky once more.
A dragon. A young dragon.
Its massive wings slicing through the night sky, casting long shadows over the banquet. The atmosphere, once filled with laughter and cheer, now falls into chaos. People scramble in every direction, panicking. I can hear Kell's voice booming above the madness, shouting for everyone to flee. His commands cut through the air, but his focus remains on the beast circling above us.
I don't have the luxury of hesitation. "Kell!" I call out, my voice hard and firm. "Take A and run!"
Kell doesn't flinch. His eyes meet mine, cold but resolute. "I won't leave you." His sword gleams in the dim light as he steps forward, standing beside me.
He's stubborn. It's one of the reasons I respect him, but this time, it could cost him his life.
The dragon shrieks, its wings flapping powerfully. The air grows heavy, and I feel the pressure of its presence bearing down on us. Without another word, we brace ourselves. The dragon swoops low, unleashing a torrent of wind bullets—sharp, destructive blasts of wind that cut through the air like knives. The first few strike my shield with such force that it rattles my teeth, but I manage to stay on my feet.
Kell fights valiantly by my side, his movements quick, his blade striking with precision. We work as one, a unit, cutting through the storm of wind. But the dragon is relentless, its power unmatched. With a roar, it releases another volley of wind bullets, one of which catches Kell off-guard.
He's thrown backward, his body slamming hard into the ground. I don't have time to check on him. I can feel the dragon's presence again, just above me, its eyes glowing with fury. I'm alone now.
Focus. I tell myself. The dragon's eyes lock onto mine, and it descends, faster than before, its maw opening wide. I brace myself, the weight of the moment pressing down on me. This is it.
I charge forward, twisting my body just in time to avoid another deadly gust of wind. My sword meets the dragon's scales with a satisfying clang. I twist, pushing harder, deeper, my strength focused on that one vulnerable point—its heart. With a grunt, I drive the sword in, feeling the creature's massive form shudder beneath me.
The dragon screeches in agony, its wings faltering. For a moment, I think it might take me with it as it falls, but then the beast crashes to the ground with a thunderous thud, shaking the earth beneath me.
I collapse to one knee, my chest heaving from the effort.
Oh death where is your sting.
The air is still, heavy with the aftermath of the fight. The dragon lies dead, and people start to gather, but there's no celebration—just the quiet of loss. A stands nearby, his eyes scanning the fallen.
"Loret, some people died," A says softly, his gaze fixed on a body, its skin marked with scars from the wind.
I take a deep breath. " Death is part of life. It's a hard truth, but it's the truth. We fight, we lose, but we keep going for those who fell."
A looks at me, but he doesn't say anything. He's too young to understand fully, but I know he will one day.
Kell begins to stir, groaning as he wakes up. I walk over, helping him to his feet. He winces but grins.
"Looks like you did it, Loret," he says, his voice rough. "You're a Dragon Slayer now."
I give him a tired smile.
"I didn't ask for the title," I reply, looking at the dragon's dead body. "But I suppose I've earned it."
Kell chuckles, though he's clearly in pain. "No one's done it and lived before. You're the first."
"Dragon Slayer Loret."
I nod, the weight of it settling on me. The dragon is dead, but so are others. This victory is hard to feel proud of when there's so much loss.
And yet, I was proud, though it felt different. It was as if my brother would be proud of me. It may have been a young dragon, but a dragon is a dragon.