Discovery

As Speed's fingertips brushed against the faintly glowing surface of the black book, the world around him seemed to tilt. A sharp wave of dizziness overtook him, pulling him into a swirling abyss of crimson and silver light. His breath caught in his chest as he felt himself falling, weightless and disoriented, into an endless void.

Then, everything went still.

Speed's eyes fluttered open, his head pounding with an ache that pulsed in time with his heartbeat. The air around him was cold, damp, and heavy with an ancient weight, as though it carried the memories of countless years. Pushing himself up on unsteady arms, he took in his surroundings.

He was no longer in his dormitory. Gone were the warm lanterns and polished wooden floors of Demiri. Instead, he found himself in the heart of a vast, dark temple. Towering stone columns loomed above him, their surfaces etched with runes that glimmered faintly in the dim light. Cracks ran along the ancient walls, moss creeping through the crevices as if nature itself had tried to reclaim this forsaken place.

The only light came from the faint glow of the runes and a massive, circular window high above, through which a sickly red hue filtered in, casting long, ominous shadows across the floor. The air was eerily silent, save for the faint sound of dripping water echoing through the cavernous space. It was as though the temple itself was holding its breath, waiting.

Speed's hands instinctively went to his satchel, but it was gone. The black book lay on the ground a few feet away, its cover now pulsating with a steady crimson light, the same as before—but this time, the spiral on its surface had stopped spinning, locked in place. It looked almost alive, as though it had drawn him here with purpose.

He stepped toward it cautiously, his footsteps echoing in the stillness. Just as he reached for the book, a deep, resonant voice reverberated through the temple, freezing him in place. It wasn't coming from the book; it seemed to emanate from the very walls themselves.

*"You have come."*

Speed's heart raced as he glanced around, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of movement. The voice continued, calm yet carrying an edge of authority that made his chest tighten.

*"The bearer of Spirit awakens. But are you worthy of what you seek? Will you rise… or will you fall?"*

The runes on the walls flared to life, their crimson light illuminating the temple in an eerie glow. From the shadows, figures began to emerge—not flesh and blood, but specters of translucent light, their forms shifting and indistinct. Each carried an aura of power, their eyes burning with a cold, unyielding gaze. They stood in a circle around Speed, their presence suffocating.

The voice spoke again. *"The path you walk is not one of glory, but of sacrifice. To wield Spirit is to bear the weight of all things, seen and unseen. Prove yourself, or leave this place forever."*

The specters began to move, closing the circle around him. Their translucent forms shimmered like fire, their movements unnaturally swift. Speed's hands curled into fists as he felt the suppression aura return—stronger than it had been in the Chamber. His magic was silent, but his resolve was not.

The book at his feet flared, the crimson light growing brighter as if urging him to act. 

The oppressive glow of the runes dimmed suddenly, plunging the temple into a moment of eerie silence. The specters that encircled Speed stilled, their translucent forms dissolving into faint trails of light. The air grew heavier, charged with an ancient, primal energy. Speed could feel it in his chest—each breath became more difficult, the weight of the atmosphere pressing down on him like a tidal wave.

Then, from the shadows, a sound echoed—a low, guttural rumble that resonated through the very stones of the temple. It grew louder, deeper, until it became a deafening roar that seemed to shake the walls themselves. Speed instinctively staggered back, his heart racing as a blinding light flared from the far end of the chamber.

Through the light, a massive figure emerged, its silhouette growing larger with every step. The ground trembled beneath its weight, sending cracks spidering through the stone floor. As it drew closer, the light dimmed just enough to reveal the creature in all its terrifying glory—a dragon, its scales blacker than the void, shimmering faintly with streaks of crimson that pulsed like molten fire beneath its hide.

Its eyes burned like twin suns, glowing gold with an intensity that made it impossible for Speed to look away. Horns curled back from its massive head, jagged and sharp, like the peaks of a mountain. Its wings, folded against its sides, seemed large enough to block out the sky itself, and each step it took left scorch marks on the stone.

The dragon lowered its head, its gaze fixed on Speed. The moment their eyes met, the oppressive aura of the temple shifted, morphing into something even more overwhelming—a raw, unfiltered presence that seemed to pierce straight into his soul. Speed's knees buckled, but he forced himself to stay standing, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

When the dragon finally spoke, its voice was a deep, resonant growl that seemed to shake the very air. *"At last,"* it said, its words carrying a strange blend of power and ancient wisdom. *"The bearer of Spirit stands before me. Long have I waited for this day."*

Speed swallowed hard, his mouth dry. He couldn't bring himself to speak, the sheer magnitude of the dragon's presence rendering him momentarily speechless. The creature regarded him for a moment, its gaze unyielding, before continuing.

