Beneath the sunlit skies of Melbourne, a gentle breeze carried the buzz of excitement through the crowd. The annual Melbourne Cup had arrived, and the city was alive with vibrant colors and the hum of anticipation. People gathered in their finest outfits—lavish dresses, bold hats, and sharp suits. But today, all eyes were not on the horses or their jockeys, but on a much grander, more unusual guest.
High above, the clouds stirred as a figure descended toward Flemington Racecourse. His shimmering scales reflected the sunlight, casting shades of silver and blue onto the ground below. With a graceful yet powerful swoop, the dragon landed at the edge of the racetrack, the earth trembling slightly under his weight. His name was Caelum, a creature of ancient times who had never before seen a spectacle quite like this.
Caelum folded his immense wings against his back and surveyed the scene. His azure eyes sparkled with curiosity as he gazed at the humans around him, many of whom stared back in awe and disbelief. He could hear whispers among the crowd:
“Is that… a dragon?”
“It can’t be real!”
“What is it doing here?”
Unfazed by the attention, Caelum moved forward, his steps light despite his size. He had heard tales of the Melbourne Cup, a grand event where humans celebrated their love for speed, elegance, and competition. Though his kind was used to soaring through the skies, racing the wind and stars, he found the human tradition intriguing.
He stopped near the track, his head towering over the spectators, who had parted to give him space. Caelum’s eyes focused on the sleek horses being paraded before the race. They were magnificent creatures, their muscles rippling with strength and grace. He admired their beauty, feeling a kinship with them as fellow beings of power and speed, albeit of different worlds.
As the race was about to begin, a daring jockey approached Caelum with a smile that sparkled with mischief. “Fancy a bet, mate?” the man asked, tipping his helmet.
Caelum tilted his head, the sunlight dancing off his silver-blue scales. Though the concept of betting was foreign to him, he sensed the thrill of competition in the air and nodded, his tail curling behind him with amusement.
The race began with the crack of the starting bell, and the horses surged forward in a blur of color and motion. Caelum’s sharp eyes followed them, marveling at their speed. The crowd erupted into cheers as the horses thundered down the track, their hooves kicking up dust in their wake. The energy in the air was intoxicating, and Caelum found himself leaning forward, caught up in the excitement of the race.
The horses galloped neck and neck, their riders urging them on, but there was one that stood out—a chestnut mare with a fiery mane, pushing ahead with incredible determination. Caelum felt a surge of admiration for her spirit. As she crossed the finish line first, a roar of applause rose from the crowd, and Caelum let out a deep, rumbling cheer of his own, his voice echoing across the racecourse.
The jockey, who had bet on the chestnut mare, gave Caelum a cheeky grin. “Looks like you’ve got a good eye for picking winners!”
Caelum chuckled, a sound like distant thunder. Though he had no need for riches or fame, he felt a sense of connection to the energy and joy that surrounded the event. For a creature of the skies, this had been an unexpected delight—a different kind of race, but one filled with the same passion for speed and competition that dragons knew so well.
As the day came to an end, Caelum spread his mighty wings and took to the air once more, leaving behind a crowd full of astonished smiles and whispered stories. The silver-blue dragon soared back toward the clouds, content with the knowledge that he had experienced something truly special.
Though the Melbourne Cup was a human tradition, it seemed there was a place for a dragon after all.