Prophecy fulfilled: Child of Light

In the Medieval Age, 670 M.A.

A time when men walked the land with beasts and other races. Beneath the dark, storm-laden skies of Wrym City, chaos reigned. The air was filled with the anguished cries of its citizens. Buildings crumbled, taverns were engulfed in flames, and the streets became a brutal graveyard.

Corpses lay scattered like fallen autumn leaves.

"Why… why did a Mystical level Scavenger have to appear now of all times—on the night my wife is in labor?"

A middle-aged man with long black hair streaked by a single strand of silver frowned as he surveyed the carnage. His golden dragon eyes narrowed at the behemoth rampaging through the city.

Stepping into a solitary beam of moonlight breaking through the ominous clouds, his charred brown skin glinted faintly. As lightning arced across the sky, his features became clear: sharp, noble, and adorned with a dragon mark etched into his forehead.

A fleeing man stumbled into him, bouncing off as though he had hit an unmovable wall. Falling to the ground, the man looked up and froze in terror before stammering in awe.

"It's… it's an Apostle...wait...the Flame Saint, Lord Kaedryn Von Drakon! The Hero is here! We're saved!"

The Apostle glanced down at him, his expression unchanging.

"Evacuate. Now."

The man wasted no time scrambling to his feet and running past the figure known as the Hero of Avalon.

"Kaedryn!"

A deep voice called out from behind him. Without turning, Kaedryn recognized it instantly.

"Lancelot, you're late"

He said flatly.

"I can't believe a Scavenger would appear tonight, of all nights. My child could be born any moment, and I'm stuck dealing with this monstrosity."

Lancelot, another middle-aged warrior, stepped forward with a smirk. His waist-length blond hair shimmered under the dim moonlight, and his sharp blue eyes gleamed with amusement. His golden armor, pristine and resplendent, contrasted with the worn silver of Kaedryn's.

"Then let's finish this quickly"

Lancelot replied.

"No reason to miss your child's first breath."

Kaedryn Von Drakon, the Flame Apostle and the Earth Dragon of Avalon Empire, stood as one of its mightiest heroes. Beside him was Lancelot Pen Dragon, the Lightning Apostle and Storm Dragon of Avalon. Together, they were an unstoppable force.

Kaedryn began to walk toward the rampaging Scavenger. Each step was deliberate, his body glowing faintly with golden light. Lancelot crossed his arms and leaned against a broken wall, watching as the golden aura around Kaedryn intensified into a brilliant wave.

"No way...in just a few days he has gotten to the three star Imperium Rank, what a monster."

Lancelot muttered, a hint of admiration in his voice.

"That damn Golden Soul-Ore… A prodigy among prodigies."

The moment Kaedryn's golden aura spread, the cries of despair in the city began to fade, replaced by whispers of hope. His presence alone sent a ripple of reassurance through the panicked citizens, their eyes reflecting the light of his energy.

Then the behemoth turned its attention to him.

A Stone Cyclops...

The colossal Mystic level youth-Scavenger loomed above him, its body covered in molten stone scales and jagged spikes of hardened magma. A single, blazing eye burned like a furnace at the center of its grotesque face. The Cyclops let out a deafening roar and swung its massive arm in a fiery arc, aiming to obliterate the figure approaching with calm determination.

Kaedryn's expression was unchanging, his golden eyes locked on the behemoth. Time felt like a weight pressing against him. Every second spent facing this creature was a moment stolen from being by his wife's side.

His aura surged violently, the golden light flaring with intensity. A dazzling sword materialized in his grip, its blade shimmering with radiant firery energy.

As the Cyclops' fiery claws descended toward him, Kaedryn moved. With a fluid sidestep, he evaded the attack by mere inches. Despite its massive size, the Cyclops was surprisingly agile, quickly recovering and slamming its molten fists together above Kaedryn's head.

The crushing blow came down with earth-shattering force, aiming to reduce him to ash, but Kaedryn remained unfazed. Even as he faced a Mystic level beast, his thoughts were elsewhere.

'I must end this quickly. Elyssia, hold on—I'm coming.'

