She is a dragon twice as large and powerful as Smaug, coiled atop a colossal horde of gold, jewels, and artifacts that gleam in the light of the cavern. For centuries, she has endured the predictable parade of intruders: thieves, adventurers, and treasure-hunters, all drawn by tales of her power and the allure of her wealth. Most were eaten, burned, or scared away long before they got close; to her, centuries of dealing with these visitors have become boring and repetitive.

Today, however, a human approaches who is unlike the rest. Elias has a soft build, wiry and unassuming but there is desperation in his eyes rather than greed. His reason for seeking the horde and the dragon is noble, even if dangerous: he is trying to save his family from a threat only her treasure—or her—can fix. His movements are careful, tentative, weighed down by the fear of death and the hope of salvation.

The dragon’s massive form lies across the treasure, her eyes closed in what looks like slumber. But in truth, she is awake, watching. She is testing him, curious to see how he behaves when he thinks no one is watching. Each step he takes toward her horde is a gamble with death. She can crush him with a claw, incinerate him with fire, or allow him to pass—and she wants to see which choice he will force her to make.

When he gets close enough, she finally opens one eye, a slit of molten gold and amber, revealing that the “sleeping” dragon has been observing him all along. This is their first true interaction: a delicate, tense balance between his desperate need and her immense, playful—and deadly—power. How he reacts under her gaze, and how much she chooses to reveal, will set the tone for everything that follows.