The Broken Alliance

The air was thick with tension as Eira, Kael, Seren, and Ryven moved through the shadowed forest. The distant echo of Marcus's words haunted her thoughts.

"The dragons aren't your allies… If you grow too strong, they will destroy you."

Kael kept a watchful eye on her, his protective nature stronger than ever. "You're too quiet," he said, breaking the silence. "Don't let his words get to you."

Eira shook her head. "What if he's right, Kael? The dragons have been testing me since the beginning. What happens if they decide I'm a threat?"

"They won't," he said firmly. "You're nothing like that first Dragon's Chosen. You've proven that."

But the doubt gnawed at her. What if the dragons didn't see her as a savior but as a danger to be eliminated?

Seren, walking ahead, suddenly stopped and raised a hand. "We're being followed."

Eira's pulse quickened. "Marcus?"

"No," Seren whispered, narrowing her eyes. "Someone else."

From the shadows, three figures emerged warriors clad in silver armor marked with dragon emblems. Their leader, a woman with silver hair and piercing blue eyes, stepped forward.

"You have broken sacred law by opening the Book of Unity," she said coldly. "The Council of Dragons demands your surrender."

Eira's magic flared at her fingertips. "I didn't steal this knowledge I earned it through their trials."

The woman's eyes narrowed. "You misunderstand. The dragons do not reward power they control it. And you… you are becoming a problem."

Kael stepped in front of Eira, sword drawn. "You'll have to go through me first."

The silver-haired woman raised her spear, and with a flick of her wrist, a surge of icy magic spread across the ground, freezing the air. "Then you leave us no choice."

Without warning, the dragon knights attacked.

Kael met their leader's strike head-on, the clash of steel ringing through the night. Eira unleashed a blast of golden fire, but the dragon knights countered with cold precision, their magic suppressing hers.

Seren darted through the chaos, her blades flashing as she struck at the gaps in their armor. "These aren't ordinary soldiers they're trained to kill people like us!"

Ryven, watching the battle with detached amusement, finally sighed. "Fine. But you owe me for this." He raised his hand, summoning black flames that spiraled around him. With a snap of his fingers, the flames burst forward, knocking two knights off their feet.

Eira's magic burned brighter as she channeled the dragon's power within her. "Enough!" Her voice echoed as golden wings of fire erupted from her back. The power surged out of her in a wave, forcing the knights to their knees.

The silver-haired leader gritted her teeth, but instead of retreating, she smiled faintly. "You've sealed your fate, Dragon's Chosen. The dragons will never allow you to live unchecked."

And with those chilling words, she vanished into thin air, the remaining knights following her retreat.

Eira fell to her knees, her magic dimming as exhaustion hit her hard. Kael was by her side instantly, holding her steady.

"They're not just testing me anymore," she whispered. "They're preparing to destroy me."

Kael's expression darkened. "Then we'll fight them, too. Whatever it takes."

But as the cold silence of the forest returned, Eira couldn't help but wonder how long before the dragons came to finish what they started?