THE BOND
1198 Words
The creatures moved fast.
Too fast.
Their bodies crawled out of the darkness between the trees like living shadows. Long twisted limbs dragged across the forest floor, and their glowing red eyes locked onto Kael.
He stumbled backward, his heart pounding.
“What are those things?!”
The beasts growled, their mouths opening to reveal rows of jagged black teeth.
Sylvara stepped forward, calm but alert.
“They are Shadow Beasts,” she said.
“They are created from the corruption of Vorthyx’s power.”
The creatures circled them slowly, their claws scraping against stone and roots.
Kael’s voice trembled.
“And you expect me to fight those?”
Sylvara looked at him with steady golden eyes.
“I expect you to choose.”
She extended her glowing hand once more.
Green energy flowed around her fingers like living vines.
“Kael Vale,” she said.
“The world is breaking. The Ancient Core has been shattered. If its fragments are not restored, storms will consume the oceans, mountains will collapse, and life itself will fade.”
Another creature leapt from the darkness, landing only a few steps away from them.
Kael backed away in terror.
“I’m not a hero!” he said. “I’m a blacksmith’s son!”
Sylvara’s voice softened.
“Heroes are rarely born, Kael.”
The beasts began moving closer.
“They are chosen.”
One of the creatures lunged forward suddenly.
Kael shouted and stumbled backward.
Sylvara raised her hand.
Vines exploded from the earth, wrapping around the creature and slamming it into the ground. The forest itself seemed to obey her command.
But there were too many of them.
At least a dozen now crawled toward the clearing.
Sylvara looked back at Kael.
“If you do not accept the bond,” she said calmly, “I will still protect you.”
Another beast smashed through the trees.
“But I may not survive the battle.”
Kael’s eyes widened.
“You’re a dragon! How could you lose?”
Sylvara’s expression darkened.
“Because the balance of the world is broken.”
The shadows around the creatures pulsed with dark energy.
“Vorthyx’s corruption grows stronger each day.”
One of the beasts roared and charged again.
Kael’s heart raced.
He looked at the monsters.
Then at Sylvara’s outstretched hand.
Everything felt impossible.
But something inside him told him she was telling the truth.
If he ran, the creatures would hunt him.
If he refused, the world might truly fall.
Kael swallowed hard.
“This bond… what happens if I accept?”
Sylvara answered honestly.
“You will share my power.”
She stepped closer.
“You will feel the life of the forest, the strength of the earth, and the energy of nature itself.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then tonight ends very badly.”
Another creature jumped toward them.
Sylvara struck the ground with her hand.
A massive tree root burst upward and hurled the beast away.
But the rest were charging now.
Kael took a deep breath.
“Alright,” he said.
“I’m already going to regret this.”
Sylvara smiled slightly.
“Take my hand.”
Kael grabbed it.
The moment their hands touched—
The world exploded with light.
Green energy burst outward like a storm of leaves and vines. The forest roared with power.
Kael felt something rush through his body.
Not pain.
Power.
Ancient and overwhelming.
He gasped as visions flooded his mind.
He saw towering forests older than civilization.
He saw dragons flying across ancient skies.
He saw the moment the Ancient Core shattered.
And deep within the visions…
He saw Vorthyx.
The Dragon of Shadow spreading darkness across the world.
The vision vanished.
Kael collapsed to one knee, breathing heavily.
Energy pulsed through his veins like lightning.
Sylvara helped him stand.
“The bond is complete,” she said.
Kael looked at his hands.
Green light flowed between his fingers.
“What… did you do to me?”
Sylvara smiled.
“I did not give you power.”
She gestured toward the forest.
“I helped you awaken it.”
A loud roar interrupted them.
The Shadow Beasts had recovered.
They rushed forward again.
Kael panicked.
“What do I do now?!”
Sylvara stepped back calmly.
“Trust the bond.”
The first creature leapt.
Kael instinctively raised his hand.
The ground beneath the beast suddenly exploded upward.
Roots wrapped around the monster and crushed it.
Kael stared in shock.
“I did that?!”
“Again,” Sylvara said.
Two more creatures charged.
Kael focused on the forest around him.
He could feel everything now.
Every tree.
Every root.
Every blade of grass.
He clenched his fist.
The earth erupted.
Massive vines shot from the ground, grabbing the beasts and slamming them against the trees.
Within seconds, the clearing was silent again.
The remaining creatures fled into the darkness.
Kael slowly lowered his hand.
His heart was still racing.
“Okay,” he said.
“That was… incredible.”
Sylvara laughed softly.
“You are a quick learner.”
Kael looked around the forest.
Everything felt alive.
Like he was connected to it.
“This is what you feel all the time?”
“Yes,” Sylvara said.
“The world speaks to those who listen.”
Kael suddenly remembered something.
“Wait… if I’m your champion…”
Sylvara nodded.
“You are the first.”
“But that means there are others?”
“Yes.”
She looked toward the horizon.
“Eight more dragons must find their champions.”
The wind suddenly rushed through the trees.
A powerful gust landed in the clearing.
A young woman with flowing silver hair appeared, her cloak fluttering like air itself.
Zephyra.
Dragon of Wind.
She looked at Kael with curiosity.
“So this is the human Sylvara chose.”
Kael blinked.
“Another dragon?”
Zephyra grinned.
“You catch on fast.”
She turned to Sylvara.
“The others are gathering.”
Sylvara’s expression became serious.
“Then the mission begins.”
Kael looked between them.
“Mission?”
Sylvara nodded.
“The fragments of the Ancient Core must be recovered.”
Zephyra pointed toward the distant mountains.
“The first fragment has been located.”
Kael groaned.
“Let me guess.”
Sylvara smiled.
“Yes.”
“You’re coming with us.”
Kael sighed.
“Three hours ago I was fixing horseshoes.”
Zephyra laughed.
“Welcome to saving the world.”
Far away, deep within a fortress made of living shadows, Vorthyx sat upon a throne of black stone.
A shadow creature crawled into the chamber and bowed.
“The first champion has awakened,” it hissed.
Vorthyx’s crimson eyes glowed brighter.
“So…”
He leaned forward slowly.
“The dragons have begun their little mission.”
He smiled darkly.
“Good.”
The shadows around him twisted into monstrous shapes.
“Let them gather the fragments.”
His voice dropped into a whisper.
“It will only make my victory… easier.”
And deep beneath the earth, something ancient stirred once again.
Watching.
Waiting.
For the war that was coming. 🐉
- Writer
