There's this story back home, 'bout how a long time ago the Five Elemental Dragons gave their blood to a group of mortals and blessed them with the power to control the elements. I dunno how true that is, but it’s true there're people who can do that, and the ability is passed down through the blood. We call them Dragon-Blooded, or Princes of the Earth, and bein' one's a big deal. People think it's a sign of...[ There's a moment where Day makes a face. ] Spiritual enlightenment. That in exchange for innate power, they have a duty to their spiritual lessers.
On the isle where I grew up, most of them are from the nobility, but it's the kinda thing that can skip generations, and it ain't like Dynasts don't have their illicit trysts. So sometimes a lowborn commoner awakens that power, 'cause somewhere in their family tree there was someone with the blood of dragons in 'em. And when that happens, by law you gotta report them to one of the ministries. The arbiters come to take custody and bring them to get "properly educated" as a Prince of the Earth, 'cause by decree they're now an adopted child of the Empress. [ Does he sound a little bitter here? Maybe. ]
It happened to my sister when we were 'bout sixteen. Second time I ever managed to convince her to ditch lessons. We went to the woods right outside of town to hide and just hang out for a while 'fore I was supposed to leave for the city. And...I dunno, somethin' must have happened there, 'cause by the time we went back she was sproutin' flowers in her hair. Everyone in town was so excited. [ He says this, but even now when he's just recalling it, he sounds distinctly unexcited. ] Kept congratulatin' her and couldn't wait to report it to the arbiters.
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There's this story back home, 'bout how a long time ago the Five Elemental Dragons gave their blood to a group of mortals and blessed them with the power to control the elements. I dunno how true that is, but it’s true there're people who can do that, and the ability is passed down through the blood. We call them Dragon-Blooded, or Princes of the Earth, and bein' one's a big deal. People think it's a sign of...[ There's a moment where Day makes a face. ] Spiritual enlightenment. That in exchange for innate power, they have a duty to their spiritual lessers.
On the isle where I grew up, most of them are from the nobility, but it's the kinda thing that can skip generations, and it ain't like Dynasts don't have their illicit trysts. So sometimes a lowborn commoner awakens that power, 'cause somewhere in their family tree there was someone with the blood of dragons in 'em. And when that happens, by law you gotta report them to one of the ministries. The arbiters come to take custody and bring them to get "properly educated" as a Prince of the Earth, 'cause by decree they're now an adopted child of the Empress. [ Does he sound a little bitter here? Maybe. ]
It happened to my sister when we were 'bout sixteen. Second time I ever managed to convince her to ditch lessons. We went to the woods right outside of town to hide and just hang out for a while 'fore I was supposed to leave for the city. And...I dunno, somethin' must have happened there, 'cause by the time we went back she was sproutin' flowers in her hair. Everyone in town was so excited. [ He says this, but even now when he's just recalling it, he sounds distinctly unexcited. ] Kept congratulatin' her and couldn't wait to report it to the arbiters.