Chapter 1 - The Discovery

Majestical beings who grace us with their presence – benevolent, compassionate, and noble creatures — dragons of different rulings inhabit the world, gracing it’s civilians with good fortune, luck, and plentiful harvests. They are rulers of the elements, giving warmth to the flames, quenching thirst through the guidance of water, and guardians of the heavens.

However, the path of dragonhood is grueling. In a society in which only the strong can survive, in which only the strong have power and authority, the weak must be forgotten. The dragon nobility must be preserved, and thus, the weak are to be banished.

“Mama…? Papa….? Where are you...,” a faint whisper was heard amongst the thicket of branches and foliage on a small plain by the riverside.

Curled up in a coil laid a small, orange speckled shape, no bigger than a grapefruit. Trying to conserve warmth, she huddled a little tighter. Her name? She didn’t have one. She was never given one. Born too soon as a result of the ongoing human wars, her weak heart pumped faintly. She was barely flowing enough Qi through her body to even sustain herself, and would most certainly not be able to govern any element nor meet the standards of dragon nobility. Her parents, likely following the dragon code, abandoned her among a sunflower patch, hoping that she would at least pass peacefully.

As of this moment, however, she was still an imoogi―a dragon fledgling destined to train for one thousand years in their governing element before enlightening to dragonhood. However, what is often forgotten, and sadly often not cared for, are the imoogis who don’t end up fulfilling their journeys. By mandate, they are banished from their families, or killed should they resist. Some say that all the different species of snakes that exist in the world came from the failings of different imoogis, destined to live on the ground rather than rule the skies as punishment for their shortcomings.

At the nearby riverbank, there was a woman kneeled over, seemingly analyzing the flowers and fruits that flourished nearby. Her tied up hair exposed her fully grown horns, the token of every full fledged dragon. Goddess of Harvest, Hua Meishi, was who she was known as. Her ears perked, hearing the small plead from the orange creature on the other side of the riverbank.

“...Hello?” she cautioned, stepping on rocks across the river carefully, alert that someone else had been in her vicinity. Although she loved humans, she needed to perform a ritual on the nearby plants, and could not risk someone seeing her.

However, Mei’s face of suspicion fell almost immediately, instantaneously becoming crestfallen as she noticed the source of the meek sound.

“You poor child,” she mourned, gently scooping up the small orange lifeless form into the cup of her palms. Mei listened for anything, let it be a breath, a heartbeat, or even the flow of her Qi. Nothing. This child had passed. Mei mournfully brought the tiny body to her chest, whispering a prayer that the little one would safely reach the celestial plains.

Just then, however, the little one’s body began to glow. From behind Mei, a single ray of sunshine cracked through the murky clouds, enveloping the small imoogi in warm, comforting light. It was at that moment that Mei began to hear the flow of Qi, coursing strongly. The little one was breathing again, and her heart was beating resolutely, as if desperately clutching on to a will to live.

Mei brought the child out in front of her, showering her in the sunlight. Hope had renewed in her.

“They say one’s name is their destiny, and thus, you shall be named Mugi.”

Mugi glowed in response.

Chapter 2 - The Raising

haha idk when i'll update this YEEHAW