Prologue: Down in the depths
Two centuries ago
Echoes of small droplets seeping down through the minerals of a dim cavern. Pools of water flowing down the already slippery path. Small flames that were set by the mages lit up the way but it was no substitute for the suns warmth. Each step echoed off the walls and the lonely servant sounded like a march of an army. These narrow caverns could be a beautiful sight, the formation of many unknown crystals rested on the walls and even shaped the path but the servant doesn't feel the admiration for them.
No, he can't admire this prison, even if it was beautiful, it was still a prison. Not just for him, not just for the royal family of the Draconis kingdom but all the people. Innocent civilians were now trapped down here, stuck with little food and diseased waters that barly even flowed. "All of us, punished! For what!? A crime none of us committed!?" The servant hissed within his own mind. He held his tongue, even if he was alone to travel up this narrow path. He hated it, he had to hold his tongue, was trained to look unbiased, after all he was a servant, the Kings servant. He was not ment to hold opinions, we was ment to follow the King's orders but how could he not have a say in this!?
He had to bite his tongue to stop the hiss in his throat when an icy chill ran down his back in the form of another bloody water drop. His half hiss ran down the cavern and echoed back, sounding of that of a screech, a sound of a tired but angry being. "Why does all the pretty things have a darker side?" The servant thought to himself, feeling more defeated now that his own voice can be weaponised against him. With a deep breath he hushed a sigh to himself, he continued the climb up the crystal cavern.
The servant was given one order, to inform the king that his people were calling for him, that his people were seeking answers on what to do in this prison. Again the servant felt an anger bubble within him, it was without warning when the Montes kingdom declared war. Well more like invaded. The servant remembers that evening, he was tending to the king, finishing up his bath and preparing the king for the night. It was peaceful until the side of the Palace was suddenly struck by the invading kingdom.
A full army charged in, the Draconis guards did the best they could but without preparation, they were easily outnumbered. The servant did his best to armour the king in time, the king having to fight with sloppy armour and a sword that was randomly picked. The servant had been beating himself up over the fact that he rushed to give the king an abraded sword when he could've used his brain and gotten him the Volcanic blade. A sword foraged for the Kings generations ago and with enchantments that never had been matched. Now because of the servants inability to think in time, that blade was thrown down into the depths of the volcano.
"I mean, the blade is fine" the servant thought to himself, trying to cheer him up as he searched the maze of the make-shift Palace that was carved from the tunnels. "It's enchanted to wheeled the power of the volcano, which includes the heat resistant of the volcano otherwise it would already be a molten hunck of metal by now". The servant knew he was right, that blade would survive the eruption of the volcano, being thrown into it just protects it from the humans.
Screeching and scrapping soon snapped the servant out of his thoughts. The sound so unsettling yet so familiar, the sounds of someone who shifted into their dragon form using their sharp talons that were ment for gripping the cliffs edges were being now used to carve rooms in the caves. It was not as effective as the pickaxe's or any other tool used for mining but it was enough to make these dreadful caves feel more like the Palace that was built within the volcano. Another wave of grief hit the servant, even if they somehow make it out of here, the Palace would be gone well more like half drowned in the larvar.
It was the mages that the Draconis kingdom raised that tamed the larvar flow, using the spells and control over the melted rocks of magma. Using the larvar flow to fuel forges for the humans. But without the maintenance of the enchantments the volcano would reclaim itself and erupt.
Treading back up to where the sounds of construction were coming from, the servant continued his search for the king. "He may be helping in the new chambers? Bless him, he's most likely feeling more guilt than any of us" the servant thought. As much as the servant hates the humans for punishing the entire kingdom for the crime of one dragon morf; it might not even be a dragon morf! Sure they used a poison found on their kingdom but a human could've taken that dammed flower and killed the Queen! The assassin might not even being within their kingdom!
The servant had to take yet another breath, he had to stay calm even if the whole affair irritated him more than anything. "King Xoithe?" The servant asked softly, squeezing through the narrow hallway to check if the king was even here. The servant felt his jaw drop, the king was here, using his dragon form to carve into the wall but not for construction! No, this was much better, the king was in a trance!
The soft golden white scales looked so dull within the darkened cavern, his large and majestic wings sat comfortably on his back as he used his large and smooth talons to carve an image into the rock. His hazel eyes were galzed with a light blue shimmer, the tell that the king was in the process of receiving a prophecy. Prophecies comes to dragons in time of need, even then it's rare to even receive them. Each prophecy in the past had all come to reality and each time all kingdom's had benefitted from it, not just the dragon's. Each time a prophecy was gifted, a monarch would become enchanted by a force that was still unknown. Drawing or in this case, carving the image of which the prophecy demans along with the crypted instructions to do in order to satisfy fate.
The servant sat back, the excitement within him only grew, the kingdom wasn't abandoned! Something, a God or even a spirit maybe was looking out for them and was now giving them an answer to ease their suffering. King Xoithe sat on his hined legs, his dragon form being the size of a tower. Each scale so pure and majestic, the golden shine used to shimmer within the sun but now it barly showed with the dim torches. The King looked like he came straight out of a fairy tail, with a slender neck that could coil and arch, a long body with large wings to glide softly with the clouds and a long and coiled tail that sat by his side.
