The next day did not dawn calmly.
In fact, what woke most people in Strax's mansion were the loud bangs—sharp, powerful sounds, like thunder breaking through the clouds on a clear morning. The vibration from the explosions shook the windows and tore some tiles from the west side.
In the sky above the outer courtyard, two figures collided with fury and precision. Kali and Cassandra—or rather, the humanoid versions of their draconic bodies—flew in wide circles, exchanging blows that shaped the surrounding landscape.
Kali was still adapting to her form. Her dark, amber-flecked body trembled slightly with each charge, as if she were still absorbing the weight and extent of the new power coursing through her veins. But even unstable, she was already a formidable force. The ground beneath her responded with cracks and tremors whenever she came too close to the earth.
