The passage led them to a circular chamber with three exits. Ice formations covered the walls like frozen waterfalls, and the air was so cold their breath turned to ice crystals before it hit the ground."Which way now?" Jin asked, rubbing his hands together for warmth.Before anyone could answer, the temperature dropped even further. Frost began forming on their clothes, and their torches flickered as if something was trying to put them out."Something's coming," Sera warned, her daggers appearing in her hands.The ice formations on the walls began to glow with pale blue light. The light grew brighter and brighter until shapes began emerging from the ice itself.They looked like people, but wrong. Translucent and glowing, with empty eye sockets and mouths that moved without sound. Ice wraiths, just like the books had described."How many?" Draven asked, drawing his sword."Six," Lyra said, counting quickly. "No, eight. More coming."The wraiths moved slowly at first, drifting toward

The tunnel led them to the edge of a massive chasm that stretched as far as they could see in either direction. The bottom was lost in darkness, and cold air rose from the depths like the breath of some sleeping giant."Well, this is just perfect," Jin said, peering over the edge. "How are we supposed to cross this?"A bridge made of solid ice stretched across the chasm, but it looked ancient and fragile. Worse, as they watched, cracks were already spreading across its surface."That doesn't look safe," Lyra said."Nothing in here is safe," Sera replied. "But it's the only way forward."Draven tested the bridge with one foot. The ice groaned under his weight, and more cracks appeared. "It's not going to hold all four of us at once.""So we go one at a time?" Jin asked."No," Sera said, studying the bridge carefully. "Look at how it's cracking. The ice is designed to fail in sections. If we spread out, we might make it across before it completely collapses.""Might?" Lyra's voice crack

The stairs led them down into a massive cavern that took their breath away. Ice formations covered every surface, but these weren't the rough, natural shapes they'd seen before. These were works of art - pillars that spiraled toward the ceiling, walls carved with intricate patterns, and in the center of it all, a raised platform where something massive lay coiled."Is that what I think it is?" Jin whispered.The creature on the platform was easily the size of three horses. Its scales were made of living ice, shifting and reforming with each breath. Wings folded against its sides like crystalline shields. And its eyes, when they opened, burned with ancient intelligence."An ice dragon," Lyra breathed. "A real one."The dragon's head rose slowly, studying the four intruders with those burning eyes. When it spoke, its voice was like the grinding of glaciers."Young warriors. You have passed the tests of truth and trust. But one trial remains before you may proceed to the deeper chambers.

The footsteps were getting closer. Sera stood with her daggers drawn, facing the passage entrance. But her three friends were behind her, and Draven could see the doubt in their eyes."How do we know this isn't part of your plan?" he asked."You don't," Sera replied without turning around. "But you're about to find out."Five figures in black robes emerged from the passage. They moved with the same fluid grace as Sera, but there was something colder about them. More deadly."Princess Selene," the leader said, pulling back his hood to reveal a face that shared Sera's sharp features. "You missed your scheduled report.""Hello, Daemon," Sera said. Her voice was steady, but Draven could see her hands shaking slightly."Brother?" Jin whispered."Crown Prince of the Shadow Moon Sect," Sera confirmed. "And my commanding officer."Daemon's eyes swept over the three friends standing behind Sera. "I see you've grown attached to your targets. Mother warned me this might happen.""They're not tar

Draven stared at the other version of himself. It was like looking in a mirror, except this Draven stood straighter, smiled more easily, and had eyes that didn't carry the weight of constant doubt."You're not real," Draven said."No," the other Draven agreed. "But I'm not an illusion either. I'm who you could become. If you stopped lying to yourself.""I don't lie to myself.""Don't you?" The other Draven walked around the room, his movements confident and sure. "You tell yourself you're weak. You tell yourself you don't deserve your friends' loyalty. You tell yourself you're not a real hero.""Because it's true.""Is it? Or is it just easier than accepting responsibility for your own power?"Draven didn't answer. He was thinking about the pendant hidden under his shirt, burning warm against his chest."Ah," the other Draven said, noticing his expression. "Now we're getting somewhere. Tell me about the pendant.""What pendant?""The one you've never told your friends about. The one t