Kael Ravens was six months old when the sky around Ravenhold suddenly turned black and a barrier was suddenly placed on it
Kael lay awake in his cradle, silver eyes open far too calmly for an infant, small fingers flexing as if grasping at something unseen.
The room around him was quiet, thick Raven-quiet layered with wards old enough to have names, humming softly beneath velvet curtains and rune-etched stone.
The nursery was large but warm. Dark oak beams crossed the ceiling.
A low fire crackled behind a glass panel. Around the room stood people who ruled battlefields and boardrooms alike, all gathered for something as mundane as checking on the youngest Raven.
Duke Alaric Raven, a King II rank warrior with broad shoulders and an iron back, stood near the window with arms folded. His black hair was tied neatly behind his head, steel-grey eyes sharp even in repose. Beside him sat Duchess Seraphina Raven, a S3 rank Mage and Kael's mother, composed, observant, smiling with warmth and her raven-black hair braided simply. Her eyes missed nothing. Ever.
Seven-year-old Aurelia Raven sat cross-legged on a cushioned chair, chin resting in her palms, watching her baby brother with open fascination.
"He doesn't blink much," she said seriously. "Is that normal?"
Seraphina smiled faintly. "Not for most children."
Leaning lazily against the doorframe was Alaric's younger brother, Caelan Ravens, a King III rank Swordsman with an ever-easy-going attitude and posture and a sharp grin, his light-grey eyes full of mischief. He held a cup of tea he hadn't actually sipped in five minutes.
"Relax," Caelan drawled. "If staring contests were dangerous, this kid would've killed us all already."
A woman stood beside him, fingers folded neatly, posture impeccable.
Lyx Raven.
Caelan's wife.
She was beautiful in a way that made people uncomfortable silver-brown hair cut to her shoulders, eyes the colour of quiet storms. Where Caelan radiated humour and danger, Lyx radiated control. Information moved through her the way blood moved through veins.
She tilted her head slightly; gaze fixed on Kael.
"…He's listening," she said softly.
Everyone smiled
"He's six months old," Caelan said, though his tone had sharpened.
Lyx didn't look at him. "Yes. And he's listening."
Kael's fingers curled.
Suddenly, everyone became alert as they noticed a barrier suddenly appeared in the Ravenhold,
In the garden of Ravenhold
Two elderly couples sat at the dome near the fountains, tea steaming gently between them.
Lord Alfred Raven and Lady Helen Raven Kael's paternal grandparents and Lord Vaelor Valencrest straightened in his chair, and his wife, Lady Miriel Valencrest, the maternal grandparents were having tea and talking about the current affairs of the empire when suddenly they saw the sky and paused mid-conversation. Alfred's weathered hand froze around his porcelain cup. Their smile faded, eyes sharpening as they used to when they were in battles.
Behind them, their contracted beasts and loyal partners of battlefield,an obsidian-winged Night Gryphon and a massive Stoneback Wolf lifted their heads at the same time.
"…That's not hostile," Alfred said
Helena exhaled slowly. "No. But it's ancient."
On the other side of the table another two beasts a radiant Moon Serpent and a silent Spirit Stag bowed belonging to Vaelor and Miriel
Miriel whispered, awed, "A dragon."
Back in the nursery-
The alarms flared.
Not of danger but,
In recognition.
Every rune in the room flared silver-blue before dimming instantly, bending not breaking as pressure flooded the space.
Aurelia gasped, scrambling to her feet.
"Papaa—!"
Alaric moved without thought, stepping in front of the cradle. Shadows coiled instinctively around him. Caelan's grin vanished, replaced by something cold and lethal as he pulled Lyx behind him.
Then-
A presence filled the room.
Not fire.
Not rage.
Authority.
The air thickened. The fire dimmed. Even time seemed to hesitate.
A shadow formed above Kael's cradle not cast by light, but by will. Scales like fractured starlight shimmered into existence, followed by a massive eye golden-silver, vertical pupil burning with intelligence older than empires.
Aurelia dropped to her knees.
Serphina's breath caught.
Alaric felt something he had not felt in decades.
Fear.
A voice echoed not loud, but absolute.
"I have answered."
The Grandparents teleported to the room, raising their Emperor rank auras, shielding from whatever was trying to harm the kids,
Kael did not cry.
He laughed.
A soft, bubbling sound, unmistakably that of a baby, yet it carried something else. Recognition.
The dragon's gaze snapped to him.
"Found you," the voice rumbled, warm now. Curious. "Small… but not empty."
Kael's tiny hand lifted.
The shadow bent.
Lyx inhaled sharply. "Caelan… this dragon isn't forcing a contract."
Caelan let out a weak laugh. "Of course not. That'd be rude."
The dragon's eye narrowed slightly and looked at the people gathered around,
"You joke," it said. "Good. Fear makes good guardians."
Alaric straightened, meeting the gaze head-on. "State your name."
A pause.
Then, in an amused voice.
"I am Klaus."
The name settled into the room like a crown placed gently on a table.
"I died once," Klaus continued. "And waited longer than I care to admit. This child called not with words, but with his existence."
Seraphina stepped forward despite shaking from the pressure the ancient beast emitted "You chose him?"
"No," Klaus replied. "He chose me."
Kael's aura pulsed small, controlled, and impossibly refined.
The Dragon smiled.
"Sleep, little one," Klaus said softly. "Grow. I will remain."
The presence receded, folding into Kael's chest like a secret sealed beneath bone and soul. A tattoo like thing started forming from his neck to spine.
The wards steadied.
The fire reignited.
Silence returned.
Aurelia finally whispered, "Mama… what happened to brother"
Caelan exhaled a shaky breath and grinned. "Six months old and already outdoing me. Rude."
Lyx adjusted her sleeve calmly. "We'll need new security protocols."
Alaric looked down at his son sleeping peacefully now, silver lashes resting against pale skin.
"…So my son is something special," he said quietly.
Far away, four ancient beasts lowered their heads.
And the world,
Remained blissfully unaware.