Moonlight sifted through the canopy of the Eastwood Wilds, tracing silver paths across vine-wrapped ruins. Selene, Aro, and Iris moved quietly among moss-coated stones etched with fox-rune sigils. Their breath fogged in the cool night air.
A low chant broke the stillness. Figures emerged: tall elves with luminous eyes, broad dwarves carrying heirloom rune-forged hammer staffs, and a druid veiled in living ivy. A hush fell as they approached.
At their center stood a figure of impossible stature: scales like copper in moonlight, eyes golden and ancient—the Dragonkin Envoy. Their voice rumbled like distant thunder.
Envoy: "We have come not as conquerors, but as watchers—friends to those who walk the path of balance."
They bowed. "We herald your courage, Selene, daughter of a broken lineage—and offer ancient alliance."
Selene's heart both sped and stilled. She met each gaze—elf, dwarf, druid, dragonkin—as equals, not subjects.
Selene (soft, steady):
"I honor your presence. The reforms I seek require more than bridges between crown and commoner—they require trust across all race and realm."
A dwarf's voice rang clear, rich with heritage:
Durnan Forge‑father: "Then trust must be forged like steel. We offer craft, magic, and strength in solidarity."
A druid stepped forward, gloved fingers tracing a glowing fox-rune on a fragment of broken altar:
Thalaira Leafwhisper: "The Wildwoods have watched over these sigils for centuries. They speak of harmony—and of threads broken beyond repair."
The Envoy's wings rustled softly.
Envoy: "Corvex's purges reached beyond noble corridors. Wolves were loosed upon remote hamlets—magical and mundane. We offer sanctuary—and warnings."
Selene's chest constricted. The stakes had shifted from politics to lives.
Selene (quiet determination):
"If I accept your alliance, I will stand not simply as a princess, but as a leader of all races and realms. And I will defend them. Will you stand with me in daylight—and in darkness?"
The fellowship held their gaze. Then, as one, they advanced closer, forming a circle of solidarity—elf grips dwarf arm, druid touches envoy's scaled flank.