The thick canopy above filtered the sunlight into patches, creating an eerie dance of shadows along the forest floor. You could still feel the earth trembling beneath your feet from the dragon's powerful departure. The massive creature had disappeared into the trees just moments ago, a majestic blur of scales and power. You raced after it, heart pounding in your chest, but now all that remained was a strange, heavy silence.

You scanned the undergrowth, searching for any sign of the dragon's passage. But instead, what you found was a man—bare-skinned, kneeling on the ground, a jagged gash stretching across his side. His long, dark hair clung to his skin, and his eyes glimmered with a wild intensity. The scent of magic lingered, unmistakable, as he struggled to breathe. This was no ordinary man—he had to be the dragon.

“You came looking for me, didn’t you?” he rasped, his voice barely more than a whisper.