Scene 1 : Dragon within me

Avikarh picked his way down the rocky trail, each step stirring up dust motes glittering the path in the morning sun. He stepped from the shadowed cave into a world that seemed spun from legend itself.

To his back, a band of jagged peaks loomed like silent guardians, the quartz veins indicated the possibility of crystals coming out from Earth ; to his front, a mirror image of the scene of mountain range was visible, equally tempting and wild. Between them two rivers braided like hairs through the valley, their waters splashing over stones and then uniting in a resounding hug before the fortress gates.

The bastion,made up of dark granite against the viridian woods, stood firm as a protector where the trees dared not to overstep. All around, pines and birches wove a interlaced canvas with the viridian hush but was broken only by the river’s song. Beyond the nearer bank, a still lake lay like a polished gem, its “statuestill” waters reflecting the highest peaks as though challenging Avikarh to cross and claim its secrets. Each breath he drew was scented with pine and possibility, and though the fortress awaited below, his eyes stayed fixed on the tranquil lake across the water, beckoning him onward.

Lost in wonder, Avikarh barely recorded the glint of pale fur behind him until a low, chilling growl broke the forest’s hush. Turning, he froze as five silvermane wolves stepped into view, their eyes like shards of moonlight, lustrous silver coats gleaming and breath curling in freezing mist. Under the pale gold of the morning sun, they emerged from the forest’s hush like living nightmares.

As they padded forward, saliva dripped from bared fangs, each droplet crystallizing in mid-air before it even fell. The silence of the woods fell away under their low, rumbling growls, and every breath they exhaled pooled into ghostly mist, as if the air itself feared their presence.

The largest wolf, dripping icy saliva, lifted his head and let loose a long, echoing howl—an ominous announcement of their intent.

Fear filled in Avikarh’s chest, but the memory of his dragonfather’s words steadied him. Heart hammering, he shifted into a ready stance, boots sinking into the soft moss. Thoughts of the frosty aura of the wolves flickered in his mind, something awoke inside of him in response to his dilemma. He strengthened his resolve as it was a do or die situation. He trusted in the power surging within him.

With a furious snarl, the wolfleader sprang forward, maw agape. In the same instant, Avikarh ’s fingertips tingled as an otherworldly chill crept up his arms, each nerve ending alight with a rushing thrill. He sucked in a breath, and the air around him shimmered with frost, tiny crystals dancing like fireflies at his palms. His heart pounded between panic and wonder—he could almost feel the snowstorm raging inside him.

In his mind, a voice whispered,“Embrace the cold… let it flow.” Avikarh clenched his jaw, grounding himself on the uneven ground, every heartbeat sending shards of power crackling beneath his skin.

As the pack lunged, he met their charge headon. The forest erupted in the clash of claws and steel, and for the first time in this strange new world, Avikarh embraced the thrill of combat, every strike a step closer to uncovering the secrets of his power.

The battle began in an instant.

Two Silvermane Wolves lunged from opposite sides—blurs of muscle and fur, swift as slicing wind.
They're fast! Avikarh’s body moved on its own, instincts kicking in.

Before their icy fangs could reach his arms, he caught both their jaws mid-air—slam! With a surge of raw strength, he smashed their skulls against the ground. The wolves collapsed in a heap, unmoving.

What... was that? he blinked, stunned.
My body... it just reacted. Like it’s done this before.

But there was no time to think.

A low growl echoed through the trees. The leader of the pack, larger and cloaked in a shimmering mane like forged silver, stepped forward, eyes glowing with cold fury emerged from shadows.

From deep within its throat, the alpha howled—low, violent.

A swirling vortex of frost erupted behind it, summoned by two wolves flanking the leader—each cloaked in a glacial aura. Their combined powers condensed into a spiraling storm. The winds howled, biting, as frost crept across the ground and the very air began to crackle.

A blizzard ,no a Silver Storm Avikarh dreaded seeing it being unleashed, freezing the ground and lowering the temperature drastically.

He shivered, the cold biting into his skin. This chill... it's familiar. A memory surfaced—his father's words: "You possess the power , why not use it."

He inhaled deeply, drawing in the frigid air. A strange comfort enveloped him, the cold no longer pose a threat but became an ally. He absorbed the icy energy from surrounding, feeling it and merging it with his own.

Pain surged in his lungs, but he persisted, pulling more of the ice element into his body. The blizzard weakened, the surrounding frost melting away.

The vortex remained, spinning menacingly. The Silvermane leader snarled, its eyes gleaming with fury as it directed the swirling vortex toward Avikarh. The air crackled with icy energy, the temperature plummeting as the storm approached.

Avikarh stood his ground, the cold no longer biting but invigorating. He could feel the ice element coursing through his veins, a power long dormant now awakened.

This feeling………It’s nostalgic…….

He inhaled deeply, the frigid air filling his lungs, channeling through his veins merging with the energy within. His body trembled, not from fear, but from the overwhelming surge of power.

His eyes glowing in icy white with the surging power.

With a primal scream, he unleashed it.

"Dragon God’s Glacial Roarrrrr!!!!….."

A torrent of icy energy erupted from his mouth, a beam of blinding blue-white light that collided with the incoming vortex. The two forces clashed, a deafening explosion echoing through the forest as snow and ice were blasted in all directions.

The beam didn't stop there. It continued forward, obliterating the Silvermane leader and carving a path through the trees, leaving a trail of frozen devastation in its wake.

