(Liza leads Kael deeper into the forge. The warmth of burning metal fades as they enter a dimly lit chamber, where a massive weapon rack stands at the center. Unlike the finely polished weapons outside, these swords radiate something ancient—as if they hold stories of past wars within their steel.)
(Liza stops in front of a massive, tilted greatsword. Its blade is a mix of icy blue and silver, faint frost lingering around its edges. Unlike any other weapon in the shop, it doesn't shine under the forge's light—instead, it seems to absorb it.)
Liza: "This… is Fenrindra. Forged from the remains of an Ice Dragon my ancestors slew centuries ago."
(Kael stares at the weapon. It's unlike anything he's ever seen. Just standing near it, he can feel its presence—cold, yet burning with an unseen force. His fingers twitch as he reaches for the hilt.)
Kael (thinking): "This thing… it's alive."
(But the moment his hand brushes the handle—pain.)
(A sharp, unbearable ache explodes in his chest. His vision darkens, and suddenly he's somewhere else.)
---
Scene: The Vision
(Kael stands in an endless frozen wasteland. The air is thick with the scent of blood, the ground littered with the shattered remains of knights and beasts alike. In the distance, a colossal dragon looms—its body covered in crystalline scales, its glowing blue eyes locked onto him. The beast roars, shaking the world itself.)
???: "You are not ready."
(Kael gasps as a pulse of icy energy rips through him. The dragon moves—faster than anything its size should—charging at him. The moment its massive claws reach him—)
---
Scene: Reality
(Kael's eyes snap open. His body collapses forward, but before he can hit the ground, Liza catches him. She grips his shoulders, struggling to hold him up.)
Liza (concerned): "Hey! Are you okay?!"
(Kael's breath is ragged, his hands shaking. His entire body is freezing. Frost lingers on his fingertips, and his chest feels like it's being torn apart from the inside.)
Kael (weakly): "What… the hell… was that?"
(Liza looks at him, confused but also intrigued. She's never seen someone react like this to a weapon before.)
Liza: "You barely touched Fenrindra, and your body—it's like it rejected it."
(Kael grips his chest, his heart still pounding. That dragon… that voice… it felt real. Too real. And worse—it felt like it knew him. He exhales, his mind racing.)
Kael (thinking): "This isn't normal. That wasn't just a memory—it was a warning."
(From above, Varain watches, his eyes narrowing. He saw what happened. He knows exactly what Kael felt. And it confirms his fears.)
Varain (muttering): "It has begun."
(The chapter ends with Kael sitting on the ground, his body still trembling, while Liza watches him with growing curiosity. The blade of the Ice Dragon remains where it stands—waiting.)