Morning came slowly to Skyhold.
Golden sunlight poured through the clouds and across the floating islands. The crystal bridges sparkled as if the city itself had awakened from a long dream.
But Kael had barely slept.
Too many things had happened in one day.
A magical world.
A giant griffin.
A shadow dragon.
And somehow… he had stopped a weapon made of darkness.
He sat quietly on the edge of a floating platform, staring at the endless sky below.
"What if I can't do this?" he muttered.
Behind him, heavy footsteps approached.
It was Commander Lyara.
"You stopped the Void Spear," she said calmly.
"Most kings of Aetherion could not do that."
Kael shrugged.
"I didn't even know what I was doing."
"That," Lyara replied, "is exactly why the prophecy worries us."
Kael turned.
"That… doesn't sound comforting."
Before Lyara could answer, another voice spoke from nearby.
"Because prophecy rarely chooses heroes."
Kael looked up.
A boy about his age stood near the training courtyard.
He was leaning against a stone pillar, arms crossed. His dark hair was messy, and a small scar ran across his eyebrow.
He wore light armor, but not the kind Skyhold soldiers used. His armor looked worn… like someone who had traveled far.
The boy stepped forward.
"My name is Dwaho."
Kael blinked.
"Okay… hi?"
Dwaho studied him carefully.
"So you're the Gatewalker."
Kael scratched his head.
"Apparently."
Lyara nodded toward the boy.
"Dwaho is one of our best sky scouts."
Kael looked surprised.
"He's our age."
Dwaho smirked slightly.
"Age doesn't matter in Aetherion."
Then his expression turned serious.
"The Void Emperor has already sent hunters."
He pointed toward the distant mountains beyond the clouds.
"Next time it won't be just one dragon."
Kael sighed.
"That seems to be the theme here."
Lyara placed a map on the stone table between them.
Seven large lands were drawn across it.
"The Seven Kingdoms," she explained.
She pointed to each one.
"Skyhold – Kingdom of the Clouds."
"Valedorn – Kingdom of the Golden Forest."
"Drakmor – Kingdom of Stone and Fire."
"Lunareth – Kingdom of the Silver Moon."
"Thaloria – Kingdom of the Endless Seas."
"Frostveil – Kingdom of Ice."
Then her finger moved to the dark northern land.
"And here…"
"The Void Mountains."
Even on the map, that land looked wrong.
Black.
Empty.
"Home of the Dark Emperor," Dwaho said quietly.
Kael folded his arms.
"So let me guess… I need to visit all seven kingdoms?"
Lyara nodded.
"The Seven Thrones must unite."
Dwaho pushed away from the pillar.
"And someone has to help you survive long enough to do that."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"You volunteering?"
Dwaho shrugged.
"I know the roads of Aetherion."
"I've fought Void hunters before."
"And honestly…"
He looked Kael up and down.
"You'd probably get eaten by something within a day."
Kael laughed slightly.
"Fair point."
At that moment, a massive shadow passed over the platform.
Aeralion landed beside them with a powerful gust of wind.
"The journey must begin soon," the great griffin said.
"The Emperor will not wait."
Kael looked at Dwaho.
"You really want to travel with me?"
Dwaho gave a confident grin.
"Someone has to make sure the Gatewalker doesn't die before the story gets interesting."
Kael smiled.
"Alright then."
He extended his hand.
"Partners?"
Dwaho shook it firmly.
"Partners."
High above them, Aeralion spread his enormous silver wings.
"The Gatewalker has chosen his first companion."
"The journey across Aetherion begins."
Far away, dark clouds gathered again above the Void Mountains.
The Emperor had heard everything.
And he was already preparing something far worse than dragons.