For every Tarnished wandering through the Siofra River region, this day would be forever etched in memory.
Because on this day—they witnessed a great Ancient Dragon soar above the bridge that crossed their camp, roaring as it flew toward the distant horizon.
With the night sky as its backdrop, that majestic form—riding the winds like a living storm—was more breathtaking than any painting could ever hope to capture.
Such a magnificent and overwhelming being left all who saw it utterly spellbound.
They ignored the hurricane-force winds that dried their eyes raw, unwilling to look away even for a heartbeat.
The hearts of the warriors beat in rhythm with the dragon's wings, blood surging with awe and exhilaration unlike anything they'd ever felt before.
They looked upon that sublime creature, and for the first time truly felt how small and powerless they were before something so far beyond them.
But Selinsax' speed was unmatched—within moments, her majestic form had already vanished from their sight, fading into the dark distance like the end of a dream.
The warriors stood there, watching as the dragon's silhouette dissolved into the deep of the night.
An Ancient Dragon… so beautiful, so powerful.
A being at the very pinnacle of all life—just to witness its presence was enough to be remembered for a lifetime.
It mattered not one's race or origin; such creatures, by their very existence, could inspire worship and obsession alike.
And yet, that sight alone should not have made this such an unforgettable day.
After all, they had only seen a dragon's passing silhouette.
At most, it would've been something to boast about for years to come over drinks and campfires—an embellishment for future tales.
Among the Drakeblood Knights stationed there, two were idly chatting as they rested.
Having slain the strange beast that had lurked in the nearby pool, the Drakeblood Knight regiment had been ordered to set up camp in the vicinity.
They had already discovered an elevator nearby, but no new orders had come—only instructions to hold their position for now.
And so, for once, there were no patrols, no duties. Only time to rest.
Their topic of conversation, of course, was the dragon that had just passed overhead.
A Drakeblood Knight, sitting cross-legged atop a boulder, asked his comrade beside him,
"Hey… that was an ancient dragon, right?"
His companion, sitting on the ground polishing his sword with oil, replied,
"Should be. I heard ancient dragons have four wings and four legs—completely different from Drakes."
"Yeah? Come to think of it, we've never actually seen a Drake alive, have we?"
"Now that you mention it… no. The only time we've seen one, it was already served on a platter."
The man on the ground raised his sword, frowning as he examined the chipped edge.
The earlier battle with that bizarre, draconic creature had dulled and notched the weapon badly.
After a moment, the one sitting on the rock suddenly spoke again,
"Hey… you think ancient dragons can be eaten?"
The other knight turned his head in disbelief.
"What? What in blazes are you talking about?!"
"That's insane!"
The first scratched his head, chuckling.
"Just curious, that's all. I mean, we can hold dragon communion with Drake flesh, right? Ancient dragons are their ancestors, so why not?"
The one polishing his sword thought about it.
"Probably not. I heard their bodies are made of stone."
"Seriously?"
"How should I know? That's just what people say."
"Oh."
Their conversation trailed off. The knight on the rock returned to staring blankly at the stars, while the one below him sighed, wondering how long the line would be at the blacksmith's tent.
They'd only brought one blacksmith along—logistics were tight.
After a long silence, the knight on the rock suddenly shouted again,
"Hey!"
The one on the ground groaned. He'd just realized how long it would take to get his sword fixed.
"What now?"
"Look up! Isn't that… another ancient dragon?"
The other looked up—and froze.
"…It is."
"Is it… flying toward us?"
Their eyes met. Without another word, both turned and sprinted toward camp with all their might.
This was destined to be a day the Drakeblood Knights would never forget—
Because on this day, an Ancient Dragon descended upon them.
And from this day forth, the faith of the ancient dragons began to spread among the Drakeblood Legion of Stormveil.
Selinsax descended before the camp of the Drakeblood Knights.
Her landing shook the ground, wind howling across the tents and banners. Panic swept through the entire camp as soldiers scrambled to formation.
Every knight had already gathered at the front lines, weapons drawn, ready for battle.
Hakkan emerged from his tent, staring at the colossal being before him in stunned silence.
An ancient dragon? Here? Why?
Though the creature showed no signs of aggression, the tension in the air was suffocating.
Then, from atop the dragon's back, a familiar figure leapt down—and all uncertainty vanished.
