Ayan looked at the daggers, a sense of awe and responsibility settling upon him. He knew, deep down, that his life was about to change.

  Mohan stood up and walked over to the carved box, which he had placed on the altar earlier. He opened it carefully and reached inside, retrieving something wrapped in a dark, rich cloth. He unwrapped it slowly, revealing a stone of deep, midnight black. It seemed to absorb the light around it, radiating an almost palpable sense of ancient power. It was obsidian, but unlike any obsidian Ayan had ever seen. It was smooth, polished to a mirror sheen, and seemed to hum with a faint, internal energy.

  "This," Mohan said, his voice low, "is the key."

  Ayan watched him, his curiosity piqued. "Is that… obsidian?" he asked, recalling the description from his Basic Potion Making book. It’s supposed to be a powerful substance…

  Mohan nodded. "Yes… kind of."

  Ayan frowned slightly. "Kind of?"

  "Yes," Mohan replied. "What you see is the shell. The true power lies within." He carefully placed the obsidian stone on a nearby flat rock. "Now, Ayan," he instructed, "take one of your daggers. Use the flat side of the blade. And be gentle. You don't need much force."

  Ayan hesitated for a moment, then drew one of the daggers. He looked at the smooth, polished surface of the obsidian, then back at his father. Mohan nodded encouragingly.

  Ayan took a deep breath and lightly struck the obsidian stone with the flat of the dagger blade.

  The stone cracked, spider-webbing across its surface. With a few more gentle taps, the obsidian stone broke apart, revealing its secret.

  Inside, nestled amongst the fragments of black glass, was a golden core, roughly ten centimeters in size. It pulsed with a warm, internal light, radiating an almost palpable energy. It was beautiful, mesmerizing, and… otherworldly.

  Ayan stared at it, speechless. "What… what is it?" he finally managed to ask.

  Mohan smiled. "This, Ayan, is a dragon's heart. Or what remains of it."

  He paused, letting the information sink in. "A dragon's core is formed within the heart of a dragon. When the dragon dies, the core remains, nestled within the skeleton. Over centuries, the bones eventually fade, but the core… the core remains. Though, most don't last that long. Other creatures – monsters, demons – they seek these cores, for power, for rituals… Dragon cores are rare. Extremely rare. And this one…" He gestured to the obsidian shell. "Dragons, they love wealth. Gems, gold, silver… it's a part of their nature. When a dragon dies, its hoard often remains with it. Over time, carbon in the air, drawn to the core and the dragon's treasure, slowly gathers, forming a protective layer… the obsidian. This one formed naturally, over centuries. Though now, of course, they can be made artificially."

  Ayan stared at the core, his mind reeling. A dragon's heart… encased in obsidian… it was almost too much to comprehend...

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  Ayan stared at the core, his mind reeling. "A dragon's heart… encased in obsidian…" he whispered, more to himself than to his father. It's… beautiful, he thought, a strange pull drawing him towards it. I feel like… I need it.

  Mohan nodded, a knowing glint in his eyes. "A rare and powerful thing, Ayan. Very rare indeed." He carefully collected the fragments of obsidian, handling them with reverence. He avoided touching the golden core directly, using a small cloth to gather the pieces. "These shards," he explained, "are still potent. They should be kept safe." Once he had collected all the fragments, he turned to Ayan.

  "Bring the bracelet," he commanded.

  Ayan, still mesmerized by the dragon core, hesitated for a moment. The pull he felt towards it was growing stronger, an almost primal urge. "Are you sure about this?" he asked, his voice strained. "I mean… it's a dragon's heart." He could feel his hand trembling, reaching out towards the core.

  Mohan's eyes narrowed slightly. He saw the desire in Ayan's eyes, the almost uncontrollable pull towards the dragon core. He knew this would happen. It was part of the plan. "Control yourself, Ayan," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "Remember what I told you. This power… it can be dangerous if not controlled."

  Ayan took a deep breath, trying to suppress the overwhelming urge. He's right, he thought, clenching his fist. I need to control this. He focused on his father's words, on the lessons he had learned about discipline and focus. He managed to pull his gaze away from the core and looked at the bracelet on the altar. He picked up the bracelet from the altar.

  As he approached the flat rock where the core rested, the bracelet began to vibrate gently in his hand. The vibrations intensified as he drew closer. The pull he felt towards the core intensified as well, a deep, almost irresistible yearning.

  "Hold it tight," Mohan instructed, his voice urgent.

  Ayan nodded, still feeling the pull of the core but managing to resist it. He gripped the bracelet firmly. As he brought it near the core, the golden light pulsing within the core intensified. Mohan watched, his expression carefully neutral, knowing what was about to happen.

  "Steady, Ayan," Mohan said softly, his eyes watching Ayan intently. "Don't let it consume you."

  Ayan gritted his teeth, fighting against the powerful urge. It's calling to me, he thought, his heart pounding in his chest. I have to… I have to resist. He focused on the bracelet, on the smooth, cool surface against his skin.

  As he brought the bracelet closer, the core seemed to liquefy, flowing towards it like liquid metal drawn to a magnet. It attached itself to the bracelet, seamlessly merging with its surface.

  "What the—?!" Ayan exclaimed, startled by the sudden transformation.The moment the core made contact, Ayan felt a sudden jolt, like a surge of electricity, followed by a warm, tingling current that spread through his body. It was a strange mix of intensity and comfort. The intense desire he had felt towards the core vanished the instant it merged with the bracelet, replaced by a sense of… calm.

  "Whoa…" Ayan breathed, trying to make sense of the strange sensation. "I… I can feel it. What is this?"

  Mohan nodded, his expression serious, his plan unfolding as he had foreseen. "The bracelet's storage is now unlocked," he said. "It is… an extension of yourself, Ayan. It is empty now… but it can hold whatever you choose."

  Ayan, now holding the bracelet, hesitated for a moment, then slipped it onto his wrist. As soon as it made contact with his skin, the bracelet seemed to… flow. It automatically adjusted its size, snugly fitting his wrist. The scales shimmered, and the golden pattern seemed to pulse faintly.

  Ayan felt a strange sensation, as if another limb were growing inside him. It wasn't painful, but it was definitely… there. A sense of… space… opened up within him, an emptiness that felt both vast and intimate.

  Ayan looked at the bracelet, now adorned with the solidified dragon core. He could feel the… presence… inside him, the vast emptiness waiting to be filled. He knew, somehow, that this was just the beginning.....

  .....