The Legend of The White Dragon

Episode 3

The silence in the house was almost suffocating, but Sarah’s mind raced, swirling with unanswered questions. The flicker of the dim lamp cast shadows on the walls, the same shadows that seemed to follow her thoughts into the deepest corners of her mind. She turned her attention back to Steve, her gaze piercing.

"Your powers," she began again, her voice laced with a quiet curiosity, "they’re not just... normal, are they?"

Steve shifted uncomfortably, his jaw tightening as if bracing for something inevitable. "No," he replied after a pause, "they’re not. And neither am I."

Sarah leaned forward slightly, a frown forming on her face. "What do you mean?"

Steve’s eyes darkened as his gaze turned towards the basement door, where Angelo was confined. "Dragons are the most powerful creatures on this earth," he said, his voice low and filled with weight. "Our powers come from an equal balance of light and darkness. But when the darkness awakens... when it takes control… there’s no turning back. That’s when we shift. That’s when we become… Vagrons."

The word hung in the air, a cold, ominous weight. Sarah swallowed, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Vagrons?" she repeated, almost whispering.

Steve nodded, his eyes distant, as if seeing something far beyond the present. "My father was one of them. He and his men, they were once dragons, powerful and full of light. But the darkness... it found its way into their hearts. When it took over, they became something else, something monstrous. Just like Michael, and all who came before him."

He paused, as if the memories were too painful to continue, but Sarah’s determination to understand pushed him forward.

"And your mother?" she asked gently, "What happened to her?"

"She was a servant in the palace," Steve replied, his voice thick with emotion. "When my father died in one of the wars, leaving her and me behind, she never spoke of it. But Leah... she knew. She protected me. When I was born, they saw something in me—something dark. They thought the darkness inside me was too strong, but they still did everything they could to help me control it, to make me the man I am today."

Sarah could feel the weight of Steve’s words, his painful past, and the hidden truth that only a few knew. "And Leah?" she asked, her mind piecing together the fragments of his life. "Liliana?"

Steve’s gaze met hers. "They knew everything. They saw the signs, just as my parents did. But even they couldn’t stop what was inevitable. The darkness inside me, the part of me that’s tied to the Vagrons… it’s always there. And I’m still fighting to keep it at bay."

The silence that followed was heavy. In the distance, the wind howled outside, but inside the house, there was only the cold presence of the truth that had been hidden for so long. Steve wasn’t just any man. He was something much more dangerous, something far older, something with a power that could tip the balance of the world.

The Next Morning:

The morning light filtered through the cracks in the curtains, casting soft beams across the room. Steve, his mind still clouded with the weight of the previous night’s conversation, moved with purpose. He knew there was no time to waste.

Turning to Sarah, he spoke in a quiet, commanding tone. "I need you to focus on Miara’s powers. Find a way to stabilize them." He didn’t need to explain; Sarah understood the gravity of the task. Miara’s abilities were volatile, and if they weren’t controlled, it could spiral out of hand.

As Sarah nodded and left to begin her research, Steve made his way to the basement, his footsteps echoing in the otherwise quiet house. Angelo was waiting, just as Steve had expected. The man, bound to the chair, looked up with weary eyes, his confusion and fear evident in his gaze.

Steve stood in front of him, a silent force of intimidation. "Do you want this the easy way, the hard way, or my way?" he asked, his voice smooth, almost casual.

Angelo’s eyes darted back and forth, a flicker of confusion and panic creeping into his expression. He opened his mouth, but no words came out, his mind struggling to process the situation.

Steve smirked, the darkness in his eyes sharpening. "My way it is," he said, stepping closer with deliberate calm.

He raised his hand and placed it gently over Angelo’s head, his fingers pressing down, sending an unsettling chill through the air. "I’m going to show you some of my abilities," Steve explained, his voice soft but chilling. "I’ll hit you with power so intense, it will set your veins on fire. The pain will shoot through you like lightning."

Before Angelo could respond, Steve began. A surge of energy coursed through his hand and into Angelo’s skull. The force was brutal, raw—electricity crackled through Angelo’s body, sending jolts of excruciating pain down his spine. Every nerve felt like it was being burned alive.

Steve watched with dark satisfaction as Angelo gasped for air, his body jerking in the chair, straining against the restraints.

"You’ll get used to it," Steve murmured, his tone cold as ice. He paused, allowing Angelo a few moments to breathe. The terror was building in the man’s eyes, but still, he refused to speak.

"Still not willing to talk?" Steve chuckled darkly. "Let’s try this again."

The second wave of power hit even harder, flooding Angelo’s body with an intensity that seemed to leave him breathless. His entire form trembled, the fire in his veins overwhelming him. But Steve didn’t care about his suffering. This was a game, and Steve was enjoying every second of it.

But something shifted in the air as he felt Angelo’s pulse weaken. The man’s breathing became shallow, his head drooping. Steve halted immediately, sensing the life slipping from Angelo’s body.

Steve leaned in close, his voice almost a whisper in Angelo’s ear. "I’m going to stop for now," he said, his words like a quiet promise. "But don’t get too comfortable. I’ll be back soon. I hope you’re not ready to talk yet, because I still have plenty of time to show you what I can do."

With that, Steve turned on his heel and left the basement, leaving Angelo to contemplate his fate. The silence that followed was thick, but in Steve’s mind, it was just the calm before the storm.