Derrick's eyes fluttered open, and the sound of rushing water accompanied by a horrible stench hit him immediately.
'What's going on?' Derrick asked himself, unable to process his thoughts.
Everything was hazy, including his memories. He didn't know who or where he was.
He struggled to his feet, his hair swaying from the harsh winds.
There was a flowing river beside him, and he quickly knelt at its shore, using his hands as a makeshift cup to drink.
His stomach rumbled, he looked around, but there was nothing even remotely resembling food.
"How did I get here?" Derrick asked, confused. He tried to remember something, anything, but all to no avail.
Just then, he could hear farm animals in the distance.
'A farm means there must be a farmer, maybe he can feed me.' Derrick thought.
He walked forward, following the sounds of the farm animals, until he came across what seemed to be an old, broken-down farm.
The barn seemed substandard with holes in it, the farm equipment lying around was rusty and on the verge of breaking.
For a second, he reconsidered going further. He didn't know what kind of person was on this farm.
However, his hunger was greater than his suspicion.
Just before he could continue, the sound of horse hooves clattering on the floor drew his attention.
"There he is." A knight pointed at Derrick, then increased his speed.
Fear overtook Derrick, having about twenty knights charging towards him at once wasn't something anyone would like.
Derrick tried to run, but tripped on a branch and went face-first onto the floor.
'No, no, no, no.' Panic filled Derrick. He had no idea what these knights planned to do to him.
The knights grabbed Derrick, who screamed for help and tried to beg, but they just ignored him.
They dumped him in a carriage, where he was met face to face by a knight who was different from the rest.
"My prince, are you okay?" The Royal Knight asked, and hearing those words stirred something in Derrick.
"What did you just call me?" Flashes of memory appeared in Derrick's head, making him hold it in his hands.
"It seems you're not in your right mind." The Royal Knight raised his hands and a soft white glow appeared.
He rested his hand on Derrick's forehead, and the glow phased into Derrick.
Waves of memory hit Derrick rapidly, from his first sword training at age 7 to the betrayal of Lancel and Klea.
"Thank you," Derrick said. He didn't know what the Royal Knight did, but he was grateful, now he had his memories, and something else.
"Where have you been, Prince Derrick?" The Royal Knight asked gently.
"What do you mean?" Derrick understood that he practically ran away from the awakening ceremony, but the way Royal Knight said it, something was off.
"Master Derrick, you've been missing for the past two weeks?" Royal Knight said gently.
"What do you mean?" The last thing Derrick remembered was touching the dragon orb.
"Nobody has seen you for the past two weeks. Your father has been going mad," Royal Knight explained.
Derrick took a deep breath, trying to analyze everything that just happened.
He slumped in his chair, his mind restless.
"My Prince..." Royal Knight said, picking his words carefully.
"How are the recent events weighing on you?" Royal Knight asked and Derrick sighed.
"To be honest, I don't know if I can keep going." Derrick had lost his best friend, girlfriend, respect, reputation and name.
"My Prince..." Royal Knight didn't know what to say.
He had seen Derrick go from a toddler to a young man, and seeing him in so much pain broke his heart.
"I have some experience with broken hearts. Can I give some advice if you'd like?" Royal Knight asked, his voice gentle as ever.
"No, I will be fine." Derrick didn't want an earful right now.
"Also my prince, do you know anything about the bright light that tore through the sky?" Royal Knight asked.
"Bright light?" Derrick's mind flashed back to his experience in the cave.
[Legendary dragon system has been activated.]
Glowing red texts appeared in Derrick's peripheral vision.
"Yes, a bright light which appeared above the kingdom, some time after you went missing," Royal Knight said, but Derrick was distracted.
How could he not? He was seeing floating texts wherever he turned.
"I'd like silence for now," Derrick said, and Royal Knight just nodded.
'By the heavens, what is this?' Derrick asked himself.
[You have awakened the Legendary dragon system Prince Derrick.]
The text changed, responding to Derrick's thoughts.
'What is this magic?' Derrick asked himself. He had seen wild things in his many years of life, but this one was on another level.
