In the world of Draconia, dragons were not just mythical creatures but ascended beings—former humans who, through an arduous and spiritual journey, reached the pinnacle of existence. For them, becoming a dragon was the ultimate destiny of those who dared to seek the seven portals, guardians of virtues essential for transformation. The portals were not mere physical passages; each represented a fundamental quality: Strength – The raw power to endure adversity. Wisdom – The clarity to understand the world and oneself. Courage – The determination to face the greatest fears. Compassion – The ability to empathize with others and act with kindness. Justice – The sense of balance and righteousness. Patience – The acceptance of time as an ally, not an enemy. Septessence – The union of all virtues in harmony, representing the pinnacle of being.
Elandor, a young inhabitant of the village of Ardenvale, grew up hearing tales of the portals. To the elders, the stories were metaphors for life; but to him, they were real. From a young age, he felt a calling, as though something greater awaited him. One day, while exploring the nearby mountains, Elandor found the First Portal, an arch carved from obsidian, with runes glowing red. A voice echoed in his mind:
"Prove your strength, and the journey shall begin."
After overcoming physical and emotional trials, he earned the portal’s blessing, a crimson glow marked upon his chest, symbolizing Strength. Elandor moved on to the other portals, each in a distant region of Draconia, demanding trials that not only tested his skills but also shaped his spirit.
After conquering the Portal of Strength, Elandor was guided to the misty plains of Aegirith, where the Second Portal stood as a blue crystal monolith reflecting the skies. The runes glowed, and a voice echoed:
"Wisdom is not the accumulation of knowledge but the understanding of what cannot be seen."
Upon entering the portal, Elandor found himself in an ethereal maze where time seemed distorted. The maze's walls were made of mirrors that showed confusing visions of his past, present, and future. At each crossroad, he had to choose a path, but the choices were not guided by logic—he needed to trust his intuition and decipher the riddles presented by the visions. At the final junction, he saw two versions of himself: one surrounded by riches and another holding an illuminated book. He realized that true wisdom was not in possession but in constant learning. By making his choice, the portal granted him the blessing of Wisdom, a glowing blue mark etched onto his skin.
Following the Second Portal’s guidance, Elandor was led to the Shadow Gorge, where the Third Portal lay hidden in absolute darkness. It was an arch of obsidian with orange runes flickering like fire. A commanding voice challenged him:
"Courage is not the absence of fear but action despite it."
Upon entering the portal, Elandor found himself in a world engulfed in shadows. He felt the gaze of invisible creatures watching him. In the heart of the darkness, he heard the terrifying roar of a colossal beast that seemed invincible. To overcome the challenge, he had to confront his deepest fears, which materialized as powerful illusions. Among them was his fear of failure and disappointing those he loved. In a moment of complete vulnerability, he decided to move forward, trembling yet determined, facing the beast. When he took the final step, the darkness dissolved, revealing that the monster was merely a shadow created by his mind. As he emerged from the portal, he received the blessing of Courage, an intense orange glow that settled in his heart.
The journey led Elandor to Atherwyn, an arid land devastated by drought. The Fourth Portal stood as a golden structure in the middle of the desert, its runes glowing in pink. A soft, sorrowful voice spoke:
"Compassion is seeing the pain of others as your own and acting to ease it."
Inside, Elandor found a ruined village where the inhabitants suffered from hunger and thirst. He was faced with a choice: use the only water source for his survival or share it with the villagers, knowing it would weaken his chances of advancing. Choosing altruism, he gave all his water to the villagers. In return, they offered him strength in another form—a fragment of hope he had never felt before. As he exited the portal, the mark of Compassion was engraved on him, glowing in soft pink.
The path to the Fifth Portal led him to the Vale of Lys’thera, where marble-white mountains surrounded him, and the portal shimmered in silver tones. A stern voice announced:
"Justice is the balance between what is right and what is necessary."
Elandor was transported to a divided city: one side filled with abundance and riches, the other struggling in poverty. He was placed as a mediator in a dispute where no solution seemed fair to everyone. Every choice had consequences—pleasing one side meant sacrificing the other. Elandor realized that true justice wasn’t about satisfying everyone but creating a balance that could endure. With this understanding, he crafted a solution that forced both sides to share their resources. The portal acknowledged his effort and rewarded him with the mark of Justice, a silver glow radiating from his hand.
The penultimate portal appeared in the eternal forest of Sylvaterra, where time seemed to crawl. The portal was made of living wood, its green runes pulsing like leaves in the wind. The voice was calm and steady:
"Patience is the art of waiting, trusting that time will reveal what is needed."
Inside the portal, Elandor was placed before a barren tree, shadowed and lifeless. His challenge was to bring it back to life. He tried everything—magic, force, even tears. But no hurried effort bore results. Eventually, he understood that he could not rush the natural course of things. He decided to wait, tending to the soil around the tree and trusting that, in time, it would bloom. When the first leaf sprouted, the portal opened once more, and the blessing of Patience, an emerald-green glow, enveloped Elandor.
When Elandor finally conquered the sixth portal, he believed the seventh would be in some legendary place—a mountain in the sky or a cave beneath the ocean. However, the voice of the portals guided him back to where it all began: Ardenvale, his hometown. There, in the same place where he found the First Portal, the Seventh Portal appeared, golden and radiant.
"Septessence is not a distant place. It is the point of union, where all virtues converge. You traveled the world to find something that was always within you."
Elandor stepped into the portal. A brilliant light enveloped the village. When the villagers raised their eyes, they saw a new form in the sky: a magnificent golden dragon. He was not just a symbol of power but of balance and harmony. Draconia had gained a new guardian, and Elandor now had a new mission: to guide others on their own journeys, so that one day, they too could find their own seventh portal.
