The first light of dawn painted the horizon in soft hues of amber and rose as the champions assembled at the dragon stables. The air carried a brisk chill, tingling with the unspoken promise of adventure. A thin veil of mist clung to the ground, curling lazily around the dragons’ clawed feet. Each beast stood poised, their scales glinting in the gentle glow of morning—sleek forms carved with nature’s artistry, every muscle coiled with latent power.

Darius leaned against a post with a smug grin, his presence commanding attention even amidst the magnificent creatures. Somehow, he had managed to tame the dragons’ notorious tempers; their usually restless energy was subdued, replaced by a rare and stoic calm. Their eyes, fierce and glowing with primal intelligence, tracked the champions’ movements with quiet curiosity, waiting for what lay ahead. The stillness was a rare and almost sacred moment—a quiet before the storm of the journey to come.

Caelus approached his dragon, Azurath, whose iridescent blue scales caught the rising sun, refracting light in a cascade of shimmering hues. The effect was almost otherworldly, like sunlight dancing across the surface of a tranquil sea. Azurath stood tall, exuding an air of regal authority, its powerful wings folded neatly against its muscular frame with an elegance that seemed effortless. The dragon’s golden eyes locked onto Caelus, the flicker of curiosity within them accompanied by something deeper—a recognition that sent a shiver down Caelus’s spine.

Before he could dwell on the moment, a hearty laugh erupted beside him. Darius clapped Caelus on the shoulder with a broad grin, the force nearly making him stumble. “This boy was eager to see you today,” Darius boomed. “Practically smashed his way out of the stall the second I mentioned your name!”

Caelus arched an eyebrow at Azurath, the dragon letting out a low, rumbling huff before flicking its tail dismissively. Its golden eyes shifted away with what could only be described as feigned indifference. He could barely stand me yesterday. Why does he suddenly act so differently? Caelus wondered, unease prickling at the back of his mind.

Before he could contemplate further, Azurath’s thick, muscular tail coiled around his torso with surprising precision, tugging him closer. The action was oddly deliberate, almost... affectionate, as if the dragon was pulling him into a clumsy, awkward hug.

Caelus jolted, his cheeks heating. “Wha—!?”

“Hah! Look at that!” Darius barked, doubling over with laughter. “He likes you now!”

Seraph stood gracefully beside her sleek purple dragon, its shimmering scales catching the soft morning light with an iridescent sheen that danced between violet and deep obsidian. She clasped her hands together, her delicate fingers entwining as her eyes sparkled with genuine warmth. “That’s wonderful, Caelus!” she said, her voice carrying a gentle, melodic tone that matched the serene smile spreading across her lips. Her dragon, sensing her delight, let out a low, harmonious rumble, its slender tail curling neatly around its feet as it gazed curiously at Azurath.

Across the yard, Elira grinned mischievously as she patted the neck of her fiery red dragon. “You think that’s bonding? Hah! Ignis and I are practically soulmates!” she boasted, her voice brimming with playful bravado. She draped an arm around Ignis’s neck, and the dragon promptly opened its massive jaws, chomping her entire head.

Unbothered, Elira’s muffled laughter echoed from inside the dragon’s mouth. “See? Best buddies!” With exaggerated ease, she pried apart Ignis’s enormous jaws, her hands bracing against its powerful teeth, and emerged with a wild laugh.

“Unbelievable,” Riven muttered, her voice dripping with dry amusement as she lounged on the ground, one leg propped up and a dagger spinning deftly between her fingers. She didn’t even bother to look up, her sharp gaze fixed on the blade’s gleaming edge. “You’re practically begging for a death wish.”

Her words carried an edge of sarcasm, but the subtle smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth betrayed her faint amusement at Elira’s antics.

Magnus, who had been observing Azurath quietly, suddenly stepped forward. His expression was unreadable, a mixture of focus and something deeper, as if weighing unspoken thoughts. The faint clink of his staff against the stable floor drew attention, the ethereal glow on the tip shimmering faintly in the morning light. Azurath’s gaze shifted, its head tilting with a flicker of curiosity. Unlike its initial wariness toward others, the dragon didn’t flinch or withdraw when Magnus raised his wooden staff.

With a measured grace, Magnus stepped closer, the weight of his presence grounding the moment. He raised his staff—a blend of ancient wood and ethereal energy—and gently pressed its glowing tip to Azurath’s snout. The dragon’s golden eyes blinked in surprise, its tail swishing as if sensing an unfamiliar yet undeniable force. Magnus closed his eyes, his brow furrowing as if navigating a deep, unseen current.

Azurath jerked its head sharply to the side, a low, guttural rumble vibrating through its chest. Its powerful neck twisted, and its gaze darted around, searching for something intangible. The beast froze mid-motion, muscles taut and wings half-spread as if poised to take flight. Then, with deliberate precision, Azurath’s golden eyes settled back on Magnus, their brilliance tinged with a new depth of understanding—or recognition.

