Telmarr

It wasn't his fault. That's what she told everyone. That's what everyone understood. That's what he grew up being told. It wasn't his fault. The scars weren't his fault. The deaths weren't his fault. The agony wasn't his fault. It was all a part of The Bane. It was all the fault of The Bane.

He grew up with The Bane. It always loomed over him, marring every part of his life. It wasn't his fault, what happened when he interacted with other dragons. That's what they told him, at least. It wasn't his fault when the went insane, or caused themselves or others harm. It was The Bane. It worked through him, despite him. But he saw what he was doing. He felt each strike and heard each cry as if it was his claws conducting them.

They never even gave him a name. He was just 'him', or 'it'. Sometimes even 'the thing' or 'the scourge' when others were feeling particularity nasty.

Then he met her. And everything changed. There weren't sparks. They would never be involved like that. But he knew, the moment he laid eyes on her, that she could fix him. She could get rid of The Bane.

Her name was Corrinne, he soon learned, and she was a curse breaker. Her whole clan turned to her for magical protection. She helped him get rid of The Bane. It wasn't easy. There were many days when he felt like giving up. But she helped him push through.

The day The Bane finally left was the best day of his life. He was free. He could live a proper life. Then it hit him. He could live a life. The thought was overwhelming. But once again, she helped him. She taught him how to live a normal life. A beautiful, rich, full life. And she helped him choose a name.

Telmarr.

From that day on, he was different. He was no longer defined by The Bane. He was his own dragon. He was Telmarr. He was a part of a clan, and had friends, and a passion. He discovered that he could spend his life helping dragons, not harming them. From the day he discovered healing, he hasn't wanted anything else. He has devoted himself to helping as many dragons as he can.

And for the first time, Telmarr is truly happy.