The ritual ended in silence.
For a moment, the world felt distant, as if time itself had taken a step back. Then an image forced its way into my mind—the Fate Dragon.
It didn't feel like a memory. It felt present, alive, as if my eyes were open somewhere else. His massive shape twisted through a sky that wasn't this one, scales reflecting light that didn't belong to any sun I knew. When the vision finally shattered, the air rushed back into my lungs, and my heart pounded.
I knew where he was.
The sun was already sinking when I opened my eyes, staining the horizon in deep orange and red. Sara was standing in front of me, blood drying on her hands, gripping the sword tightly. For a second, I truly believed she would kill me.
Instead, she stepped closer and placed the sword in my hands.
Sara: You need to control yourself more.
Her voice wasn't angry—just tired.
We rode Jack back in heavy silence. The sky darkened as we flew, clouds stretching endlessly beneath us. I stayed behind her, watching her shoulders rise and fall, trying to find the right words and failing every time. Eventually, I gave up. The wind swallowed my thoughts anyway.
When we returned to the kingdom, night had already fallen. Lanterns lit the streets in soft yellow, and people passed by laughing, unaware that blood still stained our clothes. Sara didn't look at me—she headed straight toward the castle. I watched her disappear before turning away.
I went to find Amelia.
When I told her it was time to go after the Fate Dragon, she didn't answer immediately. Instead, she studied my face.
Amelia: Why do you look so sad today?
I looked away, my hands trembling.
Xiver: It's nothing.
She stepped closer, her fingers gently lifting my chin, warm against my cold skin.
Amelia: Let's get something to eat tonight. Tomorrow, we'll go.
She saw more than she said. I agreed, knowing that if I didn't, I'd break down right there in the street.
That night, we ate under dim lights as the city slowly quieted. The noise of the day faded into murmurs, and the smell of warm food mixed with the cold night air.
Amelia: Loss is heavy. Carrying it alone only makes it worse.
Xiver: Missing who?
She didn't hesitate.
Amelia: Your mother.
My chest tightened.
Xiver: Elizabeth isn't my mother.
Amelia: Then who is?
For a moment, I almost told her everything—about my world, my real life, my real home. But fear wrapped around my throat and held the truth in place.
Xiver: I don't know… I just feel like you're more of a mother to me than she ever was.
She blinked, confused.
Amelia: I thought you saw me as an older sister. But… don't you miss Elizabeth?
I stared at the table, watching the candlelight flicker.
Xiver: I do.
The next morning, the sky was pale and quiet when we gathered at the Adventurer Guild. The city was still half-asleep, and the air felt thin with anticipation. Our destination was the Dream Lands.
Jack couldn't take us—he had no wings. I doubted divine magic alone would be enough, until a memory surfaced.
Xiver: Martha… how did you and Maria reach us the first time we met? You were flying.
Martha: Oh. We used Safari.
Before I could question it, Amelia's eyes lit up.
Amelia: I missed Safari so fucking much!
Outside the guild, Martha summoned him. Light bent, air trembled—and then a massive shadow passed over us. The sun blinded me for a second, and when my vision cleared, I found myself soaring through the sky.
Clouds rolled beneath us, the world shrinking into a distant map. Safari—a massive griffin—cut through the air with powerful wings as Amelia and Martha laughed, running their hands through his feathers.
I opened a book instead. Symbols, magic systems, configurations—ways to break and reshape them. Knowledge was the only thing keeping my thoughts from collapsing.
Hours passed. Amelia eventually fell asleep against Safari's back. Martha ate quietly. I kept reading.
After nearly two hours, Safari descended.
We landed in the middle of the forbidden road.
Ahead of us lay the Dream Lands.
The moment my feet hit the ground, the air changed—lighter, unreal. Purple and pink trees swayed without wind, waterfalls floated like suspended ribbons of water, and blue and yellow plants glowed faintly in the sand. It felt like stepping into a dream that didn't want to wake up.
Safari was exhausted. Amelia transferred what magic she could into him, just enough to keep him standing. With his final strength, he carried us forward before collapsing behind us in a cloud of dust.
I pushed myself up, sand sticking to my clothes, and lifted my head.
This was it.
Somewhere in this strange, beautiful world, the Fate Dragon was waiting—and so was my way home.