The North's Shadow

Dragons and Knights

A flicker of movement caught my eye—a shadow darted out of sight, and I squinted, almost certain I'd seen something. If that's Edna coming back to pile on more chores, I'm hiding under the nearest tapestry.

But there was something different about this shadow—a chill in the air that crept under my skin, raising goosebumps along my arms. This could be a lead... or just a creepy way to get myself even more lost. With a sigh, I gritted my teeth and took a step forward, following the shadow down the corridor.

I turned a corner and stopped short. I was outside a slightly open door. Curiosity tugged at me, and I nudged it wider, peering in. The room was large and dimly lit, with tapestries and paintings covering the walls. One painting in particular grabbed my attention—a landscape filled with dragons, a mountain backdrop that looked eerily like Glasverne's.

"Whoa," I breathed, stepping closer as my eyes widened, taking in the fiery details. The painting almost felt alive, like it was calling me forward.

The dragons in the painting were enormous and majestic, soaring across a stormy sky. One breathed fire, its ruby-red scales glistening with fierce light, while the other exhaled frost, encased in a cloud of ethereal blue ice. The two dragons faced each other, teeth bared and claws poised for battle, as an army of warriors gathered below, their armor glinting beneath the glow of fire and frost. A shiver crawled down my spine; it felt like I was looking at more than just paint and canvas.

I didn't know what unnerved me more—the intensity of the battle or the fact that something about it felt... familiar. Is this really just a painting?

"Miss Mackey!" Edna's voice snapped me out of my trance.

I jumped, spinning around to see Edna standing in the doorway with her hands on her hips, looking very much like she was about to lecture a wayward child. I sighed. Does everyone here have a personal vendetta against me feeling calm? Who's going to pop up next?

"What on earth are you doing in here? You disappeared after we finished cleaning. I've been looking for you everywhere!"

I tried to look innocent, putting on my best wide-eyed expression. "Just... admiring the decor."

Edna huffed, crossing her arms as she scrutinized me. "Is that so? I wouldn't have pegged you for an art enthusiast." Her gaze drifted to the painting, and for a moment, her face softened, almost wistful.

Curious, I tilted my head. "This painting seems like it's more than just decor to you."

She nodded. "That isn't just any painting. It shows a piece of our history—a clash between fire and ice, dragons and riders, a legend that runs deep in Glasverne's blood."

My eyes lit up with curiosity, and I leaned in. "I read a little about them in the library. Are they real? Or just some grand Glasverne legend?"

Her mouth twitched in a reluctant smile. "You'd be surprised how much of our 'legends' are rooted in truth. Dragons were once a part of this land, not so long ago. They were tied to Glasverne's people, especially to Clan Valouron."

I stared at the painting, taking in the fierce dragons locked in battle. "It's hard to believe..."

Edna nodded, a glimmer of pride in her eyes. "Struggles are a way of life here, Miss Mackey. But we have our moments of joy, too, times when we honor what's been lost and celebrate what remains." She raised an eyebrow. "The winter festival, for instance. Even the coldest northerner has a reason to smile for a day or two."

I smirked. "A winter festival? Let me guess—food, music, the occasional knight in shining armor?"

Edna chuckled, a glint of humor in her eye. "Not all knights are as shiny as you might imagine. But yes, it's a time to see Glasverne at its liveliest, to meet its people... and perhaps a knight or two, if you're as charming as you think you are."