Chapter 3.5

(3 months later in the forests surrounding Raventree Hall)

Bryden Blackwood POV:

In the verdant sanctuary of the forest, where ancient trees whispered secrets like old friends, I stood with the essence of magic coursing through my veins. The air was alive with the energy of untamed spells, and I felt their call. David, my cousin, watched with wide-eyed wonder, his applause thunderous, urging me to unleash another spell. The 'Flame Sling'—a fiery waltz of destruction and beauty—had just left my fingertips, yet I could sense the pull of even greater powers within the arcane realm that beckoned me.

Marwyn, our Maester, observed with a gaze that could pierce the veil of ignorance itself. "What have we learned from your fiery exhibition?" he asked, his voice a mixture of sage wisdom and the comforting crackle of a hearth.

David, ever the ardent admirer of the mystical, couldn't contain his excitement. "It's the most magnificent display I've ever seen!" he exclaimed; his enthusiasm as infectious as the first rays of dawn.

I couldn't help but smile, the warmth in my expression rivaling the spell's lingering heat. "You say that about all my spells," I teased, knowing his tendency for dramatics.

Marwyn, steadfast as the roots of the forest, offered his counsel. "Bryden, we must always choose the right spell for the moment," he advised, gesturing toward the scorched stone that still glowed with the remnants of my magic, the air shimmering around it as if trying to calm its heated rage.

I pondered aloud, my thoughts drifting like leaves in the wind. "You know, the dragon communion spells surpass these simple tricks." I was drawn to the idea of channeling the very essence of dragons, to command the elements—from the frosty whisper of winter to the searing embrace of the sun.

Marwyn's response was swift and sharp, a reminder of past lessons. "Do you remember the 'Dragon Claw' incident? Your spell, meant to harness draconic might, instead sent shockwaves through the village, stirring panic like a sudden storm." His words brought back the memory of my father, the lord, calming the frightened villagers.

My pride felt the sting of his reprimand, and I opened my mouth to argue, but Marwyn's stern look silenced me. "No rebuttals, young master. Some spells are too powerful for you just yet. Remember, never use your magic unless…"

"…I am under the watchful eye of an adult," I recited the familiar rule, a mantra that had been drilled into me with each new spell we explored.

Marwyn, sensing my impatience, offered a path forward. "Let's delve deeper into the mysteries of your magic, understand its inner workings, and how you come to know these spells."

My frustration was a simmering pot, threatening to boil over. "I yearn to cast and witness my magic in its full glory, not just talk about it," I protested.

As our debate flowed back and forth, David stood up, dusting off the forest's touch from his clothes. "I'm off to meet Ser Ryse for our duel. Farewell!" And with that, he vanished like a fox into the underbrush, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the heavy mantle of my magical heritage.

The forest around me was a living mosaic, a witness to my journey—a young mage on a path interwoven with destiny and the embers of a flame waiting to be unleashed.

Marwyn the Mage POV:

The journey back from the forest was a silent symphony, the fading light casting long shadows that danced alongside us like quiet specters. "You did good today, Bryden," I said, breaking the silence. The words were simple, yet they carried the weight of a mentor's pride. Bryden, the young lord with dreams of magic now heavy in his hands, had the look of a storm about to break. His youthful exuberance, once a beacon of light, seemed dimmed by the day's trials.

Bryden had always been a wild spirit—powerful, free, and untamed. His desire to use powerful spells had been a flame that no amount of caution could douse. I recalled the day he invoked the dragon claw, a spell that shook the earth. It was a display of raw power that left Gerald and me reeling, a testament to the boy's untapped potential.

The aftermath was a scene of bewildered awe, with Bryden standing amidst the chaos, his smile as wide as the horizon. Gerald, ever the disciplinarian, had escorted him back to the palace with a firm grip on his ear and a lecture on responsibility. The incident was a stark reminder that Bryden's gifts were as dangerous as they were wondrous.

The debris, he shuddered to think of what might have happened to him or Gerald had they hit us. The sound of the impact of a dragon claw striking the ground had almost deafened them both with the flying debris not helping the situation. 

Bryden's heart was a fortress of kindness, a bulwark against the darker impulses that magic could awaken. It was a comfort to know that the tapestry of fate had woven such power into the hands of one so pure. The realm could rest easy, for the vessel of such formidable magic was not marred by the madness that had once consumed a king.

Seeking to lift his spirits, I ventured a question. "Since you hold the dragon communion spells in such high regard, which incantation do you deem the most potent?" The inquiry was like a key turning in a lock, releasing the clouds that furrowed Bryden's brow.

"Elder Dragon Greyoll's roar is mighty indeed, but there's another… it feels wrong," he admitted, his voice a whisper of uncertainty. The air around us grew tense, as if the very mention of the spell was an invocation of its power.

"What troubles you about it?" I prodded; my curiosity piqued by his hesitation.

"It's called Placidusax's Ruin, and it summons the golden breath of Dragonlord Placidusax," Bryden confided. The name alone seemed to conjure heat, an invisible fire that licked at the edges of reality.

"Who was this Placidusax?" I asked, though part of me feared the answer. The name felt like a storm on the horizon, full of power and portent.

"Placidusax," Bryden repeated, and the world seemed to hold its breath. In my mind's eye, I beheld a dragon of colossal might, a leviathan whose four heads crowned the heavens themselves.

A dragon which looked like he could have Balerion the Black dread for Breakfast and still feel hungry. An alpha predator on top of any and all food chains, a god for all intents and purposes.

We shifted our talk to Ser Ryse, the Master-at-Arms who found himself bested by Bryden's hand each day. "He actually enjoys the challenge," Bryden remarked, his tone tinged with incredulity.

Ser Ryse had come to view Bryden not as a mere opponent but as a crucible for his own growth. Each defeat was a lesson, each spar a chance to refine his art. I had seen them together, the seasoned warrior taking heed of Bryden's advice, his pride swallowed in the face of the boy's uncanny insight.

Bryden moved with the blade as if it were an extension of his will, his parries and ripostes a dance of steel and shadow. His critiques were sharp and true, from the grip of the hilt to the length of the blade. To all who questioned his knowledge, Bryden offered no explanation—he simply knew. And so, it was accepted, another quirk of a boy touched by magic.