The dragon hovered before Elara, its silver wings beating a frantic, uneven rhythm against the thermal updrafts of the abyss.

Back in the training grounds of the Sunken Citadel, months passed as the winter solstice approached.

Aurelia grew at an astounding rate, her magical heritage accelerating her physical development. She was now the size of a warhorse, her silver scales hard as diamond, her intelligence matching that of a mature human. She had learned to fly with incredible precision, swooping through the massive subterranean caverns like a streak of lightning.

More importantly, the bond between mother and daughter had unlocked Elara’s true potential.

Under Commander Therond’s intense instruction, Elara mastered her dual nature. She learned to manifest dragon-fire without burning her own skin, to harden her body against steel weapons, and to summon weaponized shockwaves with a mere flex of her will. She was no longer the soft, gentle queen who had been helpless in the birthing chamber. She was a warrior forged in betrayal and tempered by love.

One evening, Elara sat atop a high cliff overlooking the Citadel’s training yards, watching Aurelia sleep peacefully beside her.

Corvus approached quietly, holding an ancient leather-bound tome.

“You look like your ancestor, High Queen Rhaena,” Corvus said softly, resting his hand on his walking staff. “She too was betrayed by a king who feared her power.”

“I don't care about revenge, Corvus,” Elara said, her eyes fixed on the distant northern lights visible through the cavern's ceiling vent. “Revenge is a cold, hollow metric. I am doing this so my daughter never has to live in a world where she has to hide what she is.”

“A noble goal,” Corvus smiled gently. “But remember, Aldric is desperate. A desperate man with ancient weapons is more dangerous than a dragon.”

He opened the book to an ancient illustration depicting a massive, black dragon locked beneath a mountain by golden chains.

“The Primordial Dragon beneath Oakenvale is named Ignis-Vael,” Corvus explained. “He is the father of all shifters. Aldric’s ancestors didn't defeat him; they bound him using blood magic, siphoning his life force to power the kingdom's defenses. If Aldric ruptures those seals in his madness, Ignis-Vael’s raw power will detonate, destroying Oakenvale and every living soul within fifty miles.”