The deafening 'whoosh' of the Cyclops's fists cutting through the air shattered his thoughts. Towering above, the massive fists were mere moments from reducing him to dust.

Kaedryn reacted instinctively, parrying the incoming blow with a precise deflection that diverted its trajectory. The force created a wide opening in the Cyclops's defenses.

Employing the 'Dragon Slash' sword technique of the Dragon Knight specialty, he tightened his grip on his sword, now burning with molten heat along its sharp edges. In one swift, devastating swing, Kaedryn struck the Cyclops's side. The ground beneath them crumbled upon impact, shuddering as if mountains were collapsing.

A shockwave exploded from the arc of his slash, splitting the darkened sky with a blinding horizontal streak of light. The once-shadowed Wrym City was bathed in the silver glow of the moon.

Before the stunned onlookers, the Stone Cyclops crumbled, split cleanly in two by the force of Kaedryn's attack. The behemoth toppled, lifeless, to the ground, leaving behind a stunned silence that quickly turned into resounding cheers and cries of relief.

"He killed a mystical level Scavenger in one attack!"

"A true Ranker!!"

"Best Apostle!!"

The cries and praises continued but Kaedryn wasn't the least interested on remaining in duty as the empire's hero, he had somewhere to be. He turned to the crowd, giving a brief nod before calling out to his comrade.

"Lancelot, I'm leaving the cleanup to you. I'm off."

Lancelot smirked, adjusting the glinting golden armor on his shoulders.

"You're insufferable, Kaedryn"

He replied.

"I do the cleanup while you play the doting father? Typical."

Kaedryn allowed himself the faintest of smiles.

"You'd do the same, if you ever found someone who could stand you."

Before Lancelot could retort, Kaedryn disappeared, his golden aura fading into the distance as he raced toward his wife. The cries of the wounded faded behind him, replaced by the faint echoes of Elyssia's labor carried on the storm winds.

Lancelot sighed as other Rankers arrived, swiftly tending to the injured and clearing the Scavengers remains. The Clerics moved in, their healing spells illuminating the battlefield with gentle light.

"He must really want to see his child that badly"

Lancelot muttered, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Probably praying for another boy, the crazy bastard."

His gaze lingered on the storm clouds, still faintly glowing with Kaedryn's fading aura.

Far to the eastern mountains of the Empire, nestled within the volcanic peaks of the Avalon Empire, stood the Drakon ancestral home, the stronghold of the Von Drakon family.

Towering over a sea of swirling storm clouds and jagged peaks, the Keep seemed both majestic and foreboding. Its stone spires jutted into the sky like claws, supported by massive chains binding floating mountains around it.

Beneath those floating isles, rivers of magma carved their way through the ash-strewn landscape, illuminating the perpetual twilight that surrounded the Drakon territories.

The still night shattered as the anguished cry of a woman pierced the air, carrying through the volcanic peaks of the Drakon Keep. Nobles, knights, and servants had gathered within the towering halls, their anticipation palpable as they awaited the birth of the hero's child—a moment destined to shape the future of the Avalon Empire.

"Push, my lady! Harder!"

The frantic encouragement of the healers echoed beyond the veiled chamber where Lady Elyssia labored.

Surrounding her were elite mages, master healers, and even an Oracle, their presence a testament to the importance of this birth. Outside, amidst the murmurs of concern, Kaedryn appeared, his golden aura still faintly flickering from his recent battle.

"Lord Kaedryn! You've returned!"

Without sparing a glance, Kaedryn surged forward, his boots pounding against the polished stone floors of the Keep. The hallways, adorned with shimmering crystal chandeliers and tapestries of past patriarchs, seemed to blur as he raced toward his wife. The air carried a sweet blend of incense and flowers, but it did little to soothe the storm brewing within him.

At last, he reached the chamber. His hand hesitated before parting the veiled curtains, worry and curiosity battling within him.

As he entered, a sharp poke to his eye made him stumble, a grumble escaping his lips as he rubbed the stinging spot.

