The next few days passed in a dizzying blur, a whirl of light, laughter, and the slow, steady hum of magic finally settling into a rhythm. The palace, so long defined by quiet precision and measured steps, seemed to bend around the new energy in its walls, bending gently to the pulse of life that had awoken with Anna.
Morning sunlight spilled over the castle gardens, painting the roses, fountains, and hedgerows in gold. Birds flitted between trees, their song mingling with something far brighter—the sound of laughter, light and unrestrained.
Anna ran through the winding garden paths, her braid bouncing with every step, cheeks flushed with joy. Elara followed close behind, laughing, hair catching the sunlight, pages of a levitating book tucked under one arm. Talia darted around them both, her dagger safely sheathed, but her grin wild as she wove through the flowerbeds, testing her agility against the younger princess.
And chasing them—clumsy, determined, wings flapping in quick, uneven bursts—was Alistar. The small dragon's purple-black scales glimmered in the sunlight, sparks of iridescent light trailing with every step. He tumbled through hedges, scrambled over stone paths, and occasionally collided softly with a fountain's edge, only to shake himself and bound after them again.
Selene settled onto a worn wooden bench tucked beneath an arching wisteria vine, the soft fragrance of the flowers mingling with the sun-warmed air. Her hands rested lightly in her lap, but her gaze never wavered from the trio ahead—Anna weaving through the garden paths with Alistar flitting after her, Talia darting along the edges of flowerbeds, and Elara's soft laughter floating like music between them.
For a long moment, she simply watched, letting the warmth of the sun and the joyous energy of her daughters fill the quiet spaces in her chest. The tension of the past few weeks—the fear, the uncertainty, the worry—seemed to melt slightly with each burst of laughter, each tumble, each triumphant trill from the little dragon.
A shadow fell across the edge of the bench. Selene didn't turn, didn't break her focus. Valerius's presence was quiet but solid, a familiar weight of reassurance. He lowered himself beside her, settling comfortably, hands clasped loosely between his knees.
"Look at them," he murmured, voice low, almost reverent.
Selene gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, eyes still fixed on Anna. "They're… happy," she said softly, the words tasting of relief and awe.
Valerius's gaze followed hers, taking in the scene of pure, unrestrained joy—the dragon flitting awkwardly, Anna squealing with laughter, Talia and Elara weaving through the garden in effortless rhythm. He let a rare, quiet smile soften his features.
Selene didn't speak again, didn't need to. Her eyes remained on the girls, and Valerius leaned back slightly, letting the shared silence hold the weight of peace they'd both been craving. The palace, the world beyond the garden walls, could wait. For now, there was only this—this laughter, this light, and the warmth of family gathered in the sun.
For a few minutes, neither of them moved, letting the sounds of the garden wash over them—the soft rustle of leaves, the trill of Alistar's wings, the peals of Anna's laughter mixing with her sisters' voices. It was a rhythm unlike any Selene had felt in weeks, steady and grounding, filling the spaces where fear and tension had lived.
Valerius shifted slightly, his shoulder brushing hers, a quiet, almost imperceptible acknowledgment of the shared relief between them. "She's… different now," he murmured, voice low but carrying the weight of both pride and awe. "Stronger, yes—but calmer. She's… balanced, somehow."
Selene's gaze softened, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "It's the first time I've seen her truly at peace," she said. "Not just safe… but free to be herself."
"Faster, Alistar!" Anna called over her shoulder, breathless and laughing, eyes bright with excitement.
The dragon let out a soft, musical trill, wings fluttering as he tried to match their pace. It was less a chase and more a dance, a careful balance between reckless joy and cautious awareness—the three sisters weaving through the garden, and Alistar learning the rhythm of their laughter, their energy, their lives.
Even the flowers seemed to lean toward them, petals quivering as if in tune with the joy, the warmth, and the quiet magic that now hummed through the air. For the first time in weeks, the palace felt truly alive, and Anna—heart soaring, magic resting comfortably within her—could finally be herself.
Alistar, in a burst of overzealous speed, misjudged the turn around a rose-covered trellis. His tiny claws slipped on the soft grass, sending him tumbling head over tail.
He flipped—once, twice, then a third time—spinning through the air in a surprisingly graceful, if chaotic, series of front flips. Each rotation caught glimmers of sunlight, scattering tiny sparks of iridescent light like glitter across the garden path.
Anna skidded to a stop, laughter spilling out uncontrollably, and Elara and Talia weren't far behind, doubling over as giggles escaped them.
"Oh my gods, Alistar!" Anna cried, clutching her stomach as she bent forward, pointing at the tiny dragon. "Three flips? Seriously? You're ridiculous!"
Elara crouched slightly, hands pressed to her knees, hair falling into her face as she laughed, her voice soft but full of amusement. "He's… he's like a little whirlwind," she managed between breaths, shaking her head.
Talia leaned down, brushing a finger along his back as he shook off the fall, wings flaring slightly. "You okay, little guy? You sure know how to make an entrance," she teased, smirking at his triumphant chirp.
Alistar looked up at them, chest puffing, wings twitching with pride, letting out a playful trill as if to say, Of course I'm fine.
The three girls collapsed around him on the soft grass, laughter ringing out through the gardens, the sun casting sparkling patterns across the petals, the stone paths, and the tiny, proud dragon at the center of it all.
Selene exhaled slowly, letting the moment sink into her bones. "We'll need to teach her control," she said, her voice barely audible, more to herself than to Valerius. "But… maybe it won't feel like training anymore. Not with this."
Valerius didn't reply immediately. He was too busy watching Anna, the little dragon, and the sisters weaving around each other in perfect, chaotic harmony. Then he gave a quiet chuckle, the first light sound he had allowed himself in days.
