"Someone went through a lot of trouble to make sure he wouldn''t reveal anything," Arcainius said grimly, brushing the last of the ash from his hands. "As soon as I started probing his mind, a warding spell activated and repelled me."


    "So, you learned nothing?" I asked, frustration sharpening my tone as I kicked at the gray dust on the floor.


    "Not exactly. I managed to extract one piece of information before I was forced out—there''s a team being sent to Soreanth."


    Soreanth. The capital of Volstruum Valley, heart of the Falstarians. My stomach twisted into a cold knot, a flicker of unease I couldn''t shake. "How many?"


    "I couldn''t get an exact number, but it''s a small, elite force," Arcainius replied, his voice steady despite the faint bruise blooming on his jaw from the wall. "Unfortunately, most of our experienced members are already deployed elsewhere. I can''t send fresh recruits into something this dangerous." His gaze settled on me and Torglel, heavy with expectation. "That means it''s up to you two to gather allies and intercept them."


    With that, he turned and walked away, his cloak trailing behind him, leaving the mission''s weight to settle on us like damp stone.


    I cracked my knuckles, the pop loud in the tunnel''s stillness. "I know just the people to help us."


    Torglel raised an eyebrow, a glint of curiosity in his blue eyes. "Oh?"


    "That Falstarian girl, Alythiel, and our old friend Laboritus."


    The name brought a smirk to Torglel''s lips, his beard twitching. "Laboritus, huh?"


    Laboritus was a Thuumar—a cousin race to the Goliaths. Unlike their towering, muscle-bound kin, Thuumar were leaner, more agile, and, in my experience, often sharper in the head. Laboritus stood out even among them—seven-foot-five, a brilliant tactician with a mind like a steel trap, and one of the finest archers I''d ever seen, his arrows finding throats like they were drawn by fate. Torglel and I had worked with him years ago, back when we were greener, and the friendship stuck through blood and brawls.


    "Alright," Torglel said, nodding as he hefted his hammer onto his shoulder. "Let''s go crack some skulls and take names."


    We stopped by the armory first, stocking up. I slid extra knives into my armor''s slots, checked the edges of Celerius and Mors—black and white steel gleaming faintly in the torchlight. Torglel grabbed a pouch of smoke bombs, grinning like a kid, and slung a spare waterskin over his back. Once we were loaded, I turned to him.


    "Let''s hope Alythiel still has that rune on her."


    Gripping his shoulder, I pulled out a teleportation rune, its surface cool against my palm. I channeled magic into it, feeling the familiar buzz under my skin. The rune flared with blinding light, engulfing us. When it faded, we stood before her.


    Alythiel leaned against a gnarled tree, arms crossed, silver hair catching the dusk''s last rays. "Need me so soon?" she asked, one brow arched.


    "Soreanth is about to be attacked," I told her bluntly, no time for soft words. "We need all the help we can get."


    Her face darkened, moonstone eyes narrowing. "My family lives there. I''m in."


    I pulled out another rune, its weight steady in my hand. "Good. Now we need one more ally. Grab on."


    She and Torglel each clamped a hand on my shoulder, their grips firm. I focused on Thalina, the Thuumar stronghold, and the rune flared again. The light dissolved, and we landed in the heart of the town—immediately greeted by distant shouts and the clang of steel. Without hesitation, we ran toward the commotion.


    Thalina sat atop a plateau, its cliffs a natural watchtower over the valley. We reached the edge and looked down. Chaos sprawled below—Thuumar clashing with masked warriors, the same kind as the assassin we''d fought, their blades flashing like teeth in the fading sun. Without a word, we charged into the fray.


    We descended the stone stairs carved into the cliffside, steps worn smooth by centuries of boots. As I hit the battlefield, a voice whispered in my head—low, insidious. "Become one and be stronger."


    I ignored it, shoving it deep. Now wasn''t the time.


    I spotted Laboritus mid-fight, loosing arrows with deadly precision. Four masked warriors flanked him, closing in. I moved to intercept, but two broke off, lunging at me from the right. Their blades slashed down—twin streaks of death. I ducked low, rolling under the steel, and came up swinging. Celerius carved through one''s midsection, Mors the other''s, blood splashing hot across my hands. They dropped, choking.


