Veren's wings burned as he fought to keep up with Blake. The older dragon's powerful, steady strokes carved through the void of space, the stars flashing past in a blur of light. It felt like an eternity of flying. The cold was unbearable, but his hunger gnawed at him more than the chill. His body demanded rest, his wings demanded respite, but the endless expanse of stars seemed to mock him, offering no solace.

  Blake had not spoken for hours. He was lost in thought, scanning the deep, endless night. Veren could feel the tension radiating off him, and he dared not break the silence.

  Then, a shape appeared. As they drew closer, it became clearer, a world encased in a blue light. It was unlike anything Veren had imagined. The world below was a frozen sphere, its surface dotted with glistening glaciers and spiraling storms of snow.

  "That's it," Blake said softly, his voice echoing against the empty dark. "Gelida. My home."

  Veren's eyes widened. The planet drifted through space like a frozen giant, its surface a jagged mass of ice and snow. The storms whipped around it, like the world itself was locked in an eternal battle with the elements. And yet, in the midst of this frozen wasteland, there was a beauty, a quiet majesty that drew him in.

  Blake's wings spread, and the descent began.

  Veren followed, struggling to keep up as the icy winds pushed against his small body. The chill was biting, but it was nothing compared to the cold isolation he had felt in space.

  They landed on a snow covered path. The sky above them was a permanent twilight, the sun perpetually low on the horizon, casting the landscape in long shadows. The wind howled, but there was a strange calmness here, as if the planet itself was holding its breath.

  Blake's posture was different now, more rigid, his eyes scanning the horizon. He turned to Veren.

  "Stay close. Do not speak unless spoken to."

  Veren nodded.

  They moved through the snow-covered path, the ground pulsing beneath their feet.

  After a while of walking, they came across a large structure. It was vast, towering above them like a giant, jagged spine of ice.

  Inside, a deep, cavernous silence greeted them. A dozen dragons sat perched on frozen platforms, their eyes glowing faintly in the gloom. They watched with cold, unreadable eyes as Blake and Veren entered.

  The dragon at the center of the council raised its head, its eyes gleaming like shards of ice.

  "Blake," it said, its voice deep. "You return. And not alone."

  Blake stepped forward, his wings folding tightly against his body. "This is Veren," he said, his voice steady but not without tension. "I found him alone while in search of food."

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  The dragons shifted, murmuring among themselves. Their gazes turned toward Veren, sharp and assessing.

  “He can already speak,” Blake said, his voice low with awe. “And the power within him... it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen—no child of ice has ever wielded such force.”

  The dragon farthest to the right, an ancient dragon whose scales looked like cracked diamonds, leaned forward. "The child speaks already?"

  Veren stiffened but remained silent. He could feel their eyes on him.

  “You know our nature, Blake. No dragon finds their voice until the core awakens. The youngest ever did so at eighteen. Most, not until twenty.”

  Blake's voice remained calm but firm. "I know. But this... is no ordinary dragon. His aura..." Blake hesitated. "It's like nothing I've felt before.

  The room grew silent.

  "What race is he?" the dragon farthest to the right said, his voice low."

  "He is not of Gelida," the elder murmured. "Nor does he bear the mark of flame… or grass. His blood carries no lineage we know."

  "I don't know myself," Veren said quietly. "But… I can use lightning. Would that make me… a lightning dragon?"

  A heavy silence settled over the chamber.

  Then, like a gust of wind breaking through still air, every head turned toward him. Eyes widened in shock. Even Blake staggered back.

  "It can’t be," Blake said. "Are you... a storm dragon?"

  The dragon closest to them, his ancient scales shimmering like ice, leaned forward with a look of grim contemplation. "A storm dragon... It’s not possible. The last of their kind vanished centuries ago."

  The room grew still.

  "The storm dragons were once the most powerful dragon species," the elder continued, his voice somber. "Their abilities were unmatched—capable of leveling entire planets with a single strike. They had around double the lifespan of most other species, and their cores typically awakened after only a few years. Which would explain why Veren can speak at such a young age."

  "What happened to them?" Veren asked, his voice barely above a whisper, filled with a mix of curiosity and fear.

  "It’s unknown, really," the elder said, his tone heavy with the weight of an ancient mystery. "They just… vanished. One day, they were there, and the next, they were gone. Entire clans, wiped from the records of history. Some say they turned on one anothe. Others believe they were eradicated by those who feared their strength. But no one knows for sure. They disappeared without a trace, leaving nothing but rumors and empty skies."

  Veren’s chest tightened at the elder’s words. A knot formed in his throat. The storm dragons—his kind—had vanished, leaving only whispers behind. Could the same fate await him?

  The elder’s gaze softened, but his words were clear: "Veren, if you truly are a storm dragon, your existence will bring more attention than you can imagine. There are forces that will not look kindly on your presence."

  The room was silent. Veren stood motionless, his wings twitching with a mixture of awe and dread.

  Blake’s voice broke the silence, and his tone was firmer than it had been before. "We need to train him immediately. If Veren truly is a storm dragon, it means that he has incredible potential."

  The dragon at the far end of the council, his face lined with centuries of wisdom, let out a low sigh. "We will watch him closely," he said, his eyes narrowing.

  As they exited the chamber, the weight of the council's decision hung heavy in the air.

  "What does it all mean, Blake?" Veren asked quietly, his voice barely a whisper against the howling winds.

  Blake was silent for a long moment, his eyes scanning the horizon. Finally, he spoke.

  "Veren, I dont know for sure.." His voice trailed off, as if he were considering the full weight of those words. "but you could be the last of your kind."

  "It's time to train, Veren," Blake said, his voice steady but filled with a hint of anticipation. "The path ahead won't be easy, but if you're truly a storm dragon, then I will help you unlock the power within. Come with me, and we'll begin your training."