The forest gradually gave way to cliffs and rocky crags. Mist rolled off the mountainside, clinging to their legs like cold fingers, and the air grew thinner, sharper, tasting of iron and stone. Aeloria trudged behind her guardians, cloak wrapped tightly, boots slipping on mossy rocks, heart pounding with every step.
"I can't believe this," she muttered, voice barely audible above the wind. "I'm supposed to be some… prophecy, or whatever. I barely survived yesterday's chaos, and now… this."
The vampire, walking ahead, didn't turn, but his voice was low and clipped. "Prophecies don't wait for consent, little star."
Aeloria flinched at the nickname. It was familiar, intimate, almost… teasing. Yet there was steel underneath it. Power. Danger. She couldn't tell if it was meant to comfort her or warn her.
The dragon's wings stretched slightly, catching the moonlight. Golden tattoos shimmered, pulsing with her own heartbeat. "Consent rarely matters when the fate of kingdoms is at stake," he said. "But do not mistake this path for one without choice. You will decide how you walk it… eventually."
Aeloria's gaze fell to the ground. Eventually. A terrifying word. She wasn't sure she had the courage to walk any of this path willingly.
The Beastborn prowled behind, his muscles coiled like springs. "Right now, the important thing is survival. Every step we take, every breath you draw, we protect you. The Sanctum is the first place you will be truly safe."
Aeloria swallowed hard. "Safe? After everything I just did… how can I feel safe anywhere?"
"You will," the vampire said quietly, voice softer this time. "Once you understand the power you've inherited. And once you learn to control it."
A distant howl split the night, low and haunting, rolling over the cliffs and through the valleys below. Aeloria shivered, instinctively pressing her hands to the sigils on her wrist. They pulsed like a heartbeat in tune with her own.
The dragon's gaze sharpened, ears flicking. "They're close. Far more organized than the Silent Order. This is… unexpected."
"Unexpected?" Aeloria asked, voice trembling. "I thought we were already being hunted!"
The Beastborn growled, low and threatening. "There are hunters beyond anything you've seen. Beings who have waited for centuries to capture the Celestial Bond. And some of them are… not human."
Aeloria's pulse quickened. Not human? The thought was terrifying and magnetic all at once. She couldn't look away from the cliffs ahead, where mist twisted unnaturally. The shadows moved with a life of their own.
The vampire finally paused, turning to her with that same intensity she had learned to fear and respect. "You must understand, Aeloria, the High Sanctum is not just a place. It is a test. A sanctuary. And a prison."
"A prison?" she whispered.
"For knowledge," he said. "And for control. You cannot survive Veloria—or the forces that seek you—without learning both."
The dragon stepped forward, letting out a low, rumbling growl. "You will find allies there. Not all are what they seem, and not all will survive your presence. But some will shape your destiny in ways you cannot yet imagine."
Aeloria's stomach twisted. She wanted to ask what he meant, wanted to demand more answers, but fear and awe kept her silent.
The Beastborn's voice broke through the tension. "We are almost there. The path narrows, and the shadows grow restless. Keep close, little star."
Aeloria swallowed. "Little star." She didn't know why, but the nickname stuck, echoing in her mind, warm and terrifying at once. She tightened her grip on the cloak, feeling the sigils pulse beneath her fingertips. The magic inside her had grown stronger overnight—wild, responsive, and hungry.
And she was beginning to realize something dangerous: the power didn't just protect her. It demanded allegiance. Attention. Obedience. And if she failed… everything around her would burn.
Above the cliffs, a faint glow appeared in the mist. Aeloria's breath caught. She knew—without a doubt—that they had reached the first threshold of the High Sanctum. A place untouched by ordinary light, hidden by both magic and myth, a place where the three bloodlines had sworn their ancient oaths.
The vampire's hand brushed against hers briefly—not a comfort, not yet—but a silent reminder. "Step carefully. The Sanctum has eyes. And it judges without mercy."
The dragon exhaled slowly, letting the warmth of his breath mingle with the mist. "And so will those who seek you. Every move you make, every flicker of magic, every heartbeat… it will be observed."
The Beastborn growled softly behind her. "Trust us. We will not let them touch you. But you must be ready. Everything changes from this point onward."
Aeloria's heart thudded in her chest. She swallowed hard, trying to push down the terror, the wonder, the burning heat of her awakening power. She looked at the misty glow ahead—the first glimpse of the High Sanctum—and knew she was stepping into a world she would never leave unchanged.
The path of shadows had led her here.And nothing would ever be the same.