A Kingdom’s Deception

The cold breeze swept through the forest as Eira leaned against a tree, her body still aching from the battle. Kael knelt beside her, checking for injuries while Seren and Ryven stood guard.

"The dragons are turning against us," Eira murmured, her voice heavy with uncertainty. "If they fear my power, how do I stop them without becoming what they hate?"

Kael's grip tightened around his sword. "We'll find a way. You're not alone in this."

Ryven snorted softly. "Touching. But you're missing the real problem. If the dragon knights know you opened that book, then others will too and they won't all come to talk."

Seren, scanning the edge of the woods, nodded in agreement. "We need answers. And there's only one place left to get them."

Eira's heart sank. She knew where they meant.

"The Kingdom of Valdris," she said, her voice quiet.

The kingdom's archives held records older than the dragons themselves if there were any truths hidden from her, that was where they would be. But Valdris was no ally.

Kael hesitated. "If we go there, we walk straight into danger. The king won't forget what happened last time."

Eira clenched her fists. "We don't have a choice. If the dragons want to destroy me, I need to know why."

Without another word, they began their journey toward the capital.

By nightfall, the towering spires of Valdris pierced the sky. Golden banners fluttered over the castle, but the warmth they once promised felt hollow.

"We shouldn't be here," Kael muttered under his breath.

Ryven chuckled softly. "Afraid of a little royal reception?"

But Eira's focus was on the castle gates. Memories of her last visit burned in her mind the king's betrayal, the broken trust, and the blood she had been forced to spill.

Seren motioned to a side passage. "We use the old tunnels. Less eyes, less trouble."

They slipped through the narrow stone tunnels beneath the castle, the air damp and heavy. At the end of the passage, Seren pressed a hidden switch, revealing a small door leading into the castle's library.

Stacks of ancient tomes surrounded them as they moved toward the restricted section. Eira's heart pounded as she traced her fingers along the spines of the oldest books.

"This is it," she whispered, pulling free a faded journal. "The records of the First Chosen."

Kael stood watch while she flipped through the pages, her breath catching as she uncovered the truth:

The first Dragon's Chosen had not acted alone. She had an ally someone inside the kingdom who betrayed both humans and dragons.

Eira froze. "The betrayal didn't start with her… It started here. In Valdris."

Before anyone could speak, the sound of footsteps echoed behind them.

A figure emerged from the shadows Prince Alric, heir to the Valdris throne. His silver armor gleamed under the dim light, and his cold blue eyes locked on Eira.

"You should not have returned," he said calmly. "The dragons aren't your only enemy anymore."

Kael stepped forward, blade in hand. "You think you can stop us?"

Alric smiled faintly. "Not me. But the kingdom remembers your betrayal, Dragon's Chosen. And when the dragons come for you… we won't stand in their way."

Eira's blood ran cold. Valdris wasn't just refusing to help they were preparing to turn her over.

Before Kael could strike, Alric vanished into the shadows.

"We have to move," Seren hissed. "They'll alert the whole castle."

Eira tucked the journal into her cloak, her heart heavy with the weight of new enemies and unanswered questions.

If the kingdom had betrayed the dragons once… how much more were they hiding?

And if Eira couldn't uncover the truth in time, the next betrayal might destroy them all.