The dragon's name was Nyx.
Or at least, that was the name it had adopted in recent centuries. It explained that the true names of dragons were sacred secrets, words of power shared only with those they trusted absolutely.
"And I trust you, little creator," it said as it guided Vaelor deeper into the valley. "Even if you don't remember who you are."
Vaelor walked in silence, trying to process everything he was hearing. His beasts had stayed behind, too intimidated by the dragon's presence to follow. Only Umbra insisted on accompanying him, staying close at his feet with a determination Vaelor appreciated.
"You said I am their father," he finally spoke. "What does that mean?"
"It means exactly what it sounds like." Nyx shrank in size as they moved, shifting from a living mountain to something barely larger than a horse. "Millennia ago, there was a being who created our race. Gave us life, consciousness, purpose. Humans called him the First God. We called him Father."
"And you think I am... him?"
"I don't think so. I know." The dragon's golden eyes looked at him intensely. "Your soul is unmistakable. It's damaged, fragmented, sealed... but it's the same. I would recognize you in any form, in any body."
Vaelor felt his head spin.
"But I'm human. Born of a human woman, in a human family."
"Your body is human," Nyx corrected. "Your soul is something else."
◇ ◇ ◇
They arrived at a hidden grotto in the heart of the valley.
Inside, crystals emitted a soft blue light, revealing a vast chamber filled with ancient structures. Carved stone columns rose toward the ceiling, covered with the same inscriptions Vaelor had found in the outer ruins.
But what caught his attention most were the bones.
Dragon bones, enormous, piled in stacks several meters high.
"What is this place?" Vaelor's voice was barely a whisper.
"A cemetery," Nyx replied sadly. "And a memorial. Here lie my brothers and sisters, those who died in the war against the gods."
"War against the gods?"
Nyx sat back on its haunches, tail curling around itself.
"Sit, little creator. This is a long story, and you must hear it all if you want to understand what is coming."
◇ ◇ ◇
The story Nyx told was on a scale Vaelor could barely grasp.
Thousands of years ago, the world was different. The gods walked freely among mortals, ruling with an iron fist. Every aspect of existence was under their control: life, death, destiny itself. Conscious beings were little more than toys for their amusement.
Then the First God appeared. A being of unknown origin who opposed the established order. He created dragons as his champions, beings of immense power capable of challenging even the deities.
"The war lasted centuries," Nyx continued. "Dragons against gods, with mortals caught in between. There were victories and defeats, heroes and traitors. But in the end..."
"In the end, what?"
"In the end, the Father was betrayed." The dragon's voice turned cold. "Some of his own allies, beings he trusted, handed him over to the gods. His body was destroyed and his soul sealed, fragmented into thousands of pieces scattered across time and space."
"And that soul..." Vaelor felt a lump in his throat. "Eventually was reborn in me."
"Correct. Though the seal remains in place, preventing you from accessing your true memories and powers."
◇ ◇ ◇
Vaelor processed the information for a long time.
If what Nyx said was true, everything he had experienced made sense. The memory fragments, the inexplicable abilities, the curse of his eyes... all remnants of something much greater.
"My curse," he said suddenly. "What is it really?"
"A side effect of the seal," Nyx explained. "Your soul tries to manifest its true power, but the seal corrupts it, transforms it into something... different. The terror you inspire is a shadow of the authority you once wielded."
"Authority over what?"
"Over everything." The dragon's eyes gleamed. "The Father was the god of creation. Everything that exists, from the smallest bacterium to the stars themselves, bears his mark. That's why beasts don't fear you: they instinctively recognize you as their origin."
"But humans do fear me."
"Humans are creations of the other gods, not yours. To them, your presence is an anomaly, something that shouldn't exist according to their creators' rules. Their terror is a natural response to that contradiction."
Vaelor lowered his head, absorbing it all.
"And the demons?" he asked, recalling rumors of creatures crossing the border.
"They were created by lesser gods as war armies. But many rebelled after the Father's fall, establishing their own territory beyond the western ocean." Nyx tilted its head. "In fact, they'd probably be more receptive to you than humans. Your aura doesn't terrify them; it... intrigues them."
It was a lot to take in. Too much.
"I need time," Vaelor said finally. "To think, to assimilate all this."
"You have time." Nyx replied. "The gods don't yet know you've awakened. For now, you're safe."
"For now?"
The dragon bared its teeth in what seemed like a smile.
"They will find out eventually. And when they do, they will come for you. The question is: will you be ready to face them?"
Vaelor had no answer.
But for the first time in his life, he had a clear purpose.
Survive. Grow. And eventually...
Destroy those who betrayed him.