The safe house was a shadow among shadows—a forgotten relic on the edge of Graystone, hidden beneath thick ivy and the quiet watch of ancient trees. Its windows were cracked and dusty, the paint peeling from the weathered wood, but inside, it hummed with life and purpose. This was a sanctuary for those like Alex—mutants, those touched by the Planet-Bound Core Resonance, who could never walk openly in the world without fear.
Alex lay on the narrow cot, the rough wool blanket barely keeping out the chill. His fingers traced the edges of the glowing stone resting on the bedside table, its light pulsing softly like a heartbeat. The strange symbols etched into its surface seemed to shift when he looked away, like a language waiting to be understood.
Lena sat across from him, her posture calm but alert. She was a few years older than Alex, lean and toughened by years on the run, her dark eyes sharp as flint. Her hands moved deftly as she sharpened a small blade, the steady scrape of the whetstone filling the silence.
"You're probably wondering why the Dragon Core chose you," Lena said, her voice low and steady, breaking the silence. "Most think it's a gift, something to be celebrated. But it's a burden, Alex. A weight you don't fully understand yet."
Alex swallowed hard, the knot in his throat tightening. "I don't feel powerful," he admitted. "I just feel scared. Like this power inside me could tear everything apart."
Lena's gaze softened for a moment, but her tone remained firm. "That's the truth of it. The Dragon Core's power is ancient, wild… unpredictable. Without control, it will consume you—and everyone around you. That's why you're here. To learn how to bind that fire, not be burned by it."
She leaned forward, placing the blade aside and folding her hands in her lap. "The Planet-Bound Core Resonance isn't just a myth or a legend. It's the source of everything. It flows beneath the ground, through the rivers, in the air you breathe. It's the energy that mutated some humans, gave them animal powers—the Primal Resonance. But the Dragon Core is different. It's a force of creation and destruction wrapped into one."
Alex's eyes flickered to the glowing stone. "So, the dragon isn't just a story."
"No," Lena said. "It's real. And it's waiting inside you, waiting for the moment to rise."
The days that followed were grueling. Lena pushed Alex harder than he thought possible. They trained at dawn in the cold, misty forest clearing behind the safe house and again by candlelight when the sky was black.
"You need to listen," Lena told him one morning as frost clung to the leaves. "Not just to your mind, but your body. Feel the Core's rhythm—slow, steady, like a heartbeat under your skin. Control your breath. Control your thoughts. Only then can you control the power."
Alex practiced tirelessly. Slowly, tiny sparks of flame danced at his fingertips. His legs could push off the ground faster, his reflexes sharper. But every small victory was shadowed by moments of overwhelming fatigue, nausea, and fiery surges that left his skin raw and trembling.
Yet, the power was growing. The stone's glow deepened, casting strange shadows on the safe house walls, symbols glowing brighter, almost alive.
Beyond the walls of their sanctuary, the world was shifting. Graystone's calm facade cracked under pressure. Rumors spread of mutant sightings near the forests and abandoned mines, of strange lights piercing the night sky. Government patrols increased, their cold, watchful eyes searching for any sign of Core resonance. And darker still was the threat of the mafia—an alien-backed syndicate whose reach extended into every corner of society, hungry for power and control.
One evening, as Alex and Lena prepared for their final training session of the day, the safe house's old radio sputtered to life, cutting through the quiet with static and urgency.
"…mutant detected near Graystone outskirts… request immediate backup… engage with extreme caution…"
Lena's jaw tightened, and she exchanged a grim look with Alex. "They're coming," she said quietly. "The government's closing in faster than we thought."
Alex's heart pounded in his chest. "What do we do?"
"We prepare," Lena said. "You're not alone in this. But you have to be ready to face what's coming. Your power is a beacon—and that beacon draws hunters."
As night deepened, Alex stood by the window, the stone warm in his hand. Outside, the shadows twisted and stretched across the ground like living things. Somewhere out there, forces stirred—ancient forces connected to the Core, watching and waiting.
He looked down at the glowing stone, feeling the pulse sync with his own heartbeat. The Dragon within was waking. His journey had only just begun, and the path ahead was dark and uncertain.
But one truth burned brighter than fear: he was no longer a boy waiting for a spark.
He was the spark.