A bitter wind swept over the battlements of Valoria's capital, whispering through stone archways and setting iron banners clinking in the dark. The stars were flickering, an unusual phenomenon that left some watchers uneasy. It was not unheard of for stars to twinkle or fade, but tonight they pulsed in strange rhythms as if blinking in alarm. High above, the pale moon glowed silver on the old stones of the city walls, casting a quiet spell over the sleepy kingdom.
Sir Elian Stormblade, Knight of the Silver Rose, tightened his cloak and leaned against the cold stone, watching the night with his usual vigilance. With his square jaw, piercing grey eyes, and broad shoulders clad in burnished armor, Sir Elian was the picture of a stalwart knight. He was a man of duty, sworn to protect the realm, yet tonight he found himself troubled. Shadows lurked at the edge of his vision, odd for such a clear night. The murmur of strange dreams had been haunting him lately, visions of dark wings and a sky alight with fire. And here, standing under the moon, he felt an unexplainable tension prickling his skin, like a warning from somewhere beyond.
As he watched the silent sky, a figure emerged from the misty shadows of the courtyard below. Moving with the grace of a whisper, the figure swept towards the gate, carrying a presence as ancient as the stones beneath her feet. It was the High Mage, cloaked in robes that shimmered like moonlight on water. She was known throughout Valoria, a keeper of old lore and ancient magic. To see her here, at this hour, was a rare sight.
"Elian," she called up softly, her voice carrying effortlessly on the night air. "Come down to me, for I have news that cannot wait."
He nodded, descending the stone steps two at a time until he reached her. Up close, he could see the weariness etched into her face, a slight furrowing of her brow. Her silver hair was bound with a delicate crown of star-shaped charms, and her eyes held the depths of time itself. "Is something amiss, my lady?" Elian asked, feeling an instinctive need to grip his sword.
"More than amiss," the High Mage replied, her voice a somber murmur. "There has been a... disturbance. Something older than time stirs in the mountains. I have seen it in the flames and felt it in the earth. A creature lost to legend has awakened, one bound by an ancient prophecy."
Elian stiffened, his knightly training bringing him instantly to a state of alert. "A creature? What is it?"
"A dragon, Elian. One born of Starfire and shadow, a dragon the likes of which the world has not seen in an age. Its rising bodes ill for all of Valoria. And I fear it will take more than a single knight to stop it."
The word sent a chill down his spine, though he fought to keep his composure. Dragons had been absent from this world for generations; they were the stuff of songs, of myths told to frighten children and impress warriors. The idea that one could return, especially one with the weight of a prophecy tied to its fate, was unthinkable.
"What would you have me do, my lady?" he asked, his voice steady.
She drew a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "The stars have shown me five chosen ones, Elian. Each will bear a different skill, a gift that complements the others, as is demanded by the Celestial Accord, a relic that binds the destiny of our kingdom's protectors. I have seen you in this vision, but not alone. You must go to the far reaches of Valoria to gather the four others."
"Four others?" Elian asked, his brows lifting in surprise. "Who are they?"
The High Mage closed her eyes briefly, as if reading the stars in her mind. "There is an elven mage, gifted in fire. Her name is Kaela Firethorn, and she dwells deep within the Emberwood. Then, a dwarven forge smith, Grimmir Stonejaw, who lives among the high peaks of the Ironspine Mountains. He is the only one skilled enough to reforge the Celestial Accord. The third is Lira Swiftfoot, a nimble scout from the halfling lands of the Verdant Vale. And the fourth..."
She hesitated, her voice lowering. "The fourth is a half-dragon shaman named Rorek Blackwing. He is part human, part dragon, and the only one with the ability to speak to dragon kind."
Elian felt his stomach tighten. A half-dragon? He had heard tales of such beings, rare and mistrusted, often facing prejudice due to their unusual heritage. Rorek's allegiance could prove unstable, given the nature of the threat.
"I understand the need for unity, my lady," he said carefully, "but a half-dragon... are we sure he can be trusted?"
The High Mage met his gaze, her eyes dark and steady. "This quest demands you trust in more than just appearances. Each of these heroes is necessary. The Celestial Accord cannot be completed without all five of you. It will take the strength of each race, each skill, to stand a chance against the dragon."
Elian nodded, squaring his shoulders. If fate had decreed, that he would undertake this mission, then he would meet it as he had met every challenge: with unyielding resolve. "Very well, my lady. Where do I begin?"
She held out a shimmering crystal, infused with a faint inner light. "Take this. It will guide you to each of them, and it will hold their energy once they join you. But be warned: once the five of you are bound, the Celestial Accord will impose a cost. It is no ordinary relic. It will take something from each of you. The dragon's power feeds on fear, anger, and division. If any of you falter, it will find a way to break you."
Elian accepted the crystal, feeling a faint warmth pulse through his hand. He felt a strange connection to it as if the magic within was already binding him to his new companions.
He bowed. "I will do as you ask."
She placed a hand on his shoulder, her expression grave. "Go now, Elian. The dragon has not yet risen fully, but it will soon. Each moment you waste is another moment the shadows deepen."
With a final nod, he turned, feeling a fire kindling in his chest. He would not fail. Not as long as he still drew breath. As he made his way to the stables, ready to embark on his journey, he felt the weight of the prophecy settle on his shoulders, a mantle he would carry, come what may.
And in the quiet of the night, a tremor rippled through the distant mountains, unseen and unheard by all but the stars themselves. Somewhere, far beneath the earth, something ancient stirred. A dragon opened its eyes.