The wind whistled through the stone ruins of the old world. The echo of the team's footsteps reverberated off the burnt walls and deserted valleys. Kael walked ahead, his eyes constantly scanning the horizon.
— Scouting territory. — he muttered under his breath.— We can't let them see us.
Valdor nodded. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword. Behind them, like a shadow, Mayuri walked. Suddenly, she stopped and knelt down.
— Someone was here... recently. — she said.— Traces... of wolves. But something's wrong.
The wolf's paw print in the mud was too big. Too symmetrical. Unnatural.
Suddenly, there was a whistling sound. An arrow flew past Valdor's ear and stuck into a tree. Valdor fell to the ground and drew his sword.
A figure jumped out of the bushes. A woman. Wild, with eyes like a beast and hair tied in a braid. She had claws and fangs, and fury in her eyes.
— You are not welcome here! — she screamed.
Valdor parried her attack, and Kael slid out from the side with his blade ready. Mayuri slipped between them.
— Stop! We are not from the Empire! — said Valdor.
Valdor sheathed his sword and took a few steps forward.
— I am Valdor, and you?
The woman hesitated. She was breathing heavily.
— Arwen... I am the last of the Watahya.
Valdor looked into her eyes. Her golden pupils reminded him of his own.
— You are not the enemy... you are like me.
At night, they sat by the fire. Arwen told the story of her destruction.
— The empire came suddenly. They burned everything. The settlement. The clan. The family. They even killed the children. And I... I survived. And I learned to fight like a wolf.
There was a silence in her voice that hurt more than a scream.
— I don't trust strangers — she said. — But you... you have eyes like mine. Let's test it. Let's fight. By the rules of wolves.
Valdor nodded. He stood up and put down his weapon.
They fought without words. Hand—to—hand combat. Body against body. Arwen moved like a shadow, Valdor blocked her blows and survived.
Finally, she let herself be knocked down. She lay motionless, and he looked her straight in the eyes.
— You are not alone. Welcome to our pack.
Arwen was silent. And then she smiled for the first time.
— You can count on me.
Valdor reached out his hand to her and helped her up.
A few days later, as they wandered through the red forest, Kael raised his hand.
— There's something here... mines.
Valdor took a step and... there was a flash. A runic mine. A wave of fire swept across the clearing.
Valdor fell, his arm wounded. Mayuri immediately ran over and began treating him.
— Don't move!" he shouted. — We're trapped!
Imperial scouts emerged from the forest. They surrounded them. They held weapons and amulets in their hands.
— Now! — Kael yelled.
The battle began in a flash. Arwen transformed into her wolf form—her claws flashed and her movements became blurred.
Valdor stood up despite the pain and encouraged his team to fight.
— We're not backing down! Forward!
Mayuri created barriers. Kael fought like a demon, striking from the flank.
The forest was burning. Smoke filled the sky.
After it was over, Arwen, covered in blood, spat into the ashes.
— They didn't think we'd survive.
As they moved away from the battlefield, Mayuri noticed something shiny in the ruins of an old church. She approached and uncovered a piece of stone.
— It's... it's a piece of dragon core!
Valdor approached and touched the fragment. At that moment, his mind was filled with a vision.
Father. The Dragon King.
— Son... this is only the beginning.
Valdor fell to his knees. His body began to glow, and the shadow of a dragon emerged from his back. A powerful aura of fire and magic.
— This power...— whispered Mayuri. — We are witnessing the birth of a new dragon god...
Valdor fainted.
Kael held him in his arms.
—You're not alone, old man.
After resting, Arwen watched over Valdor. Mayuri looked up at the sky, worried.
— Something is coming... something bigger than war...
Kael scanned the area.
— We have a visitor. The trail is fresh.
At the Empire headquarters, the commanders analyzed the movements.
— He uses fire like an element. It must be him.
A new figure emerged from the shadows. Red cloak, face covered.
— Dragon blood... still alive...
Valdor woke up. He looked at Arwen.
— What happened?
Arwen told him everything. No omissions, no lies.
— I understand... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you. — said Valdor.
When Valdor got up, the team moved on.
Mayuri stayed behind for a moment. She looked up at the sky.
— Something bigger is coming...
In the distance, the shadow of a new enemy watched the burning tree.
— The end is coming...
Valdor stood on the edge of the cliff. In the distance, a ruined fortress loomed.
— If that's the Empire's base... that's where we'll strike.
The dragon's blood has returned. And the fire will burn again.