Frost backed away from Viroxus, her claws scraping against the jagged stone as the NightWing slowly sank back into the bubbling cauldron of lava. His haunting words still lingered in the air, wrapping around her like the acrid smell of smoke.

"What are you willing to sacrifice for the truth?"

She shook her head, trying to dispel the lingering dread in her chest. The molten lava hissed and crackled behind her, but Frost turned away, walking toward the distant glow of the volcanic landscape ahead.

As she stepped through the tunnel's exit and into the open, the air hit her like a stinging slap — thick with the scent of sulfur and ash. She gagged, coughing against the oppressive heat. It wasn't quite as unbearable as the tunnel had been, but the sharp tang of burning rock clung to her nostrils.

Frost paused at the edge of a jagged ridge, her gaze sweeping over the valley below. The land stretched out like a cracked, blistered scar on the earth, glowing faintly with molten rivers of lava. And scattered across the landscape were dragons.

NightWings.

They were everywhere, emerging from caves, lounging near pools of bubbling magma, or gliding through the heated air on silent wings. Their scales shimmered with deep, endless blacks, like the night sky itself. Under the light of the lava, faint star-like patterns gleamed beneath their scales — constellations that shifted as they moved. But it wasn't just their appearance that struck Frost. It was the way they moved.

Graceful. Quiet. Watchful.

Predators who lived in shadows.

Frost swallowed hard, realizing with a shiver that none of them had noticed her yet — or if they had, they were pretending not to. But she knew better. The NightWings were masters of stealth. Even now, she could feel unseen eyes watching her from the darkness, hidden behind the shimmering heatwaves that danced across the scorched ground.

Her talons crunched over blackened rock as she carefully made her way down the slope. The air shimmered with heat, and Frost kept her wings tucked close to her sides, shielding them from the hot winds.

When she reached the valley floor, she felt the full weight of the NightWing's secret world pressing down on her. This was no ordinary dragon home.

This was a kingdom in exile.

A place shrouded in darkness, hidden from the rest of Pyrrhia.

The NightWings lived here in secrecy, clinging to their forgotten power — a tribe of shadows and whispers. Frost understood it now. The Forbidden Hollow wasn't just a place. It was a symbol of everything the NightWings had lost... and everything they still hoped to reclaim.

And she had walked straight into it.

Frost exhaled slowly, the heat making her breath come out in short, frosty puffs of air. Her blindfolded gaze swept across the dragons. They were sleek and powerful, their scales gleaming like polished obsidian, but there was something weary in their movements. Like dragons weighed down by a long, bitter history.

One of them noticed her — a tall dragon with piercing silver eyes that gleamed like twin moons. His gaze locked onto her, curious but wary, and Frost felt a shiver crawl down her spine.

The dragon tilted his head, then flicked his tail toward her in greeting.

"An IceWing." His voice was deep, echoing across the rocky valley like distant thunder. "You've wandered far from your frozen mountains."

Frost squared her shoulders, her jagged tail swishing behind her. "I came looking for answers."

The silver-eyed NightWing smiled faintly, though there was no warmth in it. "And you think you'll find them here?" He stepped closer, his scales catching the light of the lava pools, making the starry patterns on his body shimmer like a living night sky.

"I don't think." Frost's voice was steady, despite the nervous flutter in her chest. "I know."

The NightWing's smile widened, though it still didn't reach his eyes. "Careful, little IceWing. Knowledge is a dangerous thing. And here..." He gestured to the valley around them. "It can burn."

Frost glanced at the molten rivers and the dark, looming caves beyond. She could feel the pull of something ancient and powerful here. The air practically buzzed with it.

"I've already been burned," she said quietly. "But I'm not turning back."

The NightWing chuckled softly, his gaze never leaving her. "Then welcome to the Hollow, IceWing. I wonder... will you survive it?"

Frost stood her ground, her breath frosting the air between them. "I guess we'll find out."

SCENEBREAK

The NightWing introduced himself as Noxus, his silver eyes gleaming under the faint glow of the lava streams as he led Frost through the winding tunnels carved into the volcanic rock. His movements were fluid and deliberate, every step measured, every flick of his tail hinting at his military training.

"I am the general of the NightWing army," Noxus said, his deep voice echoing softly off the stone walls. There was a subtle pride in his tone, though it was tempered by years of hardship. "And what brings an IceWing to our hidden kingdom? Surely, it's not just curiosity."

Frost, keeping her blindfold secure over her icy gaze, remained quiet for a moment, her claws clicking softly against the obsidian floor. The scent of sulfur and molten rock lingered in the air, making her throat burn. But she didn't falter. She couldn't afford to show weakness.

Instead, she asked, "Do you have a NightWing named Morrowseer?"

The question hung in the air like smoke, and Noxus's tail stilled for a heartbeat before flicking once, sharply. He glanced back at her, his expression carefully neutral. But Frost could feel a ripple of tension roll through him.

"Yes," Noxus finally said, leading her deeper into the cavern until they reached a chamber carved into the rock. The walls shimmered faintly with crystals embedded in the stone, and the air felt heavier, thick with the scent of ancient magic.

"But he's not here," Noxus continued, settling himself on a ledge carved into the rock, his wings folding neatly at his sides. "He's on the mainland now, attending to Queen Blister."

Frost tilted her head, curiosity sparking in her mind. "Attending to Blister? Why?"

Noxus's lips curled into a bitter smirk. "Politics. He fancies himself important. A prophet. A dragon who can see the future." He snorted, his tone laced with disdain. "But in truth, he's just another schemer looking to secure power. Blister uses him as her pawn, and he's more than happy to play the part."

Frost narrowed her eyes beneath her blindfold. "And you? What do you think of him?"

Noxus leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his silver gaze locking onto her. "Morrowseer speaks of greatness and destiny. Of how our tribe is destined to rise again and take our place as rulers of Pyrrhia." His voice grew colder, more distant. "But all he's ever done is lead us into ruin."

Frost absorbed his words, her mind racing. The pieces were starting to fall into place — the hidden kingdom, the exiled NightWings, the whispers of destiny and power. But there was something else. Something more.

"Why tell me this?" she asked softly, stepping closer.

Noxus gave her a long, measured look. "Because you're not like the others who come here seeking knowledge. You're not a Seawing diplomat or a curious dragonet of destiny." He leaned back, his gaze flicking to the faint glow of lava beyond the chamber entrance. "You're dangerous. And danger recognizes danger."

Frost allowed herself a small, cold smile. "I suppose I should take that as a compliment."

"You should," Noxus said, his tone lighter, though his eyes remained calculating. "Now, tell me, IceWing. What is it that you're really looking for? Truth? Power? Or something else entirely?"

Frost paused, her tail flicking thoughtfully. "Answers," she said at last. "I want to know what lies beyond the lies we've been told. What your tribe is hiding. What Morrowseer is plotting."

Noxus's smile sharpened, his teeth gleaming faintly in the dim light. "Then you've come to the right place. But be warned, IceWing." His voice lowered to a near growl. "The truth you seek may burn you alive."

Frost's icy breath frosted the air between them, her blindfolded gaze unwavering. "I've been burned before. I'll survive."

Noxus chuckled darkly, a sound that echoed through the chamber like distant thunder. "We'll see, Frost. We'll see."