Chapter 9: A kingdom Of Fire
1376 Words
The dragon was still coming at me, and all I could do was stay rooted in that spot, unable to move. Maria was still stunned and unable to move. “Get hold of it!” Valdanus yelled to the guards.
Before the dragon could reach us, the guards had already swung into action. A rope was immediately thrown at the dragon, hooking onto one of its spikes, and several soldiers pulled it back under control. “You all should put this dragon under control, now!” Valdanus yelled.
“Are you alright?” Valdanus asked, turning to me and holding my shoulders with both hands. I was still frozen, but I forced myself back to reality. “I’m fine.”
“Maria, are you okay?” Valdanus asked. Maria just nodded.
I couldn’t stop thinking about what had just happened on the training ground. Even after we left, the image of the dragon coming towards me stayed in my head. It didn’t feel normal. Why did it suddenly do that?
All I wanted was freedom, but now dragons, which I never knew existed until yesterday, were on my neck. I walked beside Valdanus and Estevan in silence, trying to calm my thoughts. Maria was still walking beside me. I glanced at her, and she seemed to be lost in her own thoughts.
We entered a long hallway, quieter than the others. The walls were covered in carvings, just like before. But this time, I paid more attention. Every single one showed dragons with humans beside them, not fighting them, but standing with them.
I slowed down a little. “Those are riders, right?”
Valdanus glanced at the wall. “Yes.”
Estevan smiled slightly. “In Scorish, dragons are not just creatures. They are part of who we are,”
“You mean… everyone has one?” I asked.
Estevan shook his head. “No, not everyone.” Valdanus continued walking as he spoke. “Only a few are chosen.”
“Chosen?” I repeated.
“Dragons do not accept just anyone,” he said. “They choose the riders, not the other way around.”
I stayed quiet after that. Chosen, huh? The word lingered in my mind. I didn’t know why, but it made me feel even more out of place than before.
We kept walking until we reached an open space that looked like a smaller court. A few guards were there, along with some people dressed differently from the others. They wore lighter clothes and seemed more relaxed.
“This is where most of the training begins,” Estevan said. “Not just for soldiers, but for riders too.” I looked around slowly.
“So… someone can just walk in and become a rider?”
“No,” Valdanus said quietly. “They can train, but bonding with a dragon is quite different.”
I turned to him. “What happens if someone tries…and the dragon refuses?” He looked at me for a moment before answering. “They don’t try again.”
Something about the way he said it made me uneasy. Maria shifted slightly. “So it’s dangerous?”
“Yes,” he replied simply. I looked away, my heart pounding again. This place wasn’t just different. It was built on something I didn’t understand at all. Everything here had rules, power, and something deeper behind it. And I definitely didn’t belong in any of it.
At this rate, I might go mad.
We stayed there for a while as Valdanus explained more. He talked about how dragons were raised, how they were respected, and how they were never treated like tools. The bond between a dragon and a rider was seen as something sacred.
I listened, but he still didn’t explain how dragons came to exist. It all sounded important and powerful. Yet I didn’t feel like it had anything to do with me.
After some time, Valdanus was called away by one of the guards. He gave a short nod before leaving, his expression serious.
Estevan stayed behind with us. “Well,” he said lightly, “that was a lot to take in this morning.” Maria let out a small breath. “I’m still trying to understand everything,” she said softly.
“You’ll get used to it,” he replied.
He looked at me. “You’re quiet.”
“I’m just thinking,” I said. “About the dragons?” he asked. I nodded.
He studied me for a second. “You don’t have to figure everything out today.”
“I know,” I said, “but it feels like I should.”
He shrugged. “Come, I’ll show you around a bit more.”He said looking at Maria.
Maria looked surprised. “Me?”
“Yes,” he said with a small smile. “You might like the kitchen area more than all of this dragon talk.”
She hesitated, then nodded. “You must have read my mind,” she said, smiling. I watched as they started walking. Maria turned back to me. “You’ll be okay?”
I gave a small nod. “Yeah, have fun.” She smiled and followed Estevan. And just like that, I was alone.
Great.
I stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do next. The space suddenly felt bigger without them. The noise of the training grounds continued in the distance, but it didn’t reach me the same way.
I started walking without thinking. My steps were slow as I moved through the palace. I passed servants, guards, and a few nobles. No one talked to me but they looked, always looked. And of course, there were whispers.
“She’s still here.”
“The prince lets her stay.”
I kept walking, ignoring them. I was already missing home, what? No! I said out loud, hitting myself lightly on the head. I ran away because I was tired of being caged. But the truth was… I didn’t belong here either.
I stopped when I reached another open space. It was quieter, with fewer people around. It looked like a resting place. There was a small fountain at the center. I walked over and sat down. For the first time since arriving, everything felt still. I let out a slow breath.
What am I doing here?
I wasn’t a warrior. I wasn’t a rider. I didn’t understand their ways, their rules, or their world. I was just a girl who ran away and somehow ended up here.
Maybe this place wasn’t meant for me. Maybe I was just passing through….
A soft sound broke my thoughts. I looked up slightly. At first, I didn’t see anything. Then I felt it. That same strange feeling from before. My chest tightened. Slowly, I turned my head. At the far end of the open space, something was moving. My breath caught.
A shadow passed across the ground, large and slow. I stood up immediately. My heart started beating faster.
“No,” I whispered.
I already knew before I saw it clearly. The dragon. It stepped into view slowly, its large body moving with quiet strength. Its eyes were already on me, just like before, still watching and waiting. I took a step back.
It didn’t stop. It moved closer. Each step was slow, controlled, and steady. No guards rushed in. No one shouted. It was like no one else noticed.
My chest tightened. “Why?” I whispered.
The dragon stopped a few steps away. Close. Very close. I could see its claws clearly, the way they reflected light. Its eyes locked onto mine without moving. I couldn’t move.
I didn’t know if I wanted to. Slowly, it lowered its head. My heart nearly stopped. Its face was now level with mine. I could feel its breath, warm and steady.
My hands lifted slowly without thinking. What was I doing? This was dangerous and wrong, but something inside me didn’t feel afraid. Not completely.
My fingers moved closer. The dragon didn’t pull away. It didn’t react. It just watched me, like it was waiting. My hand hovered inches away from its face. I swallowed hard.
Then, very slowly… I reached out.
- Writer
