The immense palace doors loomed, etched with ancient runes. Ash and his team stood before them, a calm unease settling over them.
Behind them, the dragon remained in the courtyard, its vast shape casting long shadows across the polished marble. It was motionless, yet its presence was weighty, like the brewing storm in Ash's mind.
Then, a deep, firm voice cut the silence. It was more than a sound; it was a command that demanded absolute attention.
"Wait."
They froze mid-stride. The dragon's gaze had shifted, no longer locked on the golden amulet Ash carried, but fixed solely on Ash himself.
Its molten eyes narrowed, glowing with an intensity that suggested ancient knowledge.
"There's something else in you," the dragon said, its voice smoother, quieter, yet no less commanding. "A core of ice, a cold fire. You carry the essence of the Frost Titan."
Ash froze. His pulse quickened. A sudden surge of adrenaline coursed through him.
