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nTalila

n“Hey Talila, it’s been a few months since you and Archer first met. Do you miss him?”

nCecelia asked as they walked through the Sabat Kingdom, escorting the iron-shadow merchants.

nTalila shrugged. “He’s fine. We’ll see each other again soon enough.”

nCecelia raised an eyebrow. “So, why have you been so quiet lately?”

nShe sighed inwardly, knowing that Cecelia was just trying to provoke her.

n“I’ve just been keeping to myself. No need to worry about me.”

nCecelia didn’t press the matter any further, and they continued on their journey.

nThe caravan traveled down the road, and the sun started to set as the wind grew stronger, sending shivers down Talila’s back.

nThe journey to the Demonian Kingdom would still take several weeks.

nTalila trudged down the long dirt road, her hood pulled tightly over her head to shield her from the biting wind.

nShe continued to walk as the weather grew steadily worse. The sky darkens, and the temperature drops rapidly.

nSoon, snow began to fall, swirling around her in a flurry of white. .

nTalila shivered, her cloak doing little to protect her from the cold.

nHer footsteps grew heavier as the snow piled up around her, making it difficult to move forward.

nDespite the harsh conditions, she pressed on until the guard in charge of the merchant’s safety called out to everyone.

n“We will camp in that clearing over there. The trees will provide some protection from this snow.”

nThe whole caravan pulled off the dirt road as the snow got heavier, the clearing was compact, and the trees were taller than the ones in the forsaken forest.

nNovius and Radyn were setting up the group’s tents, and Talia kept watch as Feyra joined her.

n“Did you hear what the guards were talking about earlier?”

nShe looked at the red-headed knight who just spoke before shaking her head.

n“No, what were they saying?” Talila asked.

n“Have you heard the children’s tale about the white dragon king who fought against humans thousands of years ago?”

nTalila nodded.

n”It appears that a white dragon has emerged in the empire, and the church attempted to attack the boy they believe to be the dragon. However, he was able to evade their grasp.”

nCurious, she asked, “Does anyone know who the boy is?”

nThe redhead shook her head. “No, I only overheard the guards talking about it earlier.”

nTalila and Feyra stood side by side, scanning the snowy campsite for any signs of danger.

nThe night was quiet, with only the occasional hoot of an owl breaking the silence.

nHours passed, and Talila shivered, wrapping her arms around herself to keep warm as the snow grew heavier.

n“I can’t wait to get back to the fire,” Talila muttered.

nFeyra agreed.

n“Me too. But we can’t let our guard down. Radyn wouldn’t forgive us if something happened.”

nJust then, they heard Radyn’s voice calling out to them from the direction of the fire.

n“Hey, you two! Come on over and relax for a bit.”

nTalila and Feyra exchanged a look before making their way over to the fire where Radyn was sitting on a log, holding a steaming mug of tea.

n“Finally,” Talila said as she sat down next to him. “I thought I was going to freeze out there.” She smiled as she settled in next to Feyra.

n“Thanks for calling us over, Radyn. We needed a break,” Feyra added.

nRadyn grinned. “Of course, we can’t have our watchwomen freezing to death on duty.”

nThey all laughed, the warmth of the fire chasing away the chill of the night.

nFor a while, they sat in comfortable silence, taking small sips of their warm tea and relishing the peacefulness of the night.

nHowever, their tranquility was soon interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps.

nDarius strode over to the group, his arms crossed over his chest. “Where’s my tea? It’s freezing out here,” he grumbled.

nTalila rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything.

nShe had noticed that Darius had been acting strangely since their meeting with Archer weeks ago, but she didn’t want to engage with him if he was going to be difficult.

nNovius, who had been standing behind the group, spoke up.

n“If you want tea, make it yourself like everyone else did. Don’t be lazy.”

nDarius scowled but didn’t argue.

nHe walked over to the fire and began to rummage through the supplies for a tea bag and a mug.

nThe group fell back into their companionable silence, but Talila couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease.

