The mountains rose like jagged teeth against the horizon, their peaks wreathed in dark clouds and lightning. The Vale of Mourn stretched behind them, a scar upon the land, but ahead lay the path Elijah had been seeking — the first shard of the Dragon Sigil, hidden deep within molten stone.


Kael led the way along a narrow ledge. “This is no normal mountain pass,” he said. “The legends weren’t kidding. You’ll need more than fire to survive what’s ahead.”


Elijah gripped the sword tighter. Its warmth pulsed in tune with his heartbeat, a steady reminder of the flame awakening inside him. The pendant glowed faintly, pulling him toward the mountain’s entrance — a yawning cavern that exhaled heat and sulfur.


At the threshold, the air shimmered. Shadows stretched unnaturally, and the stone floor seemed almost liquid underfoot. A voice echoed through the cavern, low and resonant:


“Who dares disturb the heart of flame?”


Elijah swallowed. “I… I am Elijah, Flame-Bearer. I seek the shard of the dragons to protect the realm.”


From the molten depths of the cavern, a figure emerged: massive, scaled, wings folded against its sides, eyes burning gold. The dragon guardian. Its roar shook the walls and sent sparks flying.


Kael whispered, “Well, that’s one way to know you’re in the right place.”


Elijah stepped forward, the sword glowing brighter as the heat pressed in around him. The dragon shifted, smoke curling from its nostrils.


“Many have come,” it said, voice like rolling thunder. “Few have the courage to face me. Fewer still, the wisdom to claim the shard.”


Elijah’s heart pounded, but he drew a deep breath. “I am not here for power,” he said. “I am here to protect what remains of our world.”


The dragon’s gaze softened slightly. “Then prove it.”


In an instant, the cavern shifted. Lava rivers surged around him, rocks lifted by invisible hands, and illusions of fire beasts appeared, attacking from every direction. Elijah swung his sword, but the flames of the blade alone could not reach them — they melted and reformed faster than he could strike.


Then he remembered Seris’s words: “Control it, or it will consume what you seek to protect.”


He closed his eyes. Instead of fighting, he let the fire flow around him, guiding the energy rather than forcing it. Each swing of the sword shaped the illusions, turning them into harmless sparks. The molten rivers calmed, forming paths instead of barriers. The fire obeyed not his anger or fear, but his intention — his heart.


The dragon watched silently, smoke curling from its snout. “Well done, Flame-Bearer.”


A section of rock split open, revealing the shard: a crystal glowing red and gold, pulsing like a heartbeat. Elijah approached, kneeling to pick it up. The moment his fingers touched the surface, warmth surged through him, mingling with the pendant and the sword. Symbols etched themselves into his skin — faint, glowing scales tracing his arms and chest.


Kael stepped forward. “Congratulations,” he said with a grin. “You just survived your first real trial. And got a light show to prove it.”


Elijah held the shard close. “This… this is just the beginning, isn’t it?”


Kael nodded solemnly. “The first step toward kingship. The other shards will be harder, and the Vale will grow hungrier. But you… you’re ready for more than you know.”


From the shadows of the cavern, the dragon whispered, almost tenderly:


“Rise, Flame-Bearer. Your path is set, your fire awakened. But beware — not all who seek the shards do so with pure hearts. Shadows gather, and the trial never truly ends.”


Elijah looked at Kael, then at the glowing shard. The weight of destiny settled upon his shoulders — heavy, blazing, and alive.


The Dragon King’s path had begun.