For a full minute, no words were shared between the two parties. Even though Valkor and Celestis had activated their respective elents, the little girl of about sixteen didn't even flinch or show any sign of fear.
She watched them with a calm gaze and a collected posture. So calm that it baffled the two.
The two shared a glance, and hesitantly they deactivated their skills when they noticed that the little girl didn't do anything. They realized how foolish they looked, but at the sa ti, they couldn't be blad—after all, what was a little girl like this doing in a place filled with Scourge dragons?
At first, a wild thought entered Celestis' head—she thought the girl could be a Scourge in disguise—but she dismissed that thought, as the corrupter dragons were not known for shapeshifting.
After a few more seconds, Celestis finally found the confidence and said softly, "Who are you?"
The girl didn't respond imdiately, which caused a frown to appear on Valkor's face, but Celestis was very patient with her.
"Kid, we don't have the whole day," Valkor said in a deep, humourless voice.
"Hey, stop it!" Celestis reprimanded him with a deadly glare.
She didn't want to rush the girl and was trying to build so level of trust, but this Valkor seed out to ruin it.
The sixteen-year-old briefly glanced at Valkor. Sothing akin to disgust flashed across her eyes before she shifted her gaze back to Celestis and said,
"You follow . As for the male, he can rot here for all I care." Her voice sounded cold, and she started to walk towards the entrance that led to the outside.
"Hey, let's talk about this." After shooting another glare at Valkor, Celestis hurried over to the little girl. She wanted to touch her shoulder but stopped mid-air and withdrew her arm.
"What?" the little girl said with an impatient expression.
"First of all, you didn't even tell us who you are," Celestis explained. "Second, he's my partner—wherever I go, he follows. I'm sorry if he sounded rude earlier. It's mostly because we've been through a lot. For us to even talk to you without attacking you could only an that we at least trust you not to be a corrupted dragon."
When Celestis ntioned Scourge dragons, she was hoping to provoke a reaction from the little girl, but there was nothing—as if she had heard that term over and over again.
The girl was silent for so ti before she spoke again. "Fine then. He can co along."
"Thank you." Celestis smiled brightly.
"But," the little girl suddenly spoke again, "as for who I am, you'll find out if you follow ."
"How do you expect us to trust you?" Valkor frowned.
"Although I don't agree with him on many things, I think he's right this ti." Celestis nodded. "Why do you think we should follow you?"
"Because I'm the only one that can guide you through this city without getting caught by the patrol guards," she explained and started walking, her voice echoing. "Besides, there are others. I'm sure you'd want to et our leader... I'm sure you're curious to know how we've survived for so long."
"She has a point." Celestis glanced at Valkor and shrugged her shoulder as she started to follow the little girl.
"Wait!" Valkor called out. "What if she's a Scourge in disguise?"
"I doubt it. And even if she is, life is all about risks. Besides, we need enough information to report back to Drake."
—
So ti later
Valkor's boots pressed softly into the moss-covered stone floor as he and Celestis followed behind the mysterious girl in green. Though she looked no older than sixteen, her steps were confident, silent—like she belonged in this corrupted city. Like she'd lived here forever.
Valkor felt she had lived here. He didn't know why, but there was a nagging feeling that told him this little girl grew up here or sothing.
But with how tight the security was here, he doubted that could be possible. Well, either way, purple flas danced around his fingertips just in case.
At the slightest sign of threat, he wouldn't hesitate to blast a hole in her head if it ever ca to that.
The little girl hadn't said much since leading them away from the fountain, only glancing back once to ensure they were still following.
Valkor frowned. He stopped walking for a while and whispered, "Are we sure about this?"
"Yes," Celestis muttered. "Sothing about her… doesn't feel wrong."
Still, neither of them stopped walking.
The girl led them through what looked like a collapsed tunnel system beneath the city. The deeper they went, the colder it beca. The corruption above seed to weaken down here—but it didn't vanish. It lingered in the air.
"We're almost there," the girl said at last. Her voice was soft, almost lodic.
"Where are you taking us?" Valkor asked, fire still faintly crackling at his fingertips.
"To the one who sent ."
Celestis exchanged a glance with Valkor. Their curiosity spiked—they beca even more interested in this person.
Of course, there were several questions in their minds that they wanted to ask, but they held back. The girl seed to be a very guarded person, and they didn't want to offend her, as she was the only lead they had to rely on.
They could only hope they'd find answers at the destination they were heading to.
After so ti, they soon reached a sealed stone door etched with old runes. Faded murals lined the walls—dragons in formation, and beneath them was a blurred, hooded creature. Unlike the others, it had no wings. No defined body. Only a shadow with a burning core in the shape of a spiral.
The girl placed a hand on the center of the door.
It glowed faintly, then slowly creaked open.
A chamber revealed itself beyond—a hollow hall lit with pale crystal torches. At the far end stood a man, tall and broad-shouldered, though his figure was slumped slightly, as if carrying years of exhaustion. One arm was wrapped in glowing bandages. Scars laced his jaw and brow.
His eyes glowed softly—gold, like a dragon's—but dulled by ti.
Furthermore, there were dark scales across his neck and arms, which made the others instinctively summon their elents.
"Took you long enough," the man said, his voice deep.
Valkor's eyes narrowed as he questioned, his voice sounding more like a growl, "Who are you?"
The man exhaled and said with a small smile, "Call Ashren. We're the last sane Dragons in this realm."
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