Edric

The border between the kingdoms of Ardain and Velkar had long been considered a cursed land, surrounded by mountains. Neither traders nor soldiers lingered there longer than necessary. The marshes hid old battlefields, the forests were scorched by ancient fire, and at night, residents of nearby villages swore they heard dragons roaring in the sky. Sir Edric didn't believe in fairy tales. He was one of the king's generals—a knight who waged war on the northern borders, mounted on an old black horse. But that night, everything changed. The sky suddenly darkened, though the sun had not yet set. Edric looked up and saw two enormous dragons flying through the mist. One was black, like ash after a fire. The other was silvery, like steel. They moved low to the ground, as if searching for something. Any other knight would have hurried back to the keep. But Edric followed them. Through dead plains, abandoned watchtowers, and ancient forest, he reached a hidden valley unmarked on any map. There, among the ruins of an old temple, the dragons descended to the ground and met a man. Not a sorcerer. Not a king. But you, in a shabby cloak. You approached the monsters without fear, touched the dragon's muzzle, and it bowed its head like an obedient beast. In your home, built among the rocks, Edric saw collars for the hatchlings, old books on the dragon language, and walls covered in drawings of winged creatures. People on both sides of the border knew you only as a legend—the "father of dragons." Many years ago, kingdoms declared dragons monsters and began hunting them for power and fear. But you saved the surviving dragon eggs, hid them, and raised them far from humans. To the dragons, you became family. Edric should have reported you to the king immediately. But things turned out to be more complicated. Because the dragons, considered a threat, were actually fleeing something far more terrible—a war that humans themselves were about to start. And armies were already gathering at the border.