Episode 22 — The Road to the Emperor's Vault
The ruins of the Temple of Seven Kings burned behind them.
Ancient pillars lay shattered.
Crystal rivers flooded broken corridors.
The last sanctuary of the Dragon Kings had fallen.
Kai stood beside Nyrax upon a snowy cliff.
Far above, storm clouds churned across the sky.
The Void King was gone.
Already racing toward the Emperor's Vault.
For several minutes—
Nobody spoke.
Finally, Commander Vaelor broke the silence.
"How far is it?"
Nyrax looked toward the northern horizon.
Beyond mountains.
Beyond glaciers.
Beyond lands marked on no map.
"Far."
The dragon's voice remained strange.
Ancient.
Wise.
Yet still familiar.
Kai smiled slightly.
He still wasn't used to hearing Nyrax speak.
Aurelion landed nearby.
His crystal wings folded carefully.
Several scales were missing from his body.
The battle had taken its toll.
"The Vault lies beyond the Crown Peaks."
The Crystal King looked toward the distant north.
"Beyond the End of Winter."
Several Dragon Riders exchanged nervous glances.
Vaelor frowned.
"Nobody has ever crossed the End of Winter."
Aurelion nodded.
"Because nobody returned."
Silence followed.
Then Nyrax stepped forward.
"I have."
Everyone stared.
Memories continued returning.
Small pieces at a time.
Fragments of another life.
"The Vault was hidden where no army could reach."
Kai frowned.
"Why hide it at all?"
Nyrax looked toward the horizon.
"Because even Dragon Kings feared its power."
The wind became silent.
Even Aurelion lowered his head.
The Crown of Dragons wasn't merely a treasure.
It was a weapon.
The greatest weapon ever created.
Suddenly—
A roar echoed from the sky.
Several dragons descended rapidly.
Silver scales.
Royal banners.
Ancient armor.
Dragon Riders.
But not from the Sanctuary.
Seraphine immediately recognized them.
"The Kingdom of Aerath."
The dragons landed nearby.
At their center stood a young woman.
Tall.
Confident.
Wearing silver armor adorned with dragon symbols.
A magnificent white dragon landed beside her.
Its scales shimmered like moonlight.
Its wings sparkled with frost.
The woman approached Aurelion.
Then knelt.
"Your Majesty."
Kai blinked.
"She knows him?"
Aurelion sighed.
"Unfortunately."
The woman stood.
Smiling.
"My name is Princess Lyra of Aerath."
She pointed directly at Kai.
"And the entire continent is looking for you."
Silence.
Kai immediately felt uneasy.
"What?"
Lyra nodded.
"The Shadow Lord attacked more than the Frozen Pass."
Everyone became serious.
"The eastern kingdoms are burning."
"The southern dragon clans have disappeared."
"The western fortresses have fallen."
The atmosphere darkened.
The Shadow Legion was spreading.
Fast.
Far faster than anyone expected.
Then Lyra revealed the worst news.
"The Void King attacked the Sky Citadel."
Aurelion froze.
"What?"
"The city is gone."
Silence.
A city.
Destroyed.
In a single attack.
Even the Dragon Riders struggled to comprehend it.
The Void King was growing stronger.
Every hour.
Every day.
Time was running out.
Suddenly—
A loud crack echoed across the sky.
Everyone looked upward.
The clouds parted.
A crimson beam of energy shot into the heavens far in the north.
Miles away.
Yet visible from everywhere.
Nyrax's eyes widened.
"No..."
The Heart of Winter pulsed violently.
The Dragon Emperor's memories surged.
Recognition.
Fear.
Urgency.
Kai immediately noticed.
"What is it?"
Nyrax stared toward the distant crimson light.
"The first seal."
Silence.
Aurelion immediately understood.
"The Void King found it."
Commander Vaelor looked confused.
"Found what?"
Nyrax answered.
"The path."
The dragon spread his wings.
"The Vault is protected by three ancient seals."
"The first one has fallen."
A cold feeling spread through everyone's chest.
The race had already begun.
And they were losing.
Nyrax turned toward Kai.
His blue eyes glowed brightly.
For a brief moment—
Kai didn't see a young dragon.
He saw the Dragon Emperor.
"We leave now."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Only certainty.
The fate of the world depended on reaching the Vault first.
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And somewhere beyond the frozen horizon—
The Void King was waiting.
