Zephyria was silent when Lucifer landed in the main courtyard.
He did not stop to address the cheering mortal soldiers who had gathered to watch the colossal Crystalline White Dragon descend from the ash storm.
He vaulted off Isolde's massive neck and left Celeste to manage the returning Void-Breaker Dragoons.
Lucifer strode directly into the central keep. He bypassed the grand hall and headed deep underground. He took the spiraling stone stairs two at a time to reach the Aether-Forge.
The subterranean cavern was sweltering. The hum of the Void-Core Reactor was dangerously erratic and pitched up and down like a dying heartbeat.
Vexia and Thrain stood near the master control console. They frantically monitored the rapidly depleting refined mana crystals feeding the city's massive planetary shield.
"The shield is holding against the toxic ash, Warlord!" Thrain reported loudly and wiped a thick smear of soot from his braided beard.
