Early in the morning, by the campfire, Mayuri screamed in her sleep.

Her body twitched motionlessly, her hand clenched around her cloak, and fear lurked in her eyes, as if something were gnawing at her soul. Inside her mind, surrounded by darkness, she saw fire — flames writhing around her, consuming her memories.

A figure emerged from the mist — a mage in the robes of the Empire, his face concealed, but his voice rang out clearly

“Your body… your magic… belong to us…”

Mayuri jolted awake with a scream.

“NO!”

Kael and Valdor were already awake and turned toward her

The morning was chilly. She sat by the dying campfire, her knees pulled up to her chest. She remained silent, staring into the ashes. From a distance, Valdor watched her in silence. After a moment, he walked over and sat down beside her.

“It wasn’t just a dream, was it?”

She didn’t look up.

“Not everything can be explained, Valdor…”

Shortly afterward, Kael returned to the camp.

“The Empire is combing through the ruins. They’re close. We have to move.”

Valdor stood up and offered his hand to Mayuri to help her up.

“Thank you…” — Mayuri whispered

Then she stood up.

His hand rested on the hilt of his sword. A gleam appeared in his eyes.

“It's time to move on.”

Their journey led them to a former settlement, now abandoned and in ruins. Their footsteps echoed off the old planks and stones.

Mayuri stopped beside some scattered toys and an overturned stool.

“These aren’t just ruins… Someone used to live here.”

Valdor picked up a piece of parchment. It was a child’s drawing — a dragon soaring above a house. He clenched his fist.

Kael froze. His eyes scanned the wall — he spotted a carved symbol.

“It’s a trap, back off!”

The ground beneath them exploded in a flash of enchanted magic.

Imperial soldiers, armed to the teeth, leaped out of the ruins. The battle was fierce. Valdor cut down one of them with a swing of his sword, while Mayuri created barriers to shield Kael.

One of the mages froze, staring at Valdor in horror.

“He’s alive! It’s… the Dragon Prince!”

The group rushed to escape through the caves, running through the rocky tunnels. Behind them echoed screams and the clang of armor.

Kael turned around and thrust his sword firmly into the rocks. The stones collapsed, blocking the passage.

“They won’t be back here anytime soon.”

“Great, you stuck your sword in the rock and it didn’t break.” — Mayuri said in amazement.

Valdor stopped, breathing heavily.

“We can’t just keep running…”

Mayuri placed her hand on his shoulder.

“We have to survive. Let’s head to the capital…”

“To the capital… why…?” — Valdor said.

“We’ll become treasure hunters, and with the money we earn, we’ll rebuild the kingdom…”

“Good idea… but for now, we need to rest; I still haven’t gotten used to walking…”

They reached an underground lake — an oasis of tranquility amid the ruins. They rested among the boulders. Mayuri meditated with her eyes closed; Kael sharpened his weapon while sitting in the shade.

By the campfire, Kael gazed into the flames.

“I used to believe in the Empire. I was one of their knights… an elite one. From the Black Guard.”

He fell silent for a moment, then finished quietly:

“They burned my village. My people. That’s when I realized what they really were."

Valdor sat down beside him.

“I don’t need a knight. I need a friend who’ll stand by me not out of duty, but by choice.”

Kael looked at him and, for the first time, smiled sincerely.

In the distance, from behind the rocks, a shadow stirred. It was watching. It was observing.

The Empire’s signet ring glinted on its hand.

“I’ve found them…” — whispered a voice from the darkness.

At the same moment, Mayuri heard a voice, quiet, slipping into her mind like a shadow.

“Come back… you’re part of us…”

Her eyes began to well up.

Valdor noticed this and saw Mayuri standing alone, her silhouette trembling slightly in the glow of the dying fire.

He slowly approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder. The girl turned around, but the tension in her body betrayed that she had heard every one of his steps.

“Hey…” — he said quietly. — “You’re not alone, Mayuri.”

She remained silent.

“I know something is stirring inside you. That something is fighting within you. But I won’t let it take you away. Neither the Empire nor that shadow…” — his voice was firm but warm. — “If I have to, I’ll stand against the whole world to protect you and repay you for waking me from my slumber…”

Mayuri was silent for a moment, then turned her head away and blushed slightly. Her eyes were moist, but calmer than before.

“Thank you… Valdor.”

The boy smiled slightly.

Kael gazed at the stars as if searching for something.

At dawn, they left the camp and climbed the mountain. The three of them stood at the edge of the ravine. Far off, on the horizon, the silhouette of the Empire’s fortress loomed.

“That’s where we’ll start. Their fortress… will be our beginning.”