Despite the signs and the whispers of the Bashphirine, Ragnar chose to ignore them.
He had grown accustomed to his frequent hallucinations of Sophia awakening and the stone itself, the Eye of Dragon, speaking to him.
He was weary of hope, for it only led to disappointment.
Bound by the sacred oath of the Blood of the Dragon, Ragnar and Sophia were intertwined in the lineage of the dragons, their souls and bloodline forever connected.
However, as a king, Ragnar refused to succumb to his sorrow, instead channeling his focus into the affairs of the kingdom.
Without touching his meal, he resolved to leave the palace once more to check the toxicity levels of the Sleeping Run river.
As Ragnar approached the riverbank, he extended his hand to scoop the murky water, but a woman's hand stopped him.
"Wait," a soft voice intervened, halting his movement.