An ancient figure emerged—her frail frame wrapped in layers of weathered robes, supported by a gnarled staff that echoed against the stone with every step. The Oracle. Kaedryn immediately dropped to one knee, bowing with reverence.

"Oracle."

She inclined her head slightly, her gaze distant as she moved to the window. The fiery peaks of the Drakon lands glowed in the distance, casting an otherworldly light over her features.

"You've done well, young lord"

She said, her voice soft yet laden with the weight of centuries. Her gaze drifted to the horizon, where molten rivers illuminated the darkened sky.

"You are, without question, the luckiest man blessed by the Divine gods."

Kaedryn's brows furrowed. Her words, though spoken with calm, carried a cryptic undercurrent that made his chest tighten.

"What do you mean, Oracle?"

She chuckled softly, a sound that seemed to echo from some unseen realm.

"Do you wonder why this old woman left her sanctuary to be here tonight? Because this is no ordinary birth. Tonight, something extraordinary enters this world. A being whose existence alone will shift the tides of destiny. Your child will shake kingdoms and rewrite fates."

Kaedryn's breath hitched.

"You speak of my unborn child?"

The Oracle nodded.

"Indeed. Your son particularly, the bearer of light will be unlike any other. Greater than those with golden soul-ores, he will carry something divine—an anomaly destined to rise and sit amongst the gods and rise above men alike."

Her words sent a surge of pride through Kaedryn, yet unease lingered like a shadow.

"Divine…"

He whispered, awe and trepidation lacing his voice.

"Be proud, young lord"

She continued, her tone darkening.

"But be vigilant. Such a destiny attracts not only joy but envy, fear, and greed. The light of your son will draw many shadows. Guard him well."

Kaedryn's jaw tightened, her warning digging deep. He had faced countless enemies in his campaigns, but none felt as insidious as the thought of unseen threats stalking his child.

But, before he could respond, the piercing cries of childbirth gave way to silence. A breathless pause filled the hall, broken moments later by a rumbling that shook the Keep itself. The magma rivers outside surged, glowing brighter, as though the volcanic sanctuary was on the verge of erupting.

A beam of radiant golden light shot skyward, tearing through the night. Its brilliance warmed the land, sending ripples of awe across the empire. Mighty figures paused in their tasks, stunned by the overwhelming presence of the newborn. It was as if a second sun had risen, proclaiming the fulfillment of prophecy.

Kaedryn pushed through the curtains, his heart hammering. The dimly lit chamber smelled of incense and blood, the cries of a newborn rising above the whispers of the mages and healers. His gaze fell on Elyssia, her face pale but glowing with triumph. Draped in a loose white robe, she cradled a small bundle in her arms.

Kaedryn froze. Golden dragon eyes stared back at him from the bundle, shimmering with an ethereal light. His son.

Elyssia smiled weakly, her voice a soft melody.

"Look, my love. Our son. With an entrance like that, I already know he's extraordinary. Just like his father—a hero."

Kaedryn's hands trembled as he reached out, taking the child into his arms. The weight of destiny felt tangible in the tiny bundle, intertwining with an overwhelming sense of love.

As the boy shifted, the moonlight streaming through the window caught his golden eyes, making them gleam like molten gold.

A moment of peace enveloped them, but it was fleeting. The world outside waited. Together, Kaedryn and Elyssia stepped onto the balcony, the crowd below roaring in jubilation as they saw the fifth prince of the Von Drakon family. Nobles and knights alike knelt in reverence, their cheers echoing through the night.

But not all celebrated. Hidden among the joyous faces were whispers, sharp and uneasy. Whispers of what such a child could mean for the balance of power.

Kaedryn raised his son high, the silver moonlight illuminating the boy's golden dragon eyes. His voice boomed, a declaration that seemed to shake the heavens themselves.

"Another Drakon is born! May the Divine Gods forever guide his path—the fifth prince of the Avalon Empire!"

The crowd erupted once more, their voices mingling with the rumble of the skies. Kaedryn's gaze hardened as he uttered the final words with unshakable pride.

"He shall be called… Zal Von Drakon!"