Marek sat on a jagged stone.
His hands trembled slightly as the weight of everything pressed down on him. The cave was quiet except for the small dragon—Velkaroth—who seemed to be tapping his claw impatiently.
Marek broke the silence. "What if… what if my parents are gone? What if Berwald is nothing but ash and silence now? I don't even know if I'll ever see them again."
Velkaroth snorted, a sound somewhere between amusement and annoyance.
"Look, kid, I get it. You just ran for your life from a worm that probably eats villages for breakfast. Your family's safety is a big deal. But sitting here worried won't bring them back faster."
Marek's eyes narrowed. "Easy for you to say. You're a dragon. You don't know what it's like to lose everything."
"True," Velkaroth said, stretching his stubby wings. "But I've been through the cosmic version of a bad day. Let's just say I'm no stranger to loss and chaos. Besides, you're not just some farmboy now. You're carrying my fire. That means you've got a chance to change the game."
Marek swallowed hard. "What kind of chance? I don't even know how to control this... whatever this is inside me."
Velkaroth gave a dramatic sigh. "You think I woke up with all my moves? Nah, I was probably the clumsiest hatchling in the history of dragons. You'll mess up, burn a few things down, maybe singe a few eyebrows. But that's how you learn."
Marek shook his head. "It doesn't feel like chaos. It feels like a curse. Like I'm stuck in something bigger than I can handle."
The little dragon hopped closer, his eyes almost serious beneath the teasing tone. "Yeah, being chosen sucks sometimes. But it also means you're not invisible anymore. You're part of something bigger."
Marek looked down, struggling to keep the worry from swallowing him. "I just want to save them. My family and my village. I want to make sure none of this happens again."
Velkaroth nodded slowly. "That's a start. But to protect what you love, you need to be stronger than the fear that wants to keep you frozen. So, I'm here to help you."
Marek looked up, meeting the small dragon's glowing eyes. For the first time, a flicker of hope sparked inside him.
"Alright," Marek said quietly. "Let's figure this out."
As Marek ran through the rocky path leading away from the cave, his mind wandered back to the life he had before everything changed.
He was just an ordinary boy from Berwald, nothing special—at least that's what he thought.
His days were filled with chores, helping his father in the forge, and small errands for his mother's stall.
But there was always his older brother, Lukas.
Lukas was everything Marek was not—confident, talented, and already a well-known mage throughout the kingdom of Calberne.
People spoke of Lukas with respect and awe, calling him one of the most promising sorcerers alive.
Marek never understood how his brother had such power, while he struggled just to carry a bucket without spilling.
Lukas had left the village years ago, chasing glory and magic beyond the mountains.
Since then, Marek hadn't heard much about him. Some said Lukas was lost in the capital's politics; others whispered darker rumors. Marek wasn't sure what to believe, but the absence left a hollow space in his life.
I was just a simple boy before, Marek thought, his breath steady despite the pounding in his chest. Now everything feels like it's spinning too fast.
He pushed the memories aside and focused on the path ahead.
The village was close.
As he approached Berwald, relief and anxiety fought inside him.
To his surprise, the village was mostly intact. Some roofs were damaged, and a few walls were cracked, but the core of Berwald still stood.
Marek slowed down, scanning for any sign of his family. The fear was still there, but the sight of the familiar stone houses gave him a small, stubborn hope.
Marek's relief vanished the moment he saw it.
The gigantic worm circled the village like a vulture over carrion.
The creature's jaws snapped down on wooden carts and toppled stone walls as villagers scrambled in all directions, shouting and screaming.
His heart hammered painfully.
Inside him, Velkaroth stirred. Marek barely understood how this was possible, but the dragon's soul had fused with his own, living within him.
"Focus, Marek," Velkaroth's voice echoed in his mind. "You have power, but you lack control. Use what I gave you."
Marek clenched his fists, feeling a rush of heat spread through his veins.
