The sky above the Spire had cleared.
But the world had not calmed.
Ethan felt it before the System confirmed it.
A disturbance.
Not political.
Not draconic.
Deeper.
Older.
As he descended the crystal staircase with Lysarra and Kaelith flanking him, the air shifted subtly—like the pressure before a coming storm.
The System pulsed.
[Global Reaction Detected]
[Human Coalition: Mobilizing]
[Dragon Factions: Divided]
[Unknown Signature: Awakening]
Ethan slowed.
"Unknown?" he murmured.
Kaelith's flames flickered slightly. "That's new."
Lysarra's frost drifted outward in cautious spirals. "It does not feel like dragonkind."
Ronan's hand rested on his blade.
"Nor human."
The Spire courtyard was quieter now. The council dragons had dispersed to their territories, leaving only thin trails of residual mana in the sky.
But beneath their feet—
The mountain trembled.
Subtle at first.
Then again.
Stronger.
A deep vibration rolled upward through the crystal platform.
