Chapter 11: Greed that Brings Chaos
Chapter 11: Greed that Brings Chaos
POV of the Duke of Khachin, Min Htin Kyaw Saw
The cold wind bit through the heavy furs Duke Min Htin Kyaw Saw wore as he stood on the observation platform overlooking the sprawling mining site at the foothills of Hkakabo Razu. Snow-covered peaks towered in the distance, their majesty both awe-inspiring and foreboding. The mining operation, with its countless workers and intricate machinery powered by Anja, looked like an intrusive scar upon the pristine landscape.
Min Htin Kyaw Saw was not a man easily swayed by sentiment or fear. His ambition burned hotter than any fire, and his greed for influence in the Pagan court was insatiable. He prefer the palace rather than this country back in the middle of nowhere. However, The veins of magical stone discovered in the mountain had provided him with an opportunity he could not ignore. These stones were infused with potent Anja energy, far surpassing the ordinary magical resources of the empire. If he could deliver enough of them to the palace, his position would be unassailable.
"The court will have no choice but to recognize my worth," he muttered to himself, his breath visible in the frigid air. His fingers tightened around the pommel of his jeweled dagger, a habitual gesture when he contemplated his plans.
"Your Grace," a miner approached cautiously, bowing low. The man's face was pale, his eyes darting nervously. "We've reached another vein, but… it's unlike anything we've seen before. The energy… it's overwhelming."
Min Htin Kyaw Saw's lips curled into a smirk. Overwhelming energy meant wealth and power. "Good. Expand the tunnels and extract as much as possible. Spare no expense. The court must see the fruits of our labor before the crown prince's next audience."
"But, Your Grace," the miner stammered, his voice trembling, "the workers are reporting strange phenomena. The air grows colder the deeper we go, and some say they've heard… sounds. Growls. Like something alive."
The duke's smirk faltered for a moment before he waved the miner off dismissively. "Nonsense. It's the ramblings of superstitious fools. The mountain holds riches beyond measure, not monsters. Continue the work."
The miner hesitated, then bowed deeply and retreated. Min Htin Kyaw Saw turned his gaze back to the site, watching the glow of Anja-infused lanterns flicker in the deep tunnels. He ignored the unease curling in his chest. The legends of a tre Ice Dragon slumbering atop Hkakabo Razu were ancient myths, tales meant to scare children and keep adventurers away. They were of no consequence to a man of his station.
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POV of the True Ice Dragon
Deep within the icy core of Hkakabo Razu, beneath layers of frozen stone and Anja-infused veins, a presence stirred. For centuries, the True Ice Dragon had rested, its immense body coiled protectively around the fragile eggs that held its legacy. The core of the mountain, rich in Anja, served as the lifeblood for these eggs, sustaining them through the ages.
The dragon's awareness had long extended beyond its physical form, sensing the shifts and flows of energy in the mountain. For decades, the disturbances had been minimal, the occasional tremor of human activity far above its lair no more than an annoyance.
But now… something had changed.
The vibrations were relentless, the flow of Anja disrupted and siphoned away. The balance that had been maintained for centuries was shattered as the humans dug deeper, closer to the mountain's heart. The dragon's sharp senses picked up their movements, their voices, their greed.
Then it felt the crack.
The delicate shell of one of its eggs fractured, unable to withstand the depletion of Anja. A surge of fury coursed through the dragon's massive form, its blue scales shimmering with energy as frost crystallized in the air around it. A low, guttural growl echoed through the cavern, reverberating up through the tunnels to the ears of the miners who dared encroach on sacred ground.
The True Ice Dragon opened its eyes, twin orbs of glacial blue that radiated ancient power. Its wings unfurled, sending icy winds cascading through the chamber. The humans had dared to disturb its sanctum, to threaten its offspring. It would teach them the cost of their hubris.
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POV of the Duke
The first signs of disaster reached the duke in the form of a panicked rider, his horse frothing at the mouth and his face pale as death. "Your Grace!" the man cried, collapsing to his knees before the platform. "The dragon—it's real! It's awake! It's killing everyone!"
Min Htin Kyaw Saw's blood ran cold, but he maintained his composure. "What are you babbling about? Speak clearly."
"The miners, Your Grace. The deeper tunnels—frozen solid. The dragon... it's coming!"
Before the duke could respond, a deafening roar echoed across the valley. The sound was otherworldly, a mix of rage and sorrow that sent shivers down the spines of everyone who heard it. The temperature plummeted further, frost creeping across the ground despite the protective enchantments placed around the site.
The duke turned his gaze toward the mountain. A massive figure emerged from the shadows of the upper peaks, its body wreathed in frost and shimmering with ethereal blue light. The True Ice Dragon descended with terrifying grace, its enormous wings creating gusts of freezing wind that turned the air to ice. Its eyes burned with fury, locking onto the mining site as if marking its prey.
"Retreat!" Min Htin Kyaw Saw bellowed, his voice cracking with desperation. "Fall back to the fortress!"
The miners and guards scattered, their screams drowned out by another earth-shaking roar. The dragon unleashed its wrath, a torrent of icy breath that froze everything in its path—workers, machinery, even the enchanted barriers. The site became a frozen wasteland in moments, the once-bustling operation now a silent graveyard of ice.
Min Htin Kyaw Saw fled toward his carriage, his finely embroidered robes whipping in the wind. As he reached the vehicle, he turned to see his personal guard standing their ground, faces pale but resolute.
"Hold it back!" he ordered, his voice frantic. "Buy me time!"
The guards hesitated, their fear evident, but their loyalty forced them to obey; if not, they would follow to their comrades that had fallen in front of them and will their families will be persecuted for insubordination and killed. They drew their weapons and charged at the dragon, their battle cries swallowed by the frigid winds. The duke didn't wait to see the outcome. He climbed into his carriage, slamming the door shut and urging the driver to move.
As the vehicle sped away, he could hear the screams of his men, the sound of ice shattering and flesh freezing. He gritted his teeth, rage and fear warring within him. He had sacrificed everything—workers, guards, and even his reputation—to save his own life. But none of that mattered now. What mattered was survival.
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By the time Min Htin Kyaw Saw reached the safety of his fortress, the sun was setting, casting a blood-red glow over the frozen landscape. He staggered into the war room, his face pale and his hands trembling. His advisors surrounded him, their expressions a mix of confusion and alarm.
"The dragon attacked us," the duke lied, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. "It came down from the mountain unprovoked, slaughtering my men and destroying the site. We need reinforcements from the palace immediately."
His advisors exchanged uneasy glances. One of them, a grizzled veteran named U Thar, stepped forward. "Your Grace, the court will demand evidence. If the dragon attacked without reason, why was the mining site so deep in the mountain?"
The duke's eyes flashed with anger. "Are you questioning me, U Thar? The mountain holds valuable resources for the empire, and I was fulfilling my duty to extract them. If the court doesn't act, the dragon will come for us all!"
The veteran hesitated, then bowed. "As you command, Your Grace."
Min Htin Kyaw Saw turned to another advisor. "Prepare a messenger. Inform the court that the Khachin Province is under siege by a rogue dragon. We require immediate aid."
As his men hurried to carry out his orders, the duke sank into a chair, his mind racing. He had played a dangerous game, and now the stakes were higher than ever. The dragon's wrath was unstoppable, but if he framed the incident correctly, he could twist the situation to his advantage. With the court's attention and resources focused on Khachin, he might yet turn this disaster into an opportunity.
But deep down, as he stared into the flickering light of the hearth, he couldn't shake the memory of the dragon's eyes—cold, ancient, and filled with fury.
(Continue)