The research chamber deep within the castle's eastern wing was alive.
Crystalline pylons lined the walls, their cores pulsing in alternating hues of violet, gold, and sea-blue. Sigils drifted through the air like slow-moving constellations, flashing, reordering, then collapsing into new configurations as softly chiming instruments recalibrated themselves. Thin threads of light connected one device to another, forming a web of controlled chaos that hummed with barely restrained power.
Panels clicked. Runes flared. Somewhere, a containment ring spun too fast and corrected itself with an indignant snap.
"—oh that's not right, that's definitely not right, unless the calibration matrix is inverted again, which would mean—no, no, don't do that—ah! There we go."
Lyssandra Vale's voice cut through the mechanical hum, bright with unfiltered fascination.
"Look at that oscillation! Do you see it? Of course you don't, you're not attuned to seventh-layer harmonic drift—most people aren't—but I am, and it's beautiful."
The camera of attention—if there were one—would pan past the humming machines, past the floating charts and flickering projections, until it settled on the center worktable.
Alistar sat there.
The small dragon was perched neatly atop a rune-etched slab, tail wrapped around his feet, wings folded with careful precision. His purplish-black scales caught the flashing lights, reflecting them in soft, iridescent ripples. Bright, intelligent eyes tracked Lyssandra's every movement.
Lyssandra stood a few steps away, holding a slender scanning tool made of crystal and silver. The device spun softly in her hand, its internal rings rotating as it emitted faint, musical pulses of light.
A softer sound cut through the whirring instruments.
"Um… Doctor Vale?"
Anna's voice came from just beyond the edge of the worktable—quiet, careful, threaded with uncertainty. She stood close enough that Alistar could feel her presence, fingers curled anxiously in the hem of her sleeve, eyes fixed not on the machines but on him.
"Are you… are you sure this won't hurt him?" she asked softly. "He's never been around things like this before."
Lyssandra froze mid-gesture.
The scanner's rings slowed, then stilled completely. She lowered the device at once and turned, expression shifting in an instant from academic rapture to something gentler—focused, deliberate.
"Hurt him?" she echoed, as if the idea itself offended her sense of order. "Stars, no. Absolutely not."
She crouched slightly to Anna's level, keeping her movements slow and visible. "This isn't an invasive scan. No pressure, no extraction, no resonance pull. It's passive—purely observational. Think of it like… listening, not touching."
Alistar let out a low, curious trill, eyes flicking from Anna back to Lyssandra.
Lyssandra smiled despite herself. "Besides," she added, glancing at the dragon, "if he didn't approve, I wouldn't be standing this close. Trust me—whatever he is, he's very capable of saying no."
Anna hesitated, then nodded faintly, one hand lifting to rest against Alistar's side. "Okay," she murmured. "I just… don't want him scared."
Alistar leaned subtly into her touch, wings rustling once.
Lyssandra's eyes softened. "He isn't," she said quietly. "He's curious. And so am I."
The machines hummed on—but softer now, as if even the chamber had agreed to be careful.
Selene stepped closer, her presence calm and steady amid the hum of machinery. She rested a gentle hand on Anna's shoulder, her touch warm and grounding.
"You did the right thing by asking," Selene said softly, her voice carrying quiet assurance. "Protecting him matters. Protecting both of you matters."
Anna glanced up at her mother, worry still lingering in her eyes. "I just don't want him to think we're… experimenting on him."
Selene's lips curved into a small, reassuring smile. "He won't," she said. "Not with you here. Not when he can feel your intent." Her gaze shifted briefly to Alistar, who watched them with that unnervingly perceptive calm. "And Doctor Vale understands that. She may be enthusiastic—but she's not careless."
Lyssandra nodded quickly, almost tripping over her own agreement. "Very much not careless. Ethically obsessive, actually. There are forms. So many forms."
That earned the faintest hint of a smile from Selene.
She squeezed Anna's shoulder once more. "You're not alone in this," Selene added quietly. "And neither is he. Whatever Alistar is, he chose you. We'll make sure he's safe."
Anna's shoulders eased, just a little. Her hand remained on Alistar's side, and the small dragon responded with a soft, contented trill, tail flicking once against the rune-etched table.
Selene watched that exchange closely, her expression thoughtful but no longer afraid.
"Go on," she said gently. "We're right here."
Lyssandra straightened, rolling her shoulders once like a musician preparing to play again. "All right," she said briskly—but not unkindly. "Resuming passive scan. No surprises. No sudden movements. No heroic sacrifices."
