Elira was patroling through the dense forest that wrapped at the edge of the Astrael city the heart of the Emberheart kingdom. Lantern's yellow light spread cutting a narrow path through the darkness, pushing back the shadows that clung to the trees.
The night was quiet. Too quiet.
Suddenly, birds explode from trees, wings beating wildly as they flying away in panic. Elira's step haulted, her fingers tightened around the lantern as she searched around for the answers. "Who's there…?"She called, lifting the light higher. The woods didn't answer. She moves through the woods, each step cautios. "Why does the forest feels different tonight?" Every sound felt sharper tonight —too clear, too close. Why does the forest feel different tonight? she wondered.
A small red spark fall across the sky. She looks up, confused. "A shooting star...? Too bright.That's wrong." She feels the danger. The spark didn't fade. It grows, becomes fire streaking downward. Trees were reflecting the burning light.
"Wait—That's—" something crashes through the treetops, wrapped in flames. Flames ripped through branches, leaves spiraled into the air, the ground shook beneath her feet. Elira drops the lantern, mouth open wide in shock. "What in the—?!"
Smoke rises upward as flames licked at broken trees. The scent of ash filled the air.
Elira pulled the bow from her back, slowly approached toward the burning crater. "Human?Monster?Demon?Or Dra—Dragon" Questions swirled around her. She had hunted dragons before, that's what hunters in Astreal do. To keep the city alive. But she never witnessed anything like this.
Inside the crater a man lies, his shirt were torn, skin glowing faintly red. Steam rising from his body, curling into the night air. "H-He's alive?" Elira gasped. Her breath caught as she looked at his face. "Why is he... beautiful?" She knelt beside him, touches his neck to check pulse. "Hot!" She instantly flinches back. "He's burning, How is he alive with this temperature?"
His veins glow faint gold under his skin like fire inside blood. "Is he cursed ?" She whispered. Elira glanced around. The forest were glowing red , smoke rising. She bites her lip. If other hunters find him, they will kill him. Elira grabbed his arm tries to lift him. "Dammit, you're heavier than i expect"
Arakael's fingers twitch as she tries to held him up. Elira freezes, heart pounding. "He moved." She drags him through the grass, sweat dripping down. Her cloak tears on a branch, but she keeps going. "Why am i helping a stranger? I shouldn't be doing this.
This is a mistake."
Lantern light flickers over his face ,she saw it. Faint dragon scales across his neck. Her breath hitched, hands shaking. "What are you...?" Elira reaches hunter cabin hidden in woods. She kicks the door open, gasping. She lays him on the bed of furs. She sits beside him, brushing hair off his forehead. "Who fell from sky like that ?" She murmured.
Images flickered behind his closed eyes.
Burning wings.
A woman's voice.
"Arkael… survive."
His fingers clucth the blanket. Outside, the forest fell suddenly silent, Elira feels it. The smoke were still there. Lantern light flickers inside the cabin leaving golden light around.
Arkael's eyes snap open , golden dragon eyes glowing under the light, burning. Elina gasps, stumbling back.
" You are not human!"