Chapter 3: Forbidden Thoughts
The journey back to the hunters' stronghold was a blur for Aria. Her companions' chatter faded into background noise as her mind replayed every moment of her encounter with Drakon. The dragon's golden eyes haunted her thoughts, challenging everything she had ever known.
As they approached the imposing gates of Dragon's Bane Keep, Aria felt a sense of unease settle in her stomach. The fortress, once a symbol of safety and purpose, now seemed oppressive. Its high stone walls and dragon skull decorations, which had always filled her with pride, suddenly appeared grotesque.
"Nightshade!" Garrick's gruff voice cut through her reverie. "Report to my office immediately."
Aria nodded, steeling herself for the inevitable dressing-down. She followed her mentor through the keep's winding corridors, the torchlight casting long shadows that danced on the walls like writhing dragon tails.
Garrick's office was a testament to his long career as a dragon hunter. Trophies lined the walls – scales, claws, and even a preserved dragon heart floating in a jar of mysterious liquid. Aria's gaze lingered on the heart, wondering if it had once belonged to a being as intelligent and complex as Drakon.
"Sit," Garrick commanded, settling behind his desk with a weary sigh. "Now, explain to me what happened out there."
Aria perched on the edge of her seat, her mind racing. How could she possibly explain without revealing the truth? "I... I made a mistake. The dragon was faster than I anticipated, and I hesitated."
Garrick's eyes narrowed. "You've never hesitated before. Not once in all your years of training. What changed?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with implications. Aria felt the weight of her mentor's expectations pressing down on her. "Nothing changed," she lied, the words tasting bitter on her tongue. "It won't happen again."
"See that it doesn't," Garrick growled. "We can't afford mistakes, Aria. Not with the dragon attacks increasing. The Council is breathing down our necks, demanding results."
Aria nodded, her throat tight. "I understand. It won't happen again."
As she left Garrick's office, Aria's steps felt leaden. The familiar halls of Dragon's Bane Keep seemed to close in around her, suffocating her with expectations and half-truths.
She found herself in the keep's vast library, seeking solace among the ancient tomes and scrolls. Her fingers trailed along the spines of books she had studied countless times before – "Anatomy of Dragons," "Effective Killing Techniques," "A History of Human-Dragon Conflict."
A dusty volume caught her eye, hidden behind more prominent texts. "Draconic Lore and Legends," the faded title read. Aria pulled it from the shelf, her heart racing as she opened its yellowed pages.
Hours slipped by as Aria devoured the book's contents. Tales of dragons as wise teachers, as guardians of ancient knowledge, as beings capable of love and grief – it was a far cry from the mindless beasts she had been taught to hunt.
"Burning the midnight oil?"
Aria jumped at the sound of Liam's voice. She slammed the book shut, guilt washing over her. "Just... doing some research," she mumbled.
Liam settled into a chair across from her, concern etched on his features. "You've been acting strange ever since the hunt. What's really going on, Aria?"
For a moment, Aria considered confiding in her oldest friend. The truth bubbled up inside her, threatening to spill out. But fear held her back – fear of rejection, of being labeled a traitor, of losing everything she had ever known.
"It's nothing," she forced a smile. "Just frustrated about missing that shot. You know me – always striving for perfection."
Liam studied her for a long moment before nodding. "Well, don't be too hard on yourself. Even the great Aria Nightshade is allowed an off day now and then."
As Liam left, Aria felt the weight of her deception settle over her like a shroud. She had never lied to him before, and the ease with which the falsehoods now fell from her lips frightened her.
Sleep eluded Aria that night. She tossed and turned in her narrow bed, her dreams filled with swirling golden eyes and the sound of Drakon's resonant voice. In one particularly vivid dream, she found herself soaring through the clouds on Drakon's back, the world spread out beneath them like a tapestry.
Dawn found her perched on the keep's highest tower, watching the sun rise over the distant mountains. The world looked different from up here – vast and full of possibilities. Somewhere out there, Drakon was greeting this same dawn.
"You look troubled, child."
The soft voice startled Aria. She turned to find Eldara, the keep's ancient healer, standing behind her. The old woman's milky eyes seemed to see right through Aria's carefully constructed facade.
"I'm fine," Aria insisted, the lie coming automatically now.
Eldara's weathered face creased in a knowing smile. "The heart cannot lie, even when the tongue does. You carry a great burden, Aria Nightshade. One that threatens to tear you apart."
Aria felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. "How can you know that?"
"I have lived long and seen much," Eldara replied, resting a gnarled hand on Aria's shoulder. "The path you walk is not an easy one, but it is necessary. Trust your heart, child. It will not lead you astray."
As Eldara shuffled away, Aria felt a glimmer of hope spark within her. Perhaps she wasn't alone in her doubts after all.
The next few days passed in a haze of training and patrols. Aria went through the motions, her body responding to years of ingrained habit while her mind wandered. Every dragon sighting sent her heart racing, hoping and fearing it might be Drakon.
During a routine patrol of the nearby village, Aria found herself drawn to a group of children playing in the square. They were reenacting a dragon hunt, with one child playing the fearsome beast while the others pretended to slay it.
"I'm the mighty dragon!" a young boy roared, flapping his arms like wings. "I'll burn your village to ashes!"
"Not if we stop you first, foul beast!" his playmates cried, brandishing stick swords.
Aria watched the scene unfold, a knot forming in her stomach. Is this how the cycle of hatred perpetuated itself? Through children's games and stories passed down through generations?
As she turned to leave, Aria caught sight of an old man watching the children with a sad smile. Intrigued, she approached him.
"You don't seem to approve of their game," she observed.
The old man sighed. "I've seen too many real dragon hunts to find joy in playacting. There's no glory in killing, lass. Only sorrow."
Aria's breath caught in her throat. "But... the dragons are a threat. We have to protect ourselves."
"Do we?" the old man countered. "Or have we simply never tried to understand them? In my youth, I met a dragon who was kinder than most humans I've known. But fear and ignorance drive us to destroy what we don't comprehend."
As Aria bid the old man farewell, his words echoed in her mind. She thought of Drakon, of the intelligence and emotion she had seen in his eyes. How many others like him had been slain without a chance to prove their worth?
That night, as Aria lay awake in her bed, she made a decision. She would find Drakon again, no matter the cost. There were too many questions left unanswered, too many possibilities unexplored.
As sleep finally claimed her, Aria's last thoughts were of golden eyes and the promise of a new dawn. Whatever challenges lay ahead, she would face them with an open heart and a determination to uncover the truth – about dragons, about herself, and about the world she thought she knew.