The forest thinned as they approached the Dragon King's domain. Trees became gnarled, blackened, and twisted, roots rising like skeletal hands from the earth. Mist curled low to the ground, thick and clinging, carrying the scent of sulfur and smoke. Kaelis felt her stomach tighten. The air here was different—ancient, heavy, and alive with power she could barely sense.
Vaelor moved ahead with the same unshakable calm, each step deliberate. Kaelis followed, muscles sore from the past three days' travel, her mind still tangled in the memory of last night. She had replayed it endlessly in her head—the peck, the shock, the slap, the guilt, and the strange, undeniable pull in her chest.
She hesitated for a moment, then spoke, her voice low so only he could hear. "About last night…"
Vaelor's eyes flicked to her, crimson and unreadable in the dim light. He said nothing, merely inclined his head slightly.
Kaelis took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I won't tell Ruria. Not a word. And you… you don't say anything either."
Vaelor remained silent. He didn't smile, didn't speak, didn't even give her the faintest hint of acknowledgment. He simply walked on, leaving her words hanging in the damp, cold air.
Kaelis' heart thudded, a strange mixture of relief, frustration, and something else she could not yet name. She forced herself to focus on the path ahead, the looming confrontation, the deadly purpose that had brought them here.
The terrain worsened with every step. The ground became jagged stone, blackened and scorched as if the very earth had been scorched by the claws of ancient beasts. Rivers of molten rock twisted like veins through valleys, steam rising from fissures in the rock. Every sound—the hiss of steam, the crackle of distant fires—made her senses sharpen instinctively.
"They say no one survives the Dragon King's presence without his permission," she muttered, more to herself than to him.
Vaelor glanced at her briefly. "Few who come uninvited leave intact. Fewer still leave alive."
Kaelis swallowed, though her throat was dry. She nodded, forcing herself to keep moving. He had been testing her, guiding her through the journey, letting her push herself, all in preparation for this moment. The distance they had traveled together had been more than physical—it had been a trial, a crucible to temper her resolve.
The first massive cliff came into view, rising like a wall of black stone, jagged and ominous. Smoke rose from cracks, carrying the acrid stench of brimstone. Kaelis stiffened. "This… this is his territory."
Vaelor said nothing. He merely adjusted the strap of his cloak, eyes scanning the horizon, measuring the challenge before them. The silence between them was heavy, charged, almost unbearable. Kaelis could still feel the echo of last night—the closeness, the confusion, the way her heart had betrayed her loyalty. She felt herself blush despite the danger, though she forced her focus back to the present.
Hours passed as they carefully navigated the hazardous terrain. Volcanic rock crumbled beneath her boots. Ash fell like snow. Every step felt heavier than the last. And through it all, Vaelor walked effortlessly, untouchable, unyielding, the same calm figure she had followed for days.
At a sharp ridge overlooking a massive chasm, Kaelis finally spoke again, her voice quieter than she intended. "I… I meant what I said. I won't mention last night. To anyone. And I expect you not to either."
Vaelor tilted his head, just slightly, his crimson eyes unreadable. His silence was almost more terrifying than words, a reminder that he knew more than he let on, that he held the power to twist reality as easily as breathing.
Kaelis forced herself to turn away from his gaze, staring into the chasm. Far below, the molten rivers twisted like snakes, and the faint echo of something massive—something alive—shook the ground beneath her boots.
Vaelor finally stepped closer, moving with quiet precision until they were side by side, overlooking the vast expanse. She felt a shiver of both awe and dread. This was the true scale of what they were facing. The Dragon King's presence had already warped the land, corrupted the air, and instilled a palpable weight of danger that pressed down on her chest.
She glanced at him, searching for reassurance, but Vaelor's face remained unreadable, calm, perfect. It was infuriating, terrifying, and… inexplicably magnetic.
Kaelis exhaled slowly. "This is it," she whispered. "This is what we've been preparing for."
Vaelor's gaze swept the horizon, and for a moment, she saw something in his eyes that made her pulse quicken—calm, power, and a hint of amusement. He did not speak. He never needed to. The sheer presence of him beside her was enough to steady her nerves and unsettle her all at once.
The first echoes of the Dragon King's roar reverberated through the valley below, shaking loose stones and sending ash into the air. Kaelis' pulse quickened. This was no mere threat. This was the apex predator of their world. And Vaelor, ever composed, stood ready, as if the very existence of the Dragon King was a trivial inconvenience.
Kaelis' hand brushed against her side, as though seeking her weapon. Vaelor's presence did not waver. She could feel the pull of his power, the certainty that he was untouchable, unyielding, yet there was a strange intimacy in the way he allowed her to stand there beside him.
She swallowed hard, her throat dry, and whispered again, "Last night… is forgotten."
Vaelor said nothing. Not a word. But the weight of his silence, the knowledge of what had passed, and the anticipation of what was to come hung heavy in the air.
The Dragon King awaited. And the world trembled beneath his power.