Aizen, now seventeen, stood atop a windswept cliff, gazing out at the vast expanse of the dragon lands. Arin, the dragon who had saved him seven years ago, stood beside him, their bond stronger than ever. Aizen's hands rested on the hilt of his sword, a finely crafted blade imbued with dragon magic."I'm ready, Arin," Aizen said, his voice firm and resolute. It's time for me to embark on my journey to free the dragons."
Aizen and Arin traveled for hours, crossing vast expanses of rugged terrain and navigating treacherous mountain passes. As the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the landscape, they finally saw the outlines of a small village in the distance.
"Where are we?" Aizen asked, his eyes scanning the village below.
"We're at the border of the Neutral Zone," Arin replied, their voice low and serious. "This village is one of the last remaining settlements before the war-torn lands beyond."
As they descended into the village, Aizen noticed that the villagers were all huddled together, speaking in hushed tones. They eyed Aizen and Arin warily, their faces filled with a mix of fear and curiosity.
Aizen dismounted Arin and approached the villagers, his hands held out in a peaceful gesture. "We mean no harm," he said. "We're just travelers seeking rest and shelter for the night."
No
The villagers eyed him skeptically, but one of the elderly men stepped forward, his face lined with age and wisdom. "I am Thorne, the village elder," he said. "We don't often get strangers here, especially not with...dragons." He glanced at Arin, his eyes filled with a mix of awe and fear.
Thorne's eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. "I see," he said. "Well, you're welcome to stay for the night. But be warned, stranger, we've had...trouble lately. Dark creatures lurking in the shadows, attacking our villagers. We don't know what's causing it, but we're on edge."
"Thank you for the warning, Thorne," Aizen said. "We'll be careful. And maybe...we can help you figure out what's going on."
Thorne's expression turned thoughtful, and he nodded slowly. "Maybe you can, stranger. Maybe you can."
As the villagers began to disperse, Aizen couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. The village seemed to be hiding secrets, and he was determined to uncover those secrets