THE FIRST TRIAL

The path to the ancient ruin was long and treacherous. The forest became dense, the trees towering over them like silent guardians. As they walked, Lyria spoke little, her face a mask of concentration, as if she were listening for something only she could hear.

Eventually, the trees began to thin, and they arrived at a clearing. In the center stood the remnants of an old stone structure, crumbled and weathered by centuries of neglect. The air around them seemed heavier here, thick with the presence of something ancient.

"This place was once a sanctuary for Dragon Heirs," Lyria explained, her voice low and reverent. "It was built to test the chosen ones, to prepare them for the power they would inherit."

Kai looked at the ruin, feeling a strange mixture of awe and fear. What kind of tests awaited him here?

Lyria led him inside, where the walls were adorned with faded murals and broken statues. The air was thick with the smell of old stone and forgotten history. In the center of the ruin was an altar, ancient runes etched into its surface.

Lyria turned to him. "Your first trial is simple: summon the dragon within you. Prove that you can harness its power."

Kai stared at her in disbelief. "What do you mean, summon the dragon?"

Lyria didn't answer immediately. She stepped back, her eyes hard. "Prove your worth."

Frustration bubbled inside him. "I didn't ask for this! I'm just a nobody!" Kai shouted, his voice echoing off the stone walls.

Lyria didn't flinch. "Then stay a nobody. But if you leave, the darkness will consume this world, and it will be on your hands."

Her words cut through his anger, leaving him with a sharp pang of guilt. He wasn't sure if it was the weight of responsibility or the fear of failure, but something inside him shifted.

Determined, Kai closed his eyes and focused. He wasn't sure what he was doing, but he needed to try. The mark on his palm pulsed with energy, the warmth inside him growing until it became unbearable. As he channeled his energy, the air around him crackled with power. Then, as if by instinct, the shape of a dragon began to materialize before him—ghostly, ethereal, its eyes blazing with an ancient fire.

"You carry my bloodline," the dragon spoke, its voice reverberating in his mind. "But power comes with sacrifice. Are you willing to pay the price?"

Kai hesitated. He had no idea what this power would cost him. But deep down, he knew he didn't have a choice. He had to control it, or the world would be doomed.

With a deep breath, he nodded. "I'm ready."

The dragon roared, and in an instant, its essence merged with his body. Power surged through Kai, but the intensity was too much. His vision blurred, and he collapsed, gasping for breath.

Lyria stood over him, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Good. You've taken the first step."