Zodiac Dragons

Chapter 1

There weren’t always dragons in The Valley. The Valley was a very secluded village deep in the Mylcaster Mountains. These mountains are a barrier keeping the region of Bryzat from the rest of the country of Zynara, one of four major countries.

Each country has something they are known for, Zynara is known for their magic and study of it. Reignstar is home to more noble-esque people who deign to never sully their own hands with working. The country of Grandaira is renowned by the scholars that come from them, and are known for their intense intellectual challenge to reign as king or queen. Then there is the final country of Crazaria, it’s a country mostly shrouded in mystery and constant black clouds.

All of these countries were at relative peace, before a danger thought of only in myths, descended on the world. The day everything started was peaceful and normal in The Valley.

Caston, the Grandson of the village elder, was out exploring near the edges of traversable areas available, with the three other twelve year olds in the village. Ben, the son of the main magic researcher in the valley, with his light green eyes hidden behind half-moon glasses and his long blonde hair that had developed streaks of the same green color as his eyes. Not to mention his near perfect memory.

Ary, the daughter of the head guard, with her long brown hair that had icy blue streaks pulled into a messy ponytail, and eyes of the same color, was eagerly following Caston with ease as he traversed farther down the paths. Terrence, the son of the blacksmith, with a buzz cut of his fully red hair, and flame orange eyes, stood guard close by them. He was the obvious choice since working in a smith since he could hold a hammer did wonders for his muscles.

Caston was the odd one out of a village full of magic users. He was at the age that his magic really starts being able to be used, but he still has no outward sign for what magic he has. Everyone in The Valley is always born with pitch black hair and eyes, but when they reach the age of 12 their hair and eyes change based on the magic flowing through them.

Castons hair and eyes have not changed, and his grandfather is worried that Caston may not be able to use magic, despite his grandson's insistence that no matter what he’d still be a great leader for The Valley.

As such, Caston was still disappointed that he hadn’t developed his magic yet, but his friends, they didn’t care. They just enjoyed being around him when they were able to, which is one reason they had even followed him out here to the cliffs, where Caston was now balancing on the edge.

“Caston! Get down from there! Your grandpa will be very sad and heartbroken if you are hurt or killed!” Ben exclaimed as his eyes started to glow making the vines around them start moving towards his friend.

Caston chuckled as he started moving on the edge, dodging the vines that tried to stop him, “Oh come off it Ben, we’ve been climbing these edges for years, I’ll be fi……” his foot slipped just as he was about to finish his sentence.

“CASTON!!” He heard his friends scream as he fell over the side, but they were muted, like they were distant, then he felt it in his stomach, a small tug. A small, barely visible light enveloped his body as he blacked out.

“Save us Caston, find the lost children, defeat the evil in your land.”

His eyes then shot open, glowing a bright white as he felt his body shift and shoot back onto the edge next to his friends who steadied him.

“What the heck just happened to you?” Terrence asked in as soft as his voice as Ary almost caused the two of them to go over again as she crashed into Caston, grabbing him in a tight hug, letting her tough girl mask fall as she cried into his shirt.

Caston wrapped his arms around her tightly, “I-I don’t know, but I heard a voice telling me to find something.”