Starfania awoke with a sharp inhale, her body jolting upright as if pulled from the depths of something far more real than a dream. The world around her slowly came back into focus—the familiar walls, the quiet presence of her friends—but her heart still pounded as though she were standing in the middle of it all. It didn't feel like imagination. It felt like the truth. Aeron, Violet, Drogo, and Atlas stood close by, their faces etched with concern.
The moment her eyes met theirs, something inside her softened. Without thinking, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around them, holding on tightly—as if grounding herself in something real, something certain. Then—a sharp, burning pain exploded across her forehead. She gasped, her hand flying up instinctively as the sensation shot through her like lightning. Her breath hitched, uneven and shallow, and for a moment the room tilted. Aeron's hand found her shoulder almost immediately.
" Are you alright?" he asked, his voice low but urgent. Starfania nodded quickly, though the movement felt unsteady.
" I'm fine…it's just—" she hesitated, her voice faltering, " another vision."
The silence that followed was heavy. Not disbelief—but not acceptance either. Aeron studied her carefully, his brow furrowed.
" If that's all it was," he said slowly, " then why were you talking? You were…mumbling. And when you wake up—you look terrified."
Starfania's fingers curled slightly against her palm. Her thoughts tangled, too many pieces trying to fit all at once. Before she could answer—a soft, steady warmth pressed against her hand. Atlas. He lifted his head, his shimmering eyes fixed on her, and gently nudged her palm with his snout.
The simple gesture anchored her, pulling her out of the spiral threatening to take hold. Her breathing steadied. She rested her hand against his scales, drawing strength from him before finally speaking.
" …I saw her," Starfania whispered. " Cantina."
The room stilled. " And…she showed me everything."
Aeron's expression shifted, and is more serious now. " Everything…?"
Starfania swallowed hard, her grip tightening slightly against Atlas.
" The poison," she said, her voice trembling despite her effort to steady it.
" What it actually does…I saw a dragon—Aeron, it was suffering. It wasn't just pain—it was…" she shook her head, unable to fully form the words. " It was torture."
Violet's small frame tensed beside her.
" And my father…" Starfania continued, her voice cracking now. " I saw him too."
That landed harder than anything else. Aeron leaned forward. " Your father? How is that even possible?"
" It wasn't like watching from afar," she whispered. " It felt like I was there. Like I could reach him…but he couldn't see me."
Her voice dropped even softer. " He thinks I'm gone."
Violet shifted closer, her expression filled with worry. " So Cantina showed you all of this…on purpose?"
Starfania nodded slowly, tears threatening but not falling.
" It wasn't just a vision," she said. " It was a warning."
Atlas let out a low, soothing hum, pressing his head more firmly against her hand—as if reminding her she wasn't alone in this. She exhaled shakily, leaning into that comfort. " I think…something worse is coming."
The words barely had time to settle—knock. Knock. Knock. The sudden sound cut cleanly through the moment. All of them turned toward the door. Aeron moved first, opening it to reveal one of Primara's guards, his posture rigid, urgency written across his face.
" Forgive the interruption," the guard said quickly, his eyes landing on Starfania. " But there's been a development."
A brief pause. Then, firmly: " An emergency meeting has been called."
His gaze sharpened. " And the Dragon Savior is required—immediately."