The cold wind blew across the flat dark stone ledge. Luca stared at the empty spot on the hard rock. Elias Thorne was not there to greet the young king. The brave general had vanished into the thick green fog. Amelia walked out of the small cave with quiet steps. She looked around the wide open space and felt fear. Her warm brown eyes searched the deep shadows for answers. The heavy steel armor of the warrior lay in pieces. Broken metal plates covered the wet dirt near the wall. Someone took the strong man with a fast cruel strike.Luca felt a hot rage burn inside his strong chest. He knelt on the ground to inspect the broken armor. The steel bore deep scratches from a huge sharp claw. No human weapon could tear the thick metal like paper. A foul smell hung in the chill damp mountain air. It smelled like rotten meat and old dark magic spells. Amelia knelt beside him and touched a piece of steel. She pointed a pale finger at a trail of blood. The red drops painted a path toward the sol

The deep dark voice echoed in the cold empty space. Luca floated in a quiet sea of pure black shadows. The sharp pain in his human chest faded into nothing. He could not hear the loud screams of sweet Amelia. He could not hear the heavy steel sword of Elias. He felt very tired and ready to close his eyes. But the deep dark voice called his true name again. The sound felt like grinding rocks and old wild magic. A pair of giant glowing purple eyes opened very wide. The eyes belonged to the scary giant cosmic spider beast.The terrible monster from the bleeding sky was not dead. It hid a small piece of its dark wild soul. It hid the dark soul inside his bright red fire. "Your cruel brother took your human life," the beast said. "He stole your empire and broke your strong dragon body. Now he wants to kill your two brave loyal friends." Luca tried to speak but his dry mouth felt numb. He pushed his thoughts toward the giant glowing purple eyes. He told the scary beast he failed to protect

The huge room was lit by a soft blue glow. The light came from the scales of a giant beast. A long dragon stood in the center of the dark path. Its thick scales were the deep color of the night sky. Large wings rested flat against its strong back. The bright blue eyes of the monster stared at the human group. The evil white god stood near the sharp claws. He held the blue magic stone tight in his pale hand. He thought the magic rock would make the giant beast obey. But the dragon did not bow to a false ruler. The monster opened its mouth and let out a low growl. The sound shook the dirt and stones of the deep mountain floor.The evil brother took a fast step back in pure fear. He pointed the blue magic stone right at the big face. He shouted loud commands and told the beast to step aside. He said he was the new true master of the world core. The giant dragon closed its bright blue eyes for a short second. It inhaled a huge breath of the cold damp mountain air. Then it unleashed a thic

The man in the royal guard armor stopped at the base of the white pillar. He moved with a grace that felt old and very heavy. His eyes were not human and they shone with a faint violet light. Luca felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at the visitor. The face was the same as the boy he once called his own blood. But this man did not hold the warmth of a brother. He looked like a statue carved from grief and frozen dark time. The spear in his hand hummed with a low and hungry sound. It tasted the air for the magic of the sovereign core. Luca reached for his sword but his hand felt like lead. He knew this warrior was not a shadow of the void.This was the echo of his own past life come to haunt the living. The man spoke with a voice that sounded like pages of history turning. He called Luca by a name that had not been heard for a long time. He said the throne was cold and the halls of the empire were dead. He claimed the seal on the crystal pillar was a cage for the true heir. Lu

The heavy steel sword hit the hard stone floor with a loud clang. Luca stared at the traveler with the white cane. The face belonged to a man he thought was gone forever. It was Marcus Romano standing in the morning sun. He was the father of the original weak human boy. The old man wore dirty brown rags and looked very tired. He held a piece of white bone in his left hand. The bone pulsed with a sick dark violet light. Luca felt a cold chill run down his spine. He froze.Marcus looked at the young king with blind empty eyes. The old man did not seem to know where he stood right now. He spoke with a dry and raspy quiet voice. He told Luca that the dark shadow crown was calling his name. The bone in his hand was a piece of the ancient cage. Elias Thorne ran up the library steps with heavy boots. The brave general raised his thick shield and stood firm. Amelia followed close behind him with a scared human look. They all stared at the blind father of the lost boy. He coughed loud.Luca pi