Night had settled fully over the academy dormitories.
The dorm halls were narrower than the grand lecture wings—built for rest rather than reverence—but no less carefully warded. Soft rune-lights were set into the stone at regular intervals, glowing a muted amber that eased tired eyes instead of sharpening them. The air was warm and faintly scented with linen, old books, and lingering traces of mana from students who had practiced too late into the evening.
Doors lined the corridor in orderly rows, each marked with a simple sigil denoting room, year, and ward strength. Some doors glowed faintly—occupied, active. Others were dark, their owners already asleep or lost to late-night study rooms.
Footsteps echoed quietly.
Anna and Lara emerged from the stairwell together, voices low out of habit rather than fear. Lara walked with her arms folded, shoulders tight with thoughts she hadn't yet spoken. Anna moved more easily, but her attention stayed tuned to Lara's pace, matching it without effort.
"This place feels smaller at night," Lara murmured.
Anna smiled softly. "It always does."
They passed a window at the end of the hall where moonlight spilled across the floor, silvering the stone and catching in Anna's pink hair. For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Lara glanced sideways at her.
"So," she said, trying—and failing—to sound casual, "still sure about this?"
Anna met her eyes, calm and certain. "Yes."
They resumed walking, their footsteps soft against the stone as the corridor stretched on ahead of them.
Lara exhaled, some of the tension easing from her shoulders. "Okay," she said quietly. "Then… what now?"
Anna gestured down the hall. "I just need to change into my training clothes," she replied. "Then we'll meet up with Kaelen."
Lara blinked. "Tonight?"
Anna nodded without hesitation.
"Tonight," she said. "The sooner, the better."
Lara searched her face, then let out a slow breath. "Right. Rip the bandage off."
Anna smiled faintly. "Exactly."
They continued down the hall, the rune-lights dimming slightly as night wards adjusted to their passing. At a door near the end of the corridor, Anna stopped, fingers brushing the ward sigil until it responded with a soft chime.
"I won't be long," she added. "Just enough time to change."
Lara folded her arms, leaning against the wall beside the door. "I'll go find Kaelen," she said. "If he asks questions, I'm blaming you."
Anna laughed quietly. "That's fair."
Anna slipped fully into her room and closed the door behind her, pressing her back to it for just a moment.
She exhaled.
The room was small but familiar—neatly made bed, desk stacked with notes and half-read books, her academy uniform folded over the back of a chair. Moonlight filtered through the narrow window, pooling softly across the floor.
"Okay," she murmured to herself. "Training clothes."
She crossed to the bed and reached for her satchel—
—and the air beside her chest rippled.
With a soft pop and a faint shimmer, Alistar emerged from his spatial anchor, landing squarely on the center of her bed in a flurry of muted sparks.
He shook himself once, wings flicking irritably, then sat down with all the dignity of a creature who had been mildly inconvenienced by reality.
Anna jumped. "Alistar—!"
The dragon blinked up at her, golden eyes bright and curious, head tilting as if to say well?
She sighed, then smiled despite herself. "You could've waited another minute."
Alistar huffed softly, tail curling around his feet. Clearly, he disagreed.
Anna began changing, turning her back as she pulled on her training clothes—dark fabric reinforced at the seams, worn and comfortable. As she did, she absentmindedly tossed her uniform onto the bed.
It landed directly on Alistar.
He froze.
Slowly, his head poked out from beneath the fabric, one eye glaring at her.
"Oh—!" Anna rushed forward, laughing quietly as she scooped the clothes back up. "Sorry, sorry."
Alistar sniffed haughtily, climbed back into his preferred spot, and sat down again—this time pointedly facing her.
Arms crossed.
Judging.
Anna tied the last strap on her boots and grabbed her cloak. "You're staying hidden," she reminded him gently.
Alistar's tail flicked once, but he didn't argue.
He simply watched her—alert, protective, utterly present.
Anna paused at the door and looked back at him, warmth settling in her chest.
Anna lingered there a heartbeat longer, taking him in—how small he looked curled on the bed, how fierce and ancient his eyes were despite it.
"You know," she said softly, a grin tugging at her lips, "you're ridiculously cute when you're pretending to be serious."
Alistar narrowed his eyes.
She took that as permission.
Before he could react, Anna kicked off one boot, tossed her cloak aside, and flopped back onto the bed beside him. She scooped him up in one smooth motion and pulled him close, pressing her cheek against his warm scales.
"Oh no," she whispered dramatically. "I have to snuggle you. It's mandatory."
Alistar let out a startled chrrp, wings flaring halfway in protest—then stopping.
His warmth soaked into her instantly, comforting and familiar. After a second of stiff indignation, he relaxed, tail wrapping loosely around her wrist as if despite himself.
"There," Anna murmured, smiling. "Much better."
He gave a low, resigned huff, resting his chin against her shoulder, eyes half-lidding.
