She felt so small in this vast, unfamiliar place, her mind swirling with questions that felt like they would never be answered. Each step Cantina took felt like a door closing, further isolating her in her confusion.
"Wait!" Starfania called out, desperate to bridge the gap between them. "If I'm here, I need to understand why!"
Cantina paused, glancing over her shoulder with a hint of a sigh, but still said nothing. Starfania's heart sank; every second that ticked by felt like an eternity.
"Do you really think ignoring me is the solution?" Starfania pressed, frustration bubbling up within her. "I'm not just some pawn in your game."
With that, Cantina turned fully, her eyes locking on Starfania's. There was a moment of silence between them, a tension that stretched long and thin.
"Knowledge isn't a game," Cantina finally replied, her voice steady. "But understanding comes at a cost."
"What cost?" Starfania shot back, her anger rising. "If this is about my father, then I have the right to know! I have the right to feel!"
Cantina studied her for a moment, the corner of her lips twitching as if amused. "Feeling is only the first step, Starfania. It's what you choose to do with those feelings that will truly matter."
"Why can't you just be honest with me?" Starfania asked, the tremor in her voice betraying her frustration.
"Honesty can be painful," Cantina replied. "But pain is often the catalyst for growth."
Starfania felt her resolve weakening. "And what if I don't want to grow? What if I just want my old life back?"
Cantina shook her head, a hint of pity flashing across her features. "That choice was never yours to make. You are here now. Embrace it, or be consumed by it."
After a moment of silence, Starfania took a deep breath, gathering her composure before speaking again.
" I'm sorry, " she whispered, her voice laced with genuine regret. " I shouldn't have raised my voice. The truth is… I've been struggling with this whole Dragon Savior title. "
Cantina remained still, listening intently.
" This role carries a responsibility that I never could have pictured. I keep worrying–about making the wrong choices, about failing the dragons, about not being able to live up to what's expected of me. And… " Starfania hesitated, her gaze meeting hers. " The thought of one day facing my father only adds on to this weight. "
Starfania's chest tightened at the admission, and unable to stand any longer, she walked over to a nearby pole, lowering herself onto the ground. Pulling her knees to her chest, she closed her eyes, letting her hand rest against them. A flood of emotions surged through her, raw and unrestrained. Tears spilled freely down her cheeks, and for the first time in a long while, she didn't hold them back. The pressure, the loneliness, the fear–she had carried it all for so long, and now, in this moment, it came crashing down. Cantina knelt beside her without a word, her silent presence more comforting than any reassurance she could have given. She didn't try to stop Starfania's tears or tell her that everything would be okay. She just stayed. And somehow, that was enough.