The Dragon Temple of Valyria
Laenor and Elaena were making their way together to the Temple of the Dragon Gods. Laenor had seen no reason to deny the Drakonar woman from accompanying him. And, if he were honest with himself, he wanted to see whether the Dragon Gods would react any differently if the champion of Light graced their place of worship with her presence.
"I'm curious—and afraid—of how Lord Arrax might react," Elaena's voice was barely above a whisper, but Laenor heard it all the same. Their hands were intertwined, something Laenor saw no reason to object to; on the contrary, he welcomed such intimacy. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Elaena looked at him, her eyes filled with doubt and concern. For a fleeting moment, Laenor could have sworn they shimmered with a bright golden hue. But when he blinked, her eyes were the same lilac that he was familiar with.
"Do not be concerned. From what I know of the gods, I can say with certainty that the Dragon Gods of Valyria are among the most benevolent and courteous of them all. I do not think you have anything to worry about," Laenor said with a smile. His words seemed to take effect, as the tension slowly eased from Elaena's shoulders. She relaxed and leaned slightly toward him as they ascended the temple steps.
If their intention had been to remain quick and inconspicuous, it failed the moment they stepped inside. The pyre that was before Lord Arrax ignited into a blaze of pure white, like Light itself, the flames licking the ceiling in restless motion. Laenor glanced at Elaena, who stood stunned, before she slowly turned toward him with a hollow smile etched across her surprised face.
Laenor merely shook his head and led her inside, still holding her hand. The priests and Valyrian sorcerers were divided—half had fallen to their knees before the white fire, while the others stared between Laenor, his companion, and the blazing flames in astonishment. Laenor walked forward toward the statue of Lord Caraxes and closed his eyes.
The next moment, he felt a presence at the forefront of his mind. Laenor allowed the intrusion and cleared his thoughts, emptying his mind completely. He remained silent, waiting for the god to speak.
"You have taken your time, Laenor Velaryon." Lord Caraxes's draconic voice echoed within his mind. "And we can also see that you have not been idle. It is an achievement in itself to shield your thoughts from us, especially while we stand within your psyche."
"Thank you for the praise, Lord Caraxes. And as for the delay, I was… uncertain. Conflicted about certain matters, that is all," Laenor replied. After a brief pause, he added, "The white fire?"
"Ah, the flame of our brother Arrax. Let us simply say that he is… rather fond of his elder sister, as he calls her—the Light. The fire is, in a sense, a welcome offered to the champion of Light."
Laenor tried not to dwell on it, but the thought crept into his mind nonetheless—was the Valyrian custom of incest and sibling devotion born from Lord Arrax himself? He quickly dismissed the thought, forcing his focus back to the matter at hand.
"I accept your offer, Lord Caraxes. I am ready to become your champion," Laenor declared within his mind, his resolve firm. This power would not come without cost, as the one he received when he arrived in this world, a duty accompanied it, a duty to prevent the world from burning in the war that loomed ever closer. Laenor is ready to take this responsibility.
"Champion is merely the formal title, Laenor. The one you should use is child," Lord Caraxes said. "And we assume, since you have come alone, that you do not intend to share your burden—to protect the world, as much as you are able, from the chaos that is coming?"
"No. It will be my duty alone."
"Very well. We have already explained the benefits you shall receive, and we will not repeat them. But as we have said before, there remains the possibility of more—for we are not only gods, but dragons as well. That said… brace yourself, Laenor. It will not take long—fortunately for you, as you stand within our place of worship since the Old Days."
Lord Caraxes's voice grew louder with each word, until the final note nearly forced Laenor to clutch his head in searing pain.
The last thing Laenor saw before his vision went dark was Elaena standing among the temple priests, all of them staring at him with wide eyes filled with awe.
Eleana Drakonar
Elaena had just convinced the Dragon priests of the temple not to interrupt Laenor with questions. Denied the chance to question the young man whose very presence had invoked Lord Arrax's attention, they instead turned to her, asking so many questions that she had to remind them who she was—a Drakonar. Now, all of them stood beside her, quiet yet brimming with curiosity and wonder, their gazes fixed upon Laenor, who stood before the statue of Lord Caraxes with his eyes closed.
Elaena knew what would happen to Laenor; she had gone through the same ordeal the night before. The pain had been excruciating—Lady Light had warned her beforehand. Though unbearable, the result had been worth every moment of suffering. The power she now felt beneath her skin was intoxicating, and Lady Light had told her it would take at most a week for it to settle and fully reveal all the abilities she had gained. That was why she found herself impatient for those seven days to pass.
Elaena saw Laenor's eyes snap open. His face twisted in pain before his gaze flickered toward her, and then his eyes shut again. But unlike her own experience, his body collapsed heavily to the floor with a thunderous thud, cracking the stone beneath him.
Elaena was at his side the very instant he fell. She did not know how she had crossed the distance so quickly, but such thoughts held no importance now. Laenor writhed upon the floor, his body thrashing violently. Elaena could see that even in his unconscious state, he was struggling to suppress his screams.
She sank to the temple floor and lifted his head onto her lap, cradling it gently. Her fingers moved through his hair as she looked down at him with deep concern.
She did not know how long his pain would last—she herself had lost consciousness during her own ordeal and had only awakened at dawn. For what felt like half an hour, she watched him thrash and strain, the only thing she could do being to sit there and endure it alongside him. It pained her, knowing that despite all the power she had gained, she was utterly helpless in this moment.
Had Elaena looked around her, she would have realized that she was not as powerless as she believed. The priests and worshippers lay unconscious. The last thing they had witnessed was the fire shifting its color once more.
The once-white flames now burned a brilliant bluish-green upon the main pyre, and every torch and brazier in the temple carried the same hue—the flames of Caraxes, God of the Sea.
But it was not long before Elaena felt a presence—immense beyond measure and ancient beyond comprehension. She knew immediately that, unlike Lady Light, this being did not conceal its power. The result was immediate: she could not move. Every instinct within her screamed that even the slightest motion would be her last.
And so, Elaena Drakonar remained still, silent as the statues that surrounded her.
Time seemed to stretch endlessly. She could not tell how much had passed before the crushing weight finally lifted from her shoulders, and a powerful voice echoed, offering her an apology.
Elaena drew in a sharp breath, her body trembling, and nearly collapsed over Laenor. Her gaze turned to him, and her eyes widened. Laenor's eyelid twitched before he slowly opened his eyes.
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