Hakkan removed his helm and stepped forward, grinning with relief.
"Lucian!"
Lucian landed lightly, while Selinsax shifted gracefully back into her human form, holding the wolf egg in her arms.
She looked curiously at the soldiers—these warriors whose strength had been forged through the communion of dragon's blood.
She hadn't expected Lucian to command such an army—knights strengthened by draconic flesh.
It brought her a strange sense of pride. A sign that the storm-born heritage of the ancient dragons still lingered in this age.
Lucian approached Hakkan, his old friend.
"It's been a while, Hakkan. How goes the mission to exterminate that strange creature here?"
Hakkan smiled and nodded.
"It's done. The beast was formidable, but we managed to bring it down. Only a dozen injured from lightning strikes—no serious losses."
Lucian nodded, pleased.
The Dragonkin Soldiers had always been flawed creations, and there had been little time to perfect them. Their strength was not extraordinary—roughly that of an ordinary wyvern or hero. Far below that of an ancient dragon.
But the Drakeblood Knights, empowered by Drake blood, were far stronger than common knights—though not yet as refined as the Storm Knights, their prowess was impressive.
For a hastily assembled army, this was satisfactory.
Lucian studied Hakkan carefully.
With his perception, it was easy to gauge the man's strength.
The infusion of dragon blood had improved him greatly—his combat power had grown well beyond his days as a Caelid mercenary.
Back then, Hakkan had already been among the best of Kaiden's warriors, stronger even than most of Godrick's knights.
Now, he stood at the threshold of true herohood.
If he were to face the Night's Cavalry who had once nearly killed him, he might even win—four to six odds, perhaps.
The rest of the Drakeblood Knights were of roughly knight-level strength, while the squad leaders approached that of Stormveil's elite.
When the knights realized who Lucian was, they all dropped to one knee in salute.
Lucian gestured for them to rise.
Hakkan turned back and barked, "Alright, everyone! Back to your posts!"
Once the soldiers dispersed, Hakkan faced Lucian again.
"This isn't the place to talk. Let's head to my tent."
"I'll have a few men prepare a new one for you in the meantime."
Lucian nodded. He had much to discuss, and it wasn't a conversation to be held outdoors.
Hakkan led Lucian and Selinsax to the central tent. Once inside, the three sat down.
Hakkan began to explain.
"That creature we fought—it looked like a dragon, but there was something wrong with it. Its body was hollowed out, almost like a troll's."
"Because of that, I didn't allow my men to attempt consuming its flesh. Its blood was silver… and honestly, it didn't look edible."
Lucian laughed softly.
"Good. You did the right thing."
"That creature was a biological weapon—created in the Eternal City of Nokron. They called it a Dragonkin Soldier."
"It's a failed fusion—made from the Silver Tears, the progenitors of the Albinaurics, mixed with the flesh of ancient dragons, trolls, and other lifeforms."
Hakkan's eyes widened.
He hadn't expected such an origin.
When Lucian mentioned "Ancient Dragon," Hakkan's gaze flickered toward Selinsax.
It was only then that Lucian realized he hadn't introduced her.
"Oh—right. This is Selinsax, an Ancient Dragon. She'll be staying at Stormveil as a priestess to spread the faith of the ancient dragons."
He then turned to her with a smile.
"And this is Hakkan—one of my few trusted friends, and commander of the Drakeblood Knights."
They exchanged nods in mutual respect.
After a moment, Hakkan asked, intrigued,
"Lucian… you've been to Nokron already?"
Lucian nodded.
"You probably haven't heard much from the surface. Not long ago, I participated in the Festival of Combat and defeated General Radahn, the Starscourge."
"When he fell, the sealed stars began to move again. One of them crashed into the lands, opening the path to Nokron."
"I've already explored it once and obtained what I needed. Soon, I'll have the other Tarnished here relocate to the Eternal City to continue the exploration."
Hakkan's expression shifted with realization.
"So that's what caused that quake we felt underground… an actual meteor."
He exhaled slowly, still half in awe.
So much had changed above while they had been stationed below—and yet, even here in the deep, destiny continued to stir.
Lucian turned to Hakkan.
"Oh right, there's something else I need to tell you."
"Remember I asked you all to look for any nearby lifts? Did you find one?"
