CHAPTER 1076: MORNING LIGHT

Time lost its meaning within the cavern. The air hung thick with stillness, broken only by the faint resonance of the glowing crystals that lined the walls. Their light pulsed in rhythm with the Dragonborn’s presence, as if the crystal itself breathed with them.

Krono sat unmoving at his corner, his aura folding inward, but even when his power was being restrained right now it still carried a pressure that bent the edges of the air around him.

Veins of crystal around him shimmered brighter, drawn toward his gravity and vibrating with the current of time power that clung to him.

His body looked as though carved from the stone itself. If anyone saw him right now they would see him as an eternal and untouchable being.

Aesa, nestled within her shadowed alcove, appeared calm. Her pale face softened in meditation. However, beneath her stillness, her essence stirred like a sleeping storm.

The silver cold mist that rose around her shoulders clung close to her and weaving some kind of patterns that were only recognized by the other Dragonborn. But right now both of them were not looking at her.

Her lips were faintly curved, as though the cave brought her a comfort she had not felt in ages, even though it was just a few days since she left her cave. Being around so many creatures makes her miss her home quickly.

Eccar shifted restlessly at first. His arms crossed and his gaze flicking between the two of them. Patience had never been his gift but slowly, as he closed his eyes and let his power sink inward, the rhythm of the cavern pulled him under.

His fierce and raw aura burned briefly before smoothing into a steady glow, settling into harmony with the others.

Silence deepened until it became more than quiet.

It was a presence of its own, a vast emptiness stretching across the cave, wrapping them in its embrace.

Three Dragonborn, three different currents of power now flowing together in unspoken accord inside this cave.

For a moment, the cavern itself seemed to shift its stone walls as if it remembered something.

The crystals shivered faintly, the air around trembled, and far deeper within the stone, echoes stirred.

This cave has stored memories that were older than kingdoms and kings existed in other worlds right now.

Actually, the cave was not merely Krono’s home. It was a place that had watched the passage of ages with him. He had used his power here so often that the minerals and stones and waters absorbed his essence.

And here, in its heart, the three Dragonborn rested. So more power for the cave to absorb.

—

Erend stirred awake as the first strands of morning light slipped through the tall windows of the Archmage’s chamber. His eyes blinked open slowly, adjusting to the familiar sight of walls, books, shelves, and the faint light from the tether device.

Nothing had changed since last night. He remembered that he was still in the Archmage’s tower.

His gaze swept across the room finding Adrius and Lysander still in their beds, breathing slow and deep in the grasp of sleep.

For a moment he wondered if this was normal for them if they usually woke late or if it was simply the weight of exhaustion dragging them down after all they had done yesterday.

But there was no more time to waste.

Erend pushed himself upright and rose from his seat. His eyes flicked toward the tether device resting on the round table.

The strange construct was still pulsing with arcs of pale light rings dancing around it.

He crossed the room, leaned slightly, and gave Adrius’s shoulder a firm shake.

"Wake up. We need to move."

Adrius groaned softly and turned before his eyes cracked open.

Lysander stirred from his bed not far as well when Erend’s hand shook his arm, both of them blinking groggily at the morning light.

With a stretch and a lazy yawn, Adrius sat up, rubbing the side of his face. "Oh... right. That’s today."

His lips curved faintly with a voice still carrying the weight of lingering fatigue.

Lysander pushed himself up next, his looks like a tangled mess as he rubbed at his eyes.

"I may not be going with you through the portal, but I’ll still help stabilize the device. If we don’t secure it maybe you’ll never make it through intact."

His voice was steadier now and purpose slowly returned to his posture.

Erend’s brow furrowed slightly. "Is there a chance something could go wrong if we bring the tether through the portal? is there a risk of it blowing up?"

Adrius met his eyes and said. "We’ll try our best to make sure nothing happens. It should work fine." He forced a small, reassuring smile.

Erend swallowed hard, a lump pressing against his throat. The thought of failure and something going wrong inside the portal while transporting the tether make him grimaced.

"If the device collapses in the middle of the transport it could rip us apart or worse things maybe could happen."

But there was no other choice. The entity had to be found, and this was the only way forward.

He drew a slow breath, steadying himself. "Alright then. Let’s not waste any more time."

Adrius rose from his bed with a quiet groan and stretching once more before moving toward the tether device.

Lysander was already there, his hands brushing over its surface, tracing the lines of etched runes glowing faintly along its frame.

The device started to pulsed with unstable light, arcs of pale energy rippling outward like ripples on water.

"We’ll need to anchor the resonance before we move it, master," Lysander murmured, his tone sharpening as his focus settled.

He pressed his palm against one of the rings and closed his eyes. His Magic flowed steadily into the construct. The trembling glow steadied, its rhythm slowing.

Adrius stepped beside him then drew a circle of Magic into the air. Fine threads of light extended from his hands, linking into the tether’s core.

"Keep the outer rings firm. I’ll lock the current at the heart," he said.

Lysander nodded, channeling more Magic energy.

The room filled with a low vibration as the arcs of light shifted into harmony, the device’s glow now pulsing like a heartbeat and more stable and contained.

Adrius exhaled. "That’s it. I guess it’s secure enough for transport."

He turned to Erend, their eyes meeting briefly.

Erend nodded and raised his hands, weaving the air, and a portal unfurled.

—