She lifted the scanner again. This time, the crystal rings rotated slowly, emitting a soft chiming tone that shifted pitch as it passed over Alistar. Threads of light traced the outline of his wings, then his spine, then lingered—curiously—around his chest.
Alistar watched the device with open fascination. He leaned forward a fraction, sniffed at it, then tapped it once with the tip of his claw.
Chime—ping.
Lyssandra gasped. "Oh! Oh that's—did you see that? He just adjusted the harmonic response. On purpose." She grinned, delighted. "Clever boy."
Alistar huffed softly, puffing his chest like he absolutely knew that already.
Anna couldn't help it—she smiled.
The scan continued, lights flashing more gently now, the machines almost purring as data settled into place. Lyssandra circled the table once, jotting notes on her crystalline tablet, occasionally muttering to herself.
"Stable core… clean resonance flow… no corruption markers… oh, that's beautiful symmetry—"
Finally, the scanner dimmed and powered down with a satisfied click.
Lyssandra leaned back, hands on her hips, and looked from Alistar to Anna. "Well," she announced, "other than being the first confirmed dragon seen in two centuries—and casually redefining half my reference charts—he's remarkably healthy."
Anna let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Really?"
"Really," Lyssandra said, nodding. "Strong bond, excellent energy regulation, no signs of instability. If anything—" she glanced at Alistar, who tilted his head again, "—he's thriving."
Alistar chose that moment to stretch, yawn widely, and flop down off the table with a soft thump, wings splayed in utter contentment.
Lyssandra laughed. "Yes, yes. I'll add 'dramatic' to the notes."
Selene stepped closer, relief easing her features. "Thank you, Doctor."
Lyssandra waved a hand, already scribbling again. "My pleasure. Truly. This is the most exciting thing that's happened to me since a ley line tried to eat my boot."
Anna blinked. "That—what?"
Lyssandra paused. "Different story. Later."
Alistar's tail flicked once, content and unbothered, as if to say: See? I told you I was fine.
The last of the instruments dimmed as Lyssandra began reorganizing her notes, already muttering about charts, revisions, and several strongly worded letters to the Archive. Selene placed a gentle hand at Anna's back, guiding her toward the chamber doors.
"All right," Selene said softly. "Let's give the doctor space before she tries to install another sensor."
Lyssandra looked up. "I would never—" A beat. "…without permission."
Anna giggled as she carefully lifted Alistar up. He settled easily against her, small claws gripping her sleeve, wings tucking in as if he'd always belonged there.
They stepped into the corridor, the heavy doors closing behind them with a muted thud. The hum of the research chamber faded, replaced by the quieter resonance of the palace halls.
As they walked, Anna glanced down at Alistar, lowering her voice to a whisper meant only for him.
"Well," she murmured, lips twitching with a conspiratorial smile, "Doctor Vale says you're healthy. So that's one approval down."
Alistar blinked up at her, eyes bright, tail giving a tiny, confident flick.
"Which means," Anna continued softly, "now we just need Father to say yes. And then…" She smiled wider. "We can go back to school."
Alistar let out a soft, hopeful trill.
Selene could hear everything Anna was whispering and allowed herself a small, knowing smirk as they rounded the final corridor turn—the vaulted arches of the throne wing coming into view.
"Well," she said lightly, "let's see what the Emperor has to say."
Ahead of them, the doors to the throne room loomed—tall, gilded, and waiting.
The doors to the throne room swung open with a measured creak.
The advisor at the entrance straightened, voice ringing clearly through the vaulted space. "Her Majesty, Empress Selene. Princess Anna of Astoria."
They stepped inside—and immediately realized they were interrupting something.
Valerius stood near the base of the dais, deep in conversation with a man who looked as though he had been carved out of mountain stone and then argued with the mountain until it gave up. He was tall—broader than most guards—his arms corded with muscle beneath a sleeveless travel cuirass. A scruffy beard framed a weather-worn face, and scars traced pale lines along his forearms like old stories written into flesh.
The man turned as they entered, one thick brow lifting with interest.
Selene paused, posture smoothing into courtly grace at once. "My apologies, Valerius," she said calmly. "I didn't realize you were occupied. We can return at a later—"
Anna shifted beside her, lips pressing into a thin line. She hugged Alistar a little closer, clearly displeased at the idea of waiting again.
Before she could speak, Valerius waved the apology away with an easy motion.
"Nonsense," he said, turning fully toward them. His expression softened instantly at the sight of Anna—and then flickered with something like amused relief. "Your timing is impeccable, actually. I was just wishing to speak with you both."