*"You have been chosen,"* it rumbled. *"To carry the mantle of the Dragon Mage. Few have borne this title, and fewer still have survived the burden it brings. But you..."* The dragon leaned closer, its massive head now mere feet from Speed, its golden eyes gleaming with something akin to curiosity. *"There is strength in you. A spark that refuses to be extinguished."*

Speed felt a faint warmth on his wrist and glanced down. The birthmark, the spiral etched into his skin, now glowed faintly with the same crimson hue as the dragon's scales. The connection between them was undeniable, as if the mark itself had been leading him to this moment all along.

The dragon raised itself to its full height, its wings spreading slightly as it let out a low growl. *"The path of the Dragon Mage is one of sacrifice and power, of understanding the balance between creation and destruction. Do not take this lightly, for the choices you make from this moment forward will shape not only your destiny but the fate of this realm."*

For a moment, the chamber was silent, the weight of the dragon's words hanging in the air. Then, to Speed's astonishment, the great beast lowered itself slightly, bowing its massive head. *"Welcome, Dragon Mage. The time has come to awaken your true potential."*

Speed staggered slightly, still reeling from the dragon's words. His mind spun with disbelief, and his breath came in shallow gasps as he tried to process what stood before him. A *dragon*. The creature of legend. Towering, ancient, and immeasurably powerful. And it had chosen… him.

"I—I don't understand," Speed stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why me? Why now?"

The great dragon tilted its head, its golden eyes softening, though its massive frame still radiated an aura of overwhelming dominance. It settled back slightly, lowering its immense body so that it was almost eye level with the young mage. When it spoke, its voice was calm but carried a weight that reverberated through the temple.

*"You, Speed Blackthorn, are no accident. Long before you were born, I knew you would come. I chose you before your first breath, before the world even knew your name."*

Speed's legs threatened to give out beneath him, but he steadied himself, forcing his trembling hands into fists. He didn't feel chosen—he felt small, overwhelmed, and painfully out of his depth.

The dragon continued, its tone carrying the cadence of an ancient memory. *"When I first came to this world, I searched endlessly for one who could bear the power of the dragons. The power is not a gift, but a burden, one that requires a soul both resilient and pure. Many were tested; all were found wanting."*

It paused, its burning gaze fixed on Speed. *"And then, I saw you."*

Speed's heart pounded in his chest. "Saw me? When? I've—I've never even seen a dragon before."

The dragon's lips curled faintly, almost into what could be mistaken as a smile. *"You would not remember. But I have watched your journey from the moment your Spirit magic stirred within you. I have watched your struggles, your defiance, your triumphs. I watched you stand against the tide in the Chamber of Suppression, refusing to yield. That was not your first test, nor will it be your last. But it confirmed what I have always known—you are worthy."*

Speed stared, his stormy-gray eyes wide with disbelief. He searched for words but found none. The birthmark on his wrist pulsed faintly, as if responding to the dragon's presence.

The dragon shifted slightly, its scales gleaming faintly in the crimson light filtering through the temple. *"The power I bestow is not simply magic. It is the essence of the dragons themselves, the last of a lineage that once shaped the world. You are the final Dragon Mage, the bearer of a legacy that must not die."*

The weight of the words sank heavily onto Speed's shoulders. He felt as though the air had been knocked from his lungs. "The… the *last* Dragon Mage? But why me? What if I fail?"

The dragon's gaze burned with unwavering intensity. *"All who are chosen doubt. All who are chosen fear. But it is not the absence of fear that makes one great—it is the courage to stand despite it."*

It leaned closer, its voice softening, though its power remained palpable. *"You are stronger than you know, Speed Blackthorn. That strength will be tested again and again, but within you lies the potential to become something far greater than you can imagine. You must trust in yourself… and in me."*

The dragon rose to its full height, its wings spreading slightly as the room seemed to tremble beneath its majesty. *"Your journey begins now, Dragon Mage. You will learn, you will fight, and one day, you will stand as the bridge between the magic of mortals and the power of dragons. But for now… you must awaken."*

Before Speed could respond, the temple shook violently, and the crimson glow of the runes began to fade. The dragon's form blurred, its edges dissolving into light as the voice echoed one last time, carrying a note of finality and quiet reassurance.

*"Awaken."*