The White Lion fortress buzzed with a tension rarely felt within its stone walls. Hundreds of griffons had returned from the north, their riders bearing expressions that silenced even the most curious onlookers. Word spread quickly—something catastrophic had happened at Northwatch, something beyond the scope of conventional threats.
In the medical wing, healers worked in shifts around the two survivors. Alexandra had recovered enough to sit upright, sipping restorative broth while debriefing senior officers. Though her physical wounds were healing, her eyes remained haunted, distant—fixed on something the others couldn't see.
"You're certain about what you witnessed?" Commander Varis asked for the third time, his skepticism barely concealed. "The Duke transformed into some kind of... hybrid creature?"
