Chapter 17: The White Dragon's Den
The sky had grown unnaturally still.
Not the gentle stillness of a quiet morning, but the kind of eerie silence that came before something ancient stirred. As Lee Kung, Mia, and Sio Jun crossed the invisible threshold into the heart of the forest, even the birds seemed to hold their breath.
The canopy above thickened, casting everything in a blue-gray tint. Mist clung to the earth like cobwebs, and the trees bent ever so slightly inward, as though bowing in reverence—or in fear.
"This place…" Mia whispered, her voice muffled by the oppressive air. "It's like walking into a graveyard of time."
"No," Sio Jun corrected, her voice distant. "This is older than time."
Each step forward came with resistance, not from the terrain, but from something intangible—a pressure, a presence. Then it happened: a soft glow emerged from beyond the knotted vines and twisted tree trunks. A dim, white light pulsed like a heartbeat in the fog ahead, calling to them with ancient allure.
As they pushed deeper into the thickets, the light grew stronger, pulling at them like a current. They emerged into a clearing unlike any they had seen. The earth here was carved with symbols, deep and radiant, glowing softly beneath their feet. At the center of it all was a raised stone platform, and on it—shackled by chains that shimmered like frozen moonlight—was a baby dragon.
It was small, no longer than a human child, with pale, silver-white scales that glowed faintly in the mist. Its wings were tucked tightly to its body, its neck wrapped in a thick collar of stone and silver. It whimpered, its eyes closed as though in pain.
Lee Kung's heart squeezed. "We have to help it."
He rushed forward, sword drawn, and examined the chains. Mia followed, touching the collar gently. "It's… breathing, but its energy feels drained. Like it's trapped not just physically, but spiritually."
Sio Jun, standing slightly back, eyes wide with old fear, murmured, "This is the White Dragon's Den. That dragon isn't just imprisoned. It's cursed."
Before another word could be spoken, a roar shattered the silence.
A piercing, deafening sound that made their bones tremble and the mist flee. Then—white fire burst through the sky like lightning made flame. The trio dove aside just in time as a searing line of energy scorched the ground where they had stood.
From the shadows behind the stone altar, an enormous form began to take shape.
A dragon. Not a baby, but a full-grown beast.
It emerged with grace and menace—scales pure white, eyes like molten silver. Its wings unfurled with the sound of ancient pages turning in the wind. Its presence alone made the ground quake.
The beast opened its mouth again and let out another roar, then locked eyes with Lee Kung.
A second breath of fire surged toward him.
Reacting instinctively, Lee Kung raised his red-glowing sword, spinning it to form a barrier of energy. The fire collided with it, creating a burst of wind and heat that threw him off his feet. He landed hard, the wind knocked out of him, his sword clattering beside him.
Mia screamed and ran toward him, but the dragon's booming voice stopped her in her tracks.
"You dare not interfere."
She froze, eyes wide in disbelief. The dragon's words had been spoken not in the common tongue, but deep within her mind.
The massive creature turned its attention to Lee Kung, who groaned and rolled over, struggling to stand. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"You," the dragon thundered, "Dare step into this sacred place? You, who abandoned your brother? You, who come wielding the very weapon that once sealed this place?"
Lee Kung coughed, his body aching, but his spirit was firm. "I didn't abandon my brother."
The dragon's eyes narrowed. "Then where is he? The one whose blood mirrors yours? The one now twisted in darkness? Until he is freed from the clutches of Dehaska, this dragon—your mirror—shall remain in chains. That baby dragon is your brother's soul. And the shackles? The grip of Dehaska's curse."
Shock hit Lee Kung like thunder.
"That… that's Lee Kang?"
"In part," the dragon said solemnly. "His innocence. His hope. His true self. Dehaska has imprisoned all that is good within him, and this is what remains. A reflection of what once was, crying to be saved."
Mia clutched her chest. Sio Jun stepped forward, speechless.
"I came here," Lee Kung said, rising slowly, his sword once again in hand, "Not for revenge, but to stop Dehaska. To save my brother."
The dragon moved its head closer, nostrils flaring with energy. "Lies. You still carry vengeance in your heart. I can smell it. You think if you kill Dehaska, all will be made right. But that… is not balance."
Lee Kung blinked. "Then what am I supposed to do?"
The dragon drew back and stood tall, its wings casting a wide shadow.
"When you understand that answer, your next task shall come to you. But first—hear my final wisdom. The three you seek, the final warriors who will restore balance—one is your brother. The other two… are not of this world."
"What?" Mia gasped.
"They come from another universe," the dragon said. "But fate has already brought them to Azura. One is forged in strength, the other born of water. You must leave the realms behind—blend into the world where they now walk—the modern world."
Sio Jun's brow furrowed. "How do we even begin to find them?"
The dragon's body began to glow faintly.
"Seek with your heart, not with your blade. Trust your instincts, and the sword's light shall guide you. You will not find them by searching… but by being ready when they find you."
Just as Lee Kung stepped forward to ask more, the dragon's form began to dissolve into dust. Its voice echoed as the mist reclaimed the clearing.
"This is my wisdom to you: Your quest is not to punish. Your quest is to restore. The realms cry not for vengeance… but for balance."
The last ember of the dragon's body vanished.
Only silence remained, and the cold mist once again filled the air.
For a long while, no one spoke. Then Mia reached out and placed a hand on Lee Kung's arm.
"Are you okay?"
He nodded slowly, eyes still on the baby dragon—still bound in silver chains. "We'll free him. One day."
Sio Jun looked to the sky, where the last bits of white fire had disappeared.
"You heard the dragon," she said. "Our path leads somewhere we never imagined."
"Then we go there," Lee Kung whispered. "For my brother. For the realms."
He sheathed his sword, the blade still glowing faintly red, and stepped forward.
A new journey was beginning. One unlike any he had faced before.
And this time, the fate of not just the realms—but of entire universes—hung in the balance.