Judging… but accepting.
Anna closed her eyes for just a moment, breathing him in, letting the quiet anchor her before the night ahead.
A moment passed.
Then another.
The room settled into stillness—rune-light low, moonlight steady, the quiet hum of wards wrapping the space in calm.
The door creaked open.
"Anna," Lara whispered loudly as she slipped inside, already turning to shut the door behind her. "I got Kaelen. He's right outside—trying very hard to look casual, which means he absolutely isn't—"
She turned around.
And froze.
Anna was sprawled across her bed, one arm curled protectively around a small, warm shape tucked against her chest. Pink hair fanned across the pillow. Her breathing was slow, even.
Nestled against her—
A dragon.
Lara's eyes went impossibly wide.
Her hands flew to her mouth.
She inhaled.
Then—
"—OH MY STARS—"
The squeal shattered the room.
Anna jolted awake with a startled yelp, half-sitting in bed as Alistar sprang upright in her arms, wings flaring instinctively in a flash of contained flame.
Lara clapped a hand over her mouth—far too late—and immediately started whisper-screaming anyway.
"YOU—YOU HAVE A DRAGON—ANNA IT'S ADORABLE—LOOK AT HIS LITTLE WINGS—"
"LARA," Anna hissed, scrambling upright and clutching Alistar to her chest as he puffed up defensively, "quiet—QUIET—this is not—this is NOT what it looks like—"
Alistar crossed his tiny arms.
Judging them both.
Anna swung her legs off the bed, nearly tripping over the sheets as she tried to shush Lara with one hand while shielding the dragon with the other. "You can't scream about this! Do you know how many wards are in this hall—"
"I'M SORRY I JUST—" Lara grabbed her own face, vibrating with excitement. "HE'S SO SMALL. AND WARM. AND HE WAS SNUGGLING YOU—"
Kaelen burst through the doorway, panic sharp in his voice, one hand already glowing faintly with instinctive defensive mana.
"—LARA?! What happened—is Anna okay?!"
He took one step in.
Then stopped.
Dead.
His eyes locked onto the small, fiery shape cradled in Anna's arms—golden eyes, folded wings, a very real tail flicking with irritation.
Time stalled.
"…I'm," Kaelen said slowly, faintly, "seeing a dragon."
Anna reacted on pure instinct.
She lunged for the door, slamming it shut behind him and twisting the lock with a sharp click. A quick flick of her wrist reinforced the ward, the runes flaring once before settling.
Silence fell—thick and stunned.
Kaelen stood frozen in the middle of the room, staring.
Lara stood beside the bed, vibrating like she might combust.
Alistar stared back at Kaelen, unimpressed.
Anna exhaled and leaned her forehead briefly against the door.
"So much," she murmured to herself, tired and resigned, "for keeping him a secret."
Kaelen finally found his voice.
"…Anna," he said hoarsely, eyes never leaving the dragon, "why is there a dragon in your dorm room."
Alistar crossed his arms again.
Judging him now.
Lara pointed excitedly between them. "SHE WAS CUDDLING HIM."
Anna closed her eyes.
"This," she said, turning around at last, "is Alistar."
Alistar lifted his chin proudly.
"And," Anna added, already bracing herself, "before either of you scream again—if this gets out, I will personally hex you both."
Kaelen blinked.
Once. Twice.
"…How," he asked slowly, carefully, "and when did this happen."
Anna shifted her grip on Alistar, one hand automatically settling between his wings as if grounding both of them. "Do you remember the orb," she said, "from the bond ritual?"
Kaelen's brow furrowed. "The one that—" His eyes widened. "—that absorbed into you."
Anna nodded.
"That wasn't just a focus," she continued quietly. "It was an egg. A dormant bond-core." She glanced down at Alistar, who flicked his tail smugly. "He was already bound to me. Just… not hatched yet."
Lara's mouth fell open. "WAIT—so that thing the instructors said was a 'rare resonance anomaly'—"
"—was a baby dragon egg," Anna finished. "Yes."
Kaelen dragged a hand down his face. "You're telling me," he said faintly, "that during a mandatory academy ritual, you accidentally bonded with an unhatched dragon."
"Not accidentally," Anna corrected. "Apparently… inevitably."
Alistar puffed his chest.
Kaelen stared at him, then at Anna, then back at the dragon. "So this whole time," he said slowly, "you've been walking around with—"
"A dragon," Lara supplied cheerfully.
"—a dragon," Kaelen finished. He let out a breathless laugh. "Of course you have."
Anna winced. "You're taking this surprisingly well."
Kaelen looked at her, eyes bright with disbelief and something like awe. "Anna," he said honestly, "after everything you've told me today? This somehow feels… on brand."
Alistar tilted his head, considering that.
Then he leaned forward slightly and sniffed Kaelen's sleeve.
Kaelen froze again.
