THE HIDDEN DRAGON

trial by flame

“You’ve been summoned.”

The voice was cold, clipped. The kind of tone that dripped with disdain. Rey didn’t even look up from the piece of metal he was hammering at the forge.

“For what?”

“The midterm combat trials. Headmaster’s orders.”

Rey set the hammer down slowly, the breath leaving his lungs in a quiet hiss. He had heard whispers about the Trial by Flame—an arena where students were pushed to their breaking point under the eyes of every instructor, noble sponsor, and, sometimes, the Emperor’s spies.

“You’re not ready,” Juno said that evening, handing Rey a sharpened dagger as they prepared.

Rey didn’t argue. He just tightened the straps on his worn training gear. “They won’t care.”

Juno placed a hand on Rey’s shoulder. “Then survive. Or they’ll turn you into another legend they bury in silence.”

The arena was carved into the mountain base of the Academy—a crucible of stone and fire, lit by enchanted torches and guarded by silent sentinels. Students lined the elevated balconies, cheering or jeering, depending on their allegiance.

Kade Blackmoor stood in the center, already grinning, shirtless and glistening with arrogant sweat. His aura burned like acid, aggressive and thick with dominance.

“He’s dead,” someone whispered. “That Soren kid? He’s gonna be meat.”

Rey stepped into the pit. Calm on the outside. Storming inside. His fingers trembled, but his eyes were steel.

Lyra watched from the observation deck, arms folded tightly. Her Sight had flickered the moment Rey walked in—fire, ruin, a throne of ash.

“Begin!” roared Master Erros.

Kade didn’t wait.

He lunged, blade out, swinging with brutal speed. Rey ducked the first strike, rolled under the second, but the third slashed across his shoulder. Hot pain tore through him.

Cheers rose.

Rey staggered back. Kade moved like a beast, all muscle and fury. Rey deflected a punch but caught a knee to the ribs, then a boot to the chest. He hit the ground, wheezing.

“Should’ve stayed in the slums,” Kade snarled.

Another strike. A blade sliced across Rey’s thigh. Blood sprayed. His vision blurred.

“Pathetic!”

Rey crawled.

Students started chanting, “Kade! Kade! Kade!”

He reached for his dagger—too slow. Kade kicked it away and pressed his sword to Rey’s throat.

“Any last words, gutter rat?”

Rey coughed blood.

Then he smiled.

“Burn.”

The world snapped.

The arena cracked.

A roar—ancient, thunderous—erupted from within Rey’s chest. His eyes blazed molten gold. Flames exploded around him in a circle, throwing Kade backward like a ragdoll.

The Dragon System surged to life:

> Awakening Protocol: Stage II Initiated.

> Dragon Blood Access: 32%

> Combat Enhancement: Activated.

Rey rose—no, he hovered slightly above the ground. Fire danced along his veins, wings of blazing light flaring behind him.

The crowd gasped.

Kade stumbled to his feet. “What the hell—”

Rey struck.

No hesitation.

Every hit landed like a hammer of gods. He shattered Kade’s shield, broke three ribs, disarmed him, and flung him across the arena in a single streak of heat and motion.

Rey’s fist stopped just before Kade’s skull.

Kade sobbed.

Rey blinked.

Everything around him was burning.

His breath heaved. His rage boiled. He couldn’t stop it. The Dragon within was clawing, roaring, trying to take control.

> Warning: Emotional Instability Detected

> Recommend Shutdown

> Override Activated: Rage Protocol Ongoing

“Rey!” Lyra’s voice cut through the haze.

He turned—eyes wild, pupils vertical.

She jumped into the ring, hand extended. “Come back. Please.”

Flames licked her arm, but she didn’t flinch.

“Remember who you are.”

He dropped to his knees.

The fire vanished.

Darkness flooded him.

And the voice returned:

> Judgment Commenced…

> Candidate Status: WORTHY… FOR NOW.

He awoke in the infirmary. Alone. Every muscle ached. His body felt hollow, drained.

The headmaster stood at the door, unreadable.

“You unleashed a force older than the Academy itself,” he said quietly. “Had you gone a moment longer, you would have killed that boy.”

“He tried to kill me,” Rey croaked.

“Do you think the Empire cares about fairness?”

Rey said nothing.

“From now on, you will be watched. Studied. And if we deem you a threat...”

The sentence hung unfinished.

He left.

Word spread like wildfire.

Some called Rey a god. Others called him a monster. The nobles whispered. The commoners stared. Zayne was the only one who still treated him like Rey.

“You really scared them,” he said, handing Rey a boiled egg during lunch.

“I scared myself.”

“Good. Means you’re still you.”

Lyra approached later that evening. Silent. Her eyes no longer cold, but curious. Concerned.

“You could’ve killed him.”

“I wanted to.”

She nodded. “I know.”

He looked at her, voice cracked. “I can’t control it.”

“You will.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I saw the other outcome. The one where you didn’t stop.”

His hands trembled. “What happened in that vision?”

She didn’t answer.

But he saw the fear in her eyes.

That night, the Dragon System returned.

> Initiating Dream Sequence…

> Memory Extraction: Seraphina Drakar

He was a child again, standing before a throne of flame. His mother, tall and regal, knelt before him.

“You must remember, Rayden,” she whispered. “Power without balance is ruin. Rage without restraint is slavery.”

He reached for her—

But she turned to ash.

He woke up screaming.

Down in the citadel of black stone, Lord Veyros watched a flickering projection of the trial. He saw Rey’s transformation, saw the flame, heard the echo of an ancient dragon roar.

“The seal is cracking,” he murmured.

Behind him, twelve hooded figures bowed.

“What now?” one asked.

Veyros smiled. “Now we give him something to lose.”

He snapped his fingers.

“Send the Revenants.”

Meanwhile, in the darkness of his chamber, Rey sat alone, head in his hands, flame curling around his fingers.

“Who am I becoming?” he whispered.

The fire didn’t answer.

But deep in his soul, something growled.

And it was hungry.