She vanished without a trace, leaving only the book behind. They gathered around it instinctively, their gazes settling on its battered, nearly disintegrating form—a relic worn down by time. Its leather cover was cracked and dry, the pages frayed and fragile, utterly devoid of the brilliance one might expect from a mystical tome. Violet tilted her head, brow furrowing with doubt. " Didn't she say this book was supposed to have magic? It just looks like some old, forgotten thing you'd find shoved in the back of a library."
Aeron studied it more carefully, his fingers grazing the worn leather cover with reverence than disappointment.
" Maybe it doesn't work the way we expect," he drawled. " There could be a specific way to activate it."
Starfania glanced at him, intrigued but still confused. " What do you mean?"
He gestured as he spoke. " Think of it like a tool. Just because you have a hammer doesn't mean you can instantly build a house. You need to know how to use it first."
Violet crossed her arms, eyeing the book with renewed curiosity. " Alright then…how do we even open it?"
Aeron furrowed his brow, running a hand along the book's tattered spine.
" There has to be a trick," he muttered. " Magic books usually don't just open like regular ones."
Violet leaned closer, examining the worn edges. " Maybe there's a hidden clasp—or a spell keeping it shut."
She traced one of the intricate patterns along the cover, then abruptly pulled her hand back as a faint warmth pulsed beneath her fingertips. " Okay…that was weird."
Starfania took a steadying breath and reached for the book herself. The moment her fingers brushed the intricate silver coiled around the letter on the cover, the creature stirred.
Its luminous eyes snapped open, locking onto hers. The air thickened as ancient energy surged outward, pressing against their chests. Before she could react, the dragon peeled itself from the page, slithering toward her outstretched hand. It bit her. A sharp sting shot through her finger as a few crimson droplets welled up. Starfania gasped—but before anyone could speak, the silver dragon returned to the book. It inhaled deeply—then exhaled a vibrant orange flame that bathed the tome in a brilliant, ethereal glow. Starfania's heart raced, caught between shock and awe. She glanced at Atlas, who rubbed at his ear with a low rumble, his expression caught somewhere between bewilderment and intrigue.
His scales continued to shimmer faintly, betraying excitement tempered by caution. This was no ordinary book. The surrounding air crackled with charged possibilities. As the glow softened, Starfania noticed words forming on the cover, the title shimmering beneath the dragon's resting form: The Draconic Codex
A sense of urgency settled deep in her chest. Atlas nudged her gently, still rubbing his ear. His emotions brushed against her—curiosity, readiness, and something like recognition. The silver dragon perched atop the book watched her closely, its gaze sharp and knowing. Starfania leaned closer, her bitten fingers still tingling.
She could feel it now—a connection. Not just to the book, but to the creature guarding it. This wasn't merely a protector. It was a guide. Starfania nodded, opening the book carefully. The pages inside fluttered on their own, as if breathing, warm beneath her fingers. Starfania felt an undeniable pull, an invisible force urging her forward. Blank. The pages were blank—until faint words bled into the parchment, glowing softly like starlight responding to her thoughts. Atlas lowered his massive head beside her, warm and steady. You are not forgotten, his presence seemed to say. Starfania looked up at the horizon. Somewhere ahead waited Lyam. And between those two points stood a destiny that refused to stay buried.
Doubt flickered through her mind, but it was quickly drowned out by a strange certainty. Closing her eyes, she focused, making her intent clear—not with words, but with feeling. A whisper curled around her ear, distant yet intimate:
" The quest to bring balance to this world begins now—but beware. The lost one walks Avalon's path, and shadows stir in his wake."
A shiver ran down her spine. Her eyes snapped open.
" Aeron! Violet!" she called urgently. " You have to see this!"
They hurried to her side, drawn by the tension in her voice.
" Looks like," she whispered, meeting her friends' eyes, " we just took our first proper step."
The dragons shifted closer. And above them, unseen but relentless, the shadows of Avalon continued to move.
" I heard a voice," she said. " This book—it spoke to me."
Aeron raised an eyebrow, arms folding instinctively. " A voice…from a book?"
Violet leaned closer instead, eyes narrowing with focus. " What did it say?"
Starfania swallowed, the weight of the message settling fully into her chest. " The quest to bring balance to this world begins now. And it mentioned a lost one…and shadows. Something dark is coming."
Violet's expression shifted from wonder to concern. " Then we can't ignore this. If it's real, we need to understand it."
Aeron let out a slow breath, gaze returning to the Codex.
" Alright," he said at last. " Then we see this through. If that book holds answers, we'd be fools to turn away now."
Starfania nodded, adrenaline surging as destiny quietly locked into place. Whatever lay ahead, their journey had truly begun. Starfania nodded vigorously, adrenaline coursing through her veins. Atlas shifted closer, his massive form radiating warmth, while Drogo lowered his head to peer at the open pages with open curiosity. The blank parchment shimmered faintly, as though responding to their attention.
" Alright," Violet said slowly, rubbing her arms. " That definitely wasn't normal library behavior."
Aeron crouched beside Starfania, his voice quieter now. " Try again. Whatever you did—focus, intent—do it one more time."
Starfania swallowed and placed her palm flat against the page. The parchment warmed instantly beneath her skin. She closed her eyes, steadying her breathing, letting the chaos of past days fall away. She thought of VulcanFire. Of the guards. Of Cantina's warning. Of Atlas choosing her. Show me, she thought—not demanded, but asked. The page darkened, ink bleeding into existence as if drawn from shadows themselves.
ENTRY I: The Dragon Savior
When balance fractures and nations rot beneath silence, the world will call not to kings—but to flame and star. The Dragon Savior is not crowned. They are chosen.
Violet gasped softly. " It's…writing itself."
Atlas released a low, reverent rumble, the sound vibrating through the ground. The sigil on his ear glowed faintly in response, echoing the symbols forming on the page. Aeron leaned closer, eyes sharp. " Keep reading."
The ink continued to move.
The Savior walks burdened by the legacy erased. Those before her were struck from history—their names buried, their deeds stolen by fear. Cantina fell at Endorse not because she failed—but because the world was not ready to remember.
Starfania's breath hitched. Her fingers trembled against the page.
" They erased her," she whispered. " All of them…on purpose."
The fire dimmed suddenly, shadows stretching outward. Drogo bristled, wings twitching. Violet scooted closer to Aeron instinctively. Another line appeared—slower this time.
Beware the Lost One. He walks Avalon unseen, believing himself abandoned. Where he treads, shadows follow. Where he falls, balance breaks. Find him—before the hunters do.
Silence slammed down around them. Violet was the first to speak, voice barely above a whisper. " The Lost One…Lyam?"
Aeron nodded grimly. " It has to be."
Starfania stared at the words, her chest tightening. Lyam wasn't just missing anymore—he was pivotal. A living fault line in Avalon's fragile balance.
" And the hunters…" Violet added slowly. " That means we're not the only ones searching."
Starfania closed the book carefully. The silver dragon on the cover settled back into stillness, its eyes dimming—but not sleeping.
" We don't have time," Starfania said, resolve hardening in her voice. " If Lyam is being tracked, then every step we take matters."
Atlas lowered his head until his brow touched her shoulder, grounding her. You are not walking this path alone. Aeron stood, rolling his shoulders like someone bracing for a long road. " Then we find him."
Violet nodded, forcing a smile despite the fear flickering behind her eyes. " Guess the question is ' what now.'"
Starfania looked up at the sky, the Codex heavy in her hands—not with fear, but purpose.
" Balance won't wait," she said softly. " And neither will we."
Behind them, unseen and far away, VulcanFire still burned—while deeper shadows began to stir across Avalon.