Bound by fire

The Master's Return

The summer sun had begun to fade over Aveloria when the first warning arrived.

A messenger came riding through the castle gates just before sunset. His horse was exhausted, its sides rising and falling rapidly as he stumbled from the saddle.

"Princess Elara!"

She rushed down the steps.

"What happened?"

The messenger looked frightened.

"We saw a man in the northern forest."

Elara's heart sank.

"Who?"

The messenger swallowed.

"He called himself Kael."

For a moment, the entire courtyard became silent.

Elara felt the blood leave her face.

Kael had returned.

The man who had controlled Vaelor.

The man who had sent a dragon to destroy her home.

The man who had disappeared months ago.

She immediately turned toward the mountains.

"Where is Vaelor?"

The messenger shook his head.

"We don't know."

Elara did not wait.

She ran toward the stables.

Within minutes, she was riding toward the mountains.

She knew Kael would not return without a reason.

And she knew exactly what he wanted.

Vaelor.

Far beyond the castle, inside a ruined temple hidden between the mountains, Kael stood before an ancient stone altar.

Candles surrounded him.

Old books lay open across the floor.

For months, he had searched for a way to reclaim the dragon.

Now he had found it.

An ancient chain rested upon the altar.

It was made from dark metal and covered in symbols.

Kael reached toward it.

"The Chain of Dominion."

According to the ancient writings, the chain had been created centuries ago by sorcerers who wanted to control dragons.

Once a dragon was bound by it, no matter how powerful the creature became, it could not resist the command of its master.

Kael smiled.

"You forgot who you belonged to."

He picked up the chain.

"But I didn't."

A voice echoed behind him.

"You never owned him."

Kael turned.

Elara stood at the entrance.

She was alone.

Kael laughed.

"You came all this way for him."

"Where is Vaelor?"

"Safe."

"Where?"

Kael smiled.

"Do you really think I would tell you?"

Elara stepped forward.

"You won't control him again."

Kael's expression changed.

"You don't understand."

"I understand perfectly."

"You stole him from me."

"I didn't steal anything."

"You made him weak."

Elara shook her head.

"No. I taught him he could choose."

Kael's eyes hardened.

"Choice is an illusion."

He raised the chain.

"People like you don't understand creatures like him."

"Creatures like him?"

Kael laughed.

"Dragons are born to obey power. They are weapons. Nothing more."

Elara looked at the chain.

"Then why are you so afraid of his choice?"

Kael said nothing.

For a moment, anger flashed across his face.

Then he smiled.

"You'll understand soon enough."

That night, Vaelor was sleeping in his mountain cave.

He dreamed of flying.

Of Elara.

Of freedom.

Then he heard a voice.

"Vaelor."

His eyes opened.

The cave was empty.

He stood.

"Vaelor."

The voice came again.

Something tightened around his neck.

The dragon roared.

A dark chain appeared around him.

He tried to tear it away.

Nothing happened.

The ancient symbols began glowing.

Vaelor's eyes widened.

He knew this magic.

Kael.

The dragon roared again and spread his wings.

But his body suddenly stopped.

A command entered his mind.

Come to me.

Vaelor fought.

His claws dug into the stone.

His wings trembled.

But the magic was stronger.

He was being pulled away.

Elara was halfway back to the castle when she heard a roar.

She looked toward the sky.

Vaelor appeared above the mountains.

But something was wrong.

He wasn't flying freely.

Dark magic surrounded his body.

"Vaelor!"

The dragon looked down.

Their eyes met.

Elara could see fear in his eyes.

She turned her horse around.

"Vaelor!"

He suddenly disappeared into the darkness.

Elara followed.

She rode until she reached a clearing.

Vaelor stood there.

The dark chain was wrapped around his neck.

Kael stood beside him.

Elara dismounted.

"Let him go."

Kael smiled.

"You came."

"Release him."

"I can't."

"You can."

Kael raised the chain.

"He is mine."

Vaelor growled.

Elara stepped closer.

"No."

Kael looked at her.

"You think love can defeat magic?"

"No."

Elara looked at Vaelor.

"I think he can."

Vaelor's eyes met hers.

She stepped closer.

"Vaelor."

The dragon trembled.

"You don't belong to him."

Kael pulled the chain.

Vaelor roared in pain.

Elara's eyes filled with tears.

"Look at me."

Vaelor did.

"You are free."

The chain tightened.

Vaelor screamed.

Kael laughed.

"Tell him to obey."

Elara shook her head.

"I won't."

Kael raised his hand.

The chain glowed brighter.

Vaelor fell to his knees.

Elara ran toward him.

"Stop!"

Kael pulled the chain again.

The dragon's claws dug into the earth.

Elara touched his face.

"Fight."

Vaelor looked at her.

"Fight for yourself."

Something changed.

The dragon's eyes began glowing.

The magic around the chain flickered.

Kael's smile disappeared.

"No."

Vaelor roared.

The force of the sound shook the trees.

The chain cracked.

Kael stepped backward.

"Impossible."

Vaelor pulled again.

The chain shattered.

Pieces of dark metal fell onto the ground.

Silence followed.

Vaelor stood.

Free.

Kael stared at him.

"You cannot do this."

Vaelor moved toward him.

Kael reached for his sword.

Elara immediately stepped between them.

"Vaelor, no."

The dragon stopped.

Kael looked at her.

"Why are you protecting me?"

"Because I won't let you become a monster."

Vaelor stared at Kael.

His eyes were filled with rage.

But he listened to Elara.

He lowered his head.

Kael slowly backed away.

"This isn't over."

He disappeared into the forest.

Elara turned toward Vaelor.

She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I thought I lost you."

Vaelor gently lowered his head against her.

"I'm here."

She smiled through her tears.

"I know."

But neither of them realized that Kael had left something behind.

The broken chain.

One small piece remained intact.

And the magic inside it was still alive.

Days passed.

The kingdom prepared for the wedding.

Elara and Vaelor were finally going to be together openly.

The people decorated the castle with flowers.

Musicians arrived from neighboring villages.

Children filled the courtyard.

For the first time, Aveloria celebrated the dragon instead of fearing him.

Elara stood before the mirror on the morning of the wedding.

Her wedding dress was silver.

Her hair was decorated with small white flowers.

She touched the necklace Vaelor had given her.

It was a small piece of blue stone from the mountains.

She smiled.

"Tomorrow, everything will be different."

Outside, Vaelor waited.

The entire kingdom had gathered.

But high above the castle, hidden among the clouds, Kael watched.

His hand closed around the remaining piece of the chain.

"You may have broken the chain," he whispered.

"But you haven't broken me."

He looked down at Elara.

Then at Vaelor.

His eyes became cold.

"If I cannot control the dragon..."

He smiled.

"...I will make him destroy the thing he loves most."

And beneath the celebration, a darkness was already moving toward the castle.

The wedding had not even begun.

Yet the final battle had already started.