The Forgotten Betrayal

Eira clutched the ancient book tightly as its golden glow faded. The air in the sanctuary grew cold and heavy, as if the magic itself stirred with old memories. Kael steadied her, worry flickering in his eyes.

"You're pushing yourself too hard," he said quietly.

"I had to open it," Eira replied, her voice softer than she intended. "This book holds the truth… the truth the dragons have been hiding."

Seren knelt beside a pile of crumbled stone where the guardians had fallen. "The guardians were tied to the book's magic. You break one, you break the other." She smirked. "Convenient."

Eira flipped through the ancient pages, the ink shimmering gold as the words shifted into a language she could understand. One passage glowed brighter than the rest:

"The first Dragon's Chosen was not a savior but a destroyer."

Kael frowned. "What does that mean?"

Eira's heart pounded as she read aloud. "Long ago, the dragons chose a human to bridge their world and ours. But the first Dragon's Chosen betrayed them. She used their power to conquer kingdoms and enslave anyone who stood in her way. In the end, the dragons were forced to seal her away… but her curse remains."

Ryven chuckled from the shadows. "Ah, so you come from a line of traitors. How poetic."

Kael glared at him. "You're not helping."

Eira's hands trembled as she turned the page. "There's more. It says… the power of the Dragon's Chosen is tied to her will. If her heart turns to darkness, the magic will consume everything."

A chill crept down her spine. Is this why the dragons are testing me? Are they afraid I'll become like her?

Kael's jaw tightened. "You're not her, Eira. You've already proven that."

But doubt gnawed at her. If her power came from a betrayer, could she truly control it? Or was she doomed to follow the same path?

Seren rose to her feet. "If this book is right, the dragons might never trust you. No matter how many trials you pass."

Before Eira could answer, the sanctuary trembled again this time from outside. The golden gate flickered dangerously.

Ryven sighed. "Looks like someone doesn't want us snooping around."

Kael drew his sword. "We need to move. Now."

Eira shut the book and tucked it into her cloak. As they hurried out of the sanctuary, she couldn't shake the weight of what she had learned.

If the dragons still feared the curse… how much longer would they let her live?

But one thing was clear if she wanted to stop the dark sorcerer, she would have to uncover all the secrets the dragons were hiding.

Even if it destroyed her.