“It is for you,” you say, and deliver the killing blow. As the light fades from their purple eyes, The Herald’s lifeless figure fades into a dark mist. You drop your sword with a clunk. It’s over. You’ve won.

There’s a groan from the side of the room. Malcs! You run to his side, hoping against hope that one of your Regeneration Potions will help. It’s no good, though – the affliction has taken root, and the wound in Malcs’ side is already infested with grim shadows.

“You saved me,” you say, tears in your eyes. The great dragon makes a sort of grumbling sound, and slowly gets to his feet.

“You have the power to save all of Melvor. Compared to that, my sacrifice is nothing.”

You reach your arms around Malcs’ head and hold it close, as though that will save him from the affliction.

“This can’t be right,” you say, “You can’t die – you’re the one who seals the gods, who saves us all!”

You turn to look at the four thrones, blackened by Malcs’ fire attack. As you watch, they flicker, and return to their usual, undisturbed state. As you watch the last of The Herald’s magic wind about them, they begin to glow. You and Malcs exchange a look of horror, and you rush to the window to see four coloured beams of light rising from the horizon: Radiant Silver, Soft Blue, Mossy Green and Burning Red.

The gods have awoken, and soon their war will begin anew.

“I must go,” Malcs says, struggling to get to his feet. “My kin must be prepared for the coming fight. The gods must be sealed away.”

“Wait -” you say, “The affliction - there must be something we can do!”

“We dragons are wise, and long-lived,” Malcs suggests, “One of them will know the answer.”

He doesn’t sound convinced.

But wait - you know someone who’s faced the affliction and lived to tell the tale. Ahrenia!

“Malcs, wait!” you call. The great dragon pauses and turns back toward you.

“Ahrenia’s curse – perhaps slaying The Herald has restored her! Perhaps she knows a way to cure the affliction!”

Malcs nods, thoughtfully.

“Then you must return to her. Come with me.”

Tentatively, avoiding his wound, you clamber up onto Malcs’ back. He beats his wings, creating a huge gust of wind as he takes off and flies up and out of the tower. You cling to his back, steeling your resolve. Will Ahrenia really be cured? And if she is, will she really be able to help save Malcs? As you swoop over the ruined landscape of the Outer Realms, you recall the Necromancer’s words – some magic is too dangerous to survive.

The Herald is gone, but as long as their magic remains, anyone could use it to harm others – to destroy all of Melvor.

There’s only one way to stop this madness – you have to learn the source of this magic, and snuff it out before it’s too late…