The academy was silent.
Not because peace had returned—
But because fear had replaced every sound.
Only minutes ago, students had laughed, whispered, and mocked each other after the awakening ceremony.
Now—
Half the courtyard was destroyed.
Buildings burned.
Smoke rose into the dark sky.
And in the middle of it all stood Zephyr Kaelion.
The boy the dragon had called heir.
---
Every eye was on him.
Some filled with fear.
Some with confusion.
Others—
Pure suspicion.
---
"…What is he?"
A student whispered.
---
"That dragon spoke to him…"
---
"He has a mark on his chest…"
---
"Monster…"
---
The word echoed louder than the rest.
Zephyr's fists tightened.
He hated that word.
---
Before the whispers could spread further—
A loud voice cut through the air.
"Enough!"
---
Headmaster Aldric slowly stood despite his injuries.
Blood dripped from the side of his mouth, but his presence still carried authority.
His sharp gaze swept across everyone.
---
"No one is to speak of what happened tonight outside this academy."
His voice was cold.
Absolute.
---
The students fell silent immediately.
---
Aldric turned toward Zephyr.
"…You. Come with me."
---
Zephyr hesitated for a second.
Then nodded.
---
Elara quietly stepped forward.
"…I'm coming too."
---
Aldric glanced at her.
"…Why?"
---
Her expression didn't change.
"…Because I saw everything."
---
The Headmaster stared at her for a moment.
Then sighed.
"…Fine."
---
---
Inside the Headmaster's chamber—
The room was quiet.
Only the crackling fireplace broke the silence.
Ancient books lined every wall.
Magical artifacts floated inside glowing barriers.
It looked less like an office—
And more like a forbidden library.
---
Aldric sat behind his desk.
His eyes locked onto Zephyr.
Serious.
Heavy.
---
"…Take off your shirt."
---
Zephyr blinked.
"…What?"
---
"…Your chest. The mark."
---
Zephyr frowned but obeyed.
He pulled his shirt aside.
The glowing blue dragon symbol was still there.
Burning faintly.
Alive.
---
Aldric's eyes widened slightly.
---
"…Impossible…"
---
Elara stepped closer.
"…You know what it is?"
---
Aldric slowly stood.
His face had turned pale.
---
"…That mark…"
He whispered.
"…Shouldn't exist."
---
Zephyr's patience snapped.
"…Then explain!"
He slammed his hands on the desk.
"What happened to me?! Why did that dragon call me heir?! Why do I have this mark?!"
---
The room went silent.
---
Aldric stared at him for a long time.
Then—
He spoke.
---
"…Because your blood…"
He paused.
"…is not entirely human."
---
Silence.
---
Zephyr froze.
"…What?"
---
Aldric walked toward the window.
His expression darkened.
---
"Thousands of years ago…"
He began.
"…Before kingdoms existed…"
"…Dragons ruled the skies."
---
A magical image appeared above his hand.
A projection of ancient dragons flying across burning lands.
---
"They were not beasts."
"They were rulers."
"Kings."
"God-like beings beyond mankind."
---
The image shifted.
Showing humans kneeling before dragons.
---
"But eventually…"
"…War came."
---
The dragons fought.
Against gods.
Against demons.
Against each other.
---
"And during that war…"
Aldric looked back at Zephyr.
"…Some dragons gave their blood to humans."
---
Elara's eyes widened.
"…Dragon bloodlines…"
---
Aldric nodded slowly.
---
"They created warriors."
"Half-human."
"Half-dragon."
"Beings made to rival gods themselves."
---
Zephyr stared in disbelief.
"…And you're saying I'm one of them?"
---
Aldric's silence was answer enough.
---
"No…"
Zephyr whispered.
"That's impossible…"
---
"Then why else would an Ancient Dragon kneel before you?"
Aldric's words struck like thunder.
---
Zephyr's breathing stopped.
---
The dragon hadn't attacked him.
It had recognized him.
---
Aldric stepped closer.
"…That dragon was not random."
"It came because it sensed your awakening."
---
Zephyr looked down at his hands.
Still trembling.
---
"…Then what am I supposed to do now?"
---
Before Aldric could answer—
Pain exploded through Zephyr's body.
---
"AAAGHH!"
---
He dropped to one knee.
The dragon mark glowed violently.
Blue flames erupted around him.
---
"Zephyr!" Elara shouted.
---
His body floated slightly above the ground.
Energy spiraled wildly around him.
---
The system appeared again.
---
[Dragon Bloodline Stabilizing…]
[Passive Skill Activated: Dragon's Aura]
---
Suddenly—
An explosion of pressure burst outward.
---
BOOOOOOM!!
---
Every object in the room shattered.
Books flew.
Glass exploded.
Furniture broke apart.
---
Aldric instantly cast a barrier.
---
Inside the chaos—
Zephyr's eyes slowly opened.
---
But they weren't normal anymore.
---
They glowed bright blue.
Like a dragon's.
---
Even Elara stepped back slightly.
---
"…His mana…"
She whispered.
"…It multiplied…"
---
The system flashed again.
---
[New Skill Unlocked]
Dragon Fear
---
Zephyr slowly stood up.
His breathing heavy.
---
The blue flames disappeared.
---
Everything became still.
---
He looked at his hands.
Then clenched them.
---
"…I feel…"
He stared at Aldric.
"…stronger."
---
Aldric smiled faintly despite the destruction.
---
"…Good."
---
Then his face turned serious.
---
"Because if you truly possess dragon blood…"
He stared deeply into Zephyr's eyes.
"…Then your enemies won't just be monsters."
---
The room grew cold.
---
"…The gods themselves…"
"…will come for you."
---
Silence.
---
Zephyr's eyes sharpened.
---
For some reason—
Those words didn't scare him.
---
They excited him.
---
He slowly smiled.
---
"…Then let them come."
---
Aldric and Elara stared at him.
---
And in that moment—
They realized—
Zephyr Kaelion wasn't afraid of his fate.
---
He would challenge it.
Even if the enemy was divine itself.