Jin-woo held the glowing orb, its warmth radiating through his fingers. He felt a strange connection to it, a sense of familiarity that he couldn't quite explain. It wasn't just a magical artifact; it was something more, something… personal.
"What do you think it is?" Elara asked, her eyes fixed on the orb.
"I'm not sure," Jin-woo said. "But I think it's connected to Ryuu's past."
Ryuu, who had been silent since his release, stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the orb. "It… feels familiar," he rumbled, his voice low and thoughtful. "Like a memory, long forgotten."
He cautiously reached out a claw, touching the orb. As his claw made contact, the orb pulsed with light, projecting a series of images onto the surrounding mist.
Jin-woo and Elara gasped, their eyes widening as they witnessed the visions. They saw a vast, ancient city, built of gleaming white stone, bathed in the light of twin suns. They saw dragons soaring through the sky, their scales shimmering like jewels. They saw a young dragon, smaller than Ryuu, playing amongst the ruins of a fallen temple.
"That's… my home," Ryuu whispered, his voice filled with awe. "The city of Aethelos. I remember now."
The images shifted, becoming darker, more ominous. They saw a massive army, clad in black armor, marching towards Aethelos. They saw a fierce battle, dragons and soldiers clashing, fire and steel colliding. They saw the young dragon, Ryuu, fleeing the city, his wings beating frantically against the smoke-filled sky.
"The war," Ryuu murmured, his voice trembling. "I remember the war. It destroyed everything."
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The images faded, the orb dimming. Ryuu stood motionless, his eyes filled with sorrow.
"I was just a hatchling," he said. "I didn't understand. I was scared. I ran. And I never looked back."
Jin-woo placed a hand on Ryuu's shoulder, offering him comfort. "It's not your fault, Ryuu," he said. "You were just a child."
"But I left them," Ryuu said. "I abandoned my home, my family. I've been running ever since."
He looked at the orb, his eyes filled with determination. "I have to go back," he said. "I have to find out what happened. I have to find out if anyone survived."
"We'll go with you," Jin-woo said. "We'll help you find your home."
Elara nodded. "We're in this together, Ryuu," she said.
They prepared to leave the Shadowfen, their hearts filled with a mixture of hope and trepidation. They knew that their journey would be dangerous, that they would face many challenges. But they were determined to help Ryuu find his home, to uncover the secrets of his past.
As they emerged from the mist-shrouded valley, they noticed a group of figures approaching. They were clad in black armor, their faces hidden behind visors. They were the same soldiers they had seen in Ryuu's visions, the soldiers who had destroyed Aethelos.
"They found us," Elara whispered, her voice filled with alarm.
Jin-woo drew his rusty sword, his eyes fixed on the approaching soldiers. He felt a surge of anger, a desire to protect his friend.
"We won't let them take you, Ryuu," he said.
The soldiers stopped, their leader stepping forward. He raised a hand, and a wave of dark energy surged towards them. Jin-woo felt a chill run down his spine. This wasn't just magic; it was something darker, something more sinister.
"We have been searching for you, dragon," the leader said, his voice distorted, metallic. "You possess something that belongs to us."
"The orb?" Jin-woo asked.
The leader nodded. "The Orb of Origins," he said. "It holds the key to our power. And we will have it back."
He raised his hand again, and the soldiers charged, their weapons gleaming in the fading light. Jin-woo and Elara prepared to defend themselves, their hearts pounding in their chests. They were outnumbered, outmatched, but they were not afraid. They had Ryuu, they had their magic, and they had each other. And they were ready to fight for their friends, for their home, for their future.
