In the village of Varnmoor, Aeron had become a name on every tongue. He's being praised both in secrecy and in public as the news that he rode a dragon has spread like wildfire. Some said they saw it themselves. Others repeated the tale they heard. They say Aeron had become a symbol of power and mystery.
Children would look at him from afar and point at him. Older ones would see him and nod their head, some would call him a savior. "Thank you, Aeron," they said. "You saved us." Some even knelt, calling him "the Chosen One." They gave him all sorts of gifts and presents, though he rejected most of them.
But not everyone welcomed him with open arms. Some would whisper in secrecy. "He'll bring ruin," an old woman said outside her hut.
"He has the blood of destruction, that boy is cursed," another spat. "He'll attract the wrath of the realm."
And those words… they reached Elarya's ears.
