Once Lyam had taken his leave, the room settled into a quiet stillness. Atlas lowered himself near the window, his massive frame somehow fitting perfectly within the enchanted space. Moonlight streamed through the glass, glinting softly against his scales. Starfania stood in the center of the room, her fingers brushing lightly against the strap of her satchel. It was still there. The Draconic Codex. Lyam had ordered her belongings brought up the moment he publicly acknowledged her as the Dragon Savior. She had barely noticed. Everything happened too quickly. Now, however, there was no avoiding it. The Codex pulsed faintly through the leather of her bag. Atlas lifted his head. She swallowed. " Alright…I hear you."
Carefully, she withdrew the ancient book. The cover was warm beneath her fingertips, the dragon insignia etched into it shimmering faintly silver. The moment she opened it, the pages fluttered wildly on their own, flipping forward as though guided by unseen hands. Then they stopped. New ink bled into the parchment. Starfania leaned closer. Maps unfolded across the page—detailed sketches of the Primara Nation. Notes appeared beside them: political structure, trade routes, the role of its council, and its democratic governance, shaped by its people rather than a singular ruler. Her eyes widened. More text surfaced beneath it.
A detailed illustration of the Seraphithorn Dragon emerged—Lutu's species. The branching horns. The nature-bound limbs. A rare blue-violet color characterized the flame. Even its symbolic meaning. Guardian of unity. Emblem of resilience. Sacred companion to Primara's protector. The ink shimmered as if still wet. Atlas let out a soft rumble of approval. Starfania couldn't help but smile.
" Well," she murmured lightly, closing the book halfway. " Guess I just have a book that grows whenever I learn more about Avalon."
There was comfort in that thought. She closed the Codex fully and placed it carefully on the shelf near the desk, positioning it between two older volumes so it wouldn't stand out too obviously.
Then her expression shifted. She reached into her bag again and withdrew the small vial she had taken from the VulcanFire encampment. The dark liquid inside swirled faintly. Whatever it was, it mattered. She crossed the room and tucked it securely into a small drawer within the vanity, wrapping it in cloth before closing it shut. One secret at a time. Atlas watched her, sapphire eyes thoughtful.
" I know," she whispered softly to him. " We're walking a thin line."
In a separate chamber lit by lantern-light, Lyam stood over a large wooden table.
A map of Avalon stretched across its surface. Pins marked territories. Borders. Trade routes. And VulcanFire. A Primarian general stood beside him, arms folded behind his back.
" Did you manage to find what you were looking for in the VulcanFire encampment?" the general asked quietly. Lyam exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
" No," he admitted. " I'll give Cesar credit for commanding his soldiers. He trained them well."
His jaw tightened. " They know how to hide what matters."
Silence settled between them. The general's voice lowered. " There is another matter the people wish to know."
Lyam did not look up. " Speak."
" Are you certain," the general said carefully, " that we can trust a teenage girl…with the entire world of Avalon?"
The question lingered heavily in the air. Lyam stared at the map. At the pin marking VulcanFire. The fragile borders between nations and kingdoms mark the divide between democracies built by citizens and monarchies that are ruled. by singular authority. At the tension ready to ignite. Finally, he spoke. " I do not know why Cantina chose her."
His voice was steady but honest. " But if she believes this young girl is our best option…"
He straightened. " …then we had better hope she proves us wrong."