Dralo regarded them in silence, his piercing golden slit eyes cutting through the mist as their essences lit the swamp. The glow of their sigils reflected faintly on the stagnant waters, but his expression remained unreadable — no fear, no surprise, only quiet recognition.
“So… this is your first step,” he rumbled, his deep voice steady, carrying easily through the heavy fog. “I can feel the weight of your flames, the charge of your storms, the frost in your breath… Power untamed, yet promising.”
He shifted slightly, the sweep of his spined tail sending slow ripples across the water. His wings spread wider, casting long, shifting shadows over the marsh.
“You’ve each tasted strength, but you have not yet learned to wield it. And the one who guards the Staff…” His voice dropped lower, cal
