The third tower rose like a broken colossus, its stones blackened by centuries of fire, but it still held the majesty of something sacred. Around them, the ruins of the district seemed to murmur. Fallen columns, crumbling temples, and Valyrian symbols carved in stone watched them, as if the ancients were present.
Vaemor felt the air different. Heavier, but also warmer, almost as if the tower were breathing.
"This is it," he said, though no one needed to hear it.
Kaelyth nodded.
"This place... has memory."
They all felt it. The pulse in their tattoos burned, and the eggs they carried vibrated slightly, as if they shared the same heartbeat.
The Discovery of the Temple
They could not begin the ritual without first exploring the site. They entered what remained of the temple adjacent to the tower.
The walls were covered with High Valyrian reliefs: dragons, men in ceremonial robes, and what looked like blood rituals. Kaelyth ran her fingers over an inscription.
"Blood for fire, fire for blood," she translated softly. "This... was an oath."
"The ancient Valyrians did not build for mere beauty," Aerys commented. "Every stone here has a purpose."
In the center of the temple, they found a destroyed altar. Or nearly destroyed. Beneath the rubble was a metal chest that seemed to stand the test of time. Zaryon opened it with difficulty. Inside were Valyrian steel forging implements, blackened by time, but recognizable.
Vaemor picked up one of the hammers, heavy and perfectly balanced.
"They are not just relics. They are a key to the future."
When they reached the foot of the tower, they knew what they must do. The very structure demanded it: an inscription commanded them to offer blood at the entrance altar.
"Again," Maekor growled, rolling up his sleeve.
Vaemor was the first. Without hesitation, he slashed the palm of his hand with his Valyrian steel sword and let the blood fall onto the hot stone. The altar absorbed the liquid as if it were alive.
One by one, the others repeated the gesture. When Kaelyth dropped her blood, the ground shook. The air burned.
Suddenly, the walls of the tower began to glow with fiery runes. Her tattoos did too, expanding a little more, as if the dragon etched on her arms were awakening.
Vaemor felt something course through his veins. Pain and ecstasy at the same time. The bond with his egg deepened. In his mind, he heard a roar. It wasn't a dream. It wasn't imagination. It was his dragon.
"It's changing us," he said, his voice cracking between pain and certainty.
Kaelyth, her face pale, nodded.
"We're ceasing to be what we were."
They didn't have time to process it. A guttural roar echoed through the ruins.
"Again..." Aerys whispered, taking up his spear.
But there weren't three of them as before. This time, there were at least eight creatures, moving in coordination. Their bodies were larger, and their eyes were more intelligent. They moved as a group that understood the terrain.
"They were following us," Kaelyth said, tightening her grip on her knife. "And now they want to surround us."
Vaemor didn't think.
"Form up! Don't split up!"
The first two monsters charged. Maekor intercepted one with his axe, splitting its skull. Aerys pierced another with his spear, but a third rammed him from the side, throwing him against a broken column. Zaryon swung his sword at one of the flankers, stalling for time. Vaemor faced the larger one, which had a bony crest atop its head. The monster roared and slashed out, nearly tearing off his arm. The fight was brutal. Black and red blood stained the stones of the sacred district. When the last fell, they were gasping and bleeding. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and the heat of combat. "This is no longer just beast territory," Kaelyth said, breathing heavily. "They are… guardians." Vaemor looked toward the tower. "So we are the intruders." But they would not back down. Every tower, every ritual, brought them closer to something greater. Something that was beginning to consume them. And as they stared at the corpses, they all thought the same thing: if these creatures were savage, what awaited them deeper in the heart of Valyria?