The dragon’s breathing slowed, a soft huff escaping its flared nostrils, and its tail coiled slightly at its side. Magnus opened his eyes, his expression unreadable, though a flicker of unease lingered in his gaze. The quiet between them seemed to stretch, a fragile thread connecting Magnus and the majestic creature as the rest of the group looked on in stunned silence.

Magnus slowly opened his eyes, his expression a blend of contemplation and awe. His voice was calm, but the weight of his words hung in the air like an unspoken truth. “He says... Caelus is the spitting image of Vorrath, from a century ago.”

Seriously?

A collective silence fell over the group, a hushed breath passing between them as all eyes turned toward Caelus. The air seemed to thicken with the gravity of the revelation.

“Wait, really?” Seraph’s voice was soft, almost tentative, as if she couldn’t fully grasp the implications. Her eyes darted between Caelus and Azurath, the connection between the two now taking on a new, eerie weight.

Lorian, ever the inquisitive soul, was the next to speak, his voice tinged with disbelief and excitement. “Hold on— you can talk to dragons now?” He took a step forward, his face lighting up with a childlike wonder that was almost infectious. “That’s... incredible!”

Caelus stood still for a moment, processing the weight of Magnus’s words. He felt an unsettling swirl of emotions—unease at the idea that his appearance might be tied to a dark legacy, but also a strange sense of destiny pulling at his core. The dragons weren’t just creatures; they were bound to the same tangled web of fate that seemed to ensnare them all.

The air between them thickened as the group waited for him to continue. Magnus shifted uncomfortably, clearly feeling the weight of their gaze. After a moment, he spoke again, his tone sombre.

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“Yesterday, after spending time with the dragons, I… unlocked a new ability. I wasn’t expecting it, but it came suddenly. I was heading home when I had a flashback. But it wasn’t like the usual memories... this one was vivid. More than just an image—alive.”

He paused, swallowing hard as if the memory still lingered in his mind like an unwelcome shadow. “I saw a forest, one that was being consumed by a living darkness. It was a curse—a malevolent force that moved like a creature of its own, crawling through the woods. And then... I saw it.” His voice faltered slightly, but he pushed through. “Dryads. An entire village. Dying. As I stood there, trying desperately to help, they... they perished. And when I tried to reach out, to touch the darkness, it latched onto me—into me. It felt like it was eating away at my soul.”

The group fell into a stunned silence, absorbing the gravity of his words. The tension in the air was palpable, the weight of what Magnus had experienced pressing down on them all. He seemed to struggle with his emotions, his eyes flickering with a mix of confusion and sorrow.

“After that, I snapped out of it,” he continued, his voice quieter now. “My Soulbound Interface appeared. And with it… this ability. To speak with the monsters and read their thoughts. It’s like everything’s tied together somehow—these memories, these abilities... It’s all connected, but I don’t know how yet.”

The revelation hung in the air like a thick fog, each of them left to wrestle with the weight of Magnus’s words in stunned silence. The champions exchanged uneasy glances, the unspoken tension between them palpable. Even the dragons, usually full of energy and presence, seemed to feel the shift, their eyes watchful and calm.

The empathetic little slime, Cheese, hopped up to Magnus with surprising grace. It stretched its tiny, glowing hand toward him, patting his robe with its delicate touch. The glow in its body dimmed to a deep, sorrowful blue, and its expression mirrored the sadness in its form—concern and quiet sympathy. It was as though the slime understood the gravity of what Magnus had just shared, and it wanted to offer comfort in its own quiet way.

Caelus, sensing the weight Magnus was carrying, stepped closer. He placed a firm, reassuring hand on his companion's shoulder. His touch was warm and steady, a small anchor in the midst of the emotional storm. “That’s a lot to process,” Caelus said quietly, his voice low with understanding. “You okay?”

Magnus didn’t answer immediately, his gaze fixed on the ground as if trying to collect his thoughts. His fingers tightened around his staff, and for a moment, he looked lost in his own mind. Then, with a slow breath, he nodded faintly, his expression hardening, though the vulnerability still lingered in his eyes.

“I’ll manage,” he muttered, the words carrying a mixture of resolve and quiet uncertainty. He glanced briefly at the others, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. It was a smile that said more about strength than comfort, as if he was trying to convince himself as much as anyone else that he could handle whatever came next.

“At least we know one thing,” Riven said, her voice cutting through the silence. She spun her dagger expertly between her fingers, the metal catching the light, before plunging it into the dirt beside her with a satisfying thud. “The flashbacks tied to these bodies are the key to unlocking more abilities. We just haven’t figured out how to trigger them yet.”

The air grew heavy with the weight of unspoken thoughts, each of them mulling over the revelations and their implications. Caelus watched his companions, seeing the shared uncertainty in their eyes. His mind churned, but after a moment of quiet reflection, he straightened his posture, his resolve settling like armour.

“Shall we head off?” he asked, his voice steady, cutting through the tension.

