Morning settled quietly over the Primara Nation, though the peace felt fragile now. The closer they drew to the mission, the more the air itself seemed charged with anticipation. Sunlight poured through the tall windows of the house, painting golden streaks across the wooden floors. Outside, the distant sounds of dragons overhead mixed with bustling preparations happening throughout the nation. Inside the house, however, things were far more chaotic. Bags were scattered across the living room.
Pieces of armor rested carefully on chairs and tables. Maps, travel supplies, healing herbs, and bundles of food had been stacked together in hurried piles as everyone prepared for departure. Violet sat cross-legged near the couch, attempting to fold one of her blankets neatly into a travel bag. Unfortunately, the blanket seemed determined to fight back.
" Why is this thing so difficult?" She groaned dramatically as the fabric unraveled for the fifth time. Aeron chuckled while tightening the straps on his armor pack. " Because you're folding it like you're wrestling a dragon."
" I have wrestled dragons before," Violet argued proudly. Drogo lifted his head from the floor and let out a rumbling sounded offended.
" Okay, maybe tiny dragons," she corrected quickly. Starfania couldn't help laughing softly at the exchange. For a moment, it almost felt normal. Almost.
Nearby, Atlas rested beside the balcony doors, curled comfortably with his wings tucked close to his massive body. The morning light shimmered against his pale scales, making him resemble living moonlight. Unlike his usual alert self, Atlas seemed determined to conserve his energy. Every now and then, his tail flicked lazily against the floor while his sapphire eyes remained half-closed. Drogo, meanwhile, sprawled beside him, like an oversized guard dog, occasionally huffing whenever Atlas's tail bumped him. The two dragons had clearly decided this was their last moment of peace before battle.
Starfania paused while packing extra medical supplies into her satchel and looked toward them quietly. Her chest tightened slightly. Tomorrow—no. Tonight. Tonight they would begin moving toward VulcanFire territory. The thought alone made her stomach twist painfully. She quickly pushed the feeling down before anyone noticed. Violet suddenly looked up from her disastrous blanket folding.
" I still can't believe Katherine offered to watch me while you guys go fight evil," she said, sounding both excited and offended somehow. Aeron smiled faintly. " Honestly, it's probably safer than bringing you onto the active battlefield."
Violet crossed her arms immediately. " Rude."
" True," Starfania added teasingly. Violet gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. " Betrayal from both sides."
Their laughter eased some of the heaviness lingering in the room. Katherine's offer had come almost immediately after they finished receiving their armor the night before. The moment she learned Violet wouldn't be accompanying them into battle, the blacksmith hadn't hesitated.
" The girl can stay with me," Katherine had said confidently while adjusting one of her forge gloves. " And before any of you start arguing—I already cleared it with Lyam."
She had even added that Maxmillian's daughter often helped teach younger children how to properly care for dragons and understand their behavior.
" Trust me," Katherine said with a grin, " between my forge and Maxmillian's daughter, Violet won't have time to get bored."
Violet had immediately agreed the moment dragons were mentioned. Aeron had tried pretending he still needed convincing. Nobody believed him. Starfania tightened the strap on her satchel slowly. Her newly forged helmet rested carefully beside Cosmry near the edge of the table. Even now, seeing it sent a strange feeling through her chest. The armor made everything feel real in a way nothing else had. Not training. No meeting. Not visions. War. Actual war. Against her home. Against her father. Her fingers brushed unconsciously against the edge of Cosmry's hilt.
The blade pulsed faintly beneath her touch. As though sensing the storm brewing inside her. Aeron noticed immediately. He stepped inside beside her quietly, lowering his voice so Violet wouldn't overhear. " You're thinking too much again."
Starfania exhaled softly. " Can you blame me?"
Aeron leaned lightly against the table beside her.
" No," he admitted honestly. " But you don't have to carry all of this alone either."
She glanced toward him, surprised by how calm he looked despite everything. Aeron noticed her expression and chuckled.
" Trust me," he said, " I'm terrified."
That caught her off guard. " You?"
" Absolutely."
He gestured vaguely toward the balcony where Drogo was currently asleep, upside down somehow. " I'm going to war riding a dragon while trying not to die horribly."
Starfania snorted despite herself. " That's one way to look at it."
" The accurate way."
Her laughter softened into something quieter. Warmer. And for the first time that morning—the pressure crushing her chest eased slightly.
Outside on the balcony, Atlas slowly opened one eye. Drogo noticed immediately and nudged him with his tail. Atlas responds by lazily smacking Drogo back with his own. Another tail smacked followed. Then another. Before long, the two dragons had somehow turned resting into an unspoken tail-flight competition. Violet pointed dramatically toward the balcony. " They're doing it again."
Aeron sighed. " At least they're bonding."
Atlas suddenly let out a low, victorious rumble after successfully knocking Drogo partially off balance. Drogo barked indignantly.
Starfania smiled softly while watching them. Even with the eclipse approaching…even with war waiting beyond the horizon…moments like this reminded her exactly what they were fighting to protect. Beyond Primara's mountains, the sky slowly darkened. Far in the distance—hidden beneath clouds and smoke—VulcanFire prepared for war. And somewhere within those burning lands…Cesar Night was preparing as well. Unaware that his daughter was already on her way to stop him.