Chapter One: The Sixteenth Birthday

The warm June sun streamed through the windows of the Henderson home, bathing the living room in golden light. David sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by his two best friends, Eric and Ryan, controllers in hand as they raced each other in the latest Mario Kart game. Laughter and friendly jeers filled the room as their characters collided in-game, sending one kart careening off the track.

"Come on, Eric, you’re supposed to be good at this!" Ryan teased, nudging his friend with an elbow.

"Hey, at least I’m not in last place!" Eric shot back, trying to steer his kart back on course.

David grinned, his eyes glued to the screen. He loved these moments. At school, he was the quiet, bullied kid who kept his head down, but he could be himself at home, surrounded by the people he cared about.

From the kitchen, his mom called out, "David, it’s time for cake!"

The boys groaned, reluctantly pausing the game as David’s sister, Emma, entered the room with a mischievous smile.

"Don’t worry, dweebs," she teased. "You’ll have time to finish your little race later."

David rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his grin. "Yeah, yeah, thanks for the permission, oh great Emma."

Emma stuck out her tongue before motioning for them to follow her to the dining room. There, a chocolate cake sat on the table, sixteen candles flickering on top. David’s dad stood nearby, camera in hand, ready to capture the moment.

As everyone sang "Happy Birthday," David couldn’t help but feel a swell of gratitude. His parents, sister, and friends were his safe space in a world that often felt harsh and unkind. The song ended, and he blew out the candles in one breath, earning a round of applause.

"Good job, champ," his dad said, ruffling his hair.

"Thanks, Dad," David replied, his cheeks reddening slightly.

After the cake, it was time for presents. David’s friends handed him a gift bag first, their excitement barely contained. Inside, he found a new anime box set he’d been talking about for weeks.

"No way! How did you guys afford this?" David asked, beaming.

Eric grinned. "We pooled our allowances. Figured you needed something awesome to binge this summer."

"Thanks, guys," David said, giving them a genuine smile.

Emma was next, handing over a neatly wrapped box. "Don’t get too excited," she warned with a smirk. "It’s just a game."

"A game’s perfect," David said, tearing off the wrapping to reveal the latest action-adventure title he’d been eyeing. "Thanks, Emma."

His parents followed, presenting him with a collection of new clothes. While it wasn’t the most exciting gift, David appreciated the gesture. "Thanks, Mom, Dad. I actually needed some new stuff."

Then came the final box, an unexpected one. It was plain, with no markings except David’s name written in neat handwriting. There was no return address, and when David asked who it was from, everyone shrugged.

"Not us," his mom said, looking puzzled.

"Maybe one of your friends?" Emma suggested.

David shook his head, curiosity piqued. He carefully opened the box and found two items inside: a scroll wrapped tightly and tied with a red ribbon and a jade medallion carved with the image of a dragon. The medallion gleamed in the light, its craftsmanship intricate and mesmerizing.

"What is that?" Eric asked, leaning over for a closer look.

"No idea," David admitted, lifting the medallion out of the box. It felt oddly warm in his hands, almost alive. He then untied the scroll and unrolled it, revealing strange writing he couldn’t recognize.

"Looks like some ancient script," Ryan said, his tone more curious than concerned.

David frowned. Something about the medallion and scroll felt... significant, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. "I’ve never seen anything like this," he said softly.

His mom leaned in, furrowing her brow. "Maybe it’s a collector’s item? We can look it up later if you want."

"Yeah, maybe," David replied, though deep down, he felt there was more to it than that.

David slipped the jade medallion over his head, the smooth cord settling comfortably against the back of his neck. The carved dragon rested against his chest, cool at first but quickly warming as it seemed to sync with his body heat. He glanced down at it once, still captivated by the intricate details of the carving, before turning his attention back to the video game console.

"Ready for another round?" he asked, picking up his controller.

Eric raised an eyebrow, noticing the medallion. "You’re just going to wear that now?"

David shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, why not? It feels... good, I guess. Like it belongs there."

Ryan snorted. "Well, as long as it doesn’t give you superpowers and let you beat us."