Hakkan nodded immediately.
"We did, actually. We just haven't used it yet, we were waiting for your command."
Lucian nodded in satisfaction. So they'd already found it—that was one less thing to worry about.
"Good," he said. "In the next few days, I'll go to Sellia Town and bring out the mounts I prepared for the Drakeblood Knights."
"We'll set up the rendezvous point above the lift. I'll handle the arrangements when the time comes."
"In addition to that, I'm assigning you the task of escorting the mages of Sellia back here safely. Protect them well."
Hakkan's eyes brightened at the mention of "mounts."
"Oh, mounts? That's fantastic!"
Outside Stormveil, there was a vast plain known as the Stormhill Plateau—but there were hardly any horses left there. Under Godrick's rule, the people of Stormveil had been too busy preparing grafting materials for him; horses had become rare, and warhorses even rarer.
At present, the Drakeblood Knights had no proper mounts of their own—only a few of the higher-ranking officers were privileged to have them.
If Lucian could really provide mounts, their mobility and effectiveness as a force would skyrocket overnight.
Lucian gave Hakkan a detailed explanation of the situation in Sellia Town, emphasizing the importance of the mages there.
The mages of Sellia were highly skilled—valuable both as battle magi within the army and as teachers who could strengthen Stormveil's understanding of sorcery. Their presence could fill the gap left by the city's lack of magical power.
Hakkan listened carefully, noting every instruction without missing a single detail.
When Lucian finished speaking, Hakkan hesitated for a moment before raising a personal request.
"Lucian… once I escort them back to Stormveil, I'd like to take some time off."
"There's something I haven't settled yet."
Lucian looked at him with slight surprise, recalling something Hakkan had once mentioned.
He and the people of Kaiden had once been hired by a noble to loot graves and tombs. During one of those expeditions, all of Hakkan's clansmen were killed—he alone survived.
"You're going back to that cave? To avenge your kin?" Lucian asked softly.
Hakkan shook his head with a faint, bitter smile.
"Not revenge. We were the ones who disturbed the tomb first. It wouldn't be right to call it that."
"I just… want to bring their remains home. That's all."
Lucian nodded. It was reasonable—and honorable.
"All right then," he said. "Take a few knights from the Drakeblood Legion with you. Those caves can be dangerous."
But Hakkan shook his head again, smiling.
"No need. This is my burden to bear."
"And besides, I've grown stronger while you were away."
Seeing the resolve in his eyes, Lucian didn't press further. Hakkan was strong enough now to handle himself—he'd proven it time and time again.
With their discussion concluded, Lucian left with Selinsax.
Two new tents had already been erected nearby for their use—Hakkan had made sure of that.
Inside the tent, Lucian sat cross-legged, gazing silently at the wolf egg lying on the ground before him, deep in thought about how to hatch it.
Before long, Selinsax slipped into the tent, her pale figure illuminated faintly by the dim torchlight.
Lucian blinked in mild surprise.
It wasn't even night yet… though then again, being underground, it was always night here.
"What is it?" he asked.
Selinsax looked at him with a glimmer of excitement in her eyes.
"Master," she said, "are you perhaps interested in the ritual of Dragon Communion?"
"The knights under your command—they all carry the scent of dragon blood upon them."
Lucian tilted his head slightly, puzzled by her tone.
When she first mentioned "Dragon Communion," he thought she might be here to express anger over the slaughter of Drakes. But her expression didn't show resentment—rather, she seemed… thrilled?
That didn't make sense. Drakes were the descendants of the ancient dragons—why would she, a being of the ancient kind, be pleased by their use in such rituals?
"Hmm… I don't particularly have any personal need or interest in Dragon Communion," Lucian replied calmly.
"But due to certain circumstances, I can indeed wield the power granted by its Incantations."
"My knights—those Drakeblood Knights, grew stronger through consuming the flesh and blood of Drakes."
"Why? Is there something about that which excites you?"
Selinsax nodded, her tone trembling with fervor.
"Yes. Seeing the Dragon Communion flourish once again fills me with… exhilaration."
Lucian raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"There's more to this than I thought," he murmured. "So, to you ancient dragons, the Communion wasn't an act of blasphemy—but something to be celebrated?"
"Yet… Drakes are your descendants, are they not?"
