Kael Ardyn stared at the misty peaks of Eldar Hollow, his home for as long as he could remember. The mountain village, tucked away in the valley surrounded by towering cliffs, had always been a place of peace and quiet, far removed from the wars and conflicts that shaped the world beyond. Yet, despite the tranquility, there was always a lingering sense of something ancient and powerful in the air, something waiting to be discovered.

Kael had never known his parents. He was found at the edge of the village when he was just a baby, wrapped in an old, tattered cloth. The elders had raised him, telling him little about his origins. All he knew was that he was different, his eyes gleaming with a strange intensity that seemed to unsettle the villagers. Sometimes, late at night, he would dream of fire and wings, of a time when dragons ruled the skies.

One evening, while exploring the outskirts of the village, Kael stumbled upon a hidden cave nestled between two ancient oak trees. A faint, pulsating glow emanated from within, as if the very heart of the earth was alive. His curiosity piqued, Kael entered the cave, unaware of the destiny that awaited him.

Inside, the walls were adorned with strange markings—runes of an old language he could not decipher. At the cave’s center lay a stone pedestal, on which rested a massive, ornately carved crystal. It was the size of a large boulder, glowing with an eerie blue light. The moment Kael approached, the crystal seemed to hum, resonating with the very core of his being. He reached out, instinctively drawn to it, and as his fingers touched its surface, the ground trembled.

The crystal shattered with a deafening crack, releasing a surge of power that sent Kael sprawling to the ground. His vision blurred, and a searing pain coursed through his veins. From the depths of the cave, a low, rumbling growl echoed, as if the very earth itself was awakening.

Before Kael could react, a voice—ancient and deep—spoke inside his mind. “You have awoken the Last of the Dragons.”

The world spun around him as he struggled to stay conscious. A fiery image filled his vision—a great dragon, its scales shimmering like molten lava, its eyes burning with eternal fury. Kael could feel its presence, a connection that went beyond time itself. The dragon’s name resonated in his mind: Valmyr.

Then, as quickly as it had begun, the vision faded. Kael lay on the cold stone floor, breathing heavily, his body consumed with an unnatural warmth. His hand still rested upon the remnants of the crystal, which now pulsed faintly with a reddish glow.

He didn’t understand what had just happened, but one thing was clear: his life was about to change forever.

As Kael struggled to his feet, his mind raced with questions. What was that voice? What was this power coursing through him? And who, or what, was Valmyr? He could feel a deep connection to the dragon, as if a part of him now resided in the beast. The sensation was both exhilarating and terrifying. He had always known that he was different, but this… this was something beyond comprehension.

The strange warmth in his chest began to subside, but the lingering energy still thrummed beneath his skin. He could hear the whispers of the wind as if they carried messages from an ancient time. The dragon’s essence pulsed within him, a bond forged by fate. But how had it happened? How had the dragon’s power found its way into him?

“I must return to the village,” Kael muttered to himself, still unsure of what was happening. He needed answers, and he needed them fast. But as he turned to leave the cave, something caught his eye—an ancient sword, half-buried in the dirt near the pedestal.

It was a weapon unlike any he had seen before, its hilt wrapped in dark leather and adorned with strange runes. The blade itself was curved and glimmered with a faint, otherworldly glow. Kael’s hand moved instinctively toward it, and as his fingers brushed the hilt, a surge of power shot through him, making his heart race. The sword seemed to recognize him, as if it were meant to be in his hands.

Without thinking, he grabbed the sword and slung it over his back. As he did, a voice echoed in his mind again—this time not from the dragon, but from something far older. “The path you walk is fraught with danger, young one. The enemies of the dragons have not forgotten their ancient grudge. They will come for you.”

Kael paused, staring into the depths of the cave. The voice was gone, but its warning lingered in his mind. He knew, deep down, that his journey had just begun, and it would take him far from the safety of Eldar Hollow.

As Kael exited the cave, the night sky greeted him with a quiet stillness, broken only by the distant howls of wolves. The village below seemed so far away, but Kael knew that the world had just shifted beneath his feet. He could feel it in his bones—something monumental had just awakened within him. The dragon’s power. The sword. The prophecy.

He turned towards Eldar Hollow, the path ahead uncertain but unavoidable. He had to return, not only to seek answers but to understand the meaning of this awakening. For if the voice was to be believed, dark forces would soon come seeking him, and he needed to prepare for the battles ahead.

But first, he had to face the truth of who he was. Kael Ardyn was no longer just an orphan from a small mountain village. He was the last of the Dragonlords—the inheritor of a power long forgotten, and the only one who could prevent the world from descending into chaos.

Chapter 1: The Awakening of the Flame

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