Mist crept from behind the walls, and the cold enveloped the castle in a pale grey shroud. In the cold stone courtyard, Trevor Drakarion stood in his black attire, his eyes distant as he gazed towards the horizon where the enemy camp was barely visible. Hurried footsteps broke the silence, and Alister, the master builder, reached him, followed by Astor, the old sage.

  Alister (in a voice carrying a suppressed excitement):

  "Lord Drakarion!"

  Trevor turned instantly, his eyes blazing with concern and anticipation:

  Trevor:

  "What is it? Speak!"

  Alister (stepping forward):

  "We found them... handles. Giant iron handles hidden beneath the main gate.

  Astor told me of a cryptic description in old books, so he led me and the work crew there...

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  What we found was exactly as he described."

  Astor (in a confident voice for the first time):

  "My Lord...

  If you doubted the existence of the Dragon Pit before...

  I now do not doubt it for a moment.

  Every detail – the stones, the inscriptions, even the distribution of the supports – matches what is written in the ancient records of House Drakarion."

  Trevor (with a hesitant sharpness):

  "Do you think... it's truly possible, Alister?

  Something like this? A weapon like this?"

  Alister (looking at the ground):

  "Engineered... and logically?

  It's almost impossible.

  But I confess... I have no explanation for the existence of handles of this size in a place like this."

  Astor (taking a step forward):

  "My Lord...

  Many legends, some of which we accept and others we deny,

  say that noble families, like House Drakarion,

  used over the centuries tools... sometimes supernatural.

  I do not claim certainty...

  But my belief in the possibility of this legend is stronger than ever."

  Everyone fell silent. Trevor looked at them for a long time... then slowly raised his head, his voice deep, calm like someone who had decided to face a legend with the boldness of reality.

  Trevor:

  "Truth or myth... logic or madness...

  We will cling to every shred of hope... no matter what.

  Astor... summon a war council."

  Astor:

  "Immediately, my Lord."

  Astor hurried away, and Alister retreated hesitantly, while Trevor stood alone, looking towards the gate, as if what lay beneath it held the fate of an entire nation.