winds whispered in dragon tongue, there stood a realm u

Queen, Seraphina Veyr. Her soul was bound to the mighty red beast, Vaelkris, a dragon of old blood and

ight the pro

skies shall weep fire, the crown shall break, and a chil

eant. Or perhaps, eve

ed into myth. Some claimed he burned himself to ash in grief. Others whispered that he still lived, hiding

years ha

s on the brink of civil war, with warlords eyeing the empty throne and foreign empires circling like vult

me is

ir of Seraphina Veyr...

gold. Kaelith stood barefoot on the outer balcony of the western wing, the wind tugging at her ra

past the dozing guards, and climbed the narrow staircase to th

.. it had b

a child and claimed she was a servant's orphan. But Kaelith had never believed that. Not when she c

ing was d

of crimson. And in the distance, she could swear she heard

rag

s breath

walls-an attack. Warlord Carrion of the Black Claw was making his move sooner than expecte

ear. It was familiar. Gentle, yet sharp like steel

alace assassin. And

here for me,"

e for the crown. But they'll take you to

s heart

dn't know who

they

fferent fire stirred. A beast the size of a cathedral uncoiled f

is had

ise... one to burn the wor

come... for the p

Castle, her heart thundering like war drums. Every corner they turned ec

she whispered as they m

before dawn-took half the guard wi

ped in her tracks. "

, turning slowly.

he hid you here. You're the last piece. The girl wit

. "You're not making sense. I'm no one-

l, curved dagger. The hilt was carved from dragonbo

er left th

The moment her fingers touched the hilt, something clicked

ashed in

wreathed

ver eyes and a c

circlin

dagger. Her knees buckl

" he said softly. "The Dr

e whispered, her voice crack

ut her blood didn't. Y

ne wall beside th

st, horned helm glinting in the torchlight. Hi

behind him and drew hi

t leavi

lith

d-but the so

ed. Kaelith turned and sprinted into the dark tunnel, the dagger c

t stairwell beneath the castle's crypts. Her lungs burne

prop

t yet, but it pulsed in her v

the world... o

sure which

e

ed through the outer gates. Screams filled the air. Fir

ower of the castle, a

ilk, her eyes like frostbite, h

the shadows behind her. "The fl

ilver hair and eyes the color of dying stars. He

nodded once before va

orches flickered as if the very air trembled in fear. The walls here were carved with forgotten runes

nbone dagger tightly,

heir to a bloodline that

hey were h

steel rang louder. Shouts.

l opened into a mas

cr

, each engraved with a dragon's crest. In the center, an obsidian pedestal

The heat was unlike anything she'd fe

it kne

ited centuries

eache

er fingers c

he Flamecore," a vo

fr

like mist, and his eyes-so pale they seemed almost white-loc

Meas

ou," she said, her voice

he replied, stepping closer

tightened aro

en know wha

hifted-almost sadness?

nd you before

summoning a spear of

her hand accidentally

ant, everyth

crystal shattered. A wave of fire exploded outwa

power rushed into her-an

wn back against

he ruins, eyes blazing like embers. Her hair whipped a

e-veins, and the dagger floated

aggered to

. what

hands, at the flames d

now," she

ground cracke

p below-a sound so ancient and

mb spl

s rising fro

st. Not a

dr

teel. Eyes blazing. Wings unfu

straight a

een," it

th ga

ired boy's fa

ything explod