The heavy wooden doors to the council chamber swung open, groaning under the strain of their weight. The thick scent of old oak and incense filled the room as Xania and Derrex entered, stepping into the atmosphere of history and decision. Rows of Drakes sat in long chairs at a polished obsidian table, their faces stern, sharp with intelligence and years of service. The air was thick with tension, the murmurs of quiet conversation dying as the pair settled into a quiet corner, far from the center of the gathering.
Garr Alistair Drake, patriarch of the council and leader of the dragon folk, stood at the head of the table. His green-scaled skin gleamed under the chamber’s low light, his powerful build imposing even in the presence of the council's other members. He was an ancient force, both in age and influence, with eyes that had seen the rise and fall of kingdoms, wars fought and lost, and cycles of magic that spanned centuries. His voice, when it rang out, carried the weight of all those experiences.
"Friends," Garr's voice cut through the silence, rich and commanding, "the Techie Kingdom has made its move, they have begun to mobilize their army. We have two weeks—two weeks—before their army is in our back yard. If we do not act now, we risk losing everything."
At the far end of the table, a younger dragonborn, his scales a mottled grey, leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "And what of the Lesser Tree? Can we hold it if we do not?"
Garr’s eyes narrowed, his sharp features drawn in quiet resolve. "The Lesser Tree is the source of the magic that sustains our kind. Without it, we will lose our power. The Techies know this. They intend to strike at its roots, and with it, cripple us for good." He paused, the weight of his words sinking into the room. "The flow of magic, the strength of the dragons, and the strength of our people—it all comes from the magic if the Life Tree. Without it, we are nothing."
Xania glanced at Derrex, whose lips were pressed into a thin line, his jaw tight. He, too, understood the importance of the Lesser Tree, but for him, the battle had a different meaning. He had already seen the devastation the Techies could bring. Xania took his hand in hers, squeezing gently. He squeezed her hand back, but kept his eyes on the proceedings.
Garr's voice rose again, more forceful this time, shaking the tension in the room. "We must join the war. We cannot sit idly by and wait for our destruction. The Techies are mobilizing, and if we wait, we will be too late. We will lose everything."
"But how do we combat them?" a council member asked, a female Drake with obsidian scales, her voice laced with doubt. "The Techies have no regard for magic. They’ve proven that. We’ve seen their weapons. How can we fight against them when they can so easily extinguish the flow of magic?"
"With power," Garr said simply. "The Techies may think they can suppress magic, but they cannot destroy it entirely. They underestimate the force we command when we stand united. The Lesser Tree will stand, and it will give us strength. But we must get to it first. Our best chance is to mobilize now and strike before they can reach the Lesser Tree."
He turned his eyes to the council, locking gaze with each member in turn. "We will go to war. We will defend the Lesser Tree. We will defend our magic, our way of life, and our people."
The room fell silent as the weight of his decision settled over them. For a long moment, no one spoke. The Drake leaders, some older and wiser, some younger and eager, weighed the consequences of war. Xania stood unmoving in her corner.
Finally, the voice of the council’s eldest member, a silver-scaled Drake with a calm and steady presence, broke the silence. "We cannot afford to wait. You speak true, Garr. We must go to war, for the Lesser Tree, for the strength of our kind, and for our survival. I vote in favor."
One by one, the council members voiced their agreement. The votes were cast, and the decision was made. The council would mobilize their forces, prepare their armies, and march to war. The Lesser Tree would be protected—or it would fall, and with it, the Drakes and all those who were dependent upon its magic.
Garr stood, his presence towering over the council chamber. "It is done, then. We will fight. And we will win." He turned his gaze to the back of the room, where Xania and Derrex stood, unnoticed until now. "Come, Xania. Derrex. Join me for dinner. We have much to discuss."
Xania and Derrex exchanged a glance before stepping forward, their footsteps echoing in the vast chamber. As they neared Garr, they could feel the weight of the council’s decision hanging in the air, a decision that would shape the future of their world.
They followed Garr out of the chamber. Xania could feel the eyes of the council members watching them go.
The dining hall was bathed in the soft light of flickering candles, casting long shadows on the stone walls. The long table was adorned with platters of roasted meats, vegetables, and fruits, the scents filling the air. Garr, took the seat at the head of the table and gestured for Xania and Derrex to take their seats beside him.
"Sit, sit," Garr said, his voice now softer, more reflective. "There is much we need to prepare for, but it is important to understand what is at stake. The war will not be easy. We must not underestimate our enemies, nor the strength of our allies. The Lesser Tree must be defended, and that will require all of our power."
Xania, who had remained quiet during the council meeting, now spoke. "I will go with the army," she declared, her voice steady and sure. "I will protect the Lesser Tree."
Derrex’s gaze shifted to her, his brows furrowed. "Xania, this will not be an easy task. The Techies will not show mercy. If we go, we go to win, or we risk losing everything."
"I know," she said simply, her eyes meeting his with a calm intensity. "But the Lesser Tree must be protected. The flow of magic must be preserved. I cannot stand by while it’s threatened. We cannot allow the Techies to take it."
Garr nodded in agreement, his sharp gaze fixed on Xania. "You are wise to feel this way, Xania. The Lesser Tree is not just a symbol of our power—it is our power. But there is much we must do before we leave. We must ensure that our forces are prepared, our strategy sound, and our alliances strong."
Derrex’s hands tightened into fists on the table.
Garr began to serve heaps of food onto their plates.
"But you must understand that the war ahead will not be like any we have fought before. The Techies have weapons unlike any we have seen, and they will not hesitate to use them. We will need all the strength we can muster, and we will need to be united."
Xania nodded, her expression unreadable, but the fire in her eyes was unmistakable. "Then let us unite. Let us go to war, for the Lesser Tree and for our future." She laid her hand on her stomach.
Garr leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers in thought. "It's hard to say what the Techies will bring to bear, what their people have researched. But we must do our best to prepare for everything."
Derrex looked down at his hands, the memories of past battles and lost loved ones rising within him. "We will fight. We will do whatever it takes." He laid his hand on Xania's.
"Good," Garr said, his voice carrying a weight of finality. "Then we prepare. Tomorrow, we gather the armies, and we march toward the Lesser Tree. We will protect it, or we will die trying."
The room fell silent, the only sound the flickering of the candle flames. Xania, Derrex, and Garr shared a moment of quiet understanding, the gravity of the decision hanging between them. The war had begun. There would be no turning back now.
As they dined in the quiet, the world outside shifted, the winds of change blowing through the lands of Aer. The Techie Kingdom’s threat was imminent, but so was their resolve. The battle for the Lesser Tree had begun, and the fate of all who drew power from it would be determined in the coming days.
