Young Writers Society

IMAAN JANNAT

                                                     THE DRAGON BOY

In the heart of New York City, a boy with peculiar and unique abilities lives with his parents. Erik is red haired and emerald green-eyed boy with an unexplainable energy. Since he gained consciousness, bizarre things started happening to him. One day at school, he is targeted by a relentless bully, who mocks him and his friends. In the moment of intense emotion and frustration, something strange happens, his eyes twitch and suddenly the room flares up in flame. Panic erupts among students, the teachers scramble for safety, and Erik is baffled by the incident. As the fire is extinguished, the authorities initiate the investigation but no one is able to find the mysterious cause of the blaze.

As he turns fifteen, he begins to experience unusual things -eccentric dreams of flying, an extraordinary affinity for the moon and fire, and occasional outbursts of vigorous energy. A week after his birthday, he goes to Dry Harbor playground with his intimate pals, Thalor and Emberlyn. The playground is bustling with vibrant activities. But the main focus is on large, open area that leads to grassy fields. It is perfect for short sprint races. They challenge each other to get there swiftly, and the one who reaches last to the fields will treat the other two to ice-cream. Soon, they get their positions and sally off.

As they start dashing, Erik feels a sharp, searing pain shooting through his body. It is as if his bones are being twisted and broken from the inside out. Hearing Erik’s piercing shriek, Thalor and Emberlyn turn. Seeing his condition, they both exchange a knowing look. The unspoken understanding passes between them, almost as a mind link, as they silently agree on what needs to be done. They take him to a nearby forest. Erik, not comprehending anything, rejects the inside voice. It is an unfamiliar presence that urges him to calm down and accept something that feels utterly alien. Erik shouts, ‘No, I don’t want this’, desperate to silence the voice that insists on being heard. Thalor and Emberlyn come on his sides and sooth him. They tell him that he is a part wolf. Thalor advises him, ‘Look, Erik! You need to stop fighting. The more you resist, the worse it’s going to get.’ Emberlyn also advises him to conform to his wolf’s side to make the shifting easier.

Slowly, he begins to surrender to the transformation, allowing the wolf inside him to emerge. His bones crack and realign, his muscles ripple and expand. The burning sensation turns into strange warmth as silver fur begins sprouting along his skin. Thalor and Emberlyn step back swiftly, as they can see the agony replaced by a sense of power and purpose. When he shifts back to his human form, his friends tell him that he is a hybrid creature. They reveal that his father is a king and he sent him to the human world when he was born because his life wasn’t safe there. Additionally, they announce that the king will come as he has been waiting for the right time to reveal the truth and he will explain everything -Erik’s lineage, power, and what’s expected of him.

After that, with each passing night, his sleep is disturbed by increasingly strange and vivid dreams. It is one of these nights when Erik finds himself amid a vivid dreamscape. The dream is dark and foreboding, a chaotic battlefield, strewn with fallen leaves and broken branches. He stands on the edge of a vast moonlight clearing, his wolf form tense and ready for combat. In the distance, a massive army of wolves surges forward, led by the presence of a commanding and terrifying tall woman. As the battle rages on, the scene shifts. Erik finds himself in a different dreamscape, a world of ash and fire. He is now a spectator in a realm of devastation, watching as an ash-silver dragon soars high above the battlefield. The dragon leads the army, its fiery breath scorching the ground as it flies. Erik watches in horror and awe as the dragon’s army sweeps through the witch clan’s defenses, obliterating everything in its wake. Each time Erik wakes, he is drenched in sweat, his heart pounding as the images of battles linger in his mind.

One night, he sits in the dim light of his room, scrolling through his laptop. He hopes that a search on the internet may provide him with some clue to the meaning of his dreams. The clock on Erik’ bedside table glows a ghostly 3:00 am. Abruptly, a loud clattering noise erupts from his window. The sound is followed by a series of screeches that grow increasingly unnerving. His curiosity now piques in and a sense of dread settling in, he cautiously approaches the window. Peering outside, Erik’s eyes widen in disbelief. There, hovering just beyond the window is a massive dragon with ash-colored scales. Without thinking, he steps back, a cold sweat breaking out across his forehead.

The dragon let out a low, rumbling sound, and in a flash of bright light, it transformed into a tall, imposing man with sharp features and a regal presence. The figure steps into the room with a grace that belied his massive size, the floor creaking under his weight. Erik stands frozen, his mind unable to process the surrealist sight before him.

The figure declares with a deep resonated voice, ‘I’m Dragorath the Majestic. I am your father, Dragonite.’

