The shadows closed in around them, and the storm roared with increased intensity. The echo of that moment would resonate far beyond the night.

Second Part: Shadows in the Heights

The dawn had barely begun to tinge the horizon when Violet Sorrengail found herself on the brink of another impossible challenge. Patrolling the mountains of Basgiath was as close to suicide as one could get, and the storm that had engulfed the school for days showed no signs of abating. Yet the orders were clear: seek out and eliminate any dark bearer that remained after the last battle.

The icy air seeped through the creases of his armor as Tairn, his dragon, ascended with a mighty roar. Each gust of wind carried snowflakes that pierced his face like needles. By his side, Ridoc and his dragon, Aotrom, struggled to maintain formation, but visibility was nearly nonexistent.

"This is madness!" Ridoc shouted above the howling wind, his words echoing through the mental channel that linked them.

"Welcome to our new reality," Violet replied, gripping Tairn's reins tightly as her dragon sharply veered to avoid a downward current.