The cavern trembled beneath Lena's feet as the roar of the Infernal Drake reverberated through the molten stone walls. It sounded like the growl of a beast from the depths of the earth, deep and menacing. The heat in the cavern intensified as they moved further inside, the air thick with smoke and sulfur.
"Stay focused," Aria said, her voice steady despite the intensity of the situation. "The Drake is bound to the Stone of Fire, protecting it with its life. But it will not kill you if you don't provoke it."
Lena swallowed hard. How could she not provoke a creature like that? The Infernal Drake was legendary, a beast with scales of blackened obsidian and eyes like pools of molten lava. It was said to have wings that could create storms and a breath that could melt steel.
They reached a vast chamber deep within the volcano. At the center was a pedestal of jagged rock, and on it rested the Stone of Fire. It pulsed with a bright orange light, illuminating the room like a second sun. But between them and the Stone stood the Infernal Drake.
The beast was enormous, its body covered in scales that gleamed like burnished metal, and it had four powerful legs ending in claws that could rend stone. Its wings, folded against its back, were vast, each one nearly as wide as the cavern itself. The creature's eyes flickered with flames as it studied Lena and Aria, its hot breath sending waves of heat through the chamber.
"How do we get close?" Lena whispered, her voice shaking.
"We wait for the right moment," Aria replied. "We have to approach with caution. The Drake can sense the slightest shift in energy."
Lena stood frozen, the weight of her purpose pressing on her. She had come to Elandra to find the Lost Stones, but facing the Infernal Drake was not something she had ever imagined in her wildest dreams. Her mind raced—how could she defeat such a creature, or even approach it?
She glanced at Aria, who was already slowly stepping forward, her eyes locked onto the Drake. Aria had an air of calm, as if she had faced creatures like this before. Lena felt a spark of something deep inside her. A glimmer of the magic that Aria had spoken of, that sense of power, stirred within her chest.
"You can do this," Aria said softly, her voice reaching Lena's ears like a whisper carried on the wind. "Trust in the Veil, trust in the magic."
Lena nodded, taking a deep breath. The pendant around her neck began to hum softly, as if answering a call deep within her. She extended her hand toward the Stone, and to her surprise, a gentle warmth radiated from it, urging her forward.
The Infernal Drake's gaze flickered briefly to the pendant, its molten eyes narrowing. It snorted, a blast of fiery smoke curling from its nostrils.
"Now," Aria urged.
Lena took a step forward, her hand still extended. The air around her began to shimmer as she reached toward the Stone of Fire. The warmth intensified, the heat almost unbearable, but there was something familiar about it—like the heat of the sun on a summer day, or the warmth of a comforting embrace.
The Infernal Drake growled low in its throat, its massive wings shifting. The ground trembled beneath Lena's feet, but she didn't flinch. She could feel the magic now, coursing through her veins. The Veil was awakening inside her, guiding her, helping her understand.
She closed her eyes, reached out with her mind, and felt a bond forming between her and the Stone. It was as though the Stone itself was alive, responding to her touch, to her presence.
Suddenly, the Drake lunged. Lena's eyes snapped open just in time to see the beast's massive claws slicing through the air toward her. Panic flared inside her, but the magic surged, answering her fear.
Without thinking, Lena raised her hand, and a surge of fire shot from her fingertips, a stream of pure, raw flame that met the Drake head-on. It was not as powerful as the Drake's own fire, but it was enough to stop it in its tracks. The creature screeched, rearing back in surprise.
Aria's voice rang out. "Now, Lena! Take the Stone!"
Lena didn't hesitate. With one final burst of strength, she seized the Stone of Fire. The moment her fingers brushed its surface, the entire cavern exploded with light. The heat became overwhelming, the air charged with raw, untamed magic. She felt herself being lifted off the ground, the power of the Stone merging with her own energy.
The Infernal Drake roared in fury, but Lena didn't falter. The Stone pulsed in her hands, sending waves of heat and light into the Drake's massive form. The beast howled, its wings flapping desperately as the flames from the Stone seemed to bind it in place. Slowly, the creature's thrashing grew weaker, until at last it fell silent, its body slumping onto the ground.
Lena gasped for breath, her arms shaking as she held the Stone of Fire. The beast lay motionless, its once-bright eyes now dull and lifeless. She had done it. She had defeated the Drake.
"You did well," Aria said, stepping forward to place a hand on Lena's shoulder. "The first Stone is yours. But the path is far from over."
Lena looked down at the Stone in her hands, its warm light flickering like a living flame. It was beautiful, but she knew this was only the beginning. The next Stones would be harder to obtain, the challenges more dangerous. And the Shadewraith was still out there, biding his time.
But as the first light of dawn filtered through the volcano's entrance, Lena felt something she had never felt before—hope.