CHAPTER 127: RESEARCHING.......

Kelvin sat with the Veil codex open before him, its dim runes was a reminder of their victory over the Sovereign, its leather was covered heavy with the weight of their journey through the Shattered Peaks, Verdant Hollow, Iron Fens, Abyssal Caldera, Sanctum, Veilheart, Abyss Core, and Primordial Rift.

His faint scars that were across his chest, shoulder, arm, and thigh were barely visible beneath his rune-etched tunic, but they tingled with the memory of the Rift’s brutality.

His Veilbane Medal, that were forged from riftprimal scales and psychic cores, hung heavy at his chest, its violet and gold surface was catching the library’s glow, a badge of honor that felt both empowering and daunting.

Xerion coiled beside him with his twenty-foot serpentine form a cascade of crimson and gold scales, their gouges are now faint marks, the honor rune etched in the infirmary was glowing faintly, with his amber eyes vigilant as they scanned the chamber.

Their 82% sync ratio pulsed warmly in Kelvin’s chest, a steady anchor as he spoke, his voice was low but thick with unease.

"Valebreach’s mines... that rogue fire-wyrm," he said, with his fingers tightening around Master Mealin’s drake-essence amulet, its warmth was a faint comfort against the cold weight of his fear.

"It is not just a beast. The tome says it is tied to the fire essence where my father died, maybe even the Veil’s remnants.

Facing it feels like stepping into his grave, like I am being judged for failing him." Xerion’s hiss was sharp but grounding, his scales flared briefly as he sensed Kelvin’s turmoil, his warmth was a steady pulse that kept the visions of his father’s burning form at bay.

Lyra sat across from him, with her eyes fierce but shadowed with doubt, her faint scars on her arm, side, and thigh were hidden beneath her rune-etched tunic.

Her shadow-etched gauntlet was pulsing with Peaks’ dark runes, gloomstalker spores, labyrinth vine essence, griffon feathers, Fenheart obelisk runes, riftwraith claws, shadowdrake fangs, riftclaw pincers, riftbeast scales, psychic crystals, riftlord spines, and riftmonarch scales, its glow was steady but flickering with her unease.

Her Veilbane Medal gleamed, as a testament to her determination in the Rift, its surface was catching the crystal light.

Salaris perched on a nearby shelf, her iridescent feathers shimmered with restored vitality, her flank scar faint, her talons gleaming with riftmonarch essence, clicking softly as she shifted, her green eyes mirroring Lyra’s resolve.

"Duskfall’s groves... that is where my sister fell," Lyra said, her voice was soft but resolute, her fingers traced her gauntlet’s runes and their glow was steadying her trembling hand.

"The rogue tamers were guarding that shadow rune cache, they will make me relive it, every shadow, every moment of her death.

But I need to find closure, to make her memory a strength, not a wound." Salaris’s screech was quiet but fierce, her presence a shield against the emotional weight that threatened to pull Lyra under, her sister’s ghost a specter in her dreams.

Darius leaned back in his chair, tossing his soulstone with its glow bright with Peaks’ soulstream gems, labyrinth runes, griffon feathers, shadow claws, shadowdrake fangs, riftclaw pincers, altar runes, psychic gems, riftbeast scales, psychic crystals, riftlord spines, and riftmonarch scales, his scars were on his chest, shoulder, and leg, though faint but visible beneath his tunic, his Veilbane Medal shining proudly.

Rhoam sprawled beside him, his iron plates clinking softly, their cracks now faint lines, the honor rune glowing, his growl low but fierce, his eyes gleaming with defiance.

"Ironholt’s ruins... that rift remnant," Darius said with his grin sharp but strained, his hazel eyes were clouded with the memory of flames. "It’s like the Veil left a piece of itself to mock me, lurking where my village burned.

I don’t know if I can face it alone, but I want vengeance for what I lost, for every scream I couldn’t stop."

Rhoam’s growl was deepened, his plates were gleaming despite their scars, his bond with Darius was a rock against the fear of Ironholt’s ghosts, the soulstone’s light were steady in his hand as he tossed it, its arc was a quiet determination.

The discussion wove their fears into a shared tapestry, their voices were low but intense, each word deepened their bond.

Kelvin spoke of redemption, his need to honor his father by taming or defeating the wyrm, to prove he was more than the boy who failed to save him in Valebreach’s mines.

He recounted his father’s lessons, the way he had taught him to sync with beasts, his voice breaking as he admitted his fear of failing again, Xerion’s hiss was a soft reassurance.

Lyra shared her desire for closure, to reclaim her sister’s memory by securing Duskfall’s shadow runes, to turn her pain into a purpose that would honor her sister’s sacrifice.

She described her sister’s laughter, her shadow-taming skill, her green eyes glistening as she vowed to face the groves, Salaris’s screech a quiet echo of her resolve.

Darius admitted his thirst for vengeance, to destroy the rift remnant and rebuild Ironholt’s legacy, to silence the screams that haunted his dreams.

He spoke of his village’s festivals, that is now ashes, his grin faded as he vowed to fight, Rhoam’s growl was a steady anchor.

Their fears were palpable, a heavy weight in the library’s quiet space, but their unity was a flame that burned brighter, their beasts reacting with hisses, screeches, and growls, mirroring their emotions.

They clasped hands across the table, their Veilbane Medals was clinking softly, vowing to succeed for each other, their camaraderie was a shield against doubt, their scars was a shared testament to their strength that was forged in the Rift.

The trio dove into research with relentless focus, poring over the library’s ancient books, rune tablets, and glowing scrolls, their hands were stained with ink as they scoured for knowledge to prepare for their missions, the crystal light was casting long shadows across their work.

Kelvin found a weathered book that was bound in wyrm hide, its pages were etched with runes that detailed Valebreach’s fire-wyrms, their habits is a mix of cunning and ferocity, their flames fueled by the mines’ fire essence, possibly a remnant of the Veil’s lingering influence.