Starfania listened closely to every word her father spoke, letting his lesson settle over her like a warm, unexpected cloak. His guidance—rare as rain in VulcanFire—gave her a strange sense of comfort. Purpose. Direction. But as she absorbed his message, she couldn't stop thinking about the mysterious woman from the void…the way she said the same things. With the same certainty. Like she somehow already understood the importance behind Cesar's words—more deeply than even he did. It was unsettling. It was comforting. The scene felt...familiar. Almost as if both of them—father and stranger—were guiding her toward the same destiny, each from opposite ends of an unseen path.
Before she could reflect further, hurried footsteps echoed up the tower steps, slicing through the quiet night like a blade. A guard burst onto the terrace, panting heavily, armor rattling with every step. His face was pale; his voice unsteady. " Sire, one of our—"
Cesar lifted a hand sharply. " Steady yourself, soldier. Take a moment. Breathe—and then explain."
The guard swallowed hard, nodded, and took a few deep breaths before continuing. " Lyam has demolished two bases with ease."
At the sound of Lyam's name, Starfania's vision flickered:
—Sand beneath her bare feet.
—A night sky stretching endlessly above.
—A shooting star streaking downward…not across the sky, but toward her.
Then—
—A black vial clutched in someone's hand, swirling with a venomous glow.
—A banner unfurling in the wind: a blazing phoenix with a white flower beneath its talons.
—And finally, a pair of midnight-blue dragon eyes staring straight into her, ancient and knowing.
The image vanished the moment she blinked, leaving her heart pounding and breath unsteady. The guard continued, unaware of the internal chaos.
" Despite our best efforts, none could evade or overpower him." He paused, dread tightening his voice. " Worse still…the research facility creating the—the weapon was among the destroyed bases."
Starfania frowned, confusion and dread mingling.
" Weapon?" she asked softly, turning toward her father. The guard hesitated again, lowering his voice as though even the air itself might betray him.
" The toxin, sire." A shiver ran down her spine. " The one meant to neutralize a dragon's abilities. But now its secrets may be lost—or worse…fall into Lyam's hands."
A shadow passed over Cesar's expression—dark, dangerous—but he smothered it behind a mask of composed authority.
" We must locate Lyam immediately," he commanded. " Apprehend him before he causes further destruction. He cannot be allowed to jeopardize our kingdom's plan."
Then he turned to Starfania. His tone softened, but the weight behind it remained unyielding. " As for you, my daughter…your place is here. Return to your chamber."
The finality in his voice left no room for argument, even as the visions still flickered at the edges of her mind like dying embers, whispering warnings she did not yet understand.