The air near the dragon’s lair clung thick with mist, a pale shroud that wrapped itself around the jagged cliffs. Each breath tasted of damp stone and the faint tang of sulfur. The adventurers moved in silence, their footsteps muffled against the slick, dew-covered rocks. Weapons drawn but low, they crept forward with the wary grace of those who knew danger was always one misstep away.

  Ellie trailed behind them, her heart hammering louder than her boots on the stone. It wasn’t the climb or the cold that had her shaking—it was the knowledge that soon, far too soon, they would face the dragon. There would be no more walking, no more time to delay. There would only be fire and scales.

  Ahead, the mountain rose in brutal spires, its peak hidden in swirling mist. The cave where the dragon slept was a gaping black maw, lined with jagged rocks like teeth. The smell of charred earth lingered in the air, faint but unmistakable.

  “Steady,” Haldor muttered, his gravelly voice close at her ear. “Stay close.”

  She nodded, too nervous to speak. Her fingers clenched around the hilt of her dagger, the blade feeling useless in her grip. The others—elite adventurers, each a veteran of a hundred battles—moved with deadly confidence. They didn’t hesitate. They didn’t look back. Ellie, on the other hand, felt like a child playing at war.

  Mist thickened as they climbed, swirling in eerie coils around their feet. What remained of the path was little more than a narrow ledge, winding up the mountainside toward the lair. The adventurers slowed, their weapons rising, eyes scanning the cliffs. Ellie, lagging behind, fought to keep her balance on the slick, uneven ground.

  The group came to a halt just below the cave. Haldor raised a hand, signaling for silence. He crouched low, scanning the rocky outcrop above them.

  Ellie froze, her eyes darting between the adventurers and the ominous cave ahead. Her breath quickened as a dull pressure began building in her chest, anxiety curling tighter with every passing second.

  She fumbled with the small pack slung across her shoulders, her hands trembling as she searched for something to calm herself. Her fingers closed around the small, metal flask tucked inside—a bit of liquid courage, one of the adventurers had joked when they’d given it to her.

  But when she pulled it free, her hand brushed against the latch on her belt pouch. It snapped open, and the contents spilled out.

  The first thing to hit the stone was a small glass vial of powder.

  Ellie gasped and dove for it, but it was too late. The vial shattered on impact, releasing a puff of pale smoke. The dust swirled unnaturally, clinging to the rocks like frost.

  “What was that?” Haldor’s sharp whisper cut through the tension, his gaze snapping toward her.

  “I—I didn’t mean—” Ellie stammered, panic rising in her throat.

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  Before she could finish, the powder reacted to the moisture in the air. A sizzling sound echoed through the cliffs as the chemical residue spread, seeping into the cracks and crevices of the rock face.

  The ground beneath them began to tremble.

  “What did you do?” one of the adventurers hissed, eyes wide with alarm.

  “I don’t know!” Ellie cried, scrambling back. Her hands clenched the useless flask, her mind racing.

  With a crack like thunder, the mountainside shifted. The chemical reaction had weakened the already precarious ledge. Rocks groaned and slid, a cascade of boulders tumbling down toward the cave below.

  “Get back!” Haldor shouted, pulling Ellie to her feet as the ground threatened to give way entirely.

  The roar of the rockslide filled the air, drowning out everything else. Ellie’s legs wobbled as she stumbled to safety, choking on the dust kicked up by the collapse.

  When the rumble finally subsided, the path was obliterated, leaving behind jagged debris and a choking haze. Ellie coughed, her lungs burning as she pushed herself upright.

  “Everyone alright?” Haldor called out.

  A chorus of groans and curses followed, but no one seemed seriously hurt.

  “That was close,” one of the adventurers muttered, brushing dirt from his armor.

  The others were on their feet, shaken but seemingly unharmed. Their eyes weren’t on her, though. They were staring at the dragon’s lair.

  The rockslide had crashed into the cave’s entrance, blocking it with a wall of debris. But there was something moving within, a massive shadow stirring behind the rocks. A low, angry growl rumbled from the darkness.

  Ellie’s blood ran cold.

  The dragon.

  Through the settling dust, its enormous form became visible. A colossal beast, scales black as night, eyes glowing like molten embers. But it didn’t charge. Instead, it stumbled, disoriented, wings scraping against the cave’s walls as it tried to shake free from the rockslide’s aftermath.

  “We… weakened it,” one of the adventurers breathed in awe. “Before we even started.”

  Ellie blinked. What? No, no, no. That wasn’t right. She hadn’t done anything.

  Ellie shook her head. “No, I didn’t—”

  “Brilliant move,” another cut in, their voice rising with excitement. “Using alchemy to bring down the cliff! She planned it perfectly!”

  She blinked at them, stunned. “I didn’t plan—”

  “Smart thinking,” Haldor interrupted, his voice gruff but impressed. “Letting the mountain do some of the work for us.”

  Ellie’s mouth went dry. They thought she’d done this on purpose? That it was some masterstroke of strategy?

  The dragon let out a pained roar, shaking the rubble loose as it thrashed against the cave walls. Its movements were slower, weaker than she’d expected—but it was still alive, and it was angry.

  “Prepare yourselves!” the lead adventurer bellowed, raising his sword. “Strike now, while it’s vulnerable!”

  Ellie’s heart lurched. Vulnerable? It didn’t look vulnerable. It looked angry.

  But the adventurers moved into position without hesitation, their eyes gleaming with determination. To them, this was just another battle. Another beast to be slain.

  Ellie, her heart racing, had no choice but to follow.

  “Stick with me.” Haldor moved to her side, his hand briefly brushing her shoulder. “We’ll see this through.”

  She nodded, though her stomach churned with doubt. The dragon growled again, and this time, it sounded like a promise. A promise of fire, of death.

  Ellie gripped her dagger tighter, hoping it wouldn’t slip from her trembling fingers.