The Siege of the Sanctuary
Part 3
The gigantic claw tore through the stone ceiling as if it were paper.
Rock fragments rained in every direction.
Orien shoved Kael aside just in time.
The enormous talon slammed into the pedestal where the First Aether Fragment had rested. The stone shattered.
The dragon roared.
The sound made the heart of the Sacred Tree tremble.
A cloud of dust covered the chamber.
"Run!" Orien shouted.
Kael obeyed.
He had barely taken a few steps when another claw burst through the ceiling, opening an even larger crack.
Light from outside poured into the chamber.
Through the enormous hole, they could see a sky choked with smoke and fire.
Flames consumed several of the sanctuary's platforms.
The battle was lost... at least on the surface.
Then, a huge head slowly descended.
The dragon had black scales streaked with red that glowed like lava beneath the rain.
Its golden eyes fixed directly on Kael.
It did not roar.
It did not attack.
It simply... watched him.
"That can't be..." Orien whispered.
"What's happening?"
"War dragons don't hesitate."
"But this one..."
"It's recognizing you."
The monster tilted its head slightly.
A strange symbol etched into its forehead began to glow.
The Mark on Kael's arm responded immediately.
Intense heat coursed through his entire body.
Images flashed through his mind again.
He saw that same dragon.
But much younger.
Flying beside a man.
The man was laughing.
He wore dark blue armor.
His face was unmistakable.
It was Alaric.
His father.
Kael froze.
"No..."
The vision vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
The dragon let out a low, almost melancholy sound.
Orien's eyes widened.
"That dragon knew your father."
Before Kael could react, a voice echoed from outside.
"Vorak!"
The dragon raised its head.
The voice was firm.
Authoritative.
Kael recognized who was speaking at once.
Eryon.
"You've found the Aether Bearer."
"Now bring him to me."
The dragon remained motionless.
It did not obey.
An awkward silence filled the place.
Eryon spoke again.
This time, his voice was harsh.
"That's an order."
Vorak slowly turned his head toward the opening in the ceiling.
Then he looked back at Kael.
And something no one expected happened.
He backed away.
He folded his wings.
And left the chamber without attacking.
Orien was completely bewildered.
"Never..."
"I've never seen a dragon disobey a direct order from Eryon."
Kael was breathing heavily.
"Why did it do that?"
The old man slowly shook his head.
"I don't know..."
"But if he really knew your father..."
"Maybe he still remembers the oath he swore many years ago."
On the surface, the situation was desperate.
Lyra was fighting two warriors from the Void Council at the same time.
Her emerald sword traced rapid arcs of light.
One fell.
The other retreated, clutching his wounded arm.
Darius, meanwhile, fought on a partially destroyed catwalk.
His armor was covered in blood and ash.
Yet he remained standing.
"Hold the line!" he shouted.
"The Sanctuary still lives!"
The Guardians answered with renewed strength.
But then...
The clouds began to swirl.
A huge dark vortex appeared above the Sacred Tree.
Everyone stopped fighting for a moment.
Even the Council soldiers looked up.
From the center of the vortex, a gigantic black stone structure slowly descended.
It was a floating fortress.
Its walls were covered in ancient red runes.
Colossal chains hung from its base.
And above its highest tower flew an unfamiliar banner.
A black circle crossed by seven silver lines.
Orien finally emerged from the chamber with Kael.
When he saw the fortress, horror filled his face.
"No..."
Lyra looked at him.
"What's happening?"
The old man could barely force out the words.
"It's... the Void Citadel."
"We thought it had been destroyed during the First War."
Eryon then appeared atop the wall of the floating fortress.
His black cloak billowed in the wind.
He slowly spread both arms.
His voice carried across the entire valley.
"People of the Sanctuary!"
"The time has come to choose!"
"Hand over the Last Aether Bearer..."
"And I will let you leave this place alive."
"If you refuse..."
"Before this day is over..."
"Not a single living leaf will remain on the Sacred Tree."
The silence was absolute.
Kael felt an enormous weight settle on his shoulders.
He knew everyone present was thinking the same thing.
He was the reason for the attack.
And if he stayed there...
Thousands of people would die protecting him.
He clenched his fists.
Without anyone noticing, he took a step toward the exit.
A decision was beginning to take shape in his mind.
And he was willing to give himself up... if doing so could save the Sanctuary.
To be continued in Part 4...