Chapter 20: The Shattered Sky
Years after dragons returned, Aurendor entered its greatest age of prosperity. Humans and dragons built cities of crystal and flame.
King Caelan ruled wisely. Aurethra flew proudly beside him.
But one night, the stars… vanished.
Not clouds.
Not storm.
Vanished.
The sky cracked like glass.
And something looked down.
Chapter 21: The Ones Above
Ancient dragon lore spoke of them.
The Immortals.
Beings older than dragons. Older than the crown.
They had once shaped the world — then abandoned it.
But balance had shifted too much.
A voice thundered across the heavens:
"You were meant to kneel beneath us."
A giant figure of light descended — not warm light… but cold, blinding, merciless.
Chapter 22: Judgment of Kings
The Immortals declared humanity unworthy of power.
"You wield dragon fire. You command shadow. You defy divine order."
Caelan stepped forward calmly.
"We do not defy. We evolve."
The Golden Crown glowed.
The Immortals saw something that disturbed them.
A mortal who was not afraid.
Chapter 23: Fall of a Dragon
The Immortals attacked without warning.
Beams of celestial energy struck the capital.
Aurethra fought bravely in the skies.
But even dragon flame struggled against divine power.
She fell from the sky — wounded.
The kingdom trembled.
For the first time since Morvath…
Caelan felt fear again.
Chapter 24: The Silent Prayer
Alone in the ruined throne hall, Caelan removed the Golden Crown.
"Was this balance?" he whispered.
The crown pulsed gently.
And he realized something powerful:
Balance was never about equal strength.
It was about choice.
Even gods could choose wrongly.
Chapter 25: Rise of Mortals
Queen Elara, now older but still fierce, gathered the people.
"We are not ants beneath the sky," she declared.
Humans stood beside dragons.
Not in worship.
In unity.
Caelan did not challenge the Immortals with rage.
He challenged them with resolve.
Chapter 26: War of Heaven and Earth
The greatest battle in history began.
Dragons roared against celestial beings.
Soldiers defended their lands.
Caelan rose into the sky alone — not riding Aurethra this time.
Floating.
Crowned.
Balanced.
Chapter 27: The Broken Throne of Gods
The leader of the Immortals revealed his true form — massive, radiant, terrifying.
"You cannot defeat eternity."
Caelan answered quietly:
"Then eternity must change."
He did not attack with fire.
He attacked with understanding.
He forced the Immortal to feel mortality.
Pain.
Fear.
Hope.
Choice.
For the first time… the god hesitated.
Chapter 28: The Fall
The Immortals realized something terrifying:
Humans were not weak.
They were unpredictable.
Creative.
Evolving.
The celestial leader shattered — not killed — but stripped of absolute power.
The sky healed.
Stars returned.
Chapter 29: The Final Crown
Peace came once more.
But this time, it was different.
The Golden Crown dimmed softly.
Its purpose fulfilled.
Caelan removed it for the final time.
He placed it not on his head…
But in the royal vault.
"No crown should rule forever," he said.
From then on, kings would rule by wisdom — not magic.
And the legend of the Golden Crown became a story told to children.
A story of light and shadow.
Dragons and gods.
And a mortal king who changed eternity.