Chapter I Part I_ “ Gemridge “

 “The Jaxtaro Region, the second-largest region in the world, lay beneath the late-summer sun. Light spilled across wide valleys and painted the sky in soft golds and blues, promising another peaceful day. But this story did not begin in the open fields or distant lands. It began in Gemridge, a small town nestled at the heart of Jaxtaro. To the east rose the Mountains of Gems, their crystal faces catching the light. To the west stretched Midnight Forest, dark and whispering, with Melody Woods resting nearby. Southward lay winding canyons, Honey Ranch, and rolling valleys, while the White Lands waited silently to the north. This is the story of Mayhem D Embers.“

A gentle breeze drifted through Gemridge, rustling flowers and brushing against the leaves of small trees lining the streets. Boots crossed the town’s entrance, their steady steps drawing subtle attention. A dragon cloaked in dark fabric moved forward, their hood pulled low, shadowing their face. Traveling dragons were nothing unusual in Gemridge, yet something about this one unsettled those who noticed them. Heads turned. Conversations paused. The cloaked dragon continued through the square, silent and unhurried.

Near the road, a young drake tumbled from a basket, apples scattering across the stone. Hubble, a nine-year-old farmer dragon with dirt-stained claws and big dreams of improving nature, rushed forward. He gathered the fallen apples quickly, placing them back into the basket with care. Nearby, a group of smaller dragons playing catch froze mid-throw, their eyes following the boots of the cloaked dragon as they passed, unaware of the attention trailing behind them.

At the fountain in the center of Gemridge—a crossroads leading to countless destinations—three dragons watched the brief chaos unfold. Their gazes lingered on the cloaked figure for a few seconds longer than necessary, right until the dragon vanished into the narrow streets of the Grey District.

“ Who's that ?” compass rose ask blowing at her rose colored bangs out of her eyes

Clover dice frowns scratching his messy mop of green hair “ No clue seems to be a new dragon”

Compass Rose adjusted her dress and examined her nails. “So, uh… where were we, Sugar Puff?”

Sugar Puff bounced in place, barely containing her excitement. “Oh yeah! So I told him you can’t buy an oven with cake, but he said that’s not what he wanted. But I’m pretty sure cake is a good thing, even if I’m not allowed to give it without payment.”

Clover eyes widened biting into his nails nervously “ then what happened ? gosh -oh! look at the time i got like 10 minutes -”

Sugar Puff suddenly appeared behind him, her curls springing wildly. “And I was like, but that totally was going to work! But then Jantine said cotton candy was disgusting and messy!”

Compass Rose somehow managed to listen while Clover stared at his watch, sweat forming along his brow. She pulled out a brush and sighed. “Why don’t you relax for a second, Clover? I’m sure Maggie will understand if we’re a little late. Are you coming this time, Sugar Puff?”

Sugar Puff leapt off the top of the fountain’s edge ‘ Nope!”

Compass plucked a few loose strands out of Clover's hair “ I figured what do you want me to tell her this time ?”

Sugar Puff ran laps around the fountain, tossing confetti into the air. “The same thing as usual! After all, I want to give the new dragon a great party!”

Compass slaps her face her dimples showing as she puts her sunglasses down “ sugar puff i really think that’s a dumb -”

Clover taps her “ uhh she left” he hands her a can of gem beer “here i got some earlier but the machine gave me to many so i thought i’ll share it with you guys to bad sugar left” two dragons walked past them one of them kicks a rock and hit knocks into Colvers head he rubs it painfully

“ Hey- ouch!”

The dragon snickered, but the moment didn’t last. The first tripped over a sleeping dragon sprawled across the ground, tail stretched wide he murmured before falling back into his slumber. They crashed into each other and landed face-first in the mud. Compass struggled not to laugh while Clover sighed, shaking his head.

A sharp ringing cut through the air—Clover’s watch.

“ Quickly cut it off and hurry!” Compass whisper yells rushing off snatching her back pack and yanking Clover behind her clover grabs his satchel following her as their wings appear and they start off

“ I’m trying ! I’m trying!”

In the Grey district there aren’t many dragons who live here due to the bad reputation it has but the cloaked dragon presses on not noticing their surroundings sugarpuff creeps close by snickering to herself as she thinks of how she wanted to make the party when she then notices the dragon she was following was gone she scurries out of a pile of leaves shaking the leaves out she steps forward but stops in her tracks when she hears keys dropping she glances to the right seeing the dragon picking up the keys , she quickly ducks into alley as the dragon looks behind them

“ huh” they whispered before stepping into a building

Sugarpuff peeks out of her hiding place and looks around. She takes out a note book from her overalls and begins to write down the address.

“ Perfect, now I should probably get everything else and invite dragons over!” she bounces off humming happily heading out

Back in the grey district the cloaked dragon steps into the residence. They looked around the exterior and it didn't look the same. Something was wrong. They couldn’t move the world around them fading into glitches,

their mind spinning making them nauseous. They throw up blood the feeling quickly vanishes they sit up straight wiping their mouth and walking through passing a sign that clearly been aged which read:

“ Gearwell estate “

The dragon moves from the front door to a door missing its label the dragon opens it and steps locking the door behind them a slim shimmer shining on their cloak.