Location:Pavilion — Dragon Sanctuary, main clearing
Date/Time:Late Frostforge, 9939 AZI
Realm:Lower Realm (soul-space)
(You've been avoiding it.)
Jayde sat on the ridge with her wings retracted and Reiko's warmth at her left and the false-sky burning low gold above the Sanctuary. Below, the clearing stretched in greens and silvers — wyrmlings playing near the tree line, Amaya stalking something in the undergrowth, the distant sound of Xinglong running his siblings through formation drills.
I haven't—
(You have. For weeks. You learned to fly. You learned to pull your wings in. You practiced fire until you could light a candle without melting the table. You took Eden flying. You argued about Amaya's kitchen privileges. Twice.)
There were valid points on both sides.
(You are avoiding it.)
Jayde didn't answer. Below, Tianxin crashed into a bush and emerged chirping indignantly.
(I want to know.) Jade's voice went quiet. Small. (Please.)