It was an unspoken agreement that they had to press on, no matter the questions left unanswered. With a determined nod, each of them prepared to move forward.

The group mounted their dragons, the majestic creatures stretching their wings and ruffling their scales in eager anticipation. There was a palpable shift in the air, a mix of excitement and tension, but it quickly settled into a more comfortable rhythm as the dragons prepared to take flight. Darius was the first to take to the skies. With a powerful beat of his wings, he soared upward, carving a path through the air that the others swiftly followed.

Seraph, her grip tight around the neck of her sleek purple dragon, felt the ground vanish beneath her as the creature launched them both into the sky. The wind whipped around her, pulling at her hair, and her stomach dropped as they ascended. “Ahhh! Lunara, I’m going to fall! Slow down!” she yelped, her eyes squeezed shut in a mix of fear and exhilaration.

Darius’s voice rang out from ahead, lighthearted and full of amusement. “Relax!” he called over his shoulder. “If anyone falls, I’ll catch you. Probably.”

Despite herself, Seraph couldn’t help but let out a nervous laugh, the tension in her body easing just slightly. The air around them felt less heavy now, and the group began to settle into the rhythm of their flight. The dragons’ wings beat in unison, soaring high above the world below.

Cheese clung desperately to the back of Lorian’s robe, its small body shaking with each gust of wind that howled past. Its tiny limbs flailed helplessly, the force of the air tugging it every which way. “I forgot!” Lorian exclaimed, his voice a mix of panic and exasperation. With quick hands, he fumbled to secure Cheese, tying the little creature firmly to his belt with a rope to keep it from flying off.

As they soared higher, the kingdom of Helia unfurled beneath them like a living tapestry, its towns, forests, and rivers shrinking into a delicate patchwork of greens, browns, and blues. Caelus’s heart swelled with a mix of nostalgia and awe as his eyes traced the familiar landmarks below. The tavern where he had savoured the rich, savoury taste of Pegasus stew stood out, nestled near a winding road. The towering silhouette of the royal castle rose majestically in the distance, its spires piercing the sky like sentinels watching over the land. And just beyond, the Helian Academy of the Arcane, with its ancient stone walls and sprawling courtyards, lay where their journey had begun. It all seemed so small from up here, yet so incredibly significant, each landmark a memory etched into the fabric of his new life.

The air grew crisp and refreshing as they broke through the blanket of clouds, the world around them transforming into an endless sea of white. The sun, now just above the horizon, cast a warm golden glow over the clouds, bathing the sky in soft hues of pink and amber. The vast expanse of the heavens stretched infinitely in every direction, and the view was so breathtaking, it stole the breath from every one of them. Even Seraph, whose eyes had been tightly shut this whole while, couldn’t help but gasp softly as she saw the sight and all its beauty.

Endless clouds stretched out in all directions, a sea of white beneath a sky that seemed to stretch on forever. The sun—was it even called the Sun here?—bathed the world in a soft, golden glow, casting a warmth that felt almost surreal as it reflected off the clouds. Everyone was silent for a moment, lost in the breathtaking sight before them.

Darius, ever the eccentric, broke the stillness. He flew lazily through the air, as if gravity had forgotten him. One arm rested behind his head, supporting him like a reclined figure on a couch, his wings effortlessly flapping to keep him aloft. He seemed to float in the sky, his posture completely relaxed, a carefree smile on his face as he gazed at the scene around him. It was a moment of utter calm, the world moving around them, while Darius hung in perfect peace.

The silence of awe hung in the air for a moment—until Elira broke it with a triumphant shout. “Would you look at this?!” she yelled, her excitement infectious. Ignis, responding to her infectious energy, spun into a barrel roll, diving gracefully through the clouds. Elira’s laughter rang out as she threw her arms wide, letting the wind whip through her hair. “This is amazing!” Her voice echoed through the sky, full of wild exhilaration as she revelled in the freedom of the skies.

Riven’s smirk was a subtle thing, but it carried a quiet admiration. Her eyes glinted with a reflective spark, taking in the sheer beauty of the skies, her usually guarded demeanour softened for a fleeting moment. Nearby, Magnus sat with a quiet intensity, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. His thoughts seemed far away, the weight of something unspoken hanging in the air around him. A shadow of sadness darkened his eyes, but it was fleeting, dissolving as Elira’s wild antics in the sky drew a soft, almost imperceptible smile from him.

For a heartbeat, the world seemed to pause. There was no looming danger, no impending battle—just a fleeting moment of peace, suspended in the endless expanse above the world. It felt as if, for a while, the burdens of their journey had been forgotten. They were a team, soaring together on the wings of their dragons, united in the shared promise of a new day.

The Withered Woods lay ahead, dark and mysterious in the distance, but for now, the champions flew high above it all, their hearts light, their spirits lifted by the beauty of the world beneath them. The sun bathed the clouds in a warm, golden light, painting the sky with hope, as if the promise of a better future was riding on the winds they cut through.