    Then something strange hit me—my body surged forward, impossibly fast. One moment, I was yards from Laboritus; the next, I was on him. A knife flew from my hand, burying itself in an attacker''s throat with a wet thunk. My sword followed, cleaving another from shoulder to hip, bone crunching under the strike. I flanked the last two, impaling them both before they could turn, their gasps cut short.


    Laboritus barely flinched, loosing an arrow past my ear to drop a foe charging my blind spot. "Good to see you, my friend," he said casually, as if we weren''t knee-deep in corpses.


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    I turned—Torglel was a whirlwind of bronze and fury, his hammer smashing skulls, laughter booming like thunder. Nearby, Alythiel tended wounded Thuumar, her dagger flashing to gut any foe who strayed too close. He loved a good fight—lived for it, really.


    "When did you get so fast?" Laboritus asked between shots, his voice calm over the twang of his bowstring.


    A cold, chilling laugh echoed in my skull. I shook my head, pushing it aside. "I don''t know. But it just saved your behind."


    I sprinted toward Torglel, cutting down an enemy mid-strike, steel biting through leather and flesh. The tide turned—masked warriors faltered, then retreated, vanishing in bursts of blue light. I hurled a knife into one''s back as he blinked out, the blade sinking deep. The Thuumar erupted in cheers, fists raised.


    Laboritus turned to me, wiping sweat from his brow. "You saved us today. What brings you here? Surely not just a casual visit?"


    "The same people who attacked you are planning to strike Soreanth. We need your help."


    He nodded, no hesitation. "Then I''m with you." He clapped Torglel on the back, grinning. "Good to see you again, old friend. And who''s this?"


    "Alythiel," she introduced herself with a warm smile, brushing blood from her hands. "Any friend of theirs is a friend of mine."


    I took a deep breath, steadying myself against the adrenaline''s fade. "I can summon Duroga to fly us to Soreanth."


    Alythiel''s eyes widened. "Who?"


    "My dragon," I said simply.


    Night fell, and the Thuumar, proud as ever, threw a feast. Meat sizzled over open flames, ale flowed like rivers, the air thick with smoke and laughter. I sat beside Laboritus, the fire''s heat warming my face, but my mind spun.


    "You seem troubled," he noted, his deep voice cutting through the revelry.


    I sighed, staring into the flames. "These masked warriors... they''re the same race as me. I''ve spent my life wondering where my people are, and now I find them as my enemy." I paused, the word heavy on my tongue. "I finally have a name for them, for me—Drydalis. But I don''t know why they''re attacking, or what they want."


    Laboritus placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, his grip steady. "It''s a heavy burden to discover your people this way. But you''ll get your answers in time."  He tilted his head toward the feast, where firelight danced over faces and flagons. "For now, enjoy this victory. You never know when celebrations like this will be your last."


    Maybe he was right.


    I joined Torglel by the fire, listening to his exaggerated retellings of past battles—each punch grander, each foe taller. Alythiel danced around the flames, her laughter bright against the day''s bloodshed. For a moment, I let myself forget the storm ahead.


    That night, Laboritus offered us a place to rest. Exhaustion dragged me under, but I knew tomorrow, the real fight would begin.


    My eyes opened, and I was back in that familiar room—the pulsing light, the dark circle. My other self waited, fangs glinting in an evil, vindictive smile.


    "Did you like the taste of that power I lent you?" he asked, voice dripping with malice.


    "That speed I used to save my friend—was that your power?" I asked, though I already suspected the truth.


    "It''s your power; you just have to accept it." His grin widened. "Like it or not, you''ll need it one day. This power resides in all Drydalis, but that''s all the time we have for today''s lesson."


    I bolted awake to Torglel''s face inches from mine. I screamed, fist swinging on instinct, cracking his cheek.


    "ARE YOU TRYING TO GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK?!" I yelled, heart hammering.


    "I was just trying to wake you up," he said, rubbing his face with a wince.


