The dragon landed heavily on the cliff.
The ground trembled beneath Kai's feet as dust and loose stones rolled towards the edge. The creature was enormous far larger than Kai had imagined when he first saw it in the sky. Its golden scales reflected the sunlight and its wings slowly folded behind its body.
Kai felt his throat go dry.
"So… that's a dragon," he muttered.
Lyra stepped slightly in front of him, her expression calm but alert.
"Stay close," she said quietly.
Kai noticed something strange though. The dragon wasn't looking at Lyra.
It was staring directly at him.
The violet mark on Kai's hand began to glow faintly again, pulsing like a heartbeat.
The dragon lowered its head slowly, studying him with its bright golden eyes.
Kai felt something strange then.
Not fear.
More like… pressure.
As if the dragon's gaze was searching through him.
Suddenly a voice echoed inside his mind.
You carry the mark.
Kai froze.
He looked around quickly, but Lyra seemed confused.
"Kai? What's wrong?"
He swallowed.
"…It spoke to me."
Lyra's eyes widened slightly.
"The dragon?"
Kai nodded slowly.
The dragon's deep voice returned in his mind.
That power… it has not existed in this world for centuries.
Kai felt his heart beating faster.
"I don't really know what it is either," he admitted quietly.
Lyra watched him carefully.
"What is it saying?"
Before Kai could answer, the dragon suddenly spread its wings.
The wind that followed nearly knocked them both off balance.
Show me, the dragon said.
Then it attacked.
Its massive tail swung toward them with frightening speed.
"Kai!" Lyra shouted.
Without thinking, Kai raised his hand.
The violet mark flashed brightly.
A burst of energy shot out from his palm.
The dragon's tail collided with the barrier of magic and stopped just short of hitting them.
The impact sent a shockwave through the cliff.
Kai stumbled backward, surprised.
"I didn't mean to do that."
Lyra looked just as shocked.
"You blocked it."
The dragon slowly lifted its head again.
For a moment it simply watched him.
Then it attacked again.
This time Kai was ready.
He focused on the strange energy he had been learning to control since arriving here.
It flowed through him naturally now.
When the dragon lunged forward, Kai released
another burst of violet energy.
The blast struck the dragon's chest and pushed it back several steps.
Dust rose around its claws.
The dragon stopped moving.
For a moment everything was quiet.
Then the dragon gave a low rumble that almost sounded like laughter.
Interesting.
Kai lowered his hand slowly.
"That felt easier than yesterday," he admitted.
Lyra looked at him with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.
"You're learning faster than anyone I've ever seen."
Kai rubbed the back of his neck
"I'm still not sure what I'm doing."
The dragon stepped closer again, but this time it didn't attack.
Instead it lowered its head slightly.
Its golden eyes narrowed.
You are not the Sovereign, it said.
Kai frowned.
"I never said I was."
The dragon continued.
But the Sovereign's power lives within you.
Lyra suddenly stepped closer.
"What does that mean?" she asked quietly.
Kai repeated the dragon's words.
Her expression changed immediately.
"That shouldn't be possible…"
The dragon's voice returned.
The Sovereign once ruled the magic of this world.
Even dragons answered to him.
Kai felt the weight of those words settle in his chest.
"Then why would that power be inside me?"
The dragon was silent for a moment.
Then it spoke again.
Perhaps fate has chosen you.
Kai wasn't sure how to respond to that.
The dragon slowly lifted its wings again.
The air around them began to move.
Grow stronger, the dragon said.
Because power like that will attract enemies.
Kai looked up at it.
"What enemies?"
The dragon turned slightly toward the sky.
Those who once tried to destroy the Sovereign.
A cold feeling settled in Kai's stomach.
The dragon gave one final look at him.
Then with a powerful beat of its wings, it rose into the air.
Within seconds it disappeared into the clouds.
Silence returned to the sanctuary.
Kai finally exhaled.
"That… was a lot."
Lyra was still watching the sky where the dragon had vanished.
Her expression had grown serious.
"Kai."
"Yeah?"
"If what that dragon said is true… your power is more dangerous than we thought."
Kai looked at the glowing mark on his hand.
The light slowly faded again.
He wasn't sure if he should feel excited or worried.
"Dangerous how?"
Lyra turned toward him.
"Because if your power really belongs to the Sovereign…"
She hesitated.
"…then someone out there will want it gone."
Kai tried to laugh, but it didn't come out very convincing.
"Well… let's hope they don't find me."
Lyra didn't smile.
"That's the problem."
She looked toward the distant mountains.
"They might already be looking."
Far away, in a dark fortress hidden among storm clouds, a figure sat on a black throne.
A servant knelt before them.
My lord… we have detected it."
The figure slowly opened their eyes.
"The Sovereign's power…"
A faint smile appeared on their face.
"After all these years…"
"…it has returned."