Rumors spread about hearing a powerful scream from time to time in this volcano, a scream that terrified the villagers. They said it sounded like a giant monster screaming, as if it were in pain.
A man from the village decided to discover the cause of this terrifying scream in the volcano, even though this adventure was full of dangers. This man lived alone in his house, with no family and no wife. He was covered in sores, and the villagers rejected him and feared he might infect them. Everyone who saw him avoided him, which caused his loneliness.
His house was close to the volcano. From the scream, he understood that it was not a monster trying to scare people, but a scream of loneliness and pain, a feeling he understood because he lived it himself.
So he hurried toward the mountain with all his strength. Even though the pain from his sores was intense, he gathered his courage and went to the volcano. He reached the summit, looked into the crater, and heard the scream again, a scream that shook the ground.
The man, whose name was Akilos, looked into the crater and saw a giant dragon in a river of fire. It was Dragonos, who survived the great catastrophe that reshaped the Earth and transformed into a fire dragon surrounded by flames.
Akilos said to the dragon:
"I know for certain that you have lived alone for a long time. I have heard your screams since I was young. Do you know why I understand your loneliness?"
The dragon rose from the river and approached Akilos, no longer screaming.
Akilos said:
"I understand you because I also lived alone, rejected because of my illness. My family, friends, and even neighbors left me as if I were a monster. But I do not fear you. You suffer from fire and loneliness, and I suffer from loneliness and illness."
The dragon came very close, and Akilos felt its heat, but he was used to pain and ignored it. He placed his hand on the dragon's head without fear.
At that moment, Akilos and the dragon merged into one. Dragonos became a fiery aura that Akilos absorbed, healing his body and making him strong.
Darius, the holder of Dragonos's power, is a descendant of Akilos, the first man to gain this power.
Akilos became the king who united the Kingdom of Laionis, which was once divided. Thanks to his power, he defeated the neighboring Kingdom of Severian that used to attack and enslave his people.
He was once a lonely, rejected man, but became respected by all. He became the first true king of Laionis.
However, his descendants did not inherit the dragon's power. Before his death, Akilos said that one day a descendant would inherit it in a time full of war and chaos.
That descendant is Darius, but he suffered greatly in his childhood.
To be continued...