The Dragon's Chosen

The night air was heavy with tension as Eira stood at the edge of the ruined courtyard. The battle with the High Dragon had left her exhausted, but the appearance of Malgrin the Bound One had ignited a deeper fear. If he was truly free, no kingdom or dragon would be safe.

Kael's voice broke the silence. "You heard the dragon. If we want to stop Malgrin, we need allies. Powerful ones."

Eira nodded, her hands still tingling from the clash of magic. "But where do we start? If the kingdom buried Malgrin, they must have hidden anyone who could stop him."

Seren wiped her blades clean, eyes sharp. "I know where to begin. The Black Archives."

Kael frowned. "Those are sealed by royal decree. No one gets in without the king's permission."

Ryven leaned against a broken pillar, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. "Good thing I'm not 'no one.' I know a way inside."

Eira's heart pounded. The Black Archives held records of the kingdom's darkest secrets if anyone knew how to defeat Malgrin, it would be buried there.

The High Dragon shifted behind them, its golden eyes glowing in the moonlight. "I will not fight your battles, but I will give you this warning Malgrin's power grows with every passing hour. If you fail, even dragons will fall beneath his wrath."

With those words, the dragon spread its wings and vanished into the sky, leaving Eira and her companions alone.

Kael sighed, adjusting his sword. "No pressure, right?"

Eira turned toward the castle's edge, where a hidden path led to the mountains. "Let's move. If Malgrin is gathering power, we can't afford to waste time."

As they traveled under the cover of night, Eira's thoughts churned. The kingdom's lies, the sealed sorcerer, the ancient magic all of it felt like pieces of a puzzle she barely understood. And yet, if she didn't figure it out soon, everything she loved would be lost.

Hours later, Ryven led them to a crumbling fortress hidden deep within the forest. "Welcome to the Forgotten Gate," he said with a grin. "The Black Archives are buried beneath it."

Eira stared at the towering ruins. The air was thick with old magic cold and oppressive.

Seren knelt by the entrance, tracing a faint symbol etched into the stone. "This is no ordinary lock. If we break it wrong, the whole place will collapse."

Kael drew his sword. "Then we do it right. Whatever's inside, we need it."

Eira placed her palm against the gate, letting her magic flow through her fingers. The seal pulsed in response a twisted mix of light and shadow. This wasn't just an ordinary barrier… it was a prison.

As the gate creaked open, a chill swept through the air. Faint whispers echoed from the darkness beyond.

"Stay close," Eira warned, stepping inside.

The deeper they went, the stronger the magic became. The walls were lined with ancient scripts, some too faded to read. At the heart of the archives stood a pedestal, glowing with a faint, golden light.

On it rested a silver medallion marked with dragon runes.

Eira reached for it cautiously, but the moment her fingers brushed the surface, the whispers turned to a deafening roar. A phantom figure burst forth tall, armored, and wreathed in shadow.

"You seek the power to stop Malgrin?" Its voice was cold as ice. "Prove yourself worthy… or die."

The phantom raised a spectral blade, and before Eira could react, it lunged.

Kael blocked the strike, the impact sending sparks flying. "Eira figure out how to stop this thing!"

Seren and Ryven moved in to flank the spirit, their magic crackling in the darkness.

Eira's mind raced. The medallion it had to be a key. If she could unlock its power, maybe she could bind Malgrin again.

Grabbing the medallion, she poured her magic into it. Light blazed from the runes, cutting through the shadow. The phantom faltered, its form flickering.

"You will never control us," it hissed.

"I'm not trying to control you!" Eira shouted. "I'm trying to stop him!"

With a final surge of magic, the medallion flared banishing the phantom in a burst of golden light.

Silence fell over the archives.

Kael lowered his sword, breathing hard. "What was that thing?"

"A guardian," Eira said softly, clutching the medallion. "And it won't be the last one we face."

As they emerged from the archives, dawn broke over the horizon. But Eira knew their journey was just beginning.

They had found the first key to stopping Malgrin.

Now, they had to find the rest before it was too late.