Exhausted, Erin stumbled out onto the central square, her shoulders battered by the heavy rain.

Despite the harsh weather, many townspeople were assembled, taking refuge under the narrow edges of roofs, and were looking at... no, not quite her direction. Somehwat higher.

The tall, hulking figure reeled in the rain, sending a few people scurrying. The dragon who stepped out of the... eerie pulsing, throbbing light gate... was a sight to behold, a breathing, seething, mass of sharp scales and talons, towering above the buildings, its smallest convulsion sending people running for safety.

Five left, five returned. It was not lost on anyone that no dragon had left, however. Silence fell over the scene and the stunned populace, the rattling of rain on the ground and the dragon's ragged breathing the only sounds heard.

Zenon was seen on the steps of the palace, slowly nodding. He turned away and disappeared into the building.