The initial rumble started as a subtle vibration beneath my feet. As debris shifted around Frostfire's enormous form, the air filled with the scraping of stone against metal, punctuated by sharp cracks as ancient fragments gave way. A wave of cold air rushed past us, carrying the scent of frost and ozone—like the air before a lightning strike.

The dragon's scales caught the light from the restored Earthheart, reflecting it in mesmerizing patterns of blue and silver across the chamber walls. Her chest expanded with her first conscious breath in millennia, the sound like wind through a mountain pass. The movement sent more rubble cascading away from her body, each piece hitting the ground with echoing thuds. As her eyes opened, they gleamed with an inner light of blue-white energy. Her wings unfolded, each membrane translucent as ice, creating soft whooshing sounds that somehow seemed louder than the falling debris.

"Frostfire Aetherwing. What a beautiful name," I whispered to myself. Then I looked up and said, "Do we need to hide? Maybe we should fall back into the building." I began to back up, not that it could offer much coverage. It was better than standing out in the open.

The dragon burst free from its prison, unfurling massive wings that cast shadows across the buildings and roads. She launched into the air with a powerful beat of wings, sending a gust of wind that nearly knocked me off my feet.

The beast's roar echoed off the ancient walls, a primal sound that made my blood run cold. I grabbed Seraphina's arm to steady her as she scrambled to her feet beside me.

Elixander’s mouth dropped open in shock as the massive creature wheeled overhead. His hands opened and closed, but there was barely a crackle of energy.

The dragon's wings caught currents of air I couldn't feel, carrying her higher into the vast underground space. Each sweep sent ripples through her silver-streaked scales. She twisted in a graceful arc, her long neck curving as she banked between the ancient spires.

"Look at her move," Seraphina breathed, clutching my arm. Her eyes tracked every motion, reflecting the dragon's ethereal glow.

Frostfire rolled into a tight spiral, her wings folding close before snapping open again. The maneuver brought a gasp from Elixander, who steadied himself against a wall. Despite his exhaustion, wonder replaced weariness on his face.

The dragon stretched her massive form in a loop that seemed to defy the chamber's size. Her tail traced patterns in the air as she twisted. The beating of her wings stirred up dust from corners untouched for millennia, creating swirling clouds that caught the light of the Earthheart.

She descended in a wide circle, each wing beat slower than the last. Her claws extended toward the ground, and she touched down with surprising delicacy for a creature of her size. The impact still sent tremors through the stone floor, and I had to steady myself and Seraphina as the vibrations reached us.

The dragon’s momentum carried her forward in a slide that brought her terrifyingly close. She slid and somehow came to a stop a few dozen feet away from our diminutive party.

The dragon lowered its head to Elixander's level. Steam curled from her nostrils with each breath and waves of heat rolled off her body.

I stumbled back from the massive dragon, my heart hammering in my chest. Her scales glinted like polished armor in the ethereal light, each one a work of art in blue and white with silver highlights.

"Be still," Triolux called out wearily. "Let her catch your scent."

The dragon's head swayed closer, steam curling from her nostrils. Her neck curved like a snake as she examined each of us in turn. The heat that rolled off her body made sweat trickle down my back.

When the dragon’s eyes blazed in my direction, I froze. Her massive jaws parted to reveal rows of teeth longer than my forearm. Pure instinct took over—I spun and prepared to bolt.

"Wait." The voice stopped me cold. It was unmistakably feminine, with an otherworldly resonance that seemed to bypass my ears and speak directly to my mind. "Are you the human who provided the power to awaken the Earthheart?"

“Um. Yeah,” I replied.

Beside me, Seraphina gripped her staff so tightly her knuckles were white.

I cleared my throat and managed what I hoped was a winning smile. "I'm Varix Vel'Naris, owner of The Shadow's Respite tavern—the finest establishment in Everspring, though I'll admit I've never served a dragon before. Our portions might be a bit small for your taste. Also, I tend to rely on humor to get me through terrifying moments." I gestured to my companions. "This is Seraphina Brightstar, a very beautiful and magical genius and gem enchanter."

"Stop it," she mouthed silently around a little smile.

"And her father, Elixander Brightstar, Archmage of the Dawn—though he's a bit worn out from all the excitement down here, not to mention wanting to eliminate me a few minutes ago due to an elephant-sized misunderstanding in the room. Oh, and this is Triolux." I turned to take in the ferrokin. "I'd tell you more about him, but honestly, I'm still trying to figure out if he's a statue that came to life or if being made of polished granite is just his thing. Either way, he's been an excellent tour guide."

Triolux threw back his head and laughed heartily.

The dragon's eyes danced with what might have been amusement. Hard to tell with a face that size.

The massive dragon inhaled deeply, her chest expanding like bellows. Her head bobbed in a slow, deliberate nod, immense wings folding against her sides with surprising grace. Each scale clicked softly against its neighbor, creating a sound like wind chimes made of metal.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"I am Frostfire Aetherwing, Dreamer in the Deep Dark," the dragon said, her voice carrying harmonics that made the air vibrate. "Well over six thousand years have passed since I last drew breath in this chamber."

I found myself leaning forward, captivated by the way her scales shifted color with each movement. Her voice was equally hypnotizing. I wanted to listen to her tell stories for a while.

"Shal'aethir vos luminara," she said, turning to Elixander with a slight bow of her massive head. The words carried a musical quality that made my spine tingle.

Elixander's exhausted face lit up. "You know the old tongue," he said, straightening despite his fatigue. "Few now living recall such courtesies. May the light of the stars also guide you, Frostfire. You honor me."

