The sky darkened as they approached Drathmor Keep — a fortress built into the bones of a mountain long claimed by flame and shadow.
Black cliffs rose like jagged blades, cutting through a shroud of mist. Rivers of molten rock flowed between obsidian ridges, their glow painting the clouds in crimson hues. Thunder rolled in the distance, echoing through the canyons like the growl of sleeping dragons.
Eric tightened his grip around Seraphina's waist as she descended through the storm, her wings slicing through the wind. "You're sure they'll welcome us?"
Her voice came steady, though her shoulders were tense. "They won't welcome you, at least not at first. The dragons of Drathmor are old — older than my father's reign. They remember the wars, the betrayals, and the chains forged by mortals. To them, a human is a reminder of everything they lost."
"Then I'll remind them of what they can gain," Eric said, his tone unwavering.
Seraphina looked back at him briefly, her eyes shining faintly gold. "You really don't know fear, do you?"
"I do," he said, smiling faintly. "But I stopped letting it decide what I fight for."
They landed on a high ledge overlooking a massive courtyard carved into the mountain's heart. Dozens of dragons — each different in hue and form — turned their heads as Seraphina touched the ground. Their eyes glowed in the darkness like constellations, ancient and watchful.
A hush fell over the gathering. The largest of them — a dragon with deep bronze scales and scars like molten cracks along his chest — stepped forward. When he spoke, his voice rumbled like shifting earth.
"Seraphina Drakonis," he intoned, his tone sharp with authority. "The runaway princess returns at last."
Seraphina bowed her head. "Lord Ka'varn. I come seeking alliance, not dominion."
Ka'varn's molten gaze shifted to Eric. His lips curled back, revealing rows of jagged teeth. "And what is this?" he thundered. "A mortal at your side?"
Eric felt the weight of a hundred dragon eyes on him, the air vibrating with hostility. He stood his ground.
"This mortal has fought beside me," Seraphina said firmly. "He saved my life more than once."
Ka'varn's tail lashed the stone, sending sparks flying. "You bring a human into our sacred keep after what his kind did to us? After the betrayal that bound us to your father's rule?"
Seraphina's wings flared slightly. "My father enslaved dragons far worse than any mortal did. The world has changed. So must we."
A murmur rippled through the dragons — some hissing in dissent, others silent in contemplation.
Ka'varn lowered his head, bringing his massive golden eye level with Eric. "You. Human. What is your name?"
"Eric."
"And why do you stand beside the blood of Drakonis? Do you seek power? Glory? Or are you simply too foolish to know what she is?"
Eric met his gaze unflinchingly. "I stand beside her because I love her. Because I've seen what her father's tyranny does — to humans and dragons alike. I don't fight for power. I fight for her freedom."
The courtyard went silent. Even the molten rivers seemed to pause their flow.
Ka'varn studied him for a long, heavy moment. Then he reared back and let out a booming laugh that shook the mountainside. "A mortal who dares to speak of love to a dragon princess! You truly are foolish."
Seraphina stepped forward, her tone sharp. "Mock him again, and I'll show you what that foolishness can do."
That drew murmurs — but Ka'varn's laughter faded into something like approval. "So the princess of flame still has her fire. Very well. If this mortal's heart burns as bright as his words, let him prove it."
Eric frowned. "Prove it? How?"
Ka'varn's eyes gleamed. "By the Trial of Wings. A mortal who would stand among dragons must earn the right to walk beneath our skies. He must face our judgment — body, heart, and flame."
Seraphina's eyes widened. "No! That trial is meant for dragonborn, not humans. He could die!"
"Then let him refuse," Ka'varn growled. "And prove he is as weak as I suspect."
Eric stepped forward before she could answer. "I'll take the trial."
Seraphina turned to him, furious. "Eric, no! You don't understand—"
"I do," he said softly. "If I'm to fight beside you, they need to see me as more than just a man. They need to see I'm worthy of your fire."
Her lips parted — then closed again. She saw the determination in his eyes and knew words would not sway him.
Ka'varn nodded. "So be it. At dusk, the trial begins."
---
The Trial of Wings
The dragons gathered in a massive arena carved into the mountain's core. Rings of flame illuminated the walls, casting golden light across the obsidian floor. In the center stood Eric, stripped of his armor, his sword replaced by a single flaming sigil burned into his chest — a mark of the trial.
Seraphina stood among the watchers, her hands trembling. "He's not ready for this," she whispered to Ka'varn.
The bronze dragon's gaze remained fixed on the arena. "No one ever is."
A gong sounded. The flames around the ring flared, and from the shadows emerged three figures — dragons in humanoid form, their eyes glowing with inner fire. Each represented a trial: Strength, Will, and Truth.
The first, a crimson warrior, stepped forward. "Face the flame of strength!"
He swung his blade downward, a torrent of fire erupting from the ground. Eric rolled aside, barely avoiding the inferno. The heat scorched his skin, the air burned in his lungs — but he didn't falter. He countered, striking the warrior's side. The dragon smiled grimly. "Not bad… mortal."
The second challenger — a silver-eyed sorceress — raised her hand. "Face the flame of will."
Winds whipped around him, carrying whispers that clawed at his mind. Visions filled his head — Seraphina, burned by his hand, her voice begging him to leave. His heart twisted in pain, but he clenched his fists. "You're not real," he growled. "You can't take her from me."
The illusions shattered. The sorceress nodded once, fading into mist.
Finally, the last dragon stepped forward — a black-armored knight, his voice cold as ash. "Face the flame of truth."
He thrust his spear forward, driving Eric to his knees. "Tell me, human… do you truly love her? Or do you love the way she makes you feel powerful?"
Eric gasped for air, every word of the dragon's accusation slicing deeper than the wounds on his body. "I love her," he choked out. "Not because of her power. Because of her heart. Because even after losing everything, she still believes in saving others. That's what I fight for."
The knight paused — then drove his spear into the ground beside him. "Then rise, mortal. You have passed."
The arena erupted in a thunderous chorus of dragon roars. Flames burst upward, spiraling around Eric as the sigil on his chest ignited, glowing gold — the mark of acceptance.
Seraphina rushed forward, catching him as he stumbled. "Eric! Are you—"
He smiled weakly. "Still alive, I think."
She pressed her forehead against his, tears mingling with the soot on his skin. "You idiot. You could've died."
"Would've been worth it," he murmured. "Now they'll see I'm not here to steal their fire. I'm here to share it."
Ka'varn approached, shifting into his dragon form, wings unfurling across the arena. "So be it," he thundered. "From this day, the mortal Eric of Drakenvale shall walk beneath our wings as one of us. You have the courage of flame, the will of stone, and the truth of heart. You are welcome in Drathmor."
The dragons roared again, the sound echoing through the mountain like a storm breaking.
Seraphina held Eric close, her voice trembling. "You've done what no mortal has ever done before."
He looked at her and smiled faintly. "Then let's do the impossible again. Let's take back your world."
She smiled — fierce and radiant through her tears. "Together."
As the dragons bowed their heads in acceptance, Seraphina and Eric stood side by side, bound not only by love but by the fire of shared destiny. The rebellion had found its mortal spark.
And somewhere deep beneath the world, in the dark heart of his citadel, Drakonis opened his eyes. The air rippled with ancient fury.
"The blood of my daughter burns brighter than I allowed," he hissed. "Then I will snuff it out myself."