It had been thirty days and nights since I hatched from my egg and learned of my new existence as a Dragon. Since then, my caretaker and attendant Kane has taught me much about the world I now inhabit, and the body I now find myself in. Every day, we would go out on hunts for food. The blood would be drained by the Vampyr, and the flesh left for me. Each time returning to the temple grounds to discuss and learn.

About the temple itself, I learned that it had three buildings surrounding its main courtyard. The main Church Hall was where I incubated as an egg. Hidden inside a false wall in the treasure vault underneath. Then there were the former living quarters of the faithful to this temple. Though the building itself was mere rubble, with only a foundation to work with. Then there was the storage house, a place where everything the temple needed was stored to live out in such a remote location. While the building was the least damaged of the three, it was old and barren in the same way. The tools rusted with age and the few supplies left were a few hundred years spoiled. Thankfully, we needed little. I hardly required the tools and supplies to survive as a dragon, and Kane did not need living quarters since he never slept.

Of the land I awoke to. I learned that we are in the remote region of the Gaul Highlands. A northern mountain range covered in dense forest that was a part of the greater eastern continent of Jahrn. It was said to be the farthest one could be from human civilization during the reign of Queen Calamity. After five centuries however, the growth and expansion of the nearby Nald Empire has recently brought itself to the base of the mountains we live on. The resources the highlands offered were too valuable to ignore. A few small villages had begun to sprout up around several quarries and mining outposts, one such village has even grown at the base of the very mountain our temple sat on. This is why explorers, hired mercenaries and adventurers soon found this temple over time, and picked it clean of the wealth inside.

It was the middle of summer in the Highlands, the only time in this region where the weather could be considered hot. It was not uncommon for an entire season to pass without a hint of sunlight to shine down on the lands below. Constant rain, snow and mist would coat the mountain range. However in this one short period of summer, the sunlight would be in abundance. Which gave Kane and I plenty of time to hunt, gather and train. In particular, Kane has been insistent in training me to use a particularly needed skill.

“Instinct.” The Vampyr began. “Is your innate ability to survive. A power unique to only a handful of intelligent species. With it, you tap into your primal intuition, and are capable of exceeding your natural limits.”

It has been weeks since he first explained it to me. From his explanation, I had witnessed him enter Instinct once when saving me from the mercenaries Shulk and Dana. There was a clear tell for when a creature had entered Instinct. The distinct glow of a creature's eyes in the heat of struggle. More surprisingly for me, was that Kane claimed I had entered instinct that day as well. According to the attendant, my amber eyes had shined the same way as his that night.

Despite his claim that I had done it before. In every attempt to replicate that feeling in me, I have not once been able to enter instinct like he wants me to. Hunting elk and rabbits for meals wasn’t enough to activate it. Though they did help me grow more accustomed to my dragon body. I had considerable strength and agility as just a mere hatchling. My senses were particularly enhanced from the usual beast. I could see through the dense forestry of the highlands and catch the slightest movement in the shadows. I was able to smell a creature from a great distance, and if they bled, the blood’s stench was so potent they could never escape my nose. On top of that, my ears were incredibly sensitive. If I stood as still as stone and focused, I could hear the fluttering of an insect’s wings when they passed.

The only thing I hadn’t quite grasped is the ability to use my wings. They sat upon my back, and I could stretch and move them at will, but they were far too small to carry my body up into the air. When outstretched, my wings barely reached past my torso. A reminder that I was still just a baby despite my abilities.

For Kane, there was still more I could achieve as my current self. So every day he would still train me to enter instinct. Every day I tried to tap into what apparently was locked within me, but to no avail.

The Vampyr would not give up on me, but today felt a bit excessive!

“This will be your opponent today.” The pale attendant said, his hand gripping tight onto the scruff of a far larger creature than I had to ever face before. Its thick brown fur, ginormous paws, and ferocious maw limp in Kane’s grasp, already killed by the Vampyr before being dragged to the courtyard. He would have me fight a grizzly bear!

“I-I understand how important this is, Kane. But you would have me fight a bear?! Why can’t I just fight you?”

“To make you able to activate your instinct at will. You must understand the feeling of being in your instinct. Your time in it with the humans was not enough, but facing an enemy of equal or greater strength will force you to use instinct. You must also feel threatened enough to need to use it. If you were to face me, you would not feel your life threatened.”

“Does it have to be a bear?!”

“There are few predators in the immediate area of this Temple that are capable of killing a dragon. This one is the only one suitable.”