nNaravo, the capital city of the Lionheart Kingdom

nA young girl with blonde hair flowing down her back in loose waves stood across from the commander.

nHer beautiful blue eyes sparkled with excitement as she bounced up and down on the spot, ready to begin her training.

nWith a grin on her face, she crouched down like a lioness ready to pounce.

nSwift and graceful like a big cat, the young girl launched herself at the commander with a sudden burst of energy, ready to engage in her combat training.

nThe commander blocked her attacks and lightly attacked her back.

nHours passed as she stood on the training grounds sweating and breathing heavily, sword still held firmly in her hand.

nStill facing off against her father’s general, a seasoned warrior with many years of experience.

nThe general circled her, his own sword at the ready, and remarked.

n“You’re getting better, Nala.”

nHe said, a hint of approval in his voice.

n“But you still have a long way to go.”

nNala gritted her teeth, determined to prove herself. She lunged forward, her sword flashing in the sunlight.

nThe general parried her attack easily, then countered with a swift strike that she barely managed to block.

nThey continued to spar, each one testing the other’s skill.

nNala was fast and agile, but the general was strong and had a wealth of knowledge to draw upon.

nThe two traded blows back and forth, the sound of their swords clashing filling the air.

nAs the sun began to set, the girl felt her energy flagging.

nShe knew she couldn’t keep up this pace forever, but she refused to give up.

nNala pushed herself harder, determined to prove that she was worthy of her father’s trust.

nFinally, after what felt like hours, the general lowered his sword and said with a hint of a smile on his face. .

n“That’s enough for today. You did well.”

nThe girl grinned, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment.

nNala’s determination burned within her as she wiped the sweat from her forehead and returned her weapon to the racks.

nShe knew she still had a long way to go, but she was driven to become the best warrior in the Lionheart Kingdom.

nAs she turned to leave the training grounds, the general approached her with a smile on his face.

n“The little lioness has grown,” he said, his eyes glinting with pride.

n“And you’re only thirteen.” Nala felt a surge of satisfaction at the general’s words.

nShe had worked hard to get where she was, and she knew she still had much to learn.

nBut she was determined to keep pushing herself to become the best she could be.

nWith a nod of thanks to the general, she left the training grounds and headed into the city.

nNala walked through the ancient city, she admired the sights.

nNaravo City was nestled in the heart of the large savannah, surrounded by tall grasses and flame trees.

nThe tall buildings were made of acacia clay and thatched roofs, with intricate carvings and colorful murals adorning the walls.

nThe streets were bustling with various vendors selling exotic spices, hand-woven textiles, magic items, tomes, and intricate beadwork.

nShe gazed upon the sun setting, casting a warm orange hue over the city, the air suddenly erupted with the lively beat of drums and joyful singing.

nPeople gathered in the city squares, dressed in vibrant fabrics and adorned with jewelry made from precious stones and shells from the coast.

nThe air was thick with the scent of incense and roasting meats.

nAt the center of the city square stood a towering Umba tree.

nThe tree was sacred to the people of the kingdom, and they believed that it held the spirits of their ancestors.

nAs the night wore on, the people danced around the Umba tree, their movements fluid and graceful.

nThe drumming grew louder and more frenzied, and the air crackled with energy.

nIt was a magical place, full of life and spirit, and anyone who visited could feel the power of the land and its people.

nNala stood in the bustling city square, her eyes fixed on the towering Umba tree.

nShe gazed at the tree’s gnarled trunk and sprawling branches, she felt a strange sensation wash over her.

nSuddenly, her mind was filled with a vivid image of a white dragon soaring through the sky, its wings beating against the clouds.

nFor a moment, Nala was transfixed by the vision, her heart pounding in her chest, she had never seen anything like it before.

nThe image faded, and she shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.

nHad it been a trick of the light? A figment of her imagination? But as she looked up at the Umba tree once more.

nNala couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something special about it, something that connected her to that mysterious white dragon.

nA

/N – Leave some comments, power stones, and gifts. It all helps support the book. Artwork in the comments or discord

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