Archivist Of The Fallen Dragon Empire

Face in the mirror

The smiling face of Dominic Kane glowed in the dark tunnel. It was not a real body made of flesh and blood. It was a projection made of pure golden light. The false god was not actually here in the damp dirt. This was an ancient trap left behind to guard the catacombs. His massive glowing eyes stared right through them. The golden light felt hot and heavy. It pushed the cold air away and made it hard to breathe. Luca grabbed Amelia and pulled her back.

The tunnel walls began to crack and crumble around them. Heavy chunks of rock fell from the ceiling and smashed into the ground. Dominic Kane raised a glowing hand and pointed a finger at Luca. A beam of pure burning energy shot through the darkness. Luca pushed Amelia behind a thick stone pillar just in time. The beam hit the wall and exploded with a deafening boom. Dust filled the air and blinded them. Luca felt his new dragon core pulse with a strong steady rhythm.

He did not feel weak and helpless anymore. The power of his old soul was finally awake in his human chest. He stepped out from behind the pillar and faced the golden projection. He raised his right hand and formed a fist. He channeled the magic from his new core into his arm. A faint red light wrapped around his fingers. He punched the empty air with all his incredible new strength. A shockwave of ancient dragon magic flew down the tunnel and slammed into the golden trap.

The projection of the false god shattered like a broken mirror. The golden light vanished and the tunnel plunged back into complete darkness. Amelia gasped for air and coughed loudly in the thick dust. Luca reached out and found her shoulder in the pitch black. He held her tight and guided her through the heavy falling rocks. They had to find another way out before the entire ceiling collapsed on top of them. They ran blindly through the narrow passage and prayed for a safe exit.

They stumbled over loose stones and broken bones. The ground shook violently under their boots. Luca used his dragon senses to feel the flow of air. He turned left and dragged Amelia into a smaller hidden tunnel. This path was steep and smelled like fresh rain instead of old dust. They climbed up the slippery rocks for what felt like hours. Finally they saw a tiny crack of pale moonlight shining above them. They pushed against a heavy wooden grate and climbed out into the cool night.

They collapsed onto the wet cobblestones and stared up at the beautiful dark sky. They were in a dirty narrow alley far away from the elite academy. The smell of rotting garbage and stale beer filled the damp air. This was the lower city where the poor and forgotten people lived. It was the perfect place to hide from the ruthless inquisitors. Kaelen Draven would never look for a scholarly archivist in the slums. Luca slowly sat up and wiped the thick mud from his tired face.

Amelia sat beside him and took a deep breath. She reached into her bag and pulled out her broken lantern. She set it on the wet ground and let out a soft nervous laugh. They had actually survived the forbidden catacombs and escaped the golden trap. Luca looked at his hands and smiled quietly. He could feel the strong steady beat of his new dragon core. He was no longer a fragile victim waiting to be slaughtered. He was a king preparing to reclaim his stolen throne.

"We need a safe place to sleep," Amelia whispered softly. "I know an old abandoned tavern just two streets away from here. Nobody goes there because they think it is cursed by dark ghosts. It will give us a roof and a place to plan our next move." Luca nodded and helped her stand up. His human legs were still sore but his chest felt warm and powerful. They walked out of the dark alley and blended into the shadows of the quiet empty city streets.

They reached the old tavern and slipped through a broken window at the back. The inside was covered in thick spider webs and broken wooden chairs. It was completely silent and smelled like old rotten wood. Amelia found a dusty table in the corner and sat down heavily. Luca stood by the broken window and watched the street for any sign of danger. He needed to test his new magic in a safe environment. He needed to see how much of his original power he had actually recovered.

He closed his eyes and let the magic flow into his face. He wanted to change his appearance so Kaelen Draven could never recognize him. He felt his bones shift and his skin tingle warmly. He opened his eyes and picked up a piece of broken glass from the floor. He looked at his reflection in the pale moonlight. He had a completely new face in the mirror. Then a loud heavy knock echoed on the wooden tavern door. A cold familiar voice spoke from the outside.

"Luca, I know you are hiding inside there," the voice said slowly. "Open this door right now before I burn it all down."