Chapter 2 – The Hunter Without Magic
981 Words
The village remained silent long after the dragon's words faded.
"I have searched for you... for three thousand years."
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Nora stood before the enormous dragon, her heart pounding so hard she thought everyone could hear it. The dragon's golden eyes never left her face. They were ancient, calm, and strangely familiar.
The High Elder was the first to recover.
"Great Dragon," he said, dropping to one knee. "The sacrifice is yours."
The dragon ignored him.
Its gaze stayed fixed on Nora.
"What is your name?" the deep voice asked.
"Nora," she replied, forcing herself to stand straight despite the fear twisting inside her.
"Nora Ashwood."
The dragon nodded once.
"I know."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
"How does it know her?"
"Has she met the dragons before?"
"Impossible."
Nora had the same question. She had never seen a dragon in her life.
The dragon slowly lowered one massive wing.
"Come."
It was not a command filled with anger.
It sounded almost like an invitation.
Finn rushed forward and grabbed Nora's hand.
"No."
His voice shook.
"Don't go."
Nora looked down at her younger brother.
His fingers were cold.
His eyes were red from crying.
She smiled, though her own eyes burned with tears.
"I have to."
"They'll kill you."
"I don't know."
She brushed his messy brown hair away from his forehead.
"But if I don't go... another child will."
Finn lowered his head.
"I don't want to lose you too."
Those words pierced deeper than any blade.
Their father had died hunting a magical beast six years earlier.
Their mother had fallen ill only months afterward.
Since then, Nora had become everything.
Sister.
Mother.
Father.
Protector.
She worked from sunrise until long after sunset just to keep food on their table.
While other girls learned embroidery or magic, Nora learned to hunt rabbits, climb cliffs, and survive winters with almost nothing.
Because she had no magic.
In a kingdom where every child awakened an elemental gift at sixteen, Nora had awakened nothing.
The village never let her forget it.
She still remembered the Awakening Ceremony.
The crystal had glowed for every other teenager.
Fire.
Water.
Wind.
Earth.
Healing.
Even light.
When Nora touched it...
Nothing happened.
The silence that day had hurt more than any insult.
"A useless girl."
"No magic."
"A curse."
Those whispers had followed her ever since.
Only Finn had never looked at her differently.
To him, she was simply his big sister.
The dragon interrupted her thoughts.
"It is time."
Nora nodded.
She pulled the hunting knife from her belt and placed it in Finn's hands.
"This kept us alive."
Finn stared at the worn leather handle.
"I can't use it."
"You will."
"I don't want to."
"You'll learn."
His lips trembled.
She hugged him tightly.
"If I don't come back..."
"Don't."
His voice broke.
"Don't say that."
She closed her eyes for a moment.
"I love you, Finn."
"I love you too."
Slowly, she stepped away.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
The villagers watched in silence.
Some looked guilty.
Others looked relieved.
No one tried to stop her.
Outside the village gate, the dragon waited.
Its enormous body stretched across the valley like a living mountain.
When Nora reached it, the dragon lowered its neck.
"Climb."
She hesitated.
"I've never ridden a dragon."
"I know."
His voice remained calm.
"You will not fall."
Nora took a deep breath and gripped one of the great scales. It was smoother than she expected and surprisingly warm beneath her fingers.
With effort, she climbed onto the dragon's broad back.
The moment she settled into place, the dragon spread its wings.
The force of the movement nearly threw her off.
She grabbed one of the long black horns protruding from its neck.
"Hold tightly."
Before she could answer, the dragon leaped into the sky.
The ground disappeared beneath them.
Ashwood Village became smaller and smaller until it looked like a handful of tiny wooden houses surrounded by endless green forests.
Cold wind rushed against Nora's face.
She had never seen the world from above.
Snow-covered mountains stretched toward the horizon.
Rivers shimmered like silver ribbons.
Ancient forests covered valleys untouched by human hands.
For a brief moment...
She forgot she was supposed to die.
The dragon spoke without turning.
"You are not afraid of heights."
"I'm more afraid of what happens after we land."
A low rumble echoed through the dragon's chest.
It almost sounded like laughter.
"You speak honestly."
"My father said lies are heavy. Truth is easier to carry."
The dragon fell silent.
After several moments, he asked quietly,
"What was your father like?"
Nora blinked in surprise.
No dragon should care about such a question.
"He was kind," she answered. "He wasn't the strongest hunter, but he never abandoned anyone."
"And your mother?"
"I barely remember her smile anymore."
The dragon's wings beat steadily through the clouds.
"I'm sorry."
Nora frowned.
"You... are apologizing?"
"I know what it is like to lose everyone."
His voice carried a loneliness so deep it made her chest tighten.
For the first time since meeting him, Nora wondered if the creature carrying her through the sky was not simply a monster, but someone burdened by centuries of grief.
Far ahead, the clouds parted.
A mountain unlike any she had ever imagined rose into the heavens.
Its peak pierced the clouds, crowned by gleaming towers that seemed carved from crystal and silver. Massive dragons circled above the palace, their roars echoing across the sky.
Nora's breath caught.
"Dragon Peak..."
The dragon's voice became solemn.
"No."
He looked toward the magnificent palace.
"Welcome to the Sky Palace... the home of the Dragon Emperor."
At that moment, hundreds of dragons turned their glowing eyes toward the newcomer on the emperor's back.
And somewhere within the palace, someone whispered in alarm,
"The human has arrived."
- Writer
