Outside Emberforge Armory, Katherine was already waiting—leaning casually against the entrance, as if she had been expecting them all along. As they approached, she straightened and greeted them with warm, grounding hugs—firm and reassuring.
" Took you long enough," she teased lightly, pulling back to look at them. Her eyes flickered between Starfania and Aeron—sharp, observant. " I figured Lyam would send you, eventually."
Aeron blinked. " So…you already knew?"
Katherine gave a small shrug, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. " You don't spend years reading people and not notice patterns."
Her gaze settled briefly on Starfania.
" Besides…" A faint smirk. " You don't exactly blend in, Dragon Savior."
Starfania huffed a quiet laugh, rubbing the back of her neck. " Yeah…I'm starting to realize that."
Katherine pushed off the wall, clapping her hands once. " Come on."
Her tone shifted—focused now. " I didn't just make a helmet."
A glance over her shoulder. " I made something worthy of what you're walking into."
She led them inside, the familiar heat of the forge wrapping around them like a second atmosphere. The deeper they walked, the quieter the noise of the shop became—until they reached a sealed section at the back. Katherine paused at the door.
" Before you see it," she said, glancing at Aeron, " You should know—this isn't just armor."
Her hand rested on the handle. " Everything I used…has meaning."
She pushed the door open—and the room lit up with reflected steel and sapphire hues. At the center—Aeron's armor. Breath-catching. Katherine stepped beside it, resting a hand lightly against the breastplate.
" Forged from Primara steel," she began, her voice steady. " Lightweight—but stronger than anything VulcanFire uses."
Her fingers traced the blue accents. " The blue? Infused crystal dust."
" It channels energy—helps stabilize movement and reaction time." She glanced at Aeron. " Which suits you."
A faint smirk. " Fast. Adaptive."
Her hand tapped the chest insignia. " And this—the mark of Primara. Unity."
" Not just with people…" Her gaze flickered briefly toward Drogo outside. " …but with dragons."
A beat. " You fight as one."
The moment settled over them—awe. Violet whispered, breathless, " Incredible…"
She reached out, running her fingers lightly along the armor's surface. Aeron didn't move at first. Then — " …This is mine?"
Katherine smirked. " Go on."
He didn't need to be told twice. Piece by piece—he suited up. The armor adjusted seamlessly to him. Like it belonged there. Like it had been waiting. He rolled his shoulders once. Test the weight. Then looked up—grinning.
" Okay…"
" I feel powerful."
Violet beamed. " You LOOK powerful!"
Aeron flexed powerfully. " Good to know I still got it."
Katherine nodded approvingly. " It suits you."
" Better than I expected."
Aeron smirked. " Guess I'm ready to save the world now."
Aeron turned toward Starfania. His expression softened. " So…what do you think?"
And just like that—she froze. Completely. Her brain? Gone. Her heart? Way too loud. Heat rushed to her cheeks. " …You look—"
Pause. Restart. " —good. I mean—great. I mean—"
Violet and Katherine exchanged a look instantly. Oh, this was too good.
" You look handsome!" she blurted. Silence. Then—Aeron raised a brow. Smirk forming. " Handsome?"
" Wasn't the goal, but I'll take it."
Starfania immediately looked away. " I MEANT THE ARMOR."
" …mostly."
Laughter broke out around them. Even Atlas let out a soft, amused rumble from outside. Aeron leaned slightly closer. " So you're saying I don't look handsome without it?"
She snapped back instantly. " Stop it! You KNOW what I mean!"
A smile broke through her embarrassment. Violet leaned in excitedly. " You should wear that ALL the time!"
Katherine added with a grin, " Careful, you'll start getting attention."
Aeron struck a mock heroic pose. " I'll start charging for autographs."
That sent them all into laughter again, and just like that—the tension faded. For a moment, they were just kids again.