The Truth about the Ninth Element

For a long moment, silence hung heavy in the room.

The tension was thick enough to choke on. Valkor's eyes were locked on the stranger—Ashren—whose gold dragon eyes flickered with something that wasn't quite hostility, but certainly wasn't peace either.

Dark scales crawled along his arms and neck. It was clear he was a Dragon as well. Was he a Shadow Dragon? It was the only known race to possess black scales.

Celestis slowly stepped forward, water dancing at her fingertips. "You said you're the last… sane dragons? What does that mean?"

Ashren didn't answer immediately. He turned, walked toward a broken dais at the center of the chamber, and knelt.

The girl in green stood at the edge, watching silently.

Ashren finally spoke in a low and calm voice. "Yes, me and a few people like her."

Everyone turned towards the little girl Ashren was referring to.