The rocket trembled violently as it pushed higher into the atmosphere. Metal groaned under unbearable pressure. Flames erupted from the engines in unstable bursts while the eclipse swallowed more of the sky above Avalon. Starfania clung desperately to the side of the rocket, her fingers numb against the freezing metal.
Every breath becomes harder to take. The air was thinning. Her lungs burned violently. Spots blurred across her vision as the world around her started spinning. " Ngh—"
She tried pulling herself higher. But her strength was fading too quickly. The poison chamber beside her pulsed mockingly beneath the glass, as if she knew she had failed. Her hand slipped. For one horrifying second—she hung there. Then gravity took her. Starfania plummeted from the rocket. Wind screamed around her body as the world became a blur of darkness, clouds, and eclipse light.
Her stomach lurched violently. The air tore against her armor as she spiraled downward. Too exhausted to even scream. Then, a massive streak of blue flames shot beneath her. Atlas. The dragon surged upward at impossible speed and caught her against his back just before she disappeared into the clouds below. Starfania collapsed weakly against him, barely managing to hold on. Atlas let out a worried rumble, twisting his head slightly to check on her mid-flight. But Starfania barely reacted. Her eyes looked hollow beneath the broken visor of her helmet. The wind whipped violently through her hair as her thoughts spiraled inward.
No matter how hard I try…I fail. Everything I touch goes wrong. I couldn't save VulcanFire. I couldn't save my father. And now Avalon…Her hands tightened weakly against Atlas' scales. Tears burned at the corners of her eyes. Maybe they chose the wrong Dragon Savior.
" Stop that." Cantina's voice cut through her thoughts sharply. Starfania's eyes widened slightly. Though Cantina wasn't physically there, her presence felt overwhelming—ancient, steady. " Stop doubting your potential."
Her voice echoed around Starfania like wind through forgotten ruins. " And stop looking so pitiful."
Starfania's jaw tightened painfully.
" The potential cure didn't work…" she whispered weakly. " We failed."
Silence followed for only a moment before Cantina answered firmly.
" Every Dragon Savior has moments like this."
" Moments where failure feels permanent."
Atlas continued soaring through the eclipse sky while Cantina's voice surrounded her now.
" But being the Dragon Savior was never about avoiding failure."
" It's about choosing what you do afterwards."
Starfania lowered her eyes. " Then what am I supposed to do?"
Cantina's tone softened slightly.
" Find another way."
" There is always another way."
Then Starfania saw them. Through fractured clouds and rushing wind—two dragons emerged beneath the eclipse. One storm-colored. One blazing like wildfire. Lutu and Drogo cut through the darkness side by side. Riding them were Lyam and Aeron.
Their silhouettes glinted beneath the eclipsed sun like warriors carved from shadow and flames. Starfania's breath caught instantly. They came back. Even after the rocket launched—they still came back for her. Hope surged violently through her chest. Bright. Fierce. Real. The crushing fear that had nearly consumed her began breaking apart piece by piece. Aeron shouted over the wind the second he got close enough. " You seriously thought we'd leave you up here alone?!"
Even Lyam smirked slightly despite the surrounding chaos.
" You're the Dragon Savior, remember?"
" That means you're stuck with us?"
Cantina's voice returned one final time.
" They're still fighting because they still believe there is hope."
" So don't give up…"
" …when they haven't."
A sapphire glow illuminated the darkness at that exact moment. Starfania blinked in surprise. Starfania blinked in surprise. Slowly, she looked downward. Cosmry. The jewel embedded in the ancient sword's hilt had begun glowing brilliantly beneath the eclipse sky. Soft at first. Then brighter. Pulsing. Almost alive. The sapphire light reflected across Starfania's widened eyes as she slowly lifted the blade into view. The moment her fingers tightened around the hilt, the glow intensified. Atlas twisted his head toward the sword. Lutu noticed it too. Even Drogo let out a low rumble of recognition. The dragons knew something she didn't. And deep within the glowing sapphire—something ancient was awakening.