The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale light over the magnificent manor nestled atop a hill overlooking the town. Trees around the manor leaned inward, their gnarled branches naturally twisting into archways as a lone carriage made its way up the winding path.
Inside the carriage sat Damien, his eyes cold and distant, lost in thought, a velvet-lined box resting on his lap. The dragon egg inside pulsed with a faint warmth, a light that had dimmed significantly over the past few weeks of travel.
Damien thought back to the night of the auction, its unexpected events still fresh in his mind.
Flashback
Damien's hands jerked as the woman slid towards the ice spikes, unable to find her footing on the frosted floor.
He couldn't risk it and released the form of the spell, making it a brittle ice wall that shattered on impact. The woman rolled for a few feet before struggling to stand again.
