I Received System to Become Dragonborn

Food was being delivered to those who could eat. The Elven soldiers whose faces still etched with exhaustion gathered in small groups, sharing bread and warm stew. The scent of freshly baked loaves and steaming broth provided a temporary comfort, though the heaviness in the air remained.

The battlefield outside the palace\'s walls was strewn with shattered stone and scorched earth. A reminder of the violent battle that had taken place there few minutes ago. Though the Elves moved quickly to restore order, the signs of destruction were everywhere.

Erend stood on the balcony overlooking the scene. His gaze fixed on the small vortex that still swirling above. The black lightning within it had lessened and the sky was beginning its transition from day to night. The hues of twilight blending with the unnatural darkness of the vortex.

The air was cool but the anxiety in Erend\'s chest felt like a weight that wouldn\'t lift. Despite the surface calm he knew the peace was fragile and just a short pause before whatever lay ahead.

He watched as the Elven warriors worked tirelessly to rebuild what had been broken but his eyes kept drifting back to the vortex. The swirling mass of energy had shrunk but its presence was a reminder that the danger had not passed. Erend look at it as if something could suddenly emerged from there.

The Great Calamity may have been subdued, but the remnants of the Chaos Realm still lingered like a threat that lurking on the edge of the horizon.

Aurdis approached quietly from behind him. She reached out then her fingers intertwining with his finger as she took his hand. For a moment, they stood in silence, gazing out over the courtyard together. The cool breeze tugged at their clothes and armor and the distant murmurs of the Elves filled the quiet between them.

Aurdis tightened her grip then her eyes following his line of sight to the vortex.

"I know what you\'re thinking," she whispered. "But its going to be alright."

Erend\'s eyes softened when hearing Aurdis\' words, though the concern didn\'t leave his face.

"I just can\'t shake this feeling... that we\'re not done yet. I could imagine something suddenly came out from that thing." Erend cocked his head to the vortex.

Aurdis nodded. "Neither can I." She looked up at him, her expression both determined and weary. "But for now, we\'ve earned this moment."

"Yeah... maybe we have,"Erend replied. He turned to her and a faint smile touching his lips as he squeezed her hand.

The day surrendered to night, the two of them remained on the balcony watching as the palace grounds began to settle into the quiet of twilight.

Adrius\'s voice then suddenly echoed in Erend\'s mind, the familiar sensation of telepathic connection that he immediately answer.

"Erend, what\'s happening on your end?" the Archmage\'s voice was sharp and tinged with urgency.

Erend\'s eyes remained fixed on the distant vortex as he responded, "Eccar and I... we killed the last harbinger of doom."

A pause followed before Adrius replied. "So that means we only have the last of it to face."

"Yes. The Great Calamity itself," Erend confirmed.

Not wanting to break the concentration, Erend glanced at Aurdis and made a subtle gesture, signaling that he was engaged in a telepathic call. Aurdis nodded in understanding, releasing his hand gently and standing quietly by his side, her eyes filled with concern but respectful of the space he needed.

"What else should we expect after this?" Erend asked, hoping for some guidance.

Adrius\'s voice came through, laden with uncertainty. "I\'m afraid I have no idea. The records I had regarding this final stage... they\'re missing. Destroyed, perhaps."

Erend\'s shoulders slumped, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. The lack of information is dangerous, without a plan the path ahead was shrouded in darkness.

"We\'re running out of clues, Adrius. If we\'re to defeat the Great Calamity, we need to find its source—the heart, that pulsing mass of flesh we saw before."

"I know what you mean," Adrius responded. "I\'ll start searching for it immediately. If there\'s any trace left, I\'ll find it."

"Good," Erend said. "We have to end this before it grows any stronger."

After his conversation with Adrius ended, Erend turned to Aurdis.

"We don\'t have time to rest. We need to act fast," Erend said with hard expression.

Aurdis\'s eyes widened slightly. "Erend, you\'re still exhausted. Both you and Eccar just took down the both harbinger."

"I\'m fine," Erend insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument and Aurdis knows that. "But Eccar should rest. Let him recover for now."

Deep down, he didn\'t want to burden his friend any further. Eccar had already given everything to help him and Erend felt that this part of the fight was his responsibility to bear alone. At least he would try to bear it alone as long as he can.

Aurdis bit her lip, her eyes softening as she looked at him. She felt a surge of empathy and pity for Erend knowing he was shouldering so much on his own. But she also understood that, despite everything, Erend was the only one with the strength to continue.

He was built for this. And if he believed he could keep going she wouldn\'t stand in his way.

Aurdis swallowed her emotions and put on a tough front and nodded. "Okay. What should we do now?"

"I\'ll go closer to the vortex," Erend said. "You need to search for any clue you can find about that thing\'s next step. Don\'t tell Eccar, let him rest. I\'ll handle this alone. And don\'t worry, if I need help, I\'ll reach out to him telepathically."

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Aurdis hesitated, her eyes searching his for a moment, and then she leaned in, giving him a quick kiss on the lips.

"Be careful," she whispered before pulling away, her eyes lingering on his face before she turned and headed back inside.

Erend watched her go, then let out a deep breath. His Dragon wings sprouted from his back and with a powerful flap he launched himself into the sky, flying toward the vortex.

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