His hands dropped the corpse of the grizzly bear onto the moss covered stone in front of me. It was dead, anyone would know that a corpse is not a threat. Those people would be fools, since I knew what Kane was about to do next. The attendant stepped away from the center of the courtyard and turned to oversee the coming deathmatch. A single hand held up towards the fallen bear.

“I will oversee your battle, and if you are bested, I will ensure it is finished. Prepare yourself!”

My body tensed, claws digging into the ground. This was the first time I ever found myself facing a creature larger than me. Not to mention the first predator I have ever gone against. Hunting game in the forests has never pitted me against a beast of similar strength to my own…Yet here I would be hunted by a creature that likely has greater power than me. With his hand raised towards the beast. I had to be ready to bring my all.

“Rise!”

Kane’s command echoed with the magick he bore into it. The corpse of the bear quickly surrounded by a black, necrotic energy. Enveloping its corpse in a whirlwind of magick. The necrotic power wrapped itself tighter around its form, until the whirlwind itself melded with the lifeless body. The color of the great grizzly’s fur melted away from a deep brown to a faded gray. The moment the last of its color faded away, its body began to rise to its feet. Head held low as it lumbered to follow his master’s command.

When it finished following Kane’s command, its head came up, pitch black eyes devoid of life stared back at me. The undead beast had risen, and it found its first piece of flesh.

I had no time to react, the grizzly did not roar or snarl its teeth. It gave me no warning of its attack, but it charged at me anyways. A full sprint leading to his gigantic paw coming down to pin me to the ground.

My legs could barely keep me from being mauled by the monster on its very first strike. Sidestepping it’s slam that cracked the stone beneath where I once stood. The surprising speed of the undead bear caught me by surprise. I knew grizzlies were faster than they looked, but that felt closer to Kane than a bear! Maybe the Vampyr wasn’t fighting me directly, but he surely put his ferocity in his puppet!

True to that belief, his slam was only followed by more ferocious swipes. Walking on two legs as its front paws assaulted my every path. Narrowly did I avoid them, but its relentlessness made each harder and harder to miss. Claws just inches away from my scales. I had to find a way to turn the fight around, to be on the offensive. Yet every time I thought myself free from his assault, another swipe came for me! Sure enough, the relentless assault bore fruit, its paw finally colliding against my side. Cracking my scales and sending me into the air.

The excruciating pain from a single strike from this beast was enough to leave me struggling to get back up. Thrown onto my back by the impact. I did not have enough time to recover before the Grizzly was upon me again. Pouncing on top of my defenseless form and snapping at my throat. The only thing holding it back from finishing the job were my own legs pressing against his stomach. My claws desperately dug into his flesh, but it did not matter to a reanimated beast. It’s full weight was on me, if I couldn’t hold it back, one snap of its jaws would end me! Surely this was enough, surely my instinct would activate?!

…Nothing, even as I struggled against the behemoth of a bear, I felt nothing. I was on my own. I had to beat this thing myself…think, think!

It had me pinned, but my legs held it back. With all my strength I pushed back against the grizzly. If I could turn the tide, I could finish it in one strike! I gave it everything I had, a bellowing roar coming from the depths of my chest, until I finally had the grizzly off of its feet!

Quickly, I shifted my weight to slam the lifted bear onto the ground. Sending a small quake into the ground. I had no time to waste, using the shift in momentum to climb atop the turtled undead. Pinning it to the ground and opening my jaw wide.

For the next few moments, the roars of the reanimated beast shot out into clear skies above. Fighting against the merciless dragon that clenched down and ripped out its throat. When the first tear did not stop the undead’s cries. The dragon clamped down on its neck and took out another piece. Again, and again, until no sounds came from the monster of a bear. Its pitch black eyes faded away to show the real brown eyes the bear once had. The dragon had won.

“…I see that even a creature such as this isn’t enough to bring out your instinct. You are truly a powerful dragon, My King.”

The adrenaline released after its assault had not yet passed. Spitting out a pool of the bear’s blood that built up in my mouth.

“…Why didn’t you help me when it had me pinned!?”

The blood in my body was still pumping, and the fury I had thrown at the beast now seemed pointed at my attendant. Kane stepped forward with his hands clasped behind his back, calm.

“I said I would finish it if you were bested. You were pushed to the ground, but by no means were you defeated by the beast. I believed you would prevail and I was correct. The only thing that was in question was whether you would need your Instinct. You clearly did not.”

His smooth, calm tone was a helpful factor in calming my nerves. He was right, I did prevail…but only by a hair. Would I really have entered instinct, or would the grizzly have ripped out my throat before I had? It all didn’t feel right, this wasn’t right to me.

“…I understand that this is important, Kane. I do. But can we find another way to learn how to use my instinct, a way that doesn’t require something this extreme?”