"The old ways endure in memory," Frostfire replied. "Like ripples in still water, they touch all shores in time." Her tail curled around her forelegs as she settled into a pose that reminded me of a sphinx.

"Thanks to your efforts, Varix, I am free."

"I didn’t do much. Triolux walked me through it. I can’t do magic, but the Earthheart didn’t care and took what it needed. How were you aware it was me? I touched your chest, and you seemed to be completely hibernated."

"Though I was in a dreamless state, a few stimuli managed to reach me. I have been sleeping for millennia of your years. Perhaps I was already close to awakening. I sensed the city had nearly exhausted its energy reserves, thus my awakening was imminent."

“I can’t believe I’m talking to a dragon,” I said reverently.

“Nor can I,” Elixander said.

Seraphina gripped my hand tightly.

Frostfire's eyes took on a distant look as she gazed at the restored Earthheart. "I crashed here during the Sundering. The magical storms were beyond anything I'd encountered. Lightning struck my wing, and I plummeted through a breach in the surface." Her tail swished across the stone floor. "One of the guardians of this place—a powerful ferrokin mage—chose to place me in hibernation rather than let me die from my injuries. I would have thrashed in place and damaged much of the city. I remember little else until now. However, my wounds are healed. I would like the opportunity to thank this ferrokin."

"It may be some time before the others awaken—those who decided to continue their journey on this world. The rest have moved on. I would like to see others of the ferrokin."

Elixander placed his hand behind his back thoughtfully. "I am not certain any exist within the lands of Mythralon. I have never seen one of your kind until today. There are, however, dwarves. You resemble this race to some degree."

"Dwarves, eh? I'd like to meet one."

"First, we must make our way to the surface."

She turned her massive head toward the ceiling. "Tell me, does the sun still warm the peaks? Do clouds still paint shadows across the valleys?"

"They do," I said. "Though I mostly see them from my tavern window these days."

"And what of my kin?" Frostfire's voice carried a note of longing. "Do dragons still soar the skies?"

Elixander's voice was gentle despite his exhaustion. "Dragons still exist, though they've withdrawn from the lands of men. They're rarely seen now." He leaned against his staff. "I don't know their exact whereabouts, but there are those who might—the Emberfae relic hunters. They travel to the most remote places seeking dangerous artifacts."

"The Emberfae?" Frostfire's scales rippled with interest. "Tell me more of these hunters."

"They're a race born of volcanic regions," I explained. "They seek out dangerous magical items to destroy them. If anyone knows where to find dragons, they would."

Seraphina squeezed my hand. "We could help you find them," she offered. "The Emberfae, I mean. I've dealt with them before through my gem trade."

Frostfire's tail curled thoughtfully. "Perhaps that would be wise. Much has changed in six thousand years. I should learn of this new world before seeking out my kind."

"I also would see this land of yours. And this tavern you have spoken of. I find I am quite thirsty after this long slumber," Triolux said.

"Have I got a drink for you. It's called Iron Forge Whiskey, and it'll put some hair on your chest," I told Triolux.

He grinned broadly and said, “I’ll accept that challenge.”

I hadn’t even thought to ask. “Can you drink and eat food, or do you eat rocks and metal?”

Triolux roared with laughter and walked to my side. He reached up and put a hand on my shoulder. “Ah, Varix. I feel that you and I are going to be friends. To answer your question, yes, we Ferrokin eat normal food, but I confess we crave those that are touched with iron or other minerals.”

“You tell me what you need, and I’ll ensure we prepare it for you.”

“First, we must return to the surface,” Elixander interjected and looked at me, then Seraphina. “We have much to discuss.”

I couldn’t help but sigh. Triolux had shared my secret with Elixander, and I feared his knowledge of my life here had also revealed Seraphina’s.

"I can fly us to the surface," Frostfire said. "There are many large caves I can navigate through."

"That would be wonderful," Seraphina said, "but how would we hold on?"

"I might have a solution," Triolux said. "Varix, I could use your help."

"But I don't know-"

"’Tis just a helping hand I require. Come."

He was so insistent that I agreed.

"I would like to stay and speak with Frostfire if that's acceptable," Elixander said. He turned to Seraphina. "Daughter, please remain here with me."

"This way," Triolux said, leading me toward a nearby building.

The entrance slid open at his approach, revealing a workshop unlike anything I'd seen. Metal contraptions lined the walls, their surfaces etched with intricate patterns that seemed to flow like water. Brass and copper tubes wound between what looked like control panels studded with crystals. The lights flickered on dimly, revealing more peculiar devices—things that might have been forged but had no visible sign of it, and tools that hung suspended in fields of energy.

In the center of the room sat a massive egg-shaped box, its surface smooth and metallic. Beside it stood a dais supporting what appeared to be an enormous book, shimmering behind some kind of barrier. As Triolux approached, the shimmer dissolved like a mist.

"This place is amazing."

"Thank you, friend Varix. It is a creation room. We're about to create a dragon saddle that will comfortably allow the four of us to sit on the dragon, with Frostfire’s permission, of course.”

“Oh.” I scratched my head. “How long will it take to create? Gotta be honest. I’m thirsty and hungry. Maybe we should put it off a little so we can find sustenance."

Triolux chuckled and then said, "It will take but moments. We ferrokin are quite crafty." As if to prove his point, the walls around us began to hum with an otherworldly resonance, and I couldn't help but wonder if I should have asked exactly what "crafty" meant to a race that had built an entire city underground.