Eric felt no ground beneath him, no air in his lungs—only warmth and light. Not the blinding light of death, but the divine radiance of creation. He floated, or perhaps drifted, in a space beyond understanding.
His body was gone. What remained was... essence. A soul stripped bare, pulsing softly in the shape of who he once was.
"Eric," the voice of Aetherius returned, calmer now, yet still thunderous with authority."You now stand at the threshold of rebirth. Before you return to the world, we shall complete the Rite of Ancestral Flame."
Around him, the great circle of dragons stirred.
Eric's soul shimmered with unease. He shimmered. How strange it was, to be conscious without breath or bone. But as the dragons stepped forward, the sensation of fear was swallowed by something greater—reverence.
🔥 Aetherius, King of Dragons, First Flame
The golden behemoth raised his claw high, and a rune of light formed above Eric.
"I, Aetherius, King of Dragons and bearer of the First Flame, bless you with potential. Your soul shall resonate with all paths—magic, strength, spirit, mind. Let no door be closed to you."
A wave of golden energy descended, wrapping around Eric's soul like a cloak of eternity. He felt his mind stretch, his will expand.
🌊 Thalassor, Sovereign of the Depths
From the void emerged a dragon cloaked in swirling waves, scales glinting like sapphire beneath starlight.
"I am Thalassor, Guardian of the Tides. My gift is the flow of water, the stillness of lakes, the rage of storms. With this, you may breathe beneath the waves, and command the seas themselves."
Cold grace surged through Eric's soul, soothing and powerful. He saw flashes of oceans, floods, and calm harbors resting under moonlight.
🌬️ Boreas, Master of Wind and Sky
A silver-blue dragon soared downward, surrounded by an ever-swirling current.
"Boreas, Whisperer of Winds. I gift you freedom—movement unchained, and hearing for the truths that ride the breeze. May you soar, Eldarion, and never be caged."
The wind coiled around him, invisible and wild, yet full of promise. It rustled through the echoes of his soul.
🔥 Agni, Flameheart of Fury
A crack of fire. A deep roar. A red-scaled giant emerged, crowned in embers, eyes glowing like magma.
"I am Agni. My fire is emotion, my blaze is conviction. Burn bright, Eldarion. Let your passion forge your path and incinerate your doubts."
Heat surged within him. Not pain—but power. Fire that answered to his heart, not to logic.
🌍 Tellus, the Stonebound Ancestor
The next dragon's wings beat like the fall of boulders. Covered in moss and emerald rock, Tellus's voice rumbled like distant landslides.
"I am Tellus. Earth is strength, memory, and patience. May your resolve be as unyielding as the mountain."
Eric felt a grounding weight anchor his soul. It steadied him, silencing chaos with calm.
⚡ Voltarius, Stormbringer
Lightning cracked overhead. A serpent of white-blue light spiraled into view, never still, always pulsing.
"Voltarius. I am energy—raw, chaotic, alive. My gift is action. Be swift. Be bold. Let none outpace the storm that walks within you."
His soul sparked, jittered, pulsed with impossible speed. Like adrenaline made into light.
☠️ Thanatos, End of All Things
Darkness. Cold. A great void-winged dragon, silent and watchful, descended last.
"I am Thanatos. I do not give destruction—I give finality. My gift is clarity in endings. May you never fear death, and may your enemies know it by name."
A hush fell. Eric's soul trembled. For a moment, he saw all things ending—life, stars, time. Then it passed. He felt oddly... balanced.
✨ Celestia, Light Eternal
Finally, the space warmed. A dragon of silver and pure white descended, eyes like twin moons.
"I am Celestia, Light of Renewal. I offer you hope, healing, and grace. Carry the weight of your fate without losing your kindness."
And just like that, the soul of Eric Jean began to shine—soft at first, then brilliantly, like a star reborn.
The dragons circled one last time, their power coiling and weaving into a single point above him.
Aetherius spoke once more, his voice now carrying the strength of them all:
"You are no longer Eric Jean.You are Eldarion, bearer of our will.Let this world see what a soul touched by dragons can become."
💫
With a final flash of light, the circle broke. The dragons vanished into the sky, their presence burned into Eldarion's soul.
He didn't fall.
He descended—slowly, softly—toward the land below.
Toward a cradle.
Toward his new beginning.