Descendants of the Dragons

The First Encounter

In the mystical land of Arendella, where ancient traditions governed the lives of all and the mighty Dragon's spirit watched over the realm, lived a girl named Mei Lin. She was of the lowest class, a child of the earthbound to the humblest of duties. Her name, a whisper among the wind, rarely drew the attention of those who ruled from the grand palaces on high. For Mei Lin, life was a series of unending toils and silent endurance, her existence almost invisible to the world around her.

Yet, far to the north, where the mountains pierced the heavens and the air was as cold as the steel of a warrior's blade, lived Kael, the kingdom's most formidable warrior. Known as the Dragon's Blade, Kael was the son of King Aldric and the greatest champion Arendella had ever known. His life was one of solitude, bound by duty and honour, with only the spirits of past warriors and his thoughts for company. He rarely ventured from his mountain fortress, preferring the quiet isolation that allowed him to focus on his purpose.

But Kael's solitude was broken one day when a summons came from his father, the King. A grand ceremony was to be held in honour of the Dragon, the sacred protector of their land, and Kael's presence was required at the royal palace. Reluctantly, Kael journeyed to the capital, his heart heavy with the burden of expectation. The palace, with its splendour and opulence, felt alien to him—a warrior among courtiers, a man of action in a world of words.

The grand ceremony was a spectacle of colour and sound, filled with nobles and dignitaries, all gathered to honour the Dragon. But amid the celebration, the atmosphere held an undercurrent of cruelty. Mei Lin, along with other servants, had been condemned as sacrificial tributes, thrown into the dragons' colosseum—a place where the mighty beasts, sacred to the princes, were set to slaughter those deemed unworthy.

Mei Lin stood among the terrified crowd, her cyan-blue eyes calm and focused despite the chaos around her. At fifteen, she was considered of marriageable age in Arendella, yet life had granted her nothing but hardship. Her long, black hair hung in disarray over her shoulders, and her thin, frail body was covered in dirt and the remnants of abuse. The other slaves trembled and cried out, but Mei Lin remained still, her gaze fixed on the sky, indifferent to the inevitable death that loomed before her.

As the dragons were released, their massive forms filled the Colosseum with a terrifying presence. The crowd erupted into a frenzy of anticipation, eager to witness the gruesome spectacle. The beasts began their deadly hunt, tearing through the helpless tributes with ferocious abandon. Blood and screams filled the air as the dragons played with their prey, the carnage a testament to the power and ruthlessness of the royal family's pets.

Yet amidst the chaos, one dragon—a magnificent creature with deep dark blue scales and amber eyes—stood apart. Unlike the others, it moved slowly and deliberately, its gaze fixed on Mei Lin. The crowd hushed as the beast approached her, expecting it to finish the girl who showed no fear. But instead of attacking, the dragon paused, lowering its head to sniff her curiously.

From his seat above, Kael watched the strange encounter unfold, his interest piqued. His dragon, the Blue Dragon, seemed captivated by the girl, its usual ferocity tempered by an inexplicable calm. Kael's dark eyes narrowed as he studied the frail figure among the sand, her stillness a stark contrast to the madness around her. There was something about her, something that drew both man and beast alike.

The other princes watched with a mixture of fascination and annoyance. Some called for Mei Lin's death, angered by the disruption of the ceremony, while others were intrigued by the girl's apparent immunity to the dragons' wrath. But Kael remained silent, his focus unwavering.

As if in response to its master's unspoken command, the Blue Dragon suddenly took flight, its massive wings carrying it and Mei Lin into the sky. The crowd gasped in shock as the beast gently deposited the girl on the royal platform, directly in front of Kael.

Mei Lin, still breathless from the unexpected journey, looked up to find herself face to face with the man whose dragon had spared her. Kael, tall and imposing, with tan skin and large shoulders, stood before her, his dark eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and something else she couldn't quite place.

For a moment, the world seemed to stand still as their gazes locked, the connection between them undeniable.