Far beyond the green valleys of Primara, where life flourished beside dragons, the skies above VulcanFire burned crimson beneath pillars of smoke. The kingdom moved like a machine preparing for war. Massive furnaces roared endlessly within the capital, their flames climbing high into the darkened sky while black ash drifted through the air like falling snow. Soldiers marched in perfect formation through the streets, their dragon-forged armor clanking in chilling unison. Not a single step fell out of line. Not a single voice rose above the command. Order. Control. Fear. That was how VulcanFire functioned now.
High above the kingdom, iron chains stretched across towering stone structures where captured dragons were restrained beneath heavy guards. Some growled weakly. Others no longer had the strength. Their once vibrant scales had dulled beneath exhaustion and sickness. Workers in dark uniforms carried barrels marked with warning sigils through the fortress corridors while masked researchers moved between chambers filled with thick black liquid. The poison. Even the surrounding air seemed wrong. Thick. Heavy. Alive.
Cesar Night stood at the center of it all. Clad in black dragon armor lined with crimson edges, he overlooked the preparations from a towering balcony carved into the volcanic stone. The kingdom stretched endlessly beneath him. Thousands obeyed his command without hesitation. Not because they loved him. Because they feared what happened when they didn't. Yet despite the fear surrounding him…there was no satisfaction in his eyes. Only exhaustion. Only grief. A general approached carefully, kneeling beside him.
" Your Majesty," he said, " the final poison reserves are nearly prepared for deployment during the eclipse."
Cesar remained silent for a long moment. His gaze drifted toward the chained dragon below. One of them coughed violently, collapsing against the stone platform beneath it. The king's jaw tightened.
" And the containment units?" Cesar finally asked quietly.
" Prepared."
" The delivery dragons?"
" Standing by."
Cesar closed his eyes briefly. The kingdom mistook his silence for cold calculation. But beneath the armor…beneath the title of king…a broken father stood alone. Unlike Primara, VulcanFire did not live beside dragons anymore. It ruled over them. Dragons within VulcanFire were weapons. Tools. Property. Their riders carried permits branded with the royal crest. Unauthorized dragons were seized immediately. Entire families had disappeared for refusing to surrender them. Cesar believed control was the only thing preventing Avalon from descending into chaos again.
Lyam believed trust created strength. Cesar ruled through fear. Lyam ruled through unity. One kingdom prepared its people like soldiers. The other prepared its people like family. Meanwhile, back within Primara's emerald valleys, the atmosphere felt entirely different. Dragons soared freely overhead. Villagers worked side by side with riders preparing supply wagons, medicines crates, and evacuation routes. Fear existed here too—but it was shared openly. Nobody hid from it. They faced it together.
A powerful gust of wind swept across the meeting grounds as Atlas descended from the sky with Starfania upon his back. Beside them flew Drogo, carrying Aeron. The moment Atlas's claws touched the earth, a soft mist curled around the area, stirred by the sheer force of his landing. Conversation immediately quieted. Heads turned. Soldiers paused mid-conversation. Even dragons nearby lifted their heads curiously. Because standing atop Atlas—clad fully in Dragon Savior armor with Cosrmy resting at her sides—Starfania no longer looked like the frightened girl who arrived in Primara chained beside her friends.
She looked like a leader. Her silver-and-midnight armor shimmered beneath the sunlight, the engraved patterns glowing faintly with every movement she made. The cape behind her swayed dramatically as she dismounted Atlas with practice confidence. Cosmry rested securely at her hip, its blade pulsing softly as though recognizing the moment. Atlas lowered his head proudly beside her, his sapphire eyes gleaming. Together—they looked inseparable. Like myth finally stepping into reality.
Near the center of the meeting grounds, Lyam watched beside Lutu. The leader of Primara immediately spotted them approaching and raised a hand in greeting. A grin spread across his face the closer they came.
" Well," Lyam said, clearly impressed, " I must admit…the two of you look more than ready for what lies ahead."
His sharp eyes examined both Aeron and Starfania carefully.
" I see Katherine outdid herself once more."
Starfania glanced down at her armor almost disbelievingly.
" It still doesn't feel real," she admitted softly; " She somehow made this feel…alive."
Lyam nodded knowingly. " That's because Katherine doesn't simply forge armor."
His gaze drifted briefly toward Cosmry. " She forges intention."
Aeron flexed his armored arm with a grin. " Honestly? I thought I was going to suffocate wearing this thing."
He twisted slightly. " But somehow it moves perfectly."
Lyam laughed quietly. " Armor that restricts movement becomes a coffin in battle."
Lutu huffed approvingly beside him. Atlas immediately puffed his chest out afterward as if agreeing with the statement personally. Drogo responded by nudging Atlas hard enough to nearly knock him sideways. Violet burst into laughter nearby. Lyam's expression softened slightly as he looked toward Starfania again. Just days ago…she doubted every word she spoke. Every decision she made. Now—even beneath the fear still lingering inside her—there was confidence growing there too. Not because she stopped being afraid. But because she was learning how to move forward despite it. And for the first time since becoming the Dragon Savior—Starfania finally looked like she was beginning to believe in herself. Lyam rested a hand against his sword.
" Good," he said firmly. " Because once we move out…"
His expression hardened. " There won't be any turning back."