    "Well, I''m up now—thanks," I snapped, sarcasm thick.


    We gathered at the plateau''s bottom—our first moment as a real team."Alright, everyone, stand back," I instructed. "You''re about to see something really cool."


    Torglel nudged Alythiel excitedly. Black mist swirled before me, thickening, growing until it coalesced into Duroga''s imposing shape—scales dark as midnight, eyes glowing gold. I placed my hand on his head.


    "Nice to see you again," I said.


    "Solari, what do you require of me?" Duroga''s voice echoed in my mind, deep and resonant.


    I gestured to the others. "We need a ride to Soreanth."


    "As you wish," he replied telepathically.


    I turned to the group. "Only three of us can ride on Duroga—one must be carried in his claws. Torglel, you''re best suited for that."


    "Is this your way of paying me back for this morning?" Torglel asked, a begrudging grin tugging at his lips.


    "No, that''s just the icing on the cake." I answered, smiling back.


    Laboritus, Alythiel, and I climbed onto Duroga''s back, his scales cool under my grip. The dragon leaped into the air, circling gracefully before diving to scoop Torglel. He spewed Dwarvish curses as we soared, and I couldn''t help but laugh.


    After hours, Soreanth loomed—streets aflame, smoke curling skyward. Alythiel gasped, the stench of burning wood and flesh stinging our nostrils.


    "Torglel, I''m going to have Duroga drop you in," I yelled. "Tuck and roll, you''ll be fine. I promise."


    "I AM NOT A—" he started, but Duroga released him. He plummeted like a dwarf-shaped boulder....crashing hammer-first atop a masked assailant. The impact cratered the ground, the foe crushed beneath him.


    "YOU COULD HAVE DROPPED ME A LITTLE LOWER! ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?" Torglel bellowed as Duroga soared off. I smirked—he was fine.


    City guards retreated under a relentless wave."Duroga, over there—save them!" I commanded.


    He exhaled a cone of fire, incinerating the attackers. Their screams cut short as they turned to ash. Duroga lowered us to the ground, then vanished in black mist.


    "Thank you for saving us," said a guard at the front, stepping forward.


    "I am Tschumo, captain of the city guards," he introduced himself, voice rough but grateful.


    "Alright, Tschumo. You and your men follow me—we''re taking this city back," I declared.


    We moved fast through Soreanth''s streets until we hit a narrow road, barely wide enough for two abreast. An arrow struck Tschumo''s leg, and he screamed, collapsing. I spun—an archer lurked on a rooftop behind us.


    Before I could act, Laboritus fired, his arrow finding the archer''s throat. But more appeared, lining every roof.


    "GET TO COVER!" I yelled as arrows rained down. I dragged Tschumo into a side alley, Alythiel joining us.


    "Can you heal his leg?" I asked.


    "Of course," she replied calmly. Her hands glowed soft green over the wound, knitting flesh as Tschumo gritted his teeth.


    I peered out—an arrow grazed my cheek, drawing blood. I ducked deeper. "Laboritus, cover me!"


    I clambered onto the roof, counting ten archers. The nearest stood across from me. I hurled a knife into his chest; he toppled with a thud, alerting the rest.


    "Great, just my luck," I muttered as Laboritus dropped another with a perfect shot.


    The archers turned on him. I sprinted, leaping to the next roof. An archer stabbed my arm with a dagger as I landed. I snarled, throwing a knife into his gut and kicking him off. Arrows flew—I ducked behind a statue, hearing two more bodies hit the street, Laboritus''s work.


    I dashed to the next roof, rolling to dodge a swing. I disarmed the archer, choking him out as arrows turned him into a pincushion. Dropping him, I flung my last knife at another, then tossed a smoke bomb. In the haze, I leaped, driving my sword through a foe. Laboritus felled one more, leaving the last. We traded shots—his arrow hit my shoulder, mine his throat.


    I jumped down, wincing. Alythiel rushed over, healing my wounds with that green glow." Just because I''m a great healer doesn''t mean you can keep getting injured like this," she chided.


    I yanked the arrow free, grunting. "Now be more careful next time," she added, softer.