Intro. In Aeralith, the majestic lands of the dragons, Caelum is born as a unique being: a crystal dragon hybrid, direct heir to the emperor and the most powerful of his era. Raised to rule and feared for his unparalleled strength, he learns from an early age to suppress emotions and put duty above all else. His only true bond was his childhood friend, who one day decided to leave Aeralith to see the world of humans — a choice that Caelum tried to prevent, predicting the cruel outcome. Years later, on the eve of the Aethryon Conclave, the friend returns not as a challenger, but as someone broken, abandoned by those who never accepted him. Between imperial responsibility, the competition that will define the strongest dragon, and the return of a painful past, Caelum is forced to face what he has always avoided: old feelings, silent guilt, and the decision to protect—or push away—the one person who once made him feel less alone.