The garden of Everhart gleamed like a painting brushed by the moons themselves. Fountains whispered in silver arcs, roses glistened with dew, and marble statues stood solemn under the pale glow. It should have been serene. It should have been untouched. Yet Andy's every step echoed like a drumbeat in his ears, heavy with the weight of what he knew was coming.
Nia walked beside him, her cloak brushing his arm, staff glowing faintly like a lantern in the dark. Her silence wasn't emptiness; it was steel, sharpened and waiting.
At the fountain's heart, Kayla waited.
Her golden gown swayed in the breeze, delicate, almost too delicate for what she truly was. Her hands folded in front of her, her posture serene. To the casual eye she was the image of grace. But to Andy—whose dragonblood stirred uneasily—and to Nia—whose sight pierced the unseen—the cracks were obvious.
Her eyes glowed too bright, reflecting not just the moons, but something burning deeper. Thin fissures crawled faintly across her cheek, glowing for only a heartbeat before sealing again.
"You came," Kayla said, her voice soft, but echoed like a choir. Two voices, three, layered and wrong. "Everhart's dragon… and his tether of light."
Andy's hand tightened on his blades. "If this is another one of your games—"
Kayla tilted her head, smile widening, almost tender. "Not a game. A glimpse."
The air snapped.
Golden threads burst from the soil, ripping through rose bushes, weaving into spears that lunged toward them.
"Move!" Andy roared.
His blades leapt free—fire roaring down one, water spiraling the other. He crossed them in a blazing X. Twin Surge! The collision exploded into a wall of steam, scattering the threads into ash.
Nia was already moving, staff alight with silver fire. Arcane Detection! Her vision cut through the steam, revealing nodes of corruption pulsing inside the roses and hedges. "There—!" She thrust her staff, silver beams spearing the nodes. Flowers blackened, withered, and burst as corruption screamed out of them.
The System chimed sharply.
System Alert: Divine-Class Entity engaged.
Threat Tier: Archon Fragment.
Recommendation: High-Risk Encounter. Synchronize fully.
Kayla's laughter danced across the mist, low and echoing. "Yes. Dance for me."
The mist parted—golden whips of thread lashed down.
Andy's aura surged.
Dragon Warrior Form, Tier 2!
Crimson fire exploded across his back, forming wings of living flame. He launched upward, blades spinning. Each slash burned arcs across the night sky, one of fire, one of water, colliding into sprays of steam that glimmered like falling stars.
But Kayla was faster. A spear of gold tore through the steam, aimed straight at his heart.
Nia's staff flared. Light Barrier! Silver domes burst into existence, the spear shattering against it in sparks. The barrier cracked—but held. She staggered, knees buckling.
"Nia—!" Andy dove, wings slamming, catching her against his chest. He landed hard, fire spiraling out as his blades carved the golden whip that struck at them next. Sparks rained.
The dragon in his blood stirred, laughing cruelly. She's divine. You cannot match her. Burn everything. Burn even her light.
Andy's breath came ragged. Heat surged uncontrollably, flames licking higher.
"Andy—look at me!"
Her hand gripped his arm. Silver eyes met his crimson ones. In them he saw not fear, but faith—unyielding, burning stronger than his fire.
"You are not your blood," she whispered fiercely. "You are mine."
The dragon roared inside him, furious—but something snapped, broken by her voice. His flames steadied, no longer wild, but controlled.
The System chimed:
Bond Surge detected.
Emotional Resonance stabilized.
Bond Progression: Star 2 – 48%.
Andy exhaled, shoulders steadying. He raised his blades, wings spreading wide. "You won't break us."
Kayla's smile faltered for the first time. Thin cracks spread across her cheek, golden light spilling through. Her voice sharpened, three echoes at once. "Then perhaps I must try harder."
The garden convulsed. Statues cracked, roses ignited in golden fire, fountains froze mid-spray. Shadows lengthened unnaturally, stretching like claws.
And under the moonlight, with flame and light twined, the first true battle began.
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