The Legend of the Dragon King: Prologue

Thunder rumbled through the cold night. Lightning illuminated a towering black castle with each strike. A single room high in the keep flickered with candlelight. The lone occupant sat in a high back chair, chin resting against his fist as his angry gaze lingered over the low fire. His other fist held a crumpled piece of parchment with a delicate glowing seal in the bottom corner.

His people wanted him gone. They claim him greedy and cruel. Too power-hungry to keep the land prosperous. They say his rule has poisoned the land, has blackened the fields and forests.

His people had gone to the witch. The magic seal on the ultimatum was proof. He sneered as he recalled the words addressed to him.

“Heed this warning, O Lord of Wealth,

Should you refuse to justly rule, then upon you a change you cannot prevent.
Become the king of beasts to reflect your poisoned soul.

Should you refuse to love, then upon you a curse forever on.
Become a being of armored flesh to match your hardened heart.

A curse to you and your country.

A curse to King and his Subjects.

A curse undone by life’s greatest gift.

Learn love or live cursed.”

His fist tightened and with a low growl, he thrust the letter into the fire. The seal flashed and grew brighter even as the parchment began to burn.

Magic rose from the castle in an eerie glow and raced through the country cursing and changing all that it touched. Beasts of legend roared in anguish as their human forms were lost. Fields and forests became blackened with shadows and demons.

The lord writhed as his body trembled and warped. Great leather wings sprouted from his back, thick scales glittered across his skin as his body grew and morphed. Ivory teeth glistened as his eyes and throat glowed with embers. Castle walls fell to ruin as the massive dragon took to the stormy sky, a deafening roar splitting through the night.

And at the very edge of the country, as the magic tapered to an end, a wall of metallic silver pine trees grew high and ominous, forever separating the lands beyond.