Chapter 34
The mountains were quiet.
For the first time since the battle began, the sound of war was gone. No explosions, no roars tearing through the sky. Only the wind moved across the peaks, steady and cold, carrying the fading heat of battle with it.
Above the mountain, the royal dragons continued to circle.
Their movements were slower now, controlled, no longer driven by urgency. Some had already settled along the cliffs, their massive bodies still but alert, watching everything around them. Even in silence, they felt like a force that could move at any moment.
Ariana stood near the edge of the cliff, her gaze fixed on the sky.
The silence should have felt peaceful, but it didn't. Not completely. Her body still felt heavy, and every breath reminded her how much power she had used.
Kael watched her for a moment before speaking. "You should sit."
Ariana shook her head lightly. "I'm fine."
"You almost collapsed a few minutes ago."
"That was a few minutes ago."
