The great doors of the Hall of Dragons closed behind them with a slow, echoing thud.

  For a long moment, none of them spoke.

  The air outside felt different. Lighter somehow. The oppressive weight of the council chamber faded as the mountain wind swept gently across the marble courtyard.

  Lanterns flickered softly along the long stairway leading down into the city, their golden light dancing across the polished stone like drifting fireflies.

  Cameron finally exhaled.

  "Okay," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I genuinely thought we were about to die in there."

  Jordan snorted.

  "You were about to die," she said. "You looked like you were gonna faint."

  "I was not gonna faint."

  "You were sweating."

  "That was stress!"

  Kai chuckled quietly behind them.

  "You're all still alive," he said. "That's already a good first impression."

  Jordan shot him a look.

  "That's your definition of good?"

  Kai shrugged.

  "For this place?"

  He glanced back toward the enormous doors of the hall.

  "Yeah."

  The group began walking down the massive staircase.

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  Below them, the hidden city stretched across the valley like a sea of lanterns. Night had begun to fall while they were inside, and thousands of glowing lights illuminated the streets. The roofs of pagodas glimmered beneath the moon, and the distant sound of bells drifted softly through the air.

  For a moment, William simply stared.

  This city still didn't feel real.

  It felt like stepping into the pages of an ancient myth.

  Halfway down the staircase, several figures were waiting.

  Servants.

  But not ordinary ones.

  Each wore long ceremonial robes embroidered with small dragon crests near the collar. Their clothing was old in style—ancient, almost—but meticulously maintained.

  When they saw the group approaching, the servants immediately bowed.

  Deeply.

  One of them, an elderly man with long silver hair tied neatly behind his back, stepped forward.

  His voice was gentle.

  "Welcome home."

  William blinked.

  "Home?"

  The man smiled faintly.

  "Yes."

  He gestured toward the others.

  "Each of you has been assigned a residence within the Dragon Society."

  Jordan frowned.

  "Wait—we're not staying together?"

  Another servant stepped forward beside Cameron, a woman whose robes were lined with dark blue silk.

  "The Dragon Society does not house keepers together during their early training," she explained softly.

  "It is believed that solitude strengthens the bond between keeper and dragon."

  Maya adjusted her glasses.

  "That's… very philosophical."

  The elderly servant nodded.

  "Our families have served the Dragon Society for generations beyond counting."

  He placed a hand gently over his chest.

  "My ancestors have guided the keepers of the Fire Line for over nine hundred years."

  Cameron's eyes widened.

  "Nine hundred—?"

  "Yes."

  The servant's smile never wavered.

  "We exist to serve the dragon keepers."

  Another servant bowed to Jordan.

  "My family has served the bearers of the Shadow Crest since the founding of the city."

  Jordan blinked.

  "…That's kinda creepy."

  The servant simply smiled politely.

  Kai clapped his hands once.

  "Well," he said casually.

  "This is where we split up."

  Cameron looked between everyone.

  "Wait—seriously?"

  Kai nodded.

  "Training starts tomorrow."

  Jordan stretched her arms over her head.

  "Great."

  Maya gave a small nod.

  "Rest would be… appreciated."

  One by one, the servants stepped forward.

  Each standing beside one of the young keepers.

  Like silent guides waiting to lead them into a new life.

  For the first time since arriving, the group hesitated.

  They had been together through everything so far.

  Now the city was pulling them apart.

  Cameron looked at everyone.

  "Well… this is weird."

  Jordan shrugged.

  "Relax. We'll see each other tomorrow."

  Shin gave a small nod.

  Maya simply said, "Goodnight."

  The servants began guiding them down different paths through the lantern-lit streets.

  Cameron disappeared first, excitedly asking his servant questions.

  Maya followed quietly through a narrow garden path lined with stone statues.

  Jordan walked away with her hands in her pockets, pretending not to care.

  Shin vanished silently into the shadows of the upper district.

  Soon—

  Only William remained.

  The elderly servant who had first spoken stepped beside him.

  "Your residence awaits."

  William took one last look across the valley.

  The Dragon Society glowed beneath the moon like a hidden world forgotten by time.

  But he couldn't shake a strange feeling.

  Like the city itself was watching him.

  Waiting.

  He turned and followed the servant into the quiet streets.

  Far above them, the twin shrines of the Dragon of Life and the Dragon of Time stood silently beneath the stars.

  Their sealed forms resting deep within ancient stone.

  Unmoving.

  Patient.

  And somewhere far beyond the mountains…

  Something dark was beginning to stir.

  The age of dragons had begun again