David laughed, though he couldn’t shake the strange sense of comfort the medallion provided. It was like a small, steady warmth spreading through his chest, grounding him in a way he hadn’t expected. The earlier curiosity about the scroll and the medallion lingered, but for now, the familiar rhythm of gaming with his friends helped him push those thoughts aside.

As the evening went on, David couldn’t help but fiddle with the medallion during loading screens and breaks between matches. Each time he touched it, a faint sense of reassurance seemed to flow through him, as though the medallion was silently telling him it was right where it needed to be.

As David drifted to sleep that evening, the comforting warmth of the medallion still lingering against his chest, his dreams took a sharp and vivid turn. One moment, he was surrounded by the familiar haze of unconscious thoughts, and the next, he was standing amidst chaos.

The sky above him burned with fiery streaks of orange and red, clouds swirling like smoke from a great inferno. Dragons of every size and color filled the air, their roars reverberating through his body like a physical force. Some breathed torrents of flame, while others wielded crackling lightning or freezing gusts of ice. The clash of their powers lit up the darkened skies, illuminating the battlefield below.

David found himself in the midst of it all, standing on rocky terrain scarred with craters and fissures. The ground trembled beneath his feet as dragons collided in the air, their massive bodies twisting and turning in fierce combat. Soldiers in strange, ancient armor fought on the ground, their shouts and cries mingling with the thunderous sounds of the battle above.

He wasn’t just an observer. Somehow, he felt like he belonged there—like he was part of this war. The medallion around his neck seemed to pulse in time with the rhythm of the battle, a steady beat that matched the pounding of his heart.

One dragon—a massive creature with emerald green scales that shimmered like polished gems—swooped low, its sharp eyes locking onto him. For a moment, David froze, unsure whether to run or stand his ground. But as the dragon landed with a mighty thud, its wings folding elegantly behind it, he felt no fear. Instead, there was a strange sense of familiarity.

“You must awaken,” the dragon rumbled, its voice deep and resonant, like an ancient bell echoing across time. Its gaze bore into his, and for a moment, David felt as though it could see straight into his soul.

“What... what do you mean?” David stammered, his voice barely audible over the din of the battle.

The dragon tilted its head, its massive claws digging into the earth. “Your destiny lies beyond the veil of this mortal life. The medallion has chosen you, and the time will come when you must choose as well. Remember this.”

Before David could respond, a deafening roar tore through the air. Another dragon—larger than any he had seen, its body black as obsidian with eyes that burned like molten gold—descended from the sky. The emerald dragon turned sharply, its wings unfurling as it launched itself back into the fray.

The ground beneath David cracked and splintered, and the dream shifted violently. He felt himself falling, the battle fading into a swirl of colors and sounds before everything darkened.

David woke with a start, his heart pounding and sweat beading on his forehead. The medallion rested against his chest, warm and steady, as though it had been part of the dream. He sat up, running a hand through his hair as he tried to calm his racing thoughts.

“What was that?” he whispered to himself, the vivid images of the dragon war still burned into his mind. It had felt so real, so tangible, as if he had indeed been there. The words of the emerald dragon echoed in his ears: The medallion has chosen you.

David eventually calmed his racing thoughts and lay back down, the medallion still warm against his chest. Sleep came hesitantly, pulling him into its embrace as exhaustion overtook his mind. This time, his dreams were quieter at first—a soothing darkness that seemed to cradle him.

Then, she appeared.

The vastness of the dream shifted, and David found himself standing in a serene, otherworldly place. The ground beneath him shimmered with soft light as though made of polished jade, and the air was warm and comforting, filled with the faint scent of blooming flowers and ancient earth.

Before him stood the most magnificent dragon he had ever seen. Her body was made of gleaming jade, and her scales caught the light and reflected it in intricate patterns. Her eyes, a deep, luminous green, gazed at him with a mixture of power and tenderness, a comforting warmth that enveloped him. Her presence filled the space, both immense and gentle, and David couldn’t help but feel small in her shadow.

“David,” her voice rumbled, softer now but no less commanding, a powerful resonance that filled the air. “My child.”

David’s breath caught in his throat. “Your child?” he managed to say, his voice trembling with disbelief.

The dragon inclined her head slightly, her gaze never leaving his. “You carry my essence,” she said. “The medallion you wear is not merely an object. It is a part of me, and through it, we are connected.”