The mountains rose before them like dark teeth against the twilight sky.Kael guided Zephyr higher, using the cover of the clouds to mask their approach. Below them, the terrain grew rugged and unforgiving. Jagged peaks. Deep ravines. Sparse vegetation clinging to the rocky slopes. It was the kind of place where people went to hide. The kind of place where people could disappear and never be found.The old man's directions had been clear. The raiders' camp was located in a valley between two peaks, accessible only through a narrow pass. It was defensible. Hidden. The perfect place for a group of bandits to operate without fear of reprisal.But they had not counted on the Primeval Beasts.Zephyr descended slowly, its golden scales blending with the fading light. Lira, Aether, Terra, Lux, Umbra, and the void beast followed, their forms barely visible against the darkening sky. They moved like shadows, silent and unseen.Kael spotted the camp below. It was a collection of crude wooden bu

The morning sun was warm on Kael's face as he flew eastward, the old map spread across his lap. Its edges were frayed and soft with age, the ink faded to a pale brown that was sometimes difficult to read. But the villages marked on it were clear enough, scattered across the region like scattered seeds, each one a potential destination. He had chosen the nearest one, a small settlement called Oakhaven, nestled in a valley between two low hills. The name sounded peaceful. He hoped the reality matched it.Zephyr flew steadily, its wings beating in a slow, rhythmic pattern. Lira, Aether, Terra, Lux, Umbra, and the void beast flanked them, their forms magnificent against the bright blue sky. Below them, the landscape was a patchwork of green and gold. Dense forests gave way to open fields. The fields gave way to winding rivers. It was peaceful, serene, the kind of beauty that made Kael forget, for just a moment, the darkness that still lurked in the world.But then he saw something below t

The morning sun streamed through the window of the small cottage, casting warm golden light across the room. Dust motes danced in the beams, floating lazily through the air. Kael woke slowly, his body still heavy with exhaustion, his mind foggy with the remnants of sleep. The healings had taken more out of him than he had expected. Each person he had touched, each mind he had cleared of the dark magic's grip, had drained a little more of his strength. It was like pouring water from a cup that could never be refilled. But it had been worth it. Every single moment of it had been worth it.He sat up slowly, his muscles protesting the movement. The cot beneath him was simple but comfortable, covered in a soft woolen blanket that smelled of lavender and fresh air. A small table beside him held a pitcher of cool water and a bowl of fresh fruit. Someone had been taking care of him. Someone had been watching over him through the night. He felt a warmth spread through his chest at the thought.

The morning light crept through the frost-covered windows of Greta's cottage, casting pale blue shadows across the worn wooden floor. The fire had died down to glowing embers, their warmth still radiating through the small room. Kael sat by the hearth, wrapped in layers of furs and thick woolen blankets, his body still heavy with exhaustion. The restoration of the Heart of Frosthold had drained him more than he wanted to admit. He could feel the emptiness inside him, the hollow ache where another piece of his soul had been carved away. But he was alive. The village was safe. That was all that mattered.He stared into the dying embers, his mind churning with thoughts. The mark on his palm had faded further, the symbol of the void beast barely visible now. He had given so much. His memories. His past. His identity. Pieces of his soul scattered across the land like seeds in the wind. He did not know how much more he could give. He did not know how much more he had left.Greta entered the

The guardian's massive fist crashed into the ground where Kael had been standing just moments before. The impact sent shockwaves through the cavern, cracking the stone floor and sending shards of ice and rock flying in all directions. The ground trembled beneath Kael's feet, and the crystals on the walls flickered wildly, their light stuttering as if they too were afraid. Kael rolled to his feet, his heart pounding in his chest, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The cold air burned his lungs, but he could not afford to stop. He could not afford to hesitate.The guardian was immense. It stood at least twelve feet tall, its body composed of rock and ice that seemed to have been forged together by some ancient force. Its skin was a patchwork of gray stone and translucent ice, its limbs thick and powerful, its fists the size of boulders. Its eyes glowed with a cold, blue light, the color of a frozen lake at midnight. They were devoid of emotion, devoid of mercy. It moved with surprising