Selinsax nodded slowly.
"They are," she said. "Drakes were born from the bloodline of the ancient dragons."
"And the Dragon Communion itself—it was a rite originally devised by us, the ancient ones."
Lucian's eyes widened in astonishment. He had never heard that before.
She began to explain, her tone solemn and melodic, as if reciting an ancient scripture forgotten by the world:
"Those who walk the path of knighthood—
The dragon blood within their flesh shall one day awaken."
"Through the Dragon Communion, when one's heart is carved open,
the truth of desire shall be revealed."
"For the dragon is but the form of madness within."
"Those who seek the flesh of wyverns and embrace their frenzy
shall earn scales, claws, and wings—
ascending beyond mortal knights,
to claim power unattainable by men."
"Even if they renounce that monstrous path,
the dragon's blood shall ever cling to them—
shadowing their souls until the very end."
Her golden eyes glimmered faintly as she concluded, "That is why knights long for the power of dragons."
Lucian stared at her, speechless.
He had never once heard that the Dragon Communion had anything to do with the ancient dragons. The very idea was absurd—almost sacrilegious.
Was everything in the Lands Between bound by some twisted, ancient irony?
Seeing his confusion, Selinsax continued, her tone softening.
"It's natural you would not know," she said. "This truth has long been forgotten, buried in ages past."
"It is, perhaps, the greatest stain upon our ancient kin's history—but not an unspeakable one."
And so, she began to tell him the true story of the Communion—of the first betrayal that shattered their golden age.
"In the distant ages, when the world was still aflame and ours was the reign of dragons," she began, her voice distant, echoing like thunder across eternity,
"Life flourished in all its forms. Countless species arose, evolved, and mingled—born of the Crucible's primal forge."
"Even among the ancient dragons, anomalies began to appear."
"The first of these aberrations was a creature unlike any other—a dragon with a body heavier and more massive than ours, with two legs and two wings, a colossal head and a thick, muscular neck."
"His twisted horns curved downward, forming a natural crown of bone, and his flesh burst through his own scales, turning into armor."
"He was unlike any dragon before him. At first, we thought it a disease."
"But his form was not what truly set him apart."
"The difference lay deeper—he bore no stone scales, no mark of eternity."
"He was mortal."
"That was the birth of the first Lesser Dragon."
She paused briefly, then continued.
"Though he lacked eternity, his lifespan still dwarfed that of other creatures."
"Eventually, another of his kind was born. Together, they sired a new lineage—the Drakes."
"King Placidusax, our gentle lord, accepted their existence and named them 'Drakes,' granting them the right to live among us as our kin."
"The first of their kind, that great beast, was named Bayle, and he ruled his brood as their king."
"His mate was called Greyoll."
"In time, their descendants spread across the Lands Between, becoming one of its mightiest races."
Lucian listened in silence.
That was the age of the Crucible, when all life was still taking form—when even the dragons were not immune to change.
Then, Selinsax' tone darkened, turning cold and heavy.
"But then came the betrayal," she said.
"At that time, I was not in Farum Azula, so I only know what my kin told me afterward."
"One day, our king Placidusax and his consort—the Dragon God, disappeared from the Lands Between."
"When he returned, he was grievously wounded, and his consort was gone."
"It is said the Dragon God had left our realm…"
"And our king… had lost two of his heads."
"The Elden Ring of our kind—the one belonging to the dragons, was shattered then."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"That was the beginning of our decline."
"After that, the frenzied dragon Bayle dared to rise in rebellion against the king!"
"He led countless drakes to assault Farum Azula itself."
"Though many of our kin had scattered across the Lands Between, the royal city still had enough defenders."
"And the strength of drakes could never match that of true ancient dragons."
"Save for a few ancient ones among them, the rest were no threat."
"The rebellion failed—but it also did not end cleanly."
"Bayle dealt a grievous wound to our king, even as he was defeated and maimed himself. From then on, our king could no longer lead us."
"That traitor who struck down our lord—" her voice trembled with barely contained fury—
"that accursed dragon Bayle and his brood of drakes became our eternal enemies."
"From that day forth, the drakes were made the offerings of Dragon Communion."
"And thus," she said, with a strange, reverent smile,
"we ancient dragons spread the Communion across the Lands Between."