In this frozen world atop the snowy mountain, Durin had only just been born. Feeling the cold of this world, even a dragon could not help but sneeze.
From its terrible maw, black poisonous blood splattered onto the surrounding snow, dyeing it black and filling the air with a foul stench.
After hearing its mother's words, Durin timidly raised its dragon claw. When it saw the claw clearly, its eyes filled with surprise.
It had hurt so much. It had been burned black.
Now, black blood flowed from the wound, enveloping it. Before long, the burned claw had healed completely.
Seeing this miracle, Durin was overjoyed. The blessing its mother spoke of truly existed within its massive body.
"Thank you, Mother."
"You gave me life. You gave me this blessing."
Durin flapped its black wings in celebration, hopping about. The ground trembled, and snow fell from the surrounding trees.
But Durin did not know that its life was not Rhinedottir's gift—it had been born from the elements themselves.
The black blood in its veins was no blessing, but a curse of poison Rhinedottir had created.
And its body was no blessed flesh, but a weapon of war, a tool for Rhinedottir to use.
But Durin had only just been born. A simple dragon-spirit, innocent as a blank slate.
How could it know the malice hidden within Rhinedottir?
It only knew that its "mother" had awakened it. The first thing it saw when it opened its eyes was Rhinedottir.
So Durin loved her completely.
Though it had been burned by fire, Durin, like a curious child, remained full of wonder.
Why was the sky blue?
Why was snow white?
Why was this world so cold?
Countless questions filled its mind.
Rhinedottir answered patiently. "Beyond this mountain lies a beautiful world. You will see it someday."
"Now, fly into the sky. Let Mother see how you soar."
A smile appeared on Rhinedottir's face.
Under normal circumstances, Durin, as a dragon-spirit, would have grown slowly, becoming a dragon who commanded the elements, a sacred beast to guard Mondstadt.
But Rhinedottir had forcibly forged its dragon soul with alchemy, merging it into a massive weapon of war.
It looked fierce, enormous. But to wield true destructive power, it would need time to be trained—to fly freely, to unleash the weapon's full might.
Durin said happily, "Alright, Mother. I will fly into the sky."
With that, it beat its great wings, trying to lift itself into the blue sky.
But its weapon-body was too heavy. It was still too weak.
Even flapping desperately, it could barely hop off the ground. It could not fly.
Durin was crestfallen. "Mother, forgive me. I am too weak. I cannot fly."
It looked up at the blue sky, longing to soar.
Rhinedottir had expected this. She was not disappointed. She smiled.
"Do not worry."
"Mother will make you strong. Mother will give you power."
She opened her alchemy chest and took out precious materials she had long kept hidden.
Poisons from ancient times. Rare stones from beyond the sky. Elemental gems pulsing with power.
Rhinedottir combined these poisonous, elemental materials into a bubbling, black concoction—an alchemical potion filled with dark poison and elemental force.
"My child, drink this."
"Once you drink it, you will gain great power."
"You will be able to fly to distant lands."
Smiling, she offered the potion to Durin.
Durin trusted her completely. In its eyes, Rhinedottir was the gentlest mother, a kind soul.
Without hesitation, Durin opened its great maw and drank all of the potion.
It was bitter. It burned.
The moment it entered Durin's body, it seared its insides, nearly burning through its massive form.
Durin cried out in pain. "Mother—"
"My stomach—it hurts—"
Rhinedottir stroked Durin's enormous head gently.
"My child, this potion will strengthen the blessing within you."
"Bear with it. The pain will pass soon."
She stroked Durin's head, a cruel smile curling her lips.
This potion did not strengthen any blessing. It strengthened the poison within Durin, turning its body into a weapon of pure destruction.
Durin did not understand. Like an obedient child, it endured the pain and lay at Rhinedottir's feet.
Time passed—how long, no one knew.
When the first rays of sunlight touched Durin, it opened its eyes once more.
The first thing it saw was its mother, Rhinedottir.
Seeing Durin awake, Rhinedottir nodded in satisfaction. She knew its transformation was complete.
"My child, you are much stronger now."
"Now, fly into the sky. Show me your power. Show me your blessing."
She wanted to see the strength Durin had gained.
Durin rose to its feet, happy. "Yes, Mother."
With that, it beat its wings violently, scattering everything around it.
With the strength of its great wings, its massive body slowly lifted into the air.
Higher and higher it flew, until it touched the clouds.
In the sky, Durin opened its eyes cautiously and saw a vast new world.
Endless snow-capped peaks. Great trees. Strange beasts living among the mountains.
So there were other beings in this world, besides itself and Mother.
And carried on the wind, from far away, came a beautiful sound.
A song. Music.