He raised a trembling hand, and flames flickered to life.
The worm roared and lunged toward a group of fleeing villagers.
Marek sprinted forward, dodging falling debris.
His knees buckled as the beast's tail smashed the ground near him, sending a shockwave that knocked him to the dirt.
Get up. You can't let it win.
He scrambled back, flames licking at his fingers, and launched a blast at the worm's thick hide.
The fire sizzled against the creature's armor but left no lasting mark.
The worm retaliated, snapping its massive jaws just inches from Marek's face. He ducked.
"Use your legs! Move faster!" Velkaroth barked. This is hard!
Marek rolled aside as the worm's claws gouged deep ruts into the earth.
He darted between fallen beams, his mind racing to keep pace with the battle.
Another swipe caught his arm, sending him crashing against a stone wall.
I can't die here.
"Get up!"
He gritted his teeth and ignited a ring of fire around himself, trying to slow the worm's approach.
The creature hissed, slamming through the flames but faltering slightly.
Marek seized the moment and surged forward, aiming for the worm's vulnerable underbelly.
Suddenly, a silver blade flashed beside him, slicing through one of the worm's massive legs.
Marek turned to see a woman clad in shining knight's armor, her face fierce beneath her helm.
She moved with deadly grace, parrying claws and striking with precise, powerful blows.
"Get out of my way!" she shouted.
"Who are you?"
The knight didn't answer. She lunged again, and Marek followed her lead.
Marek barely had time to breathe as the worm lashed out again and again.
Velkaroth's voice cut through the chaos in his mind. "Dodge! Don't waste energy blocking. Use your speed and find the weak spots."
Marek twisted away from a crushing blow, his skin stinging where the claws grazed him.
Flames erupted from his hands, scorching the beast's tail as it swung past.
The knight moved beside him with fierce precision, cutting into the worm's armored scales, making it roar in pain. She didn't speak much, but every strike was deliberate and efficient.
Suddenly, the knight lowered her visor and looked directly at Marek.
"I am Alexandria Meridian," she said firmly.
The name struck Marek like a sudden cold wind.
Meridian… he thought, eyes narrowing. The noble family from Calberne's capital. They say Lady Alexandria is as sharp as her blade, and as unyielding as the mountain cliffs. She once led the queen's guard.
He had heard stories. His brother Lukas mentioned her once during a rare visit home, speaking of her with respect and a hint of rivalry.
Alexandria glanced at him, as if reading his thoughts. "Do you know who I am?"
Marek swallowed, nodding slowly. "Yes. You're… a legend."
She gave a small, dry smile. "Good. Then keep up."
The worm thrashed, furious, but the two of them pressed the attack. Marek's flames flared brighter. Every hit counted. Every second was a fight for the village's survival.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of strikes and near misses, the worm howled and retreated into the hills.
Marek barely had time to catch his breath before he turned and ran toward the village center.
His heart pounded not just from battle, but from fear. Are they safe?
He found his parents near the well, alive but shaken. His mother's eyes filled with tears when she saw him.
"Marek! You came back!" she cried, pulling him into a tight embrace.
His father stood silent, arms crossed, relief evident in his gaze.
Marek's voice trembled. "Are you both alright? What happened here?"
They exchanged quick words, explaining how neighbors helped each other and how the worm had finally fled. Marek noticed, though, that neither of them mentioned the fire or the fight.
They don't know.
The villagers passed by, offering curious glances but no recognition. Marek realized he had hidden his true self, the powers and the dragon within. To them, he was still the quiet, awkward boy who barely stood out.
He remembered how things had always been. Not terrible, but far from special. He wasn't the strongest or the fastest.
He wasn't even close to the popular crowd. Most days, he felt invisible, overshadowed by his older brother Lukas's shadow and the village's indifference.
Now, that was changing.
Marek looked at his parents, at the villagers, and then to the sky darkening beyond the hills.