Far beyond the castle's reach, in the valley's hidden heart, the wind stirred the sleeping embers within Bone's cavern. The dragon's massive form shifted, its silver-streaked scales glinting faintly in the dim light. For nights he had slept undisturbed, yet this dawn was different—a tremor rippled through the air like the pulse of something ancient awakening. Bone's nostrils flared, catching the scent of ozone and fire—but there was no storm. His chest rumbled, a low, uneasy growl echoing off the cavern's walls. The air thickened, charged with unseen force that whispered through the shadows.
For a brief moment, his eyes opened—molten amber meeting the faint shimmer of starlight. He could feel her. The bond that connected him to Starfania pulsed faintly—a fragile thread tugging at the edge of his mind. Somewhere beyond, her dreams had stirred the same unease he felt now. A faint hum escaped his throat, both protective and mournful, as he unfurled his wings slightly. Dust cascaded from the ceiling, disturbed by his motion. Outside the cave, the morning sun broke through the clouds, spilling a gentle light over the jagged cliffs. Bones' gaze lingered on the horizon—toward the direction of the VulcanFire Castle—before closing his eyes again. The tension did not fade; it merely quieted, as though the world itself were holding its breath.
A soft breeze whispered through the streets as Aeron and Starfania walked side by side toward Wildfire High. For once, the path that normally buzzed with chatter felt unnervingly quiet. Starfania kept glancing toward the sky, her fingers absently fidgeting with the pendant at her throat. Aeron, noticing her silence, furrowed his brow and reached out, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
" Hey," he said softly, " you're quieter than usual. Something on your mind?"
Starfania flinched at his touch, eyes snapping towards him. For a heartbeat, she looked almost frightened—as if she had caught her in the middle of a storm only she could see.
" Oh—uh, nothing," she replied quickly, forcing a small smile. " Just tired, I guess."
He didn't quite believe her, but the half-truth seemed enough to ease his worry for now. Still, Aeron's intuition prickled. He could tell her energy had shifted—the subtle change only someone who truly knew her would notice. Meanwhile, Starfania's thoughts were spinning. The dream's echoes—the fire, the voice, the eyes—wouldn't leave her. Each step felt heavy, as if she were walking across fragile ice ready to crack beneath her. She wanted to tell Aeron, to confide in him, but how could she without sounding unhinged? The last thing she needed was his worrying more than he already did.
By the time she blinked back to reality, they had already reached their classroom. The bell rang faintly in her ears—distant, hollow.
" Miss Night!" The sharp tone of Professor Shadow's voice makes Starfania sit upright. Her head snapped up, her wide eyes meeting his steely glare. His foot tapped against the marble floor, arms crossed in that familiar pose of irritation.
" I was asking you to answer the question written clearly on the board," he said, enunciating every word. She blinked, the words not registering.
" Oh…sorry, Professor," she muttered, rubbing the back of her neck. " I was just—thinking."
The class went silent. Normally, she would've fired back with witty remarks—something that would make even Shadow sigh and move on—but not today. Today, she seemed hollow. Even Becka and her Scarlet Rage group exchanged uneasy glances. Becka leaned toward Mira, whispering with a smirk, " The Dragon Lover's lost her fire. Maybe her scaly friends finally dumped her."
Mira snorted under her breath, but Becka's grin was calculating. There's something off about her, she thought. Maybe it's time we find out. Later that day, Starfania excused herself from class.
The halls were eerily quiet, the flicker of torchlight reflecting off the polished stone floors. She entered the restroom, the sound of dripping water echoing faintly. As she stood at the sink, washing her hands, she caught her reflection in the mirror. For a moment, it flickered—her eyes glowing faintly silver—before the image snapped back. She froze. The overhead flickered once, twice…then dimmed. The shadows along the tiled walls began to stretch, twisting unnaturally. A faint whisper slithered through the silence. " You can't hide forever…"
Her heart skipped a beat.
" Who's there?" She whispered. No answer—only the low hum of something unseen. Her breath quickened, and her pulse pounded in her ears. Then came the laughter.
It started faint, almost melodic—until it rose, sharp and mocking. The shadows split apart, and from them stepped several hooded figures. Starfania's stomach dropped. One of them pulled back their hood—Mira, smirking, her laughter cutting through the tension. The others followed suit, revealing Becka and the rest of the Scarlet Rage, their eyes gleaming with cruel delight.
" Aw, what's the matter, Princess?" Becka taunted, voice dripping with malice. " Afraid of the dark?"
The sound of her laughter echoed cruelty in the confined space, but to Starfania—still trembling, heart racing—the terror wasn't only from the prank. Deep down, she knew the fear they'd triggered wasn't there. It belonged to something older. Something that had been watching her since she woke. As Becka's laughter faded into the distance, Starfania stared at her reflection again—and for a fleeting second, she thought she saw another reflection standing behind her in the mirror's surface. A tall, shadowed fire with burning eyes. When she blinked—it was gone.
After the cruel prank and the flicker of something far darker than a mere joke, Starfania tried to compose herself before returning to class. Starfania stood frozen for several seconds after Becka and her gang left the restroom, their laughter fading down the corridor. The silence that followed was suffocating. She leaned heavily against the sink, her trembling hands gripping the cold porcelain as she tried to steady her breathing. The reflection staring back at her no longer looked like her—it looked pale, distant, haunted.
She splashed cold water on her face; the droplets clinging to her skin, but it did little to wash away the chill that had settled deep within her bones. The whisper still echoed faintly in her head: " You can't hide forever…"
Her chest tightened. That voice—it didn't sound like Becka or Mira. It had come before their laughter, before the light came back on. It was something else. Her hands shook as she dried them. For a fleeting moment, she swore she could still see the tall, shadowed silhouette in the reflection behind her. When she blinked, it vanished again, leaving only the dimly lit restroom and her own frightened gaze.
" Get a grip, Starfania," she whispered under her breath, though her voice cracked. " It was just a prank. Just… a stupid prank."
But no matter how many times she repeated it, the unease remained.