"…He's sniffing me."
"He does that," Anna said. "He's deciding if he likes you."
Lara bounced on her toes. "DOES HE LIKE HIM?"
Alistar sat back, crossed his arms, and gave Kaelen a long, measured look.
Judging.
Then—very slowly—he nodded once.
Kaelen exhaled like he'd just passed a trial. "I have been accepted by the dragon."
Anna snorted despite herself.
"Congratulations," she said dryly. "Try not to tell anyone."
Lara gasped softly, hands clasped in front of her chest.
"Wait—wait," she whispered urgently, eyes shining. "Does… does he like me?"
Anna hesitated, then smiled. "Only one way to find out."
Lara froze. "Really?"
Anna nodded. "Slowly," she warned. "And quietly."
Lara took one careful step forward, excitement radiating off her in waves she was very clearly trying—and failing—to contain.
Alistar noticed immediately.
His eyes narrowed.
He leaned back slightly in Anna's arms, wings tucking in tighter, expression clearly saying this one is loud.
Lara stopped, hands frozen mid-air. "Hi," she whispered. "I'm Lara. I promise I'm usually calmer than this."
Alistar stared at her.
Unimpressed.
Then, cautiously, he leaned forward and sniffed the air.
Once. Twice.
Lara held her breath so hard she nearly turned blue.
Alistar's gaze softened just a fraction.
He straightened, uncrossed his arms, and gave a short, dignified nod.
Approved.
Lara's eyes filled instantly. "HE LIKES ME."
Alistar flicked his tail.
Anna laughed quietly, relief warming her chest. "Congratulations. You've passed."
Kaelen crossed his arms, smirking. "Welcome to the inner circle."
Lara wiped at her eyes, still grinning like she'd just been knighted. "I will protect him with my life."
Alistar preened.
Judging complete. Acceptance granted.
Anna let the moment linger just long enough for the joy to settle—then gently cleared her throat.
"Okay," she said, tone soft but firm. "As amazing as this is… there's one more thing."
Lara and Kaelen both turned to her.
Alistar's ears—small, flame-edged ridges—twitched.
"He has to stay a secret," Anna said. "For now. No exceptions."
Lara nodded slowly, the excitement in her expression giving way to seriousness.
Anna drew a breath. "I promised my father," she continued quietly. "That I wouldn't let anyone find out about him. Not yet."
Kaelen's gaze sharpened. "Because once they do—"
"—they won't see him," Anna finished. "They'll see a weapon. A symbol. Something to claim."
She looked down at Alistar, thumb brushing gently along the warm ridge of his neck. "He needs time to grow. To learn who he is before people start trying to decide what he's for."
Alistar made a low, approving sound, leaning into her touch.
Lara swallowed. "People would line up," she said softly. "Nobles. Researchers. Generals."
"And worse," Anna said. "They'd think they were entitled to him."
Kaelen's jaw tightened. "Not happening."
Anna met his eyes. "That's why this stays between us. Until he's strong enough—until we are—to make sure no one can take that choice away from him."
Lara straightened, resolve settling in her posture. "Then we protect him. All of us."
Kaelen nodded once. "Quietly."
Alistar flicked his tail, flames along its edge brightening just a touch.
Anna smiled faintly, relief and determination mingling in her chest.
"Thank you," she said again—this time with the weight of a promise behind it.
The tension slowly melted out of the room.
No one moved to leave. No one mentioned training again.
They ended up sitting on the floor instead—backs against the bed and desk, Alistar curled comfortably in Anna's lap like he'd always belonged there. His warmth filled the space, steady and calming, the faint crackle of his inner flame no louder than a heartbeat.
At first, the questions came carefully.
"What does he eat?" Lara asked in a whisper.
Alistar huffed indignantly.
"Mostly mana and heat," Anna said with a small smile. "Sunlight. Fire. Sometimes resonance from a spell. He likes warm tea, though."
Kaelen blinked. "Of course he does."
Then the questions grew easier. Softer.
"Can he fly yet?" "Only short hops."
"Does he breathe fire?" Alistar puffed a single spark in demonstration.
Lara nearly cried again.
They talked about where he'd come from—what little Anna knew. About the bond ritual. About the way he'd felt familiar from the very beginning, even before she understood why. Alistar listened to it all with half-lidded eyes, occasionally flicking his tail or shifting closer when someone's voice softened.
Kaelen stood first, stretching. "I should probably go," he said quietly. "Before someone notices that I'm missing from my room."
Lara nodded, yawning. "Tomorrow," she said, eyes bright with promise. "We'll start tomorrow."
Anna smiled, nodding back.
"Tomorrow," she agreed.
Alistar shifted, settling more firmly against her, already half asleep.
No training had happened.
But something just as important had.
A circle had formed.
And for the first time since everything began to change, Anna drifted to sleep knowing she didn't have to face it alone.