Just one last look behind... To boldly go past the obstacles, onward.

What did I see there, in that final glimpse? Warmth, memories of comfort. I might miss those blissful days, the marks of age letting me know a fair chunk of my lifetime went past there. I was supposed to be wiser, but I have yet to see much of the world. Time... There's still time. To be more. To be a dragon. To be me, but... Different.

There's still time for wisdom, ample opportunity to be the master of my own mind, of my own fate.

I've set on this journey with a purpose on my mind. The friends I've left behind those mountains... I hope to see them again. Once I'm worthy of the return, perhaps. There's much I need to learn, even more I need to do. I have to rise up to my heritage or meet my end in tenacious effort.

The chilly breeze ruffles the mane, fills the membranes of the wings. The warm glimmer of the sun that is about to wane behind the mountains shines in my eyes, bidding me farewell. The colors ahead feel familiar, urging me to take another step into the blue dusk. The wind picks up, puffs of snow rising into the air. Winds of adversity? No, it's my element. At least it's supposed to be... Only one way to find out. To spread the wings and go forth alone on the journey to find my destiny.
...If there even is such a thing.

~***~

This magnificent piece of art was a result of a Patreon YCH I was lucky enough to snatch from the impressively skilled and talented  morsylvia. Go give her a watch, she's an excellent artist who could use more love and recognition! She and  polunoch make a great duo, remarkably pleasant to work with. The resulting artwork gave me a grand share of joy, being a delightfully dignified portrayal of Arcaizen/Arcdanis, with a picturesque background to match, creating some memorable ambience. I'm very, very thankful for this one. It serves as an inspiration for my creative visions, which is exactly what I seek in art. I love the aged look as well, quite the distinct feature of the style.

The pose stuck with me, looking back over the shoulder being a mark of reminiscence upon the past, evaluation of one's decisions. In his canon story, Arcaizen ends up disturbed by the news of the dragonkind's slow extinction in other parts of the world as the dragons there fail to keep up with the times, losing their living space to sprawling and ever-advancing civilization. He vows to leave the Great Kandhaeris Republic, where he was born and raised, on a self-imposed mission to gather his solitary, isolated kin scattered across the remote reaches of the northern hemisphere and urge them to follow him to the dragon-friendly lands of Sorincar, where they could settle down and flourish again in peace. He sets his mind on a purpose, but the path is far from auspicious... That's a story for a different piece, though.
Truth be told, the artwork also serves to reflect my brooding nature, which was another feature attracting me to it. Not to mention it works great as a screen background/banner!

This glorious picture was brought to you by the expert hand of the artist:  morsylvia, all the credit goes to her!
Artist's upload can be found there: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/46903549/
Arcaizen belongs to yours truly.