Dragon Fire : Magic Hunter

Prologue

Queen Hibiscus paced her chamber, her claws clicking on the polished stone floor. Her thoughts raced like a storm tearing through the skies. Her son, her only son, had developed magic.

"What am I going to do about this?" she muttered, her voice a shaky whisper.

Magic. That cursed, unpredictable force. She had seen its horrors firsthand.

Nine years ago, on what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life—her wedding—tragedy had struck. Among the hundreds of guests who had come to witness her union, one magic user had unleashed chaos. No one knew why. Perhaps it was jealousy. Perhaps madness. But his attack had left twenty-one dragons dead, including her beloved sister.

The memory burned fresh in her mind. The screams, the blood, the uncontrollable rage of magic that left no dragon untouched. From that day forward, magic had become a forbidden topic in the kingdom. Magic users were feared, hunted, and driven out of Astra.

And now...

Her son.

The queen's wings trembled as she forced herself to stand tall. She couldn't afford to show weakness—not even to herself. Magic in her bloodline would ruin everything. What would her advisors say? What would the people think?

She turned sharply and left her bedroom, the weight of the situation pressing down on her like a mountain. Standing just outside her door was one of her bodyguards, a burly dragon with bronze scales and an unwavering stance. His piercing eyes snapped toward her as soon as the door creaked open.

"Come," she said stiffly, her voice clipped with urgency.

The guard bowed low, his tail brushing the floor. "Yes, Your Majesty."

Queen Hibiscus stepped back into her chamber, gesturing for him to follow. When he didn't immediately move, she snapped, "Are you coming, or what?!"

The guard scrambled to his feet, nearly knocking over a decorative vase in his haste. He trailed her into the room, standing at attention by the door.

"What do you know about magic?" she asked suddenly, her tone sharp.

The guard blinked, caught off guard by the question. "I... I know that it comes in many forms," he said carefully. "Weapons, enchanted orbs, and sometimes, dragons are born with it." He hesitated before lowering his voice, as though afraid the walls themselves might hear. "I also know that if you have enough of it, it can make you immortal."

Queen Hibiscus froze. Immortal. The word hung in the air like a curse.

Her mind reeled. If her son's magic grew unchecked, could he become one of those monsters? The kind of monster she had spent nearly a decade trying to purge from her kingdom? The thought made her scales itch with unease.

"And what do you think happens to dragons who can't control it?" she asked, her voice quieter now.

The guard's tail twitched nervously. "They destroy everything around them," he said grimly. "Including themselves."

Queen Hibiscus turned away, her expression unreadable. She stared out the window, watching the kingdom below. The streets were peaceful, dragons milling about under the warm light of the setting sun. She wondered how long that peace would last.

She had to make a decision—and quickly.

Her son's future, and perhaps the fate of Astra itself, depended on it.