The Dragon King’s Bride

Chapter 2 -The Dragon Prince's Burden

"Kael, your magic is not failing. "You are."

Master Theron's piercing voice resonated across the training ring, reflecting off the water-slick stone walls. Kael Drakos tightened his fingers and clenched his jaw as the elemental flow surrounding him intensified, opposing his might.

Kael ordered the water to spiral upward, but it moved unevenly, resulting in splashing droplets. "If you're here to lecture me, save your breath," he exclaimed, plainly agitated. "It's not my heart that's divided—it's the entire kingdom."

Theron arrived, his burning aura lighting up the black stadium lights. "Excuses will not prevent the prophecy from catching up with you. They will neither repair the sanctuary nor protect this realm from annihilation."

Kael swung around, causing the water to crash back into the small pool and make a loud splash. "And what would you want me to do, Theron?" Assume the prophecy indicates a great future. That my life isn't simply a pawn in someone else's game?

The air in the training ring was thick with tension, with the slight scent of moist stone mixed with the heat of Theron's scary face. Kael walked down the edge of the middle pool, the water softly spinning in response to his anxiety.

"Destiny is what you make it, Kael," Theron said gently but firmly. "The prophecy is meant as a challenge, not a death sentence. You are rushing away right now."

Kael chuckled loudly and ran his fingers through his wet hair. "Running? I am here, am I not? I'm training, fighting, and doing everything I can to keep this KingdomKingdom from collapsing beneath the weight of a weakened sanctum and rebel forces. However, with each step I take, I feel closer to tragedy rather than further away from it.

Theron folded his arms, and his amber eyes narrowed. "You are marching because you refuse to lead. The dismantling of the sanctuary is more than just a sombre wake-up call. And an arranged marriage — "

Kael's glare silenced him. "Don't. Do not bring it up.

Theron persevered, undeterred. "You have to face reality." Elara Ravenscroft, also known as the Moon Weaver, is more than just her betrothed. She holds the key to rebuilding the sanctuary and carrying out the prophecy. Whether you like it or not, your paths will intersect.

Kael paused, pacing, his hands clenched as water droplets whirled about him, imprisoned by the flood of his rage. "My path was chosen for me before I was even born," he explained calmly and firmly. The prophecy, the sanctum, and this marriage are all a trap—a chain disguised as fate."

Theron's face softened, but his words remained frigid. Break the chain, Kael. Use your strength and will to make the prophecy work for you, not the other way around.

Kael inhaled rapidly, causing water droplets to fall back into the pool. His mentor's words gnawed at him, worsened by the weight of the prophecy: The Weaver of Light and the Bearer of Flame will join forces, their link holding the key to balance or destruction.

Was the prophecy indeed a chain or simply an option? And, if he had the choice, how much would he be ready to give up to make it his own?

His voice became softer as he turned to face Theron. "Have you ever considered that the prophecy may have been incorrect? If what we're doing—training, battle, and this odd marriage—isn't going to benefit us in the long run?

Theron's flames receded slightly as he looked at Kael, puzzled. "Prophecies aren't perfect. They are forward-thinking ideas developed by those who believe in them. But, Kael, the future is not written in stone. The performers carved it themselves.

Kael focused on the distant mountains seen through the arena's open arches. The Shadowed Mountains stood as quiet sentinels, their craggy tops a reminder of the horrors that awaited beyond Wolf's Crest. Because of the sanctum's destruction, rogue factions had already begun to test the Kingdom's fragile borders. And somewhere beyond those mountains stood Elara Ravenscroft, the Moon Weaver he was meant to marry. The woman's magic and choices were inextricably intertwined with his own.

"Act," Kael demanded passionately. "What good is action when everything feels inevitable?"

Theron moved forward, putting a firm hand on Kael's shoulders. "Because inevitability occurs only after you accept it. You're not just the Flame Bearer but also the Dragon Prince. Start acting like it.

Before Kael could answer, a sharp chill swept through the stadium, extinguishing Theron's fires. As the temperature plummeted, ice formed at the pool's edge and rose up the stone walls.

Theron's hand dropped as his fiery aura grew stronger and his look sharper. "Do you feel that?"

Kael nodded, his awareness increasing as the water magic touched his fingertips. The air seemed heavy and oppressive, causing shivers down his spine. "It's the same as before," he replied calmly. "During the attack."

The flickering torchlight dimmed, and the shadows on the opposite side of the arena began to move strangely. They twisted and writhed, eventually forming a black humanoid shape. Its molten gold eyes glowed brilliantly against the darkness.

The harbinger shouted, "Kael Drakos," its voice echoing off the arena's stones. "Bearer of Flame." "Your time is running out."

Kael moved forward, his force erupting in a protective shield of swirling water. "What do you want?" he inquired, his voice strong despite the tremor running up his spine.

The harbinger tilted its head, casting darker shadows around itself. "It isn't what I want, Dragon Prince." This is what the KingdomKingdom requires. The sanctum has collapsed, and the balance has been disturbed. Only your aid with the Moon Weaver can bring back what has been lost."

Theron neared Kael, his flames burning brighter. "The collapse of the sanctuary poses a challenge that we can all conquer. Your presence here has no purpose other than to instil horror.

The harbinger's gaze shifted to Theron, its golden eyes narrowing. "Fear is not my weapon. The truth is that restoring equilibrium requires sacrifice. Blood must be spilled.

Kael's jaw tightened, and his strength changed as he took another step forward. "Enough with your riddles. If you're concerned about the balance, please help us to fix it."

The harbinger's shape changed as the darkness darkened. "Fixing the balance is not my goal. I want to ensure that the prophecy is fulfilled.

With those last words, the harbinger faded into the darkness, leaving Kael and Theron alone in the odd silence of the arena.

The frost on the walls began to melt, but the air remained dense and tense. Kael groaned softly, his strength diminishing as he turned to face Theron. "It's not just about the sanctum," he stated gently. "It never was. The prophecy mentions a decision: "Sacrifice or survive."

Before Theron could react, a distant roar echoed over the arena. Flames erupted outside the gates, and the sound of steel cracking filled the air.

Kael's instincts kicked in as he turned to face the disturbance, allowing his ability to materialize. "We're under attack."

Theron nodded as his flames burned brightly. "Then let's remind them why this kingdom still stands."

As Kael ran toward the gates, the harbinger's final words echoed in his mind. Blood must be spilled. A sacrifice must be made.