Date: February 16, 2532
Location: Celestara Nexus, Outer Voidway
Kaelion Solara tore through the Voidway, his massive golden wings rippling with cosmic fire. Each beat left trails of shimmering mana, tearing apart the swirling tides of energy that coursed through the Void. His scales shone like molten gold, reflecting the ambient mana streams, and his piercing golden eyes exuded wisdom and an indomitable spirit. Vast and powerful, his wings were etched with intricate patterns reminiscent of ancient runes, telling tales of battles fought and victories won. When Kaelion spoke, his voice carried the weight of command and the authority of a being who had lived for millennia.
Behind him, his mate, Seraphina, soared in her sleek, silver-scaled form. Her luminous silver scales glistened with a soft, otherworldly glow that illuminated the darkness of the Voidway. Her violet eyes, fierce and compassionate, radiated warmth even amidst her worry. Her serpentine body moved with unparalleled grace, and her wings shimmered with a pearlescent sheen, casting iridescent hues as they caught the shifting light. Though she flew as a dragon now, her human guise was no less striking: her long, silvery hair flowed like moonlight, and her delicate features exuded a calming beauty. Seraphina's aura, even in human form, spoke of boundless power tempered with love.
Behind them, the predator's aura surged closer. It wasn't just a being; it was a force of nature, its oppressive energy shaking the Voidway to its core. Kaelion felt it in his very essence, a deep primal dread that told him the creature was hunting their son, hunting the system embedded within the boy. That ancient system, passed down from a forgotten era of their kind, was the last of its kind—a relic of unimaginable power.
"Kaelion!" Seraphina shouted, her voice tinged with desperation. "We can't outrun it forever. It's closing in!"
Kaelion growled low in his throat, golden eyes blazing with fury. "We're not giving up. It can chase us into the voids of eternity, but it will not take our son."
Seraphina's gaze flickered to the infant in her arms. Adrian's small body glowed faintly, his innate mana resonating with the dormant system embedded within him. Even as a baby, his potential was staggering, too bright to remain hidden. "We can't let it have him," she whispered. "But if we don't do something now, it will take all three of us."
Kaelion snarled, his human form shimmering into existence mid-flight. As a human, he stood tall and imposing, with flowing golden hair cascading like liquid sunlight down his shoulders. His sharp, chiseled features radiated both strength and grace, and his golden eyes, still blazing with draconic intensity, seemed to pierce through the soul. "There's an Echo ahead," he said, pointing to a swirling anomaly of energy in the distance. "We'll send him through."
"A random Echo?" Seraphina's voice cracked, her usually calm demeanor breaking. "He could end up anywhere. What if he doesn't survive?"
Kaelion gripped her shoulder firmly, his golden eyes meeting her violet ones. "He's a Solara. Our blood will protect him. And when he's ready, he'll find us."
The predator's aura surged again, sending a shockwave of mana rippling through the Voidway. Seraphina hesitated for only a moment before nodding, her resolve hardening. Together, they began to work, their hands moving in tandem as they cast layers of enchantments over their son. Golden and violet runes spiraled around Adrian, forming a protective cocoon of mana.
Kaelion's voice was low and steady as he wove the final spell. "This will suppress the system's advanced functions until he's 18. If he grows into his power too soon, they'll find him again. This is the only way."
Seraphina's hands trembled as she kissed Adrian's forehead, tears streaming down her face. "Adrian Solara," she whispered. "Our brightest flame. Forgive us."
The Echo loomed closer, a swirling mass of chaotic energy that pulsed with unstable mana. Kaelion placed his hands over the cocoon, his celestial fire igniting it. With a roar that shook the stars, he hurled his son into the Echo. The portal devoured the cocoon in an instant, its energy crackling as the child vanished into the unknown.
The predator's silhouette finally came into view. It was a monstrous figure, cloaked in shadow and radiating an ancient, malevolent power. Kaelion and Seraphina turned together, their human forms fading as they roared back into their draconic selves. Golden and silver flames erupted from their bodies, illuminating the Voidway as they charged toward their enemy.
"For Adrian," Seraphina said, her voice resolute.
"For our legacy," Kaelion replied.
The battle began, their flames clashing against the shadow's darkness, buying their son the time he needed to survive and one day claim his destiny.