The servant used to feel a jealousy when he would see the King in his morf, since his dragon form was half his size and a dull red colour. But now the servant felt admiration to see his King in a glorious form. His pearl coloured talons carved the sene of a valley that the servant could not recognise, a rich valley that seemed to go on for miles. The focus of the carving was a cliff, looking over the valley and where the King began to carve the image of what looked to be a Queen, missing her crown. The servant guessed she was a Queen based on the rich looking robe that many royals would wear. She sat looking over the valley, her face covered by glorious locks of hair.
By her side was the beginnings of what seemed to be a King, again missing his crown. Maybe they were only Prince and Princess? The servant shrugged with his guess. They had their backs facing the viewer as the king continued on the details of the large carving. But the servant was able to make out the shape of something that the King/Prince was holding. From the way he was it, it looked like a baby. With two flags could be seen from the blankets the baby had. One that had the flag of the Draconis kingdom but also another flag. The flag looked to be some updated or new design or a new kingdom entirely of a human kingdom.
The servant began to race his mind around for what this could mean about the prophecy. Maybe a hybrid is supposed to lead a new era? But how? All dragons have been banished down here, who knows how long it would take for the dragon's to tunnel their way out, if they can at all! They're could have been extra enchantments with the banishment, what if they were sealed down here forever!? The servant had to snap himself out of it, the King looked ready to finish the carving, now moving on to write down words above the scene. The servant tried to read it but it was in some cursive and the servant had no idea on how anyone could read a font like that.
Soon, King Xoithe, let out a satisfied huff, the light blue glow leaving his eyes and he shifted down into his mortal form. Having lost his clothes since the dragon form was too big for them. The servant nodded and rushed to grab the King a quick outfit, luckily his new chambers was just around the corner. Rushing back he dressed the King who held eye bags and paler skin. "Sire?" The servant questioned, looking at his carving.
"Yes, there's still hope" King Xoithe yawned out, smiling softly as he looked at the rich valley, the two monarches sat on the cliff edge and the baby the King or Prince held intrigued the servant most.
The servant cleared his throat, "sorry to interrupt, Sire, but your people are requesting your advice" he tried to sound unbothered like he's supposed to but he to sounded worried. Again, there's little food down here! And the only water they could find that was more than a mouthful was still and covered with debris. King Xoithe nodded, he sat in thought for a moment before standing up and taking a deep breath, holding a hopeful smile.
"Make an announcement!" The King ordered, "that the whole kingdom to gather in the grate cave and await my speech" he gestured down the hall. The grate cave is a very large cave that could hold the whole kingdom thought it would be a little bit of a tight squeeze.
The servant nodded with a bow, making his was down to where he could find some of the guards. Informing them to help spread the word to arrive at the great cave as soon as possible. It didn't take long for word to get around, many were already there, seeking their King's advice. The servant stood just below the raised formation, the Queen having sat herself down, waiting for her husband to join. The servant, along with many of the kingdom, looked over to the newborn she held, the King and Queen's first son. Seeing the new heir also brought an ember of hope, the next generation has already been born, the servant can only pray for a them to have a more of a free life than this prison.
Echoes of rumers flooded the cave, the kingdom both nervous but excited for what the King had to announce. The servant knew that many were hoping for a quick fix or that the guards had already found a way out. "Foolish hoping", is all the servant could think off, hearing so many gossips in one place, it was enough to give anyone a headache. The cave quieted down as a horn was blown, the footsteps echoed down the narrow path that lead to the raised formation of rocks where the Queen already was sat waiting.
King Xoithe walked to the edge and looked over his Kingdom with a soft and hopeful smile. Instantly raising the hopes of his people. "Friends! Brave knights! The Ladies and Gentlemen!" King Xoithe greeted, his voice echoed on the ceiling of the large cave. "The war has been hard on us! I know!" He moved his hand to rest on his chest, gesturing to his heart. "But we can not give up! Being banished down here has pulled a toll on all of us! But do not stress! For a prophecy had been blessed on us!" He announced and the cave immediately cheered in an excitment.
So much noise bounced on one another that the servant had to cover his ears as he waited for the noise to inevitably go down. Once the noise settled the King cleared his throat and spoke once more. "Yes! A prophecy! One that guarantees our escape!" King Xoithe grinned wider, so much hope within his eyes alone. "A carving had been made! One that shows the image of a young King and Queen! One that looks over a new and rich valley! Holding the child of a hybrid! One that shows that the two kingdom's would meet again! But meet in peace!" The King announced and the muttering of excitment rumbled below the king.
"The prophecy states! "When the war has been scorched from history! When dragons and humans have grown! A Queen will fight for the balde! Who will set foot on the grand Palace again! A King will rebirth their grace! And together their new monarch and heritage! Will forge forge the blade into peace! Birthing the new empire! And a new dawn of time will be born!" King Xoithe let out a small sigh of relief once he announced his prophecy.
This prophecy promises a new empire entirely! A new race! But when would that be? The servant could hear the thoughts of all the people, most were ecstatic but many had their doubts. Prophecies were always criptic and never as straight forward as they seem. This prophecy could be when the new Prince is older, a decade after that or even a century! Either way, their freedom is promised and the servant along with the rest of the kingdom could not wait to rejoin the sky.