As they left the old house, the old lady stood at the gate, her wrinkled hand raised in farewell, a faint smile softening her eyes. Luca had already summoned the baby dragon back into the beast space; the lively giggles of earlier had been replaced by an almost heavy stillness.
They followed a narrow forest trail that twisted deeper into the inner section. Luca walked a few paces behind Celestia, watching the way her regal posture never faltered, her cloak trailing behind her like the tail of some untouchable phoenix.
For a while, only the crunch of leaves underfoot accompanied them.
Then the change began.
The golden shafts of sunlight that had been filtering through the canopy dimmed, swallowed as though the forest itself was exhaling shadows. The air grew colder, sharper, each breath Luca took curling faintly in front of his lips.
He finally broke the silence. "Your Majesty, what's happening?"