Selene blinked. "We're not interrupting?"
"Not at all," Valerius replied. "If anything, this saves me the trouble of sending for you."
He glanced at the burly man beside him. "In fact, you may as well meet him now."
The man crossed his arms, muscles shifting beneath scarred skin, and gave a short, respectful nod toward Selene—then looked down at Anna.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…Well," he rumbled, voice deep and rough-edged, "I'll be damned."
Alistar lifted his head at the sound, blinking up at the stranger with calm, assessing curiosity.
Valerius's mouth curved into a faint smile. "Yes," he said. "That reaction seems to be going around."
Valerius stepped down from the dais, closing the distance between them with an ease that spoke of familiarity rather than formality.
"Selene. Anna," he said, voice warm. Then he turned slightly, gesturing to the towering man beside him. "Allow me to introduce Brom Ironhart—one of the Twelve Pillars of Astoria."
Brom straightened a fraction, placing a broad fist over his chest in a respectful salute. "Your Majesty. Princess," he said, then glanced again at Alistar. The corner of his mouth twitched. "And… apparently, the smallest terror I've ever seen."
Anna blinked. "Terror?"
Brom huffed a low laugh. "Affectionately."
Valerius continued, tone measured but edged with purpose. "Brom specializes in magical training and enhancement—particularly unconventional manifestations. If magic doesn't behave the way the books insist it should, he's the one we send in."
Brom scratched his beard. "I make things stronger without breaking the person holding them," he said simply. "Or, if breaking's unavoidable, I make sure they heal better after."
Selene studied him carefully. "So you train mages."
Valerius inclined his head once in confirmation. "Yes. He trains mages," he said—then his gaze shifted back to Anna, sharpening just slightly. "And he will be training you."
Anna froze.
"…Me?" she echoed.
Brom's brows lifted, then he looked between Valerius and the small dragon in Anna's arms. A slow, thoughtful grin spread across his face. "Well. That explains a few things."
Anna's eyes brightened instantly. "So that means I can go back to school, right?" she asked quickly, hope tumbling out all at once. "If I'm training already, then I don't need to be stuck inside anymore and—"
"No."
The word was calm. Absolute.
It cut through her excitement like a clean blade.
Anna's shoulders sagged. "Oh."
Valerius crouched slightly so he was closer to her eye level, his voice firm but not unkind. "You will remain at the castle," he said evenly, "until you can use your power without harming yourself—or everything around you."
Selene watched him closely, but did not interrupt.
"You collapsed," Valerius continued. "You absorbed more mana than a seasoned battlemage could survive. I will not send you back into an Academy full of uncontrolled variables until your body can endure what your power demands."
Anna swallowed. "But—"
"This isn't a punishment," he added gently. "It's protection. And preparation."
Brom nodded once, solemn now. "He's right, Princess. What's inside you doesn't play by student rules. If we rush it, you don't just break wards—you break you."
Alistar let out a low, displeased chirr, wings twitching.
Anna's gaze dropped to the marble floor, her fingers tightening slightly in Alistar's scales. The small dragon sensed the shift immediately, pressing closer, a faint rumble vibrating in his chest.
Valerius noticed.
He moved without hesitation, kneeling fully this time. One gloved hand lifted gently, two fingers slipping beneath Anna's chin and tilting her face upward—not forcing, never forcing—just enough that she had to meet his eyes.
His voice softened.
"I'm not asking you to master it," he said quietly. "Not yet."
Anna blinked, surprise flickering through her sadness.
"I'm asking you to control it," Valerius continued, thumb brushing lightly against her jaw in a grounding, steadying touch. "Just enough that it doesn't hurt you. Or the people around you. That's all."
Her breath hitched. "Just… that?"
"That," he said firmly, "is more than enough for now."
Brom looked away, suddenly very interested in the stonework. Selene's chest eased, just a fraction.
Valerius held Anna's gaze. "Power like yours doesn't need perfection. It needs boundaries. Understanding. Time." His mouth curved into the faintest smile. "And you will have all three."
Anna swallowed, then nodded—small, but real.
Alistar lifted his head, eyes bright, and let out a soft, approving trill.
Valerius straightened slowly. "When you can do that," he said, "we'll talk about the Academy again."
Hope didn't burst this time—but it settled. Steady. Patient. And strong.
Anna squared her shoulders, lifting her chin on her own this time."…Okay," she said, quiet but steady. "I'll do it."