Behind them, unseen and far away, VulcanFire still burned—while deeper shadows stirring across Avalon. Starfania flipped to the next page, her heart racing, hoping this time to uncover something tangible rather than emptiness. As the parchment settled, ink slowly etched itself into the paper, forming cryptic symbols that twisted and flowed like living things. Each stroke seemed deliberate, ancient—binding them into a silent pact none of them had spoken aloud.
"Look!" she exclaimed, pointing eagerly. "It's beginning to reveal itself!"
Aeron leaned in, scanning the swirling letters.
" They're not random," he whispered. " There's structure here."
Violet traced a careful finger just above the symbols, not quite touching them, her expression thoughtful. " What do you think it means?"
Starfania swallowed, a thrill running through her.
" It's a map," she drawled. " Something that shows where we need to go next."
Her pulse quickened as the truth settled in. They weren't wandering anymore—they were being guided.
" We have to follow it," Starfania said, her voice steady despite the weight pressing on her chest. " Whatever's out there, we face it together."
" We should stop here," Starfania said, adjusting the strap of her satchel. " It'll be better to stock up now rather than regret it later. "
The road ahead stretched endlessly, a winding ribbon flanked by towering trees and golden fields swaying gently in the breeze. Their journey had already been long, and though they had followed the Codex with unwavering determination, the land now presented them with an unexpected dilemma—a crossroads.
They slowed to a halt, eyes shifting between the diverging paths as uncertainty crept in. Not far in the distance, nestled against a rolling hillside, lay a small village. Smoke curled lazily from chimneys, and the faint hum of life carried on the wind. Starfania adjusted the strap of her satchel.
" We should stop here," she said. " It's better to stock up now than regret it later."
Aeron nodded. " And maybe someone's heard rumors about Lyam. Any information helps."
As they entered the village, the atmosphere greeted them warmly—merchants haggled over fresh produce, blacksmiths hammered glowing steel, and children darted through the streets, laughter ringing out.
It felt alive. Safe. Yet something about it felt…off. Starfania couldn't explain it, but her instincts prickled. The smiles lingered a fraction too long. Conversations hushed just slightly as they passed. They moved through the marketplace, scanning stalls for supplies, when Violet suddenly tugged at Starfania's sleeve. Starfania turned, catching the gleam in Violet's eyes. " Vi? What is it?"
Violet lowered her voice. " Wasn't Lyam the one who caused trouble for your father?"
Starfania froze. Images flooded back—guards reporting ruined operations, her father's fury crackling through the war room, the name Lyam spoken like a curse.
" Yeah," Starfania replied quietly. " He was."
Violet glanced around before leaning closer. " I've been hearing whispers. About a young man stirring trouble for VulcanFire. They say he wears scaled armor—blends into the land like a lizard."
Her voice dropped further. " And they say he's from a nation called Primara."
Starfania exchanged a look with Aeron, the weight of Violet's words sinking in.
" What do you think he's planning?" Aeron asked, his brow furrowed. Violet shrugged, unease flickering across her face. " The stories paint him as clever. Strategic. If I had to guess…he's trying to stop your father. To protect the dragons."
Starfania bit her lip, her thoughts racing. Cantina's words echoed in her mind. Find him—before the hunters do.
" That makes sense," Starfania said slowly. " Cantina wanted us to find him for a reason."
She looked toward the village, the crossroads still visible behind them.
" If Lyam really is the Lost One," she murmured, " then this place might be closer to the truth than we think."
Above them, unseen by the village, Atlas shifted in the sky's reflection upon a polished blade, his gaze fixed on the horizon—where paths converged, and fate waited. Starfania exhaled slowly, steadying herself as the truth began to take shape.
" Then we're not just chasing a rumor," she said quietly. " We're walking straight into the center of it."
The symbols on the Codex flickered faintly in her satchel, as if reacting to her realization. Aeron crossed his arms, eyes scanning the marketplace again—this time with sharper awareness. " If Lyam's been active near here, then this village isn't just a stop supplies. It's a listening post. News doesn't spread this fast without people watching."
Violet nodded. " Which means if we can hear whispers…others can too."
A ripple of unease passed through them. Just then, a sudden hush rippled through the crowd. Not silence—but a subtle shift. Laughter softened. Conversations lowered. Starfania felt it before she saw it: eyes lingering too long. A merchant pausing mid-sentence. A blacksmith glancing toward them, then away. Atlas, waiting beyond the village edge under the guise of rest, lifted his head sharply. Starfania felt the warning pulse through their bond. We are seen. Aeron leaned closer, his voice barely audible. " We should move. Quietly."
Before they could turn away, a man stepped into their path. He was unassuming at first glance—traveler's cloak, dust-worn boots—but his eyes were sharp, calculating. He smiled, though it didn't quite reach his gaze.
" You're not from around here," he said casually. " Looking for something?"
Starfania forced a polite smile. " Just passing through."
The man hummed, glancing at Violet's satchel, then Aeron's posture—trained, alert. " Funny. Most 'passersby' don't carry themselves like soldiers."
Violet stiffened. Aeron spoke smoothly. " Old habits."
The man's gaze slid back to Starfania, lingering a moment too long. " Careful. Primara territory is…complicated these days. Especially with VulcanFire sniffing around."
Starfania's heart skipped. " What do you mean?"
He leaned in just enough for only them to hear.
" They're hunting someone," he murmured. " A boy with scales and fire in his blood. Word is, anyone helping him disappears."
Straightening, he stepped aside with a shrug. " Enjoy the village. Just…don't stay too long."
He vanished into the crowd before they could ask another question. The moment he was gone, Violet let out a breath she'd been holding. " Okay. That was definitely not comforting."
Starfania clenched her fists. " They're close. My father's reach is already here."
Aeron nodded grimly. " And if VulcanFire is hunting Lyam this aggressively…"
" Then the Codex was right," Violet finished. " The hunters are already moving."
Starfania opened her satchel and glanced at the Codex.
The map had shifted—one path at the crossroads now glowed faintly, pointing away from the village, toward a narrow route winding through the hills. Her jaw set.
" We don't linger," she said. " We gather what we can and leave before nightfall."
Atlas rumbled faintly in the distance, restless. As they turned back into the marketplace, none of them noticed the figure watching from a rooftop—eyes hidden beneath a dark hood, a sigil of VulcanFire etched faintly into the metal of his gauntlet. The hunt had already begun.