Suddenly, a whisper—soft as a drifting breeze—caught in Starfania's throat. The word tilted. Images flooded her mind without warning, memories unraveling like threads pulled from a forgotten tapestry.
The answer you seek has been with you all along. Cantina's voice. Calm. Certain. Unavoidable. Starfania saw herself standing atop one of VulcanFire's towers, wind tearing at her hair as she faced her father. His expression had been stern, distracted—as if she were an interruption rather than his daughter. Then—a guard burst in, breathless. " Sir, Lyam's forces have launched an attack."
Cesar's face darkened instantly. Without even looking back at her, he dismissed her with a curt gesture, already turning toward strategy and war.
The memory dissolved. Another replaced it. A long dining table gleaming with gold and crystal. Her father's closest allies seated around it, their laughter loud, hollow, and sharp against her ears. She had sat quietly, pushing food around her plate, trying to disappear. Then one sentence pierced through the noise like a blade. " The dragons won't be a problem much longer."
Her stomach had dropped. She hadn't understood then. Now she did. The vision shifted again—violently.
A war tent. Papers scattered across a heavy desk. A tattered leather book lying half-open, its cracked cover etched with symbols she couldn't decipher. Her hands—hesitant—reached out and opened it. Inside, a small glass vial was nestled between the pages. Filled with thick, black liquid that clung to the glass like oil. Her breath had caught even then. The poison. The memory shattered. Starfania's eyes snapped open, her pulse roaring in her ears. It hadn't been a dream. She had held it. And when she arrived in Primara…She had placed it in her vanity drawer without thinking. The realization struck like lightning.
" I have it," she whispered.
Atlas's head snapped toward her, instantly alert. Urgency surged through her veins, drowning out doubts, fear, hesitation—everything except one singular purpose. She had to get it. Now. Atlas didn't wait for an explanation. He simply lowered himself, wings half-spread, sapphire eyes burning with understanding. Starfania climbed onto his back in one swift motion. Gasps erupted across the chamber as Atlas surged forward, claws scraping stone. Before anyone could react, he barreled through the doors into the corridor beyond.
" What is wrong with that child?" one leader exclaimed in bewilderment. Lyam stared after her, completely stunned.
" Truly," he muttered, " the inner workings of her mind remain a mystery to me."
Starfania didn't hear him. Wind tore through the corridor as Atlas smashed through an outer doorway, sending it wide open. With a powerful beat of his wings, he launched into the open sky, carrying her away from the Grand Hall in a streak of blue and silver. Below, Violet and Aeron looked up just in time to see them streak overhead. Vi frowned deeply. " What could be making her rush like that?"
Aeron squinted, concern tightening his features.
" I don't know," he said. " But we're about to find out."
They mounted Drogo in one fluid motion, the dragon launching skyward to pursue. Atlas landed moments later on the balcony of their residence. Starfania didn't even wait for him to fully settle—she leapt off and burst through the doors, sprinting down the halls with reckless urgency. Her bedroom. She needed to reach her bedroom. She skidded to a halt inside, eyes locking instantly onto the vanity. Starfania quickly opened the drawer, and the vial sat exactly where she left it. Small. Innocuous. Deadly. She snatched it without hesitation, concealing it carefully within her cloak just as Aeron and Vi rushed in behind her.
" What's going on?" Aeron demanded breathlessly. " I thought you were supposed to be at a meeting."
" There's no time to explain," she said, already moving past them. " Just trust me."
Something in her voice silenced further questions. Moments later, they were airborne again, racing back toward the Grand Hall, cutting across the sky with desperate speed. Time was slipping away. When they reached the platform, Starfania didn't slow. She stormed straight to the massive doors and shoved them open with both hands. The chamber fell silent. Every head turned. Lyam rose immediately, frustration flashing across his face.
" What is the matter with you?" he demanded. " Running out of a war assembly like that—"
Starfania stopped at the center of the room, chest rising and plummeting. She scanned the surrounding faces—suspicion, confusion, irritation, curiosity. Stay calm. They need to understand.
" I know what you're thinking," she said firmly. " Why would I leave so abruptly? But I had an excellent reason."
Someone scoffed openly. " How could you possibly justify that?"
" I'm not here to make excuses," she replied, forcing steadiness into her voice. " There was an urgent matter that required my immediate attention."
Murmurs spread through the room like wildflowers.
" Urgent?" Lyam challenged, arms crossing. " What could be more important than this meeting?"
Starfania reached slowly into her cloak. " Maybe this will explain."
She withdrew the small glass vial and lifted it into the candlelight. The inky liquid inside swirled thickly, unnatural and ominous. Reflected flames danced across its surface, casting dark ripples across the wall. Confusion turned instantly into unease. Whispers erupted. Lyam stepped closer, eyes narrowing as he studied the object in her hand. " What…is that?"
Starfania tightened her grip, feeling the cold glass against her palm.
" This," she said quietly but clearly, " is the poison created by VulcanFire."
Silence fell like a hammer. Even the air seemed to stop moving. The future of dragons…now rested in her hand.