Raphael

Freya and Eli watched on with a mix of curiosity and anxiety. They did not know what to expect from the ongoing process. Dragons where mostly known to stay in the humanoid forms only rarely going into their dragon form which gave them a massive boost in strength. Royal dragons in particular are said hatch in complete human form, regular dragons though gain their human forms when they first cultivate after awakening at the age of five .Freya couldn't help but wonder, would it look more like a dragon or a human? Would it have wings or legs? Would it breathe fire or speak words?

Most races awakened at the age of twelve as the norm. Though it was not well known in olden days drakes awaken at five and cultivate in seclusion until their coming of age ceremony at the age of 12, leading to the misconception that dragons awaken at the same age as all races.

The girls watched as blue flames grew from underneath the egg and engulfed the whole egg, as if consuming it in anger.

"Uhm is that supposed to be normal... did you read anything about from those history books you love so much?" Eli asked in a not so enthusiastic manner

"I honestly have no idea, lets just wait and see. Maybe this is completely normal..."

Suddenly, the flames grew in size, they roared and crackled, devouring everything in their path, shifting colour into a dark amethyst.

"Get back Eli!"

Smoke filled the air, choking and blinding. The heat was unbearable, scorching and searing. The fire seemed unstoppable, relentless and merciless. The throne was blasted apart as Freya grabbed Eli by the waist, she jumped back near one of the statues.

"Ooooh those flames look pretty" Eli and Freya were engrossed by the beautiful scene before them. Sweat matted their backs and temples. A dense pressure descended upon them. the gravity seemed to increase by a hundred fold. it was getting harder to breathe, as if breathing at all in front this majestic scene was a crime deserving of death. Freya felt her legs buckle as she dropped onto her knees, Eli not far behind her in the exact same fashion.

"Urghhh" The sisters groaned in pain " what is this pressure. I've never felt so weak and helpless before. I feel like I'm carrying a mountain." Freya was used to being around powerful warriors and mages, but none of them had ever gave of such an overwhelming presence before. She couldn't fathom a person giving off this much pressure much less an unhatched egg. A blood curling roar shook the whole throne hall. In the midst of the inferno, there was a movement. Freya looked over curiosity taking the best of her

A shape emerged from the flames, walking slowly and steadily. It was a human boy, or at least most of him. He was not like any other boy she had ever seen. His skin was such a shade of white he might as well be a cold, dead body, contrasting with the dark ink that covered his arms and chest in intricate patterns, "Tattoos..." Freya managed to breath out

His hair was the colour of white gold, falling in soft waves over his forehead and brushing his shoulders. But what caught her attention the most were his horns. They were red as blood, curving from his temples and ending in sharp points. They gave him a devilish look, as if he belonged in another world. He smiled at her, revealing a row of pearly teeth, and she felt a shiver run down her spine.

Freya held Eli tighter into her bosom, not knowing what to expect. She looked into eyes, a piercing shade of gold with a hidden arrogance within. He was the epitome of masculine beauty His face, handsome, with a square jaw, a straight nose. Her gaze lowered and landed on his toned chest area. His body was sculpted with muscles. His chest was broad and strong, his arms were thick and powerful, his legs were long and lean. Thinking back to his leg, Freya retraced her line of sight and took a second look at his lower body and she choked on her own breath. She might be inexperienced but she trusted her own knowledge enough to know that the size was way out of the scope of what was considered 'normal'. Realising that her gaze had lingered far longer on that particular region, Freya's face became such a deep shade of crimson that you'd mistake her for a rose.

She finally looked up again only find that the young man had a playful smirk on his face. He breathes out lightly ruffles his hair with his left hand

"Like what you see, mi lady?" he asks in a teasing tone "I don't mind, look as long as you want. My name is Raph by the way short for Raphael." Raph said as he clothed himself much to Freya's surprise. He wore a pair of loose-fitting pants that reached his ankles, made of coarse linen dyed in a black. His torso was bare, exposing his lean, muscular build. As far she was concerned Raph had no storage ring to speak of on his fingers and self. She looked back at her own storage ring on her finger.

Thinking up to the point, Freya suddenly realised that an egg had just transmuted into a full grown teenager. "how..?"

"hmmm how what?" Raph asked back 

"What are you?" 

"Oh I'm a dragon as far as remember"

"B-but... you just... hatched and you look like a 16 year old"

"That's a story for another time. Now I have a few questions." Raph's gaze suddenly became a biting cold as his playful smirk disappeared. "How long has it been since my dragon clan was betrayed?"

sensing Raph's mood shift, Freya seemed to finally remember that Eli was still frozen in fear.

"Betrayal? According to our elders and the scriptures the dragons were ambushed by an unknown entity, wiping out the whole clan. And it's been three millennia."

Raph looked at her with a mix of anger and sadness in his eyes. He shook his head, trying to explain. "No, you don't understand. The other clans banded together at our weakest time in age, 'the dragons are dangerous, they're a threat to our freedom' the said. They killed so many of my people, so many of my friends and family." He said, his voice trembling. "I got a fatal injury in battle and went into restricted hibernation as per my father's wishes I was not expecting to sleep for three millennia though, tell me what is left of my clan and race?" he asked, his fists clenched.

Freya was at a loss for words. She could see blood dripping from Raphael's clenched fists. How could she tell him his race hasn't been seen for the past millennia.

She just looked at him, she wanted to say something, anything, that would make him feel better, but she couldn't find the words. She knew that nothing she could say would change the fact that his clan was gone. She felt guilty for being alive, for having her own family intact, while he had lost everything. 'Was my Elvin clan involved in this too, she thought' the idea eating up her insides.

Finally working up the courage to speak, " No dragons have been seen in ages, I have only seen the lesser earth dragons, wyverns and salamanders." She muttered in a low voice.

"I see..." his gaze became indifferent, but it only sent chills down Freya's spine his eyes seemed hollow, detached, like an endless abyss you cannot climb out of. But it all disappeared as quickly as it came, replaced by a nonchalant smile. " Well how about we get out of here..., who is that in your arms?" Raph finally noticed there was another person in the hall.

Eli, who seemed to have finally calmed down wiggled out of Freya's arms and faced Raph 

"Hi Raph my name is Eli! and this is my elder sister, Freya. She's amazing. She's a powerful mage, a talented musician, and a brilliant scholar. She knows everything about magic, history, and art. She's also very kind and beautiful as you can see. You two would make a perfect couple!" an excited Eli shouted out, advertising her sister to a laughing Raph.

"Hey shut it..!" A mortified Freya jumped up and clamped down Eli's mouth.

Raphael laughed harder. " Lets go I'm starving, I haven't eaten a thing in forever." The broken throne flashed and disappeared along with a large chest in the corner of the room. Raph leading the way, the group of three exited the throne hall.