Tomas, a thin, barefoot boy with patched trousers and hopeful eyes, darts between cottages, his empty satchel slung over his shoulder. He pauses by the stream, where the water is clear and cold, and kneels to search for berries or anything he might bring home. The village stirs behind him—roosters crow, and smoke rises from chimneys, but the promise of the day feels as thin as yesterday’s soup.
Tomas slips quietly into the woods, determined to find something—anything—to help his mother. As he pushes aside a bramble, his hand brushes something smooth and warm beneath a blanket of fallen leaves. He uncovers a large, opalescent egg, its surface swirling with flecks of gold and jade. The air around it thrums with a gentle heat, as if it holds a secret heart.
Tomas watches the egg anxiously, his mother’s worried gaze flickering between her son and the mysterious treasure. Suddenly, a thin crack appears, glowing with faint blue light, and a small, scaly snout pushes through. A dragonet, no bigger than a kitten, tumbles free, its eyes gleaming with intelligence and trust. "Mother, look! It’s… it’s a dragon!"
Tomas laughs for the first time in months as Ember, the dragon, tumbles through the air and lands in his lap. They play until the stars appear, forging a bond stronger than hunger or fear. In their laughter, the loneliness that once haunted Tomas melts away.
The villagers whisper in awe and fear, for legends speak of dragons choosing only the worthy. From the throne emerges King Aldric, a regal figure with a kind but weary face, his cloak embroidered with the royal crest. "Boy, only those of royal blood may bond with a dragon. Tell me your name, and your story,""I am Tomas, son of no one, but Ember chose me," comes the trembling reply.
King Aldric places a crown upon Tomas’s brow, while Ember coils protectively around his feet. The court bows, and the villagers cheer, hope rekindled in their eyes. "You have proven your heart, Tomas. From this day forth, you are our prince," declares the king. "I promise to rule with kindness—and help and guide you so you can one day become the rightful king"
