In the stillness after the flames finally died down, Violet, Aeron, and Drogo drifted into sleep one by one. Their breathing became slow and even, the quiet rhythm grounding the night. Starfania remained awake. She lifted her gaze to the sky. The moon had shifted—moving into position. Stars shimmered above like scattered jewels pressed into the velvet, and for a fleeting, fragile moment, she felt certain that everything would be alright.
Nervous didn't even begin to describe it. Her heart thundered in her chest as she quietly rose and began making her way toward the meeting spot—the very place laughter had once echoed, now heavy with destiny. Each step felt deliberate. The cool night air wrapped around her like a whispered warning, brushing against her skin as though the world itself knew what was about to unfold. Excitement and fear danced together inside her, inseparable. This place was familiar—etched with memories both warm and aching—but tonight, it felt different. Charged. She had dreamed of this moment for countless nights, imagining what might happen under the moon's watchful gaze.
Yet no dream could have prepared her for the weight pressing down on her now. The ground beneath her feet felt alive—familiar, yet strangely foreign—as if the earth itself recognized the importance of her presence. Leaves rustled softly, urging her forward. As the moon climbed higher, its light stretched across the land, casting long silver shadows that carved a path straight toward her fate. Starfania glanced back once more at her sleeping companions, their faces peaceful and unaware. Gratitude surged through her. They were her anchor. Her proof that she wasn't alone. What happened next—she would face it.
The air thickened with anticipation. Then, the tranquility was shattered. A blinding white light erupted from the moon, tearing through the sky and streaking toward her with unrelenting speed. Starfania's breath caught painfully in her throat as a darker fragment split from the brilliance, spiraling like a living shadow around the core of the light. Fear and awe collided inside her. Her body refused to move. Frozen, she could only watch as the descending light slowed—hovering mere feet from where she stood. The force of it sent her stumbling backward, sand billowing into the air as she collapsed onto the shore. All around her, creatures scattered—vanishing into burrows, trees, and darkness—as instinct screamed, run. The world responded.
Foliage pulsed with unnatural life, leaves catching silver rays and reflecting them in shimmering waves. Shadows stretched and shrank like restless spirits, weaving light and dark into a living tapestry across the ground. The air grew warm and resonant, humming softly as crickets stirred and leaves whispered secrets long forgotten. Flowers unfurled as if answering a silent call, their petals glowing with ethereal brilliance, while the sky burned into hues violet and blue—nature herself holding her breath. Then the light began to change. It folded inward, reshaping, condensing—until form emerged from brilliance. A dragon stepped forward. Majestic. Ancient. Unmistakable.
Its eyes were midnight blue—deep, endless, alive with knowing. Scales shimmered like stars scattered across a living night sky, catching even the faintest light with cosmic elegance. Massive wings unfurled slowly, revealing intricate patterns woven like constellations across their surface. The air crackled with energy as the dragon moved, each step commanding yet impossibly graceful. Starfania's chest tightened. Fear washed over her. Wonder followed close behind. The dragon released a low, resonant sound—not quite a roar, but something older. Something that vibrated through bone and soul alike.
Its gaze locked on hers, piercing and intimate, as though it could see every dream she had carried…and every fear she tried to hide. The world seems to pause. Time slowed, each heartbeat echoing in perfect rhythm with the dragon's powerful pulse. And in that suspended moment, Starfania understood something profound—this was bigger than her. Bigger than fear. Bigger than destiny itself. And there was no turning back now.