'This magic, is the Legendary dragon system.' As if it lived, the system responded.
'What is the Legendary dragon system?' Derrick asked, and once again, he was met with a reply.
[The Legendary dragon system is the highest kind of power, both magical and physical, that a person could ever attain]
The system responded, and a smile flashed across Derrick's face.
He was about to ask more questions, when Royal Knight's voice drew his attention.
"My Prince, we have arrived,"
The door opened, and Derrick alighted, accompanied by Royal Knight.
"Is that him, the trash Prince?" The voice of a maid entered Derrick's ears, and he clenched his jaw hard.
He knew damage had been done to his reputation, but he didn't expect it to be this bad.
Royal Knight stared at Derrick and shook his head in pain.
'The gods and fate are cruel.' Royal Knight dared not say aloud.
The palace was both a structural and a magical wonder.
The palace of Dravania stood tall, it was as big as a small city.
It was carved from gold and silver, littered with precious stones, and had the statue of a mighty dragon hovering above it.
Seeing the dragon above the palace made Derrick remember the dragon he had seen in the cave.
There were statues of other magical creatures like golems, gargoyles and many others.
There were carriages being drawn by horses, and some even being flown by magical horses.
The palace was a stronghold of magic, wealth, power and intelligence.
Derrick stared at the palace, he had grown up here, but it never quite felt like home.
Ostracized by his brothers and sisters, envied by all who laid eyes on him, this palace had only brought him one good thing, and that was his father.
"I suggest we head directly to the throne room," Royal Knight suggested. The more people who saw Derrick, the worse it was for his reputation.
"Thank you." Derrick knew what Royal Knight was trying to do, and he was more than glad.
"Leave us," Royal Knight said to the other knights escorting them.
Royal Knight held Derrick, and muttered a spell underneath his breath, lifting them both in the air.
Derrick chuckled. He had seen Royal Knight do many things, and he never ceased to be amazed by his power.
Royal Knight soared through the palace, weaving meticulously through every obstacle and making sure not to disturb anyone.
The familiar golden double doors layered with precious stones, and magical runes came into view.
Royal Knight touched down at the entrance to the throne room, where two massive knights with great swords stood at both sides.
"The king's son has returned, and the king would like to see him,"
A strange weight grew in Derrick's heart, now that he no longer had any value, only the gods knew what harsh punishment his father would inflict on him.
The knights at the entrance placed both hands on the double doors, and the magical runes pulsated for a second, before they opened slowly, revealing a grand throne room.
The throne room itself was enough to buy out a small kingdom.
It was made of magical stones and metals which glowed in every condition, casting a magical aura on the throne room.
At the center of the throne room was the king's beautiful throne, and several smaller thrones around him.
"My son, welcome home." The king rushed to hug Derrick.
"You nearly gave me a heart attack." A small tear fell from the king's eyes, and Derrick was taken aback.
His father didn't see him any differently. In fact, his father even had more love and respect for him than before.
"I thought you were dead." The king pulled away from the hug, he couldn't be too emotional in front of his chiefs.
"Are you okay?" The king asked, the worry had eaten him up.
"Yes, I am fine father," Derrick responded, a smile on his face. He was happy to see that his father still loved him.
"I will slay a behemoth for you, Derrick, but you need to clean up before I can touch you again," the king said while pointing at Derrick's armpits.
"And maybe cut that hair, you look like a woman."
Truly, Derrick was looking unkempt with his dirty waist-length hair, and a foul odor was oozing from his body.
"Freshen up, then return to the palace. I have something to discuss with him," the king said while pointing at Royal Knight.
Derrick nodded, and with a wave of the king's hand, he was back in his room.
Back in the throne room, the king stared at Royal Knight, his previously joyful and worried demeanor had been replaced with a stern and serious one.
"You were right." The king said, his voice low enough to make sure no one could hear his voice.
"I am aware my king." Royal Knight said, his voice also serious.
"As soon as he walked in here, I could sense the dragon spirit inside of him," the king added.
"Watch him closely old friend. He can either be our Savior, or the one to end us all." The king ordered and Royal Knight nodded.