In the deep, suffocating shadows of the stone corridors, Dalirina and Fairo rushed forward, their hands working frantically to unfasten the heavy iron chains binding Elinor.
The white dragon finally stretched her massive wings, her newfound freedom trembling through every single scale.
Yet, before her razor-sharp claws could fully touch the stone floor, a chillingly familiar voice slipped through the darkness.
Nazar emerged from the pitch-black tunnels after a long, calculated absence, a sly, venomous smile curling on her lips: — "I knew you would come, Dalirina."
With a sudden, violent flick of her hand, the heavy palace gates slammed shut behind them like a crack of thunder.
From every hidden corridor, massive waves of heavily armored soldiers poured into the chamber, their iron boots pounding against the stone like ancient war drums.
Amidst the sudden chaos, Nazar's sharp command cut through the noise like ice: — "Protect Prince Fairo… as for her, I want her alive or dead!"
The endless hordes surged forward with weapons bared. Elinor instantly rose to her full, terrifying height, celestial fire blazing hot within her throat.
But before her destructive roar could be unleashed upon the crowd, Dalirina cried out in desperation: — "Stop! Don't kill them!"
Perfectly obedient, the massive dragon stilled her stance, though white-hot embers still burned dangerously within her jaws.
Nazar's eyes flared with pure, unadulterated fury at the display of control: — "Kill her! Execute that monstrous dragon right now!"
Dalirina pleaded for peace, but the prince's ruthless half-sister showed absolutely no mercy.
An elite soldier lunged forward, his heavy sword raised high, aiming a lethal strike directly toward Elinor's eye.
In that split second of pure terror, Dalirina collapsed to her knees—and a monstrous scream ripped from the absolute depths of her soul. It was a primordial cry so fierce, so filled with raw agony, that it literally shattered the sky above.
The earth roared in response.
The stone ground cracked open, the massive palace walls shook to their foundations, and a sudden, violent storm of wind howled through the enclosed hall.
Blazing flames swirled around Dalirina like a fiery, untamed tempest, lifting her slender body high into the air. Her eyes opened, blazing with a blinding, terrifying light that was definitely not of this world.
Below her, the legendary Elinor bowed her massive head to the dirt, trembling in absolute awe and submission before her true mistress.
And then… absolute silence.
One by one, every single person fell to the ground. The armored soldiers, the deadly foes, even Nazar herself—all collapsed into unconsciousness.
None remained standing in the wrecked hall but the white dragon.
Dalirina crashed back to the stone floor, stunned and breathless, her heart hammering against her ribs in sheer disbelief of her own awakening power.
She rushed over to Fairo and Nazar. Both still breathed, but they were incredibly frail, weak, and lifeless, as though hope itself had completely abandoned their bodies.
There was no time to waste. The distant, thunderous marching of more royal soldiers closing in echoed once more through the outer halls.
Summoning all her strength, Dalirina heavily heaved the unconscious Fairo onto Elinor's broad back, then quickly climbed up behind him.
With a single, mighty sweep of her massive wings, Elinor soared skyward through the shattered ceiling.
A heavy rain of iron arrows chased after them from the courtyard below, but they were entirely useless against the dragon's furious, vertical ascent.
They flew high into the clouds, racing far beyond the burning borders of the kingdom.
As the freezing winds whipped violently around her face, Dalirina heard the echo of the head maid's final words whispering clearly in her mind:
"Beyond this cursed land… follow the setting sun until you reach a massive waterfall nestled between two towering, jagged peaks. Behind its mist lies the mythical Land of Exile, where the very last fairies of Friez live in secret peace, hidden forever from all human eyes."
And so, the curtains close on this chapter—Dalirina and Elinor tearing ruthlessly through the endless skies, racing side by side toward the vast, dangerous unknown that awaits them.