Heir of the Dragon’s Blood

5 : Escape in the Shadows

Elden and Kaelar rushed through the tavern’s back door, following Merida toward the secret passage. Merida lifted a floorboard in the corner of the room, revealing a dark and narrow underground tunnel.

“Get in,” Merida whispered. “This tunnel will lead you out of the village. Don’t stop until you reach the end.”

Kaelar nodded and jumped in first, followed by Elden, who still felt uneasy. Once Elden was inside, Merida replaced the floorboard above them, leaving them in darkness.

“Elden, stay behind me,” Kaelar murmured. “Don’t make a sound.”

Elden could only nod in the dark. He heard the sound of royal soldiers entering the tavern above, making his heart pound faster.

“Search this place! They’re around here somewhere!” a soldier’s voice commanded.

Elden held his breath, trying not to make a sound. The tunnel was narrow and smelled of damp earth, but he couldn’t stop now. They carefully moved forward, distancing themselves from the danger above. Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the end of the tunnel. Elden tensed. Someone was ahead of them.

Kaelar raised his hand, signaling Elden to stop. From the darkness, footsteps approached, then a torch flared to life, casting an orange glow through the tunnel.

Before them stood a tall man clad in light armor, the royal insignia emblazoned on his chest. He smirked. “Did you really think you could escape so easily?” His voice was deep and cold.

Elden felt his heart race. They were trapped. Kaelar wasted no time. In one swift motion, he drew his sword and lunged forward. The man lifted his own sword, parrying Kaelar’s strike with ease. The clash of steel echoed through the narrow passage.

Elden stepped back, searching for an opening to flee, but two more soldiers emerged behind the armored man, blocking their escape.

“We have to fight,” Kaelar said without looking back.

Elden bit his lip. He had little experience in close combat, but he knew he couldn’t just stand by. One of the soldiers advanced, swinging his sword toward Elden. His reflexes kicked in, and he dodged to the side, but the blade’s edge managed to graze his shoulder. Elden stifled a cry and stumbled backward.

Without realizing it, he felt a heat surge through his body, just like when he had faced the mysterious man in the forest. The soldier raised his sword again, ready to strike. But before he could, Elden felt something ignite within him. In an instant, flames erupted from his hands, shooting toward the soldier. The man screamed, stumbling back as the fire singed his armor and clothes.

Elden was stunned. He hadn’t meant to do that. Kaelar seized the opportunity to strike down the first soldier before turning to face the next opponent.

“Elden, now!” he shouted.

Elden ran, following Kaelar as they slipped through a gap between their attackers. They managed to bypass the armored man and sprint toward the tunnel’s exit. But just as they neared the end, laughter echoed behind them.

“I will find you,” the man’s voice called, filled with menace. “And when I do, there will be nowhere left for you to hide.”

A chill ran down Elden’s spine. But he couldn’t stop now. They burst out of the tunnel into the dark forest. The night air was cold, but there was no time to rest.

“We have to keep moving,” Kaelar said firmly. “They won’t give up that easily.”

Elden nodded. Though his body trembled from exhaustion and fear, he knew that their only choice was to press forward. They disappeared into the shadows of the forest, leaving the village and their pursuers behind.

After traveling far from the village, they finally stopped on a small hill. From there, they could see the village shrinking in the distance.

Elden exhaled deeply. “What do we do now?”

Kaelar sat on a rock, gazing at the night sky. “We need to find the person Merida mentioned. If he truly is the last survivor of the Dragon Guardians, he might be the only one who can help you control your power.”

Elden clenched his hands, still feeling the residual heat from the fire that had appeared earlier. “I don’t understand how I used that power,” he admitted. “It just happened… I don’t even know how to control it.”

Kaelar looked at him seriously. “That’s because you don’t yet understand who you really are. The dragon’s blood in you has only just awakened, and right now, your power is still wild. If you don’t learn to control it, it could destroy you.”

A heavy weight settled in Elden’s chest. He knew Kaelar was right. If he didn’t learn to control his power, he might become a danger to himself and those around him.

Kaelar stood up. “We need to move at dawn. I’ll keep watch tonight. You should rest.”

Elden wanted to protest, but exhaustion weighed down his body. Reluctantly, he lay down on the grass and stared at the night sky. The stars twinkled above, as if watching over his journey. He still didn’t know what lay ahead.

…

As dawn slowly broke, chasing away the remnants of the night, Elden opened his eyes, feeling slightly more refreshed after a few hours of sleep. But his mind was still clouded with worry. Nearby, Kaelar was already prepared with their supplies. He was as vigilant as ever, checking his sword and pack before turning to Elden.

“We need to move,” Kaelar said briefly. “Merida mentioned someone who can help you control your power. We have to find them before the kingdom finds us first.” Elden nodded and stood. The pain from his wounded shoulder still lingered, but he tried to ignore it.

“Do you know where this person is?” Elden asked.

Kaelar sighed. “I have a lead. He was part of the Dragon Guardians, a clan that vanished long ago. If he’s still alive, he’s likely hiding in the ruins of an old temple to the north, at the foot of Mount Veldrath.”

Elden hesitated. “Mount Veldrath? Isn’t that place cursed?”

Kaelar smirked slightly. “That’s what many believe. But that’s exactly why it’s the perfect hiding place.”

Elden’s heart pounded. They had to travel to a place filled with danger, but he had no other choice. Without wasting any time, they began their journey north.

...

Their path led them into a dense, silent forest. Towering trees cast eerie shadows, their branches twisting like skeletal hands.

“I don’t like this place,” Elden murmured.

Kaelar glanced at him. “That’s natural. This forest has a dark reputation. Many hunters and travelers have entered but never returned.”

Elden swallowed hard. “What happened to them?”

Kaelar shrugged. “Some say ancient spirits haunt this place. Others believe that terrifying creatures lurk among the trees.”

A shiver ran down Elden’s spine. He didn’t fully believe in folklore, but after everything he had experienced, he knew the world was far more dangerous than he had imagined.

They walked cautiously. But after a few hours, Elden sensed something strange. The air grew heavy, and the usual sounds of the forest faded into eerie silence. No birds, no rustling leaves.

“Do you feel that?” Elden whispered.

Kaelar nodded, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. “Something is near.”

Suddenly, the bushes ahead rustled. Elden tensed, ready to fight.

From the shadows emerged a creature covered in black fur, its glowing red eyes locked onto them. Its fangs gleamed, and its claws were as long as daggers. It growled low before leaping toward them.

Kaelar moved instantly, slashing his sword. But instead of falling, the creature merely staggered, its wound sealing itself within seconds. “This is bad,” Kaelar muttered.

Elden clenched his fists, trying to summon his power once more.