“I must object to that, My King. This is the best way, the only way to bring you to use your instinct.”

“Is it? A grizzly bear was killed today, not for food or any good reason. Just to force it to fight me!”

“Creatures die with no purpose, that is no reason not to try and grow your strength.”

“I don’t want to kill something for the sole purpose of making me stronger, Kane!”

“Without the power to defeat your enemies, you will never be able to be the king I know you’re meant to b-“

“That is enough, Kane!”

My words finally made the attendant hold his tongue. I haven’t ever tried to command Kane like I had just now. He was always teaching me, guiding me, but he always did present himself as my servant. I never felt the need to try and command him. Maybe he was just as surprised as I was to be asserting myself.

“…Please, there has to be a method that doesn’t sacrifice something like this.”

Kane did not answer right away, his head bowed to gaze at the ground beneath my feet. It was the first time I ever felt higher than the Vampyr.

“As you wish. We will refrain from further training for the time being, then. Until I am able to fulfill your request.”

I felt bad. His tone was different from his usual calm earnesty. It was cold, direct. The type of way you’d speak when forced to say those words. It had to be said, I don’t think I could do this again. The bear may have nearly been my end, but it did not choose to be. I had to kill it to survive, but its death was without any other reason than testing me. Every animal I have killed has been for their food, to survive. I may be a powerful dragon, but I don’t want to be a dragon that kills for the sake of it.

“Thank you.”

Kane bowed his head, no words to be said.

____

A few days have passed since Kane and I had our fight. No more lessons have been taken. It was quiet, but I felt an on feeling in the pit of my stomach each time I saw Kane return from his scouting. I was not allowed to follow him too far out from the Temple. The risk of being seen by humans was far too great. Especially as Kane had learned as of late that there was a notice in the closest village. A warning to be on the lookout for two missing Mercenaries that disappeared in the Highlands.

Today he was out on his scouting in the same way, and I was left alone at the temple. Pacing around the courtyard. I found myself dreading the moment my Vampyr attendant returned each day. Not because I resented him, but from an uncomfortable feeling at the pit of my stomach each time he returned with that same cold gaze. It was his natural look I have learned, but he never gave it to me. There was always an earnesty when he spoke to me, but it was no longer there. I felt guilty.

When he returns today, I will apologize to him.

The brief period of clear daylight had passed, the highlands once again coated in an unending overcast. Perfect for the somber mood I felt. Sitting on the warm grass, waiting.

“My King.”

I felt my heart burst out of my chest. A startled whine pointed at the pale man who appeared suddenly behind me. I thought my senses were better than that!

“Kane! You scared me..”

“My apologies. Please follow me, an opportunity has appeared before us.”

My head cocked at his direction. Immediately with my head following his path back towards the treeline. I wanted to apologize to him, but the attendant’s attention seemed elsewhere. I don’t know what he meant by opportunity, but I can’t apologize if he wasn’t here.

So I stepped into the treeline behind Kane.

Wherever it was the Vampyr was taking me. He did not speak a word of it, his pace quickened as soon as we passed the treeline. He was in a hurry, and I had to trot along his path to keep up.

“Kane. This may not be the best of times but. I want to apologize to you.”

“What for, My King?” He asked, his head firmly faced forward as I spoke, the pace of our travel did not slow.

“The way I spoke to you that day with the bear. I was rude to you when you were only trying to help me. I’m sorry.”

That, however, made me collide into his back from a sudden stop. Kane turned to face me, his serious expression looking down upon me.

“Never apologize for giving me an order.” The attendant’s voice was stern, harsh. “You are not in the wrong for directing your servant. It was I who acted out of line, for fighting against your wishes. It is your duty as my liege.”

This was…a surprise to be sure. I hoped to apologize, yet he spoke to me like a parent scolding a child for their mistake.

“..The thing is, you have never felt like a servant to me. Everything you have done has been for me. I see you like my Teacher, or even…a fr-“

“I am your servant, My King. It is best to only look at it as that. You will use me as you will, and I will act in a way that I believe best serves you.”

“…and what if I don’t wish to have you serve me?”

The silence between us was tense. Before I even knew it, a barrier had formed between me and Kane. My attempt at mending the gap made between us only hardened this wall that seperated “master” and servant. No matter how hard I tried to connect with my attendant, he only wished to force it back apart. I always had to be his king. I must be a king, a great king. Everything had to be for that purpose.

And what if I didn’t want that?

“..Nevermind, what opportunity are we looking for out here?”

The conversation was going nowhere. I could only be what he wants me to be. There was no choice in the matter.