Selene glanced at him, a faint sparkle of amusement in her eyes. "You're smiling," she noted, almost teasing.
He met her gaze, the warmth in his eyes reflecting hers. "I think… we can let ourselves breathe a little," he said, voice soft but certain. "For now, at least, the world can wait."
They returned their attention to the garden, to the laughter, to the light—the fragile, brilliant joy of a family finally together and whole. And for the first time in weeks, Selene let herself truly sit back and simply watch.
A few more moments passed, the sunlight spilling golden across the garden paths as the girls' laughter began to soften into quieter giggles, their energy gradually winding down. Alistar, small wings twitching with exhaustion, let out a long, musical yawn that stretched from his tiny jaw to the tip of his tail, a soft, vibrating sound that blended oddly with the rustle of leaves.
Alistar looks up, his bright, intelligent eyes catching sight of Selene seated on the bench, Valerius beside her, their shoulders close, quiet in shared relief. Recognition sparked, and with surprising speed and grace, he bounded toward them, claws tapping lightly on the stone path.
Anna's voice faded behind him as the sisters noticed his sudden shift in focus, curiosity flickering across their faces. Alistar reached the bench, gave a small, triumphant trill, and with a nimble hop, landed gently in Selene's lap. His wings folded neatly, his tail curling around himself, and he let out a satisfied sigh, resting his scaled head against her, eyes half-lidded in contentment.
Selene stiffened slightly at first, startled by the small weight, but the tension melted almost immediately. Her hands came up instinctively, cradling him lightly, smoothing along his back. Alistar shifted, stretching comfortably, then settled fully, warmth and quiet resonance flowing from him into her hands and lap.
Valerius watched, lips tugging into a small, fond smile. "I think he likes you," he murmured, tone low, almost teasing.
Selene glanced up at him, a rare, soft smile breaking through her composed exterior. "It seems so," she said, voice gentle, as her eyes returned to the little dragon resting in her lap. "And… I like him."
Alistar's soft purring trill resonated through her, a living reminder of the strange, wondrous bond forming between dragon and family—a quiet moment of peace in the midst of a world forever poised on the edge of chaos.
Anna, Elara, and Talia came bounding down the garden path, laughter still lingering in the air, their energy barely dulled by the day's activities. They skidded to a halt at the bench, eyes lighting up as they saw Alistar curled up in Selene's lap, wings tucked and tail coiled neatly, his breathing slow and even.
Anna's grin softened, and she crouched slightly, hands hovering as if not to disturb him. "He's… asleep," she whispered, awe in her voice.
Talia knelt at the side of the bench, brushing a finger lightly over his back, careful not to wake him. "He trusts you mom," she said quietly, voice filled with wonder.
The three sisters exchanged a glance, smiles spreading across their faces, hearts warming at the sight of the tiny dragon finally at ease. Alistar's soft purring trill filled the quiet space around them, blending with the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant hum of the palace, a perfect, unspoken harmony that wrapped them all in serenity.
For a long moment, none of them spoke—just watching, just being—grateful for this rare, peaceful pause in a world of magic, duty, and discovery.
A few moments of quiet passed before a soft clearing of throats broke the serenity. Valerius's shoulders stiffened slightly as an advisor approached the bench, careful to keep his voice low.
"Your Majesty," the man said, bowing lightly. "I apologize for interrupting, but there are matters that require your attention. The council awaits your presence regarding the northern border patrols, and there are updates from the 12 Pillars as well."
Valerius exhaled slowly, eyes flicking toward Selene, who still watched the girls and Alistar without a word. He offered a small, distracted nod. "Very well," he said, voice measured. "Thank you. I'll be there shortly."
The advisor inclined his head, retreating gracefully down the path, leaving Valerius with a brief moment to glance back at Anna and the others. His gaze softened, just slightly, before he rose fully from the bench.
Selene finally let her eyes flicker toward him, and he gave a subtle shrug, almost imperceptible, before he started toward his duties, the faint hum of palace responsibility already pulling him away from the quiet garden sanctuary.
Alistar stirred slightly in Selene's lap but didn't wake, as if understanding the shift in the air. The sisters watched him, and each other, the peaceful moment lingering stubbornly despite the demands of the world beyond the garden walls.
Valerius left the garden, each step measured, the soft crunch of gravel beneath his boots the only sound accompanying him. The warm laughter and rustling leaves of the palace gardens faded behind him, replaced by the echoing halls of the imperial wing. Here, every footfall carried weight, every turn of the polished marble corridors a reminder of duty.
He reached the council chamber, its heavy doors engraved with sigils of past rulers and wards designed to hold the discussions within safe and orderly. Inside, the room was already alive with motion—advisors murmuring in clusters, maps and documents spread across tables, the scent of ink and candle wax hanging in the air.
Heads turned briefly as the emperor entered, and whispers rippled through the gathered council members. Valerius's eyes scanned the room, settling on the key figures he would need to address first: generals, captains, advisors, and the 12 Pillars of Astoria Elite mage Division Commander, Lira Starwall. Each waited with an expectation both formal and pressing, aware that the morning's events at the palace would inevitably influence their discussions.
He moved to the head of the table, his cloak brushing against the floor, a posture of authority etched into every line of his body. The room fell into a tense silence, all eyes trained on him. Valerius's gaze hardened, steady and commanding, yet beneath it lingered the echo of the garden—the sight of Anna, laughing and alive, the dragon nestled on her mother's lap. That thought steadied him, a quiet reassurance before the storm of duty began.
"Gentlemen, ladies," he began, voice cutting through the murmurs, "let us proceed. We have much to discuss."