When the light faded, silence returned. The once-menacing wolves were no more, and a kilometer-long trench of ice marked the battlefield.

Avikarh fell to his knees, breath ragged.

I did it... but this power…..is terrifying?

He looked at his hands, still glowing with residual energy.

I must learn to control this power... before it controls me.

Avikarh’s chest heaved as the last echoes of his icebreath faded into the trees. He had to disappear—fast—before anyone traced this display of power. But something still niggled at the back of his mind: movement in the undergrowth.

His senses snapped alive. Fingertips tingled with residual frost, every hair on his neck standing on end. He leveled a cool stare at the rustling bushes and called out, voice low and steady:

“Come out. I know you’re there.”

A tense hush fell, broken only by the distant drip of melting snow. Then the leaves parted.

A boy, no older than twelve, stepped into view. Pale skin, wide eyes shining with awe—and not a hint of fear. He wore a runicstitched tunic, worn trousers, reinforced boots, and an enchanted black cloak that whispered at his shoulders. On his head sat a modified ushanka, and at his belt jingled odd pouches and a knife’s hilt.

Avikarh blinked. He’d expected terror—yet the boy’s gaze was rapt, almost reverent. Still he maintained caution.

He tilted his head,c in his eyes. “Hey—aren’t you even a little scared of that?” he asked, nodding at the frosty trench etched into the earth.

Ruslan blinked, as if waking from a dream, then threw back his shoulders with a grin that lit up his pale features. “Scared? No way! That was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. Big bro, you’re amazing! Teach me how to be strong like you!”

His excitement was infectious. Avikarh couldn’t help the small smile tugging at his lips. “Alright,” he said, voice softer now. “What’s your name, kid? And what are you doing way out here?”

Ruslan’s grin faltered, replaced by a flicker of unease. He glanced over his shoulder at the distant towers of the fortress city perched on the hill. “I’m Ruslan,” he said quietly. “I live there—see it?” He pointed. “I snuck into the forest to hunt monsters… but I bit off more than I could chew. Those Silvermane wolves nearly had me.”

He shrugged, trying to sound casual. “And… my father keeps insisting I work in his shop. But I don’t want to spend my life behind a counter. I want to be a Strelsy—a protector.”

Avikarh’s brow lifted. “Silvermane wolves, huh? Wind and ice magic on wolves—that’s a nasty combo.” He reached out, offering Ruslan a reassuring nod. “I’m Avikarh, by the way. Nice to meet you.”

“Strelsy?” Avikarh echoed.

“Yeah,” Ruslan said, puffing his chest. “Someone who keeps the cityfolk safe—like a guard.”

Avikarh nodded, piecing it together. “Like police, in my world.”

Ruslan’s face fell. He looked at Avikarh with sudden intensity. “You’re not from around here, are you?”

Caught, Avikarh hugged his cloak tighter. “No. I… I lived on an island that sank beneath the waves. I just arrived, looking for work and somewhere to belong.”

For a heartbeat, Ruslan’s eyes softened with sympathy. “That’s… tragic.” He swallowed, then brightened. “But I think I can help you—and help myself.”

“Go on,” Avikarh prompted.

Ruslan took a deep breath. “My father’s seeking an assistant for his shop. If you took the job, he’d leave me alone—stop dragging me behind the counter. You’d get a place to stay, and I’d finally train for real.”

Avikarh offered a small, reassuring smile, though a flicker of worry still tugged at his eyes. “That sounds promising,” he said, tone gentle. “But—how do I actually convince your father to hire me? Do you have a plan?”

Ruslan’s confidence wavered. He swallowed hard, brow furrowing as a bead of sweat rolled down his temple. For a moment he looked every bit the uncertain boy again—then squared his shoulders and met Avikarh’s gaze.

Ruslan (determined): “It’s simple. I’ll tell him exactly what happened—how you saved me from those wolves with your ice power. He’s a fair man; once he hears how you risked yourself to protect me, he won’t hesitate.”

Avikarh nodded slowly, weighing the plan. “And if he does hesitate?”

Ruslan’s lips curved into a confident grin. “Then I’ll remind him that every good Strelsy starts by proving their loyalty—and you’ve already proven yours, big bro.”

That plan sounded almost too simple. Avikarh studied Ruslan’s eager face. “What do you get out of it?”

Ruslan’s grin cracked, and—just like that—the mood shifted. He sank to one knee, eyes glistening. “I…” His voice trembled. “I was really hoping… someone strong would help me defend my city.”

Tears welled up, and Ruslan bowed his head, the weight of his plea heavy in the clearing. “Please… big bro… protect my father…and everyone there.”

Silence wrapped around them. Avikarh knelt beside him, placing a steady hand on Ruslan’s shoulder. The boy looked up, vulnerability shining in those moist eyes.

Softly, Avikarh vowed, “Tell me everything that’s happened so far. I promise, I’ll save your people.”

And in that moment, laughter and danger, hope and fear, wove together—binding two strangers into the first threads of an unbreakable bond.

Avikarh’s gaze remained as calm as a placid lake, yet beneath that surface, a tide of fury welled up—silent, coiled, and ready to crash like a storm upon any who dared cross him.

He glanced at the distant fortress, its walls gleaming in the afternoon sun. “Alright,” he said, voice firm. “Let’s get moving—before my ‘big move’ becomes an evening spectacle no one forgets.”

With that, the two set off down the forest path side by side—one newly arisen hero, the other a hopeful apprentice—each step bringing them closer to the city, and to the next chapter of their shared destiny.