Chapter 26: The Dragon's Bargain

The whispers of the curse, once hushed and fearful, now echoed through the streets of Arkonia, amplified by the awe and confusion surrounding Revyn's display of power. The citizens, still reeling from the near-destruction of their city, clung to the narrative of the doomed hero, the serpent destined for sacrifice. They didn't understand the complex tapestry of history, the ancient bargains, and the lingering echoes of a forgotten era that had led to this moment.

Long ago, in a time when dragons soared across the skies and their power was as vast as the land itself, an uneasy peace existed between the dragons and the serpent tribes. The dragons, revered as gods due to their rarity and their uncanny ability to perceive the threads of fate, ruled the skies with wisdom and a touch of aloofness. Their births were momentous events, consuming the mother in a burst of raw magical energy, leaving behind only the dragon egg.

The serpent tribes, ancient and cunning, dwelled in the earth, their magic intertwined with the very essence of the land. They possessed a deep connection to the natural world, a primal understanding of its rhythms and secrets.

A forbidden love bloomed between a dragon prince, renowned for his unwavering principles and the immense expectations placed upon him, and a serpent princess, a woman of breathtaking beauty and quiet strength. Their love blossomed in secret, a hidden flame that burned bright despite the chasm that separated their worlds. No one knew how their connection had formed, how their hearts had intertwined, but their love was undeniable.

The serpent princess, unbeknownst to the dragon prince, was an ancient princess of her tribe, a lineage tied to the very origins of the serpent people. When the serpent princess became pregnant, the news sent shockwaves through both the dragon and serpent tribes. The dragons, proud and possessive of their bloodline, were outraged. A union between dragon and serpent was an abomination, a transgression against the natural order. The serpent tribes, though powerful in their own right, were wary of incurring the wrath of the dragons, whose power was unmatched.

The dragon tribe, unwilling to openly support their prince's forbidden love, remained silent. They did not intervene to protect him, nor did they offer sanctuary to the serpent princess. The serpent tribes, though bound by duty to protect their princess, were unable to stand against the might of the dragons. They were forced to retreat, to hide, to become a shadow of their former selves.

The dragons, despite their initial anger, recognized the potential consequences of their actions. They knew that open conflict with the serpent tribes could destabilize the delicate balance of power that existed in the world. So, they offered a bargain. They would grant the serpent tribes the authority to act as a bridge between the mortal realm and the realm of the dragons, a position of immense power and influence.

In exchange, they demanded the serpent princess, not as a prisoner, but as a ward, a guarantee of peace.

The serpent tribes, considering the precarious health of their princess and the potential danger she posed to the unborn dragon, reluctantly agreed. The serpent princess, aware of the delicate balance and the potential for greater conflict, accepted her fate. She chose to sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of her people, for the fragile peace between the dragons and the serpents.

Centuries passed, and the bargain remained a secret, a hidden truth known only to the most ancient members of both tribes. The serpent tribes, bound by their oath, served the dragons faithfully, acting as intermediaries between the realms. But the resentment simmered beneath the surface, a quiet anger that fueled their desire for power.

And so, the lineage of Revyn began. Descendants of the serpent princess, they carried within them a unique curse, a consequence of the dragon blood that flowed through their veins. Their lives were short, their bodies unable to sustain the immense power that coursed through them. They were destined to die young, their life force consumed by the dragon's energy, unless they left behind an offspring to carry on the lineage.

The dragons, as punishment for their interference in the natural order, were unable to produce any more offspring. The ancient dragons, burdened by their past actions, were tasked with training the descendants of the serpent princess from the moment they hatched, guiding them in the use of their power. But no new dragons were born. The era of the dragons had come to an end.

This was the legacy that Revyn inherited, the burden he carried. He was the serpent of the prophecy, the vessel of ancient power, and the inheritor of a curse that demanded sacrifice. His actions had revealed the truth, had exposed the hidden bargain, and had set in motion a chain of events that threatened to shatter the fragile peace that had existed for centuries. The whispers of the curse had become a roar, and the world was about to witness the true power of the serpent's blood.