“…Very well, we will be there shortly.” Kane’s pitch black cloak twirled around him, his back to me once more. Continuing onward into the forest. Soon enough, we would reach a large open face of the mountainside. A cave leading into pure darkness inside the depths of the mountain. Only when we stood outside its entrance did the Vampyr’s feet come to a stop.

“If you are to grow beyond your current form, your hoard must grow. This cave is a burrow carved by Stonescales, and has long since been abandoned by its inhabitants. I have no doubt that there will be valuables hidden within the burrow’s depths.”

“A Stonescale?” I asked.

“A form of humanoid draconid. Descended from dragons. I believe a common term for them is ‘stone kobolds’. They live in burrows such as this and dig into the earth for gems and rare ores.”

Certainly sounds like a descendant of a dragon. Stone Kobolds, the name brought a lighthearted thought to my head. Of goofy gremlins with makeshift spears, setting up primitive traps and running at the slightest hints of danger. Perhaps I'll meet one of these creatures one day. If they are as cowardly as my mind seems to recall, they may be prone to running at the mere sight of a dragon. I wouldn’t have to worry about that here, if it was abandoned.

“Then we will go in and search for whatever they have left behind then?”

“Not we, you will, My King.”

“Me?”

“The cave has been abandoned, no greater threats will be waiting inside. You will not require me to accompany you. However, we are closer to the human village here, and are at risk of being found by hunters, herbalists or wandering adventurers. It will be best to allow me to keep watch over the surrounding area. To ensure no one walks upon you when you exit. Unless you wish to command me otherwise.”

Those last few words felt like they were meant to provoke me. He knew I wouldn’t.

“Alright.”

It was for the best, the gap between us was only growing larger with each conversation we shared. A short time apart would do us both good. Maybe after I have explored the burrows, we could have a genuine conversation about everything. I took my steps toward the cave entrance.

“Before you enter.” Kane called out just before my feet brought me inside. “Understand that I will not be able to reach you should there be an unexpected threat inside. I would advise My King to flee if a danger to your life is uncovered.”

“…Understood, I will run if I find anything dangerous. I promise.”

The Vampyr attending bowed his head, before turning to enter the treeline once more. Despite my keen eyes, he was gone from my sight in an instant.

A long sigh escaped my lips, before stepping into the Stonescale Burrows.

___

The village of Pinewood. Nestled far to the north of the capital of the Nald Empire. It is a small mountain village developed due to the rich mining potential the Gaul Highlands offers. You find two types of people who come to Pinewood. The first seek to raise their pickaxe and strike gold within the mines, the other? They seek to explore the forgotten reaches of the mountain range. For glory, for treasure, or simply for the thrill of adventure. It may have been a remote village far removed from most of the empire. Yet the riches it offered gave it priority in the construction of an intercontinental railway to and from the Capital and multiple townships in between.

“So, which one are the two of ye?” The old attendant asked the two young women that sat in the few occupied seats on this early morning train ride. The violent rumbling of the train’s engine and its wheels screeching along the track was muffled by the heavy passenger car they rode in. “Ye only get two kindsa folk this far out o’ the way.”

The two women looked back at the man who smiled sweetly back at them. A pure and simple man, simply trying to make conversation on the long ride north. His cheeks were covered in black soot. A worker for the mines, no doubt. The two had features similar to each other, short blonde hair that cut off no farther than their chins. Relatives, it seemed, sisters were the old worker’s best guess. Both with dazzling green eyes, though how those eyes were shaped were distinct. The older of the two, with her arm wrapped around the smaller one’s shoulder, had sharp, narrow eyes that watched the worker warily. While the younger one had soft, round eyes that were left half lidded. Barely keeping herself awake.

“Adventurers.” The older one said quickly. Giving her sister a squeeze while she began to fall asleep.

“Aah, adventurin type. You’ll have plenty to do up in Pinewood. Best be careful as o’ late. Two mercenary folk have gone missin up in the highlands for over a month now.”

“We’ll be fine.”

“If ye say so lass. Still got a bit longer before we make it to town. Gonna hit the sack and I suggest ye do the same. Have a good rest ladies.”

The soot-covered man then laid back on his empty bench, boots up on the cushion. Best to get his rest before the heavy labor at the station.

The older woman then looked down at her half-asleep sister. Leaning softly against her chest. The older sister brought her hand to the head of the sleeping girl and gently brushed her hair with her fingers. While the other hand held tight onto the satchel in her lap. The slightest bit of white light glowing faintly from its inside.

“Rest up Mell, we’ll try again in town.” The sharp eyed girl whispered softly into her ear. “I won’t give up.”