Years Ago – The Child Who Dreamed of Peace
The grand hall of Dragon Mountain was filled with tension.
Nobles from Dracarys sat across from the great dragon Ignilth, their expressions unreadable.
Despite his towering presence, Ignilth bowed his head slightly—a show of submission.
Ryle, barely more than a child, sat beside him.
Though he was adopted, Ignilth had always treated him as his son.
And as Ignilth's heir, Ryle had to attend every political meeting.
The discussions always ended the same way:
Dracarys demanded more dragon sacrifices.
Ignilth, despite his strength, was forced to comply.
For years, the mountain had paid tribute to Dracarys.
But now Ignilth tries to stop it
It was the only way to avoid an all-out war.
That day, after yet another tense negotiation, Ryle wandered the halls of the palace, deep in thought.
And that was when he met him.
A young boy, around Ryle's age, stood near a balcony, gazing at the distant mountains.
His clothes were fine, but his posture was relaxed, almost casual.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then—
"You look angry."
Ryle turned. "You don't?"
The boy shrugged. "Not angry. Just… tired."
Ryle walked to the railing beside him. "Tired of what?"
The boy hesitated, then said softly:
"Tired of this cycle. Dragons and humans killing each other. Doesn't it get boring?"
Ryle's eyes widened. "You think so too?"
The boy nodded. "I wish we could just… end it."
Ryle hesitated. "End it how?"
The boy smiled. "By proving we don't have to be enemies."
For a long time, Ryle said nothing.
Then, he smiled back. "That's a nice dream."
The boy laughed. "Yeah. But it's not just a dream."
Ryle turned to him. "You really think peace is possible?"
The boy grinned. "Of course. We just need the right people in charge."
Neither knew the other's name.
Neither knew they would one day stand on opposite sides.
Many years later…
Xander Dracarys stood before his father's corpse.
The once-mighty Duke Wulfric Dracarys lay lifeless, his body torn apart by a rogue dragon.
The boy who had once dreamed of peace stood frozen in the aftermath of pure carnage.
His hands clenched into fists.
The dragon responsible had been slain, but it didn't matter.
His father was dead.
And peace?
Peace was a lie.
From that day on, Xander vowed to eradicate dragons.
Not just the wild ones.
Not just the violent ones.
All of them.
Because dragons weren't just beasts.
They were monsters in waiting.
Waiting to betray.
Waiting to destroy.
And now, years later, Xander Dracarys sat in his castle, staring at the reports about Ryle Velbrath.
He knew.
He knew what Ryle really was.
Not a human.
Not a dragon.
Something worse.
A human who wanted to be a dragon.
Dragon Mountain – Present Day
High above the world, Ryle landed on the great peaks of Dragon Mountain.
He found Dravenith staring at the horizon, his wings folded, eyes clouded with thought.
Ryle approached. "You called me?"
Dravenith exhaled. "Yes."
He turned, his expression distant. "I need to ask you something, brother."
Ryle tilted his head. "What is it?"
Dravenith hesitated. Then—
"How did Dad do it?"
Ryle blinked. "Do what?"
Dravenith clenched his fists. "Keep the peace. Protect our kind. Hold this mountain together."
His voice dropped. "Because I don't think I can live up to his work."
Ryle was silent for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"Ignilth wasn't perfect."
Dravenith looked at him, surprised.
Ryle continued. "He had doubts too. He struggled too. But he never gave up."
He placed a hand on Dravenith's shoulder. "And neither will you."
For the first time in a while, Dravenith smiled.
But the moment was shattered—
BOOM!
A violent explosion rocked the mountain.
Ryle's instincts flared.
Dravenith's eyes snapped open.
Then—
A roar of pain.
A dragon's roar.
Not just any dragon.
Vaelthia.
Ryle and Dravenith turned just in time to see Dracarys forces flying away—carrying Vaelthia in chains.
They had locked her in a cursed anti-dragon cage.
Her roars were filled with rage and agony.
Then—
A voice echoed from below.
Loud. Commanding.
"BEHOLD, AUDIENCE!"
The voice belonged to a noble of Dracarys.
Before the gathered citizens of Dracarys, he raised his hands and announced:
"OUR NEW HERO WILL HUNT THE FORMER QUEEN OF DRAGON MOUNTAIN!"
The people cheered.
And Ryle's vision turned red.
He prepared to launch himself forward—
But Dravenith stopped him.
"I'm the King. I'll handle this."
Ryle turned to him, eyes burning. "Dravenith—"
Dravenith spread his wings. "She is my mother. This is my fight."
Before Ryle could argue—
A deep chuckle came from behind them.
"My Majesty— no Dravenith, You will not go alone."
They turned.
Sylvaris stood there, cracking his knuckles, his leviathan eyes gleaming.
"I will fight by your side."
Dravenith smirked.
"Then let's go save our her."