Erik’s eyes widen in disbelief, “What are you talking about? Dragonite? My Father?”

Dragorath’s eyes soften, filled with paternal concern. “Don’t be afraid, son. I’m here to take you back to our world. it’s time for your return.”

Erik’s mind whirls with confusion. “Return? Why now?”

Dragorath takes a deep breath, his gaze steady. “When you were born, I had to send you to the human world to protect you. The dragons of our clan would have killed you, if they had known you carried the blood of both wolf and dragon. For centuries, wolves and dragons have been enemies. Moreover, I had my loyal servant’s son and daughter with you, as your friends, since your birth. Cadmus and Aurora both had been informing me about you. They were here for your help and protection”

Erik’s heart races as he struggles to process the revelation. “But why would they want to kill me? What about my mother?”

A shadow of sorrow crosses Dragorath’s face. “Your mother was Nyxera, the dragon queen. She was envied by Fenella Thorn, a witch of great power and malice. On the day you were born, during a solar eclipse, Fenella attempted to kill Nyxera to seize her power. Her magic was thwarted, but Nyxera died giving birth to you. Fenella vanished, cursing the child she couldn’t destroy.”

The weight of truth sinks in, leaving Erik speechless. “So, Fenella cursed me?”

Dragorath nodded, his expressions grave. “Beatrix Thorn, Fenella’s daughter, has been building a massive army of wolves. She seeks to avenge her mother’s defeat and lead an assault against our clan. Eldorath, the seer of our clan, has foreseen this threat. It’s time for you to return and reclaim your place among your kin”

Erik’s mind is a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty. “You want me to go back there? To face all this? I’ve never been to your world.”

Dragorath places a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “You have inherited great strengths from both your mother and me. The journey will be challenging but you’re not alone. I will help you through the transition. Trust in your heritage, and trust in yourself.”

Erik hesitates and seems worried. “What about my foster parents?”

Dragorath gives an assuring smile. “Don’t fret, I’ve already erased your memory from their minds.” Then, Dragorath demands Erik’s hand. “Are you ready?”

Taking a deep breath, Erik nods, his resolve strengthening. He extends his hand towards his father, feeling the warmth and power in the connection. As they step through the portal, the familiar confines of his human room fade away, replaced by a world of mystical landscapes and ancient secrets. On their arrival, they go to Eldorath to seek some guidance. The seer advises Erik to learn to harness and control both wolf and dragon sides. Eldorath brings it to light that Erik has been chosen by fate to play a crucial part in the coming conflict. Soon, Erik realizes that the balance of the dragon’s world rests on his shoulders.

The following day, Dragorath awaits him in a spacious training arena. Next to him are several training aids, weighted gauntlets, practice swords, and a range of magical artifacts designed to enhance agility and strength. They start with physical conditioning and combat training. The first part of training is grueling, designed to build stamina and strength with drills, running, jumping, and climbing obstacles. At the end of training, Dragorath introduces him to enchanted relics, intended to enhance his abilities. Erik keeps pushing himself as he wants to be ready for whatever comes next.

Amid the dense forest, Erik, Dragorath, and a small group of dragons move stealthily. They’re on a reconnaissance mission near the borders of their territory, close to where Beatrix Thorns’ forces have been spotted. Erik’s heart is pounding, adrenaline coursing through his veins. All of a sudden, Dragorath holds his hand high, signaling everyone to stop. Erik can sense something is wrong, ominous energy is hanging in the air.

Without warning, a piercing howl echoes through the tree, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps. Erik’s iris expands as he sees a pack of massive wolves emerge from the shadows. As Dragorath transforms, the dragon warriors follow suit, their forms shifting into towering, armored dragons. Erif feels a surge of energy as his wolf side roars to life but he knows this battle requires both his forms. When the first wolf springs at him with bare fangs, he retaliates with a swift strike. Erik fights off three wolves at once with his radiant energy. To change his tactic, he shifts from a wolf to a dragon, in a flash of light. The wolves are taken aback by this unexpected shift and they lose their confidence. The dragon warriors burn the witch clan and their huts with their blazing gushes. Nearby, Dragorath unleashes a torrent of fire, his flame engulfing several wolves at a time. Eventually, with a coordinated attack, the remaining wolves are defeated, and they retreat into the forest with howling pain.

As they make their way back to the castle, Erik feels a new sense of purpose. The fight has tested him but it has also strengthened his resolve. The road ahead will be difficult but he is ready to face it, to protect his people and embrace his destiny as Dragonite.