Chapter 32: Taming Failure

The sound of his boots crunching over a pile of dragon excrement echoed through the cavern, followed by a sharp clink as Rhaegar inadvertently kicked a skeleton marked with deep bite marks, jolting the eerie silence of the dim space.

The sudden noise sent shivers down Rhaegar's spine, his heart racing in his chest.

For a moment, his gaze darted nervously towards the shadowy figure, fearing any misstep could trigger its wrath.

As he struggled to steady his wildly thumping heart, Rhaegar couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that, given his physical condition just half a year prior, his heart might already be faltering, prone to failure at any moment.

Taking a deep breath, he attempted to quell his rising anxiety, continuing to hum the unsteady melody with less finesse.

Then, a series of clatters disrupted the stillness once more.

After a while, the clash of chains echoed once more, signaling Rhaegar's approach to Dreamfyre's lair.

As he drew nearer, the silhouette of Dreamfyre began to take shape in the dim light.

Its slender body, adorned with light blue scales and silver accents, along with its expansive wings folded neatly against its sides, created an imposing yet graceful figure.

Although the dragon's head remained obscured in the shadows, the glint of two long, slightly curved silver horns hinted at its formidable presence.

Pausing in his tracks, Rhaegar couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation at the sight before him.

Despite appearing at rest, Rhaegar knew that Dreamfyre had been alerted to his presence by the hummed melody.

With only the silent company of the unclaimed dragon, Rhaegar couldn't deny the fear that gripped him.

The torch trembled in Rhaegar's grip, his legs weighed down as if anchored in place, and even the melody from his lips felt distant and numb.

"Move, move!" His mind screamed, fighting against the paralyzing grip of fear that held him in place.

He had embarked on this quest to tame the dragon, and abandoning it now was not an option.

As moments stretched into eternity, and Dreamfyre made no aggressive move, Rhaegar's resolve began to strengthen.

Driven by determination, he willed his legs to take another step forward, then another.

Thirty meters, twenty meters, fifteen...

With each advancing step, Dreamfyre loomed larger and clearer in his vision.

The dragon, with its imposing horns and amber eyes, regarded him with a calm indifference that sent shivers down Rhaegar's spine.

The confined space seemed to suffocate him under the weight of the dragon's presence, like a looming threat waiting to strike.

"Hoo~Hoo~~"

The song faltered on Rhaegar's lips as his breathing quickened, echoing loudly in the cavernous silence.

The tension coiled through his body, stiffening every muscle as Rhaegar fixed his gaze on Dreamfyre.

"Dreamfyre, join forces with me, and together we shall soar to the skies!" His voice rang out in his mind, a silent chant of determination.

With blood staining his lips from the bite, Rhaegar gritted his teeth and raised the torch high, extending his hand in a gesture of invitation.

Regardless of the risk, he was resolved to attempt to tame Dreamfyre.

"Roar..."

In response to his bold move, Dreamfyre emitted a deep, rumbling growl from its throat.

Recently awakened from slumber, Dreamfyre's demeanor remained relatively calm, lacking the aggression one might expect.

Sniffing the air, it seemed to detect some unspoken bond between them.

Instinctively, Dreamfyre recognized this connection, forged through the bloodline of its former master, Rhaena.

Dreamfyre's icy gaze bore into Rhaegar's, scrutinizing him with a keen intensity.

Undeterred, Rhaegar shouted once more, "Dreamfyre, recognize me! You don't belong in this dreary dragon's den, hidden from the sun!"

In response, Dreamfyre let out a powerful hiss, a clear assertion of its presence.

As their eyes met, an inexplicable connection seemed to form between the young prince and the ancient dragon, drawing them together.

In each other's gaze, they glimpsed their own reflections, and through this connection, Rhaegar sensed the depth of Dreamfyre's emotions.

There was a tumult of feelings within the dragon—rage, bitterness, and a profound yearning for freedom.

The weight of these emotions took Rhaegar aback.

Reflecting on Dreamfyre's plight—confined for decades in this crypt without sunlight after losing its master—Rhaegar understood the source of its turmoil.

Summoning his courage, Rhaegar took a step forward, speaking with compassion, "Dreamfyre, allow me to free you from this confinement!"

Though Dreamfyre couldn't comprehend his words, it sensed the empathy in his tone.

After years of captivity, it longed to be liberated.

With a determined movement, Dreamfyre attempted to rise, spreading its wings to display its majestic form.

But the sturdy chains that bound it were unforgiving, yanking it back before it could fully ascend, thwarting its efforts.

The struggle was palpable, as Dreamfyre yearned to rise while the chains held it back with cruel force.

With a sickening thud, Dreamfyre crashed to the ground, its slender neck nearly snapping as it collided heavily with the cave wall.

Witnessing the dragon's fall, Rhaegar's heart raced with concern and panic. "Dreamfyre, are you alright!?"

Unaware that the connection between them had snapped with Dreamfyre's fall, Rhaegar moved closer tentatively.

But as their eyes met once more, the intimacy that had existed moments before was replaced by fury and rage in Dreamfyre's gaze.

"Roar!"

Dreamfyre roared fiercely, its jaws opening wide as flames erupted from its maw, laced with orange, yellow, and sky blue hues.

"No! Calm down, Dreamfyre, we can work together!"

Rhaegar's expression shifted dramatically as he desperately tried to reason with the enraged dragon.

However, the torrent of dragonfire was already upon him.

Fueled by the instinct for survival, Rhaegar swiftly turned and sought cover among the jagged pile of skeletons.

Though the flames didn't engulf him directly, searing sparks landed on his exposed back.

The dragonfire, far hotter than any ordinary flame, consumed his clothes in an instant, scorching his pale skin.

"Ah!!!"

Agonizing pain tore through Rhaegar's nerves, eliciting a primal scream from his lips.

His body arched involuntarily, his eyes wide with shock and pain, as he felt the excruciating burn.

For a fleeting moment, he feared he might perish from the sheer intensity of the pain.

But despite the searing agony, the blood of the dragon coursing through his veins kept him alive.

"How did this happen? Why did Dreamfyre lose control!"

In the face of danger, Rhaegar's rational mind surged above his fear, commanding him to take the most prudent action.

Seizing the momentary lull in Dreamfyre's fiery assault, Rhaegar summoned every ounce of strength to scramble to his feet and flee into the darkness.

The torch had been lost in the chaos, leaving Rhaegar to navigate the gloom with stumbling steps, his progress hindered by the bone-strewn ground.

"Roar!"

Each miss by Rhaegar further stoked Dreamfyre's fury, causing the dragon to thrash against its chains, spewing flames with renewed ferocity.

The brilliant conflagration illuminated the lair, devouring stone and bone alike, occasionally singeing Rhaegar's skin as he fled.

"Curses, it was so close..."

As he raced ahead, pursued by the scorching dragonfire, Rhaegar agonized over his failure.

"Prince, watch out behind you!"

A familiar voice jolted him, but before he could react, a blur of white crashed into him.

Boom-

In the blink of an eye, the spot where Rhaegar had stood was consumed by dragonfire, leaving behind a charred crater.

(Word count: 1230)