Chapter 19 – The Sky Breaks Open
It happened just hours after Jackie stepped out of the Crucible.
A sudden silence fell over the storm. The ancient dragon—Vael'tharuun—lifted its head toward the sky and let out a low growl.
> "They are here."
Jackie turned to Kael. "How many?"
Kael didn't answer.
He just watched the sky.
And then she saw it.
🜂 The Beacon
A column of white light shot up from a hilltop miles away—a Warden beacon.
Artificial, sterile, built with Rift-tech that had no soul.
And from the light came airships. Sleek, silver, humming with focused energy.
> "They used to only deploy those to track Unmade," Kael muttered. "They're not here to talk."
> "Then we give them something to talk about," Jackie said, stepping forward.
The fire under her skin flared—not angry, but intentional.
She wasn't going to hide.
She wasn't going to run.
She was going to stand.
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🜂 First Contact
The Wardens landed just outside the Riftstorm.
Jackie, Kael, and Vael'tharuun stood at the cliff's edge as the lead Warden stepped forward.
She wore black armor, runes pulsing across her shoulders. Her helmet retracted, revealing sharp features and bright silver eyes.
> "Flameborne," she said coldly. "You've activated sealed magic. You are to come with us for containment."
Jackie raised her chin. "I'm not going anywhere."
The Warden didn't flinch.
> "This isn't a request."
Jackie's wings flickered in her shadow. "Good. I don't take orders from people who tried to erase my history."
> "You're not history," the Warden snapped. "You're a threat. And that… is doctrine."
Kael stepped forward. "Her fire is stable. She passed the Crucible. You know what that means."
The Warden's eyes locked on his.
> "I know what it used to mean. That era is over."
> "We decide what dragons are now."
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🜂 Decision Point: Fight, Flee, or Unite
Vael'tharuun lowered his massive head.
> "You have power. You have flame. But now you need something more dangerous."
> "A choice."
Jackie looked at the Warden force behind the woman. Some were young. Some looked uncertain.
One or two weren't even armed.
They hadn't expected her to face them like this.
> "You don't have to fight," Kael said. "But you can't let them define you, either."
Jackie took a deep breath.
Three paths stretched before her.