Starfania, Aeron, and Violet spent the next hour weaving through the village, asking carefully phrased questions and reading faces as much as words. Each inquiry was met with the same uneasy response—shrugged shoulders, evasive glances, or quiet insistence that they'd heard nothing at all. The more they asked, the clearer it became: if Lyam had passed through here, he'd done so like a ghost. Hope began to thin. Then—voices. Starfania slowed, her hand subtly lifting to stop the other as two men stood near a supply cart, speaking in low, urgent tones.
" Did you hear that Lyam stopped another VulcanFire encampment?" One of them muttered, his voice laced with disbelief and excitement. The other man nodded eagerly, leaning closer. " I did. They say he slipped in during the night and set their supplies ablaze. The entire camp went up before anyone knew what was happening."
The group exchanged a quick glance—hope flaring instantly.
" This could be the breakthrough with need," Violet whispered, her pulse quickening.
They edged closer, blending into the flow of villagers, careful not to draw attention as the conversation continued.
" Word is, he's been doing it alone," the first man said, admiration and concern mixing in his tone. " Brave, sure—but reckless. VulcanFire warriors don't forget that kind of humiliation."
That was all they needed. Without hesitation, Starfania stepped forward.
" Excuse me, sirs," she said politely, keeping her voice calm. " Do you know where this VulcanFire encampment is?"
The first man turned, studying her with wary eyes. " And why's a kid like you asking about a VulcanFire camp?"
Aeron stepped in smoothly before the tension could rise. " We're actually looking for Lyam."
The name alone made the man's expression tighten.
" Lyam, huh?" He drew. " The name carries weight around here. What do you want with him?"
Starfania hesitated—just for a breath—then met his gaze.
" We just need to talk to him," she said. " It's important."
The second man, taller and broader, stepped closer, arms folding across his chest. " You don't just wander into a VulcanFire encampment. That's how people disappear. You sure you're not in over your heads?"
Aeron felt irritation flare, but he kept his tone even. " We've faced worse. We can't handle ourselves."
The first man studied them for a long moment, then let out a slow breath.
" Alright," he said at last. " But don't say we didn't warn you. VulcanFire isn't something you poke lightly."
Starfania nodded, resolved, shining in her eyes. " We understand. We just want to find Lyam."
The taller man exchanged a glance with his companion, then sighed.
" Follow the river," he said. " You'll find the encampment you're looking for. Or what's left of it."
As they turned away, the weight of the path ahead settled heavily on them. They had their direction now. And whatever waited at the end of that river was already burning. The men's warning lingered in the air as the group stepped away from them, the noise of the marketplace swallowing the conversation as if it had never happened. Starfania adjusted her satchel, fingers brushing the Codex inside.
" The river," she murmured. " That lines up with the map."
Aeron glanced back once, making sure they weren't being followed. " Which means Lyam is exactly where VulcanFire expects him to be—and where they'll hit hardest next."
Violet swallowed, her earlier excitement giving way to nerves. " So…we're really doing this. Walking straight toward a VulcanFire encampment."
Starfania met her gaze, steady and resolute. " We don't have a choice. If Lyam's fighting alone, he won't last forever."
They left the village quietly, packing heavier supplies and minds heavier still. The warmth of the town faded behind them as the land opened up once more—rolling hills, the winding river, and the distant scars left by VulcanFire's presence. Starfania ran a hand along Atlas's neck, checking the straps and gear with practiced care. He shifted beneath her, wings flexing as if eager to be gone, to put distance between them and the place they'd just left. Aeron lingered beside Drogo, his brow furrowed, a question clearly weighing on him. " What do you think your father was planning?"
The words landed heavier than any blade. A chill ran down Starfania's spine. She didn't answer right away. She didn't need to picture it—she already knew. Whatever Cesar was building, whatever the Castle Keeper was helping him shape, it resolved around dragons. Around control. Around extinction. Something that could tear Avalon apart.
" I don't want to think about it," she said quietly, her gaze fixed on the horizon. Atlas let out a low, uneasy rumble, sensing the storm brewing inside her. Aeron watched her closely, concern etched in his features.
" But we can't ignore it," he said gently. " If he's moving this fast, whatever he's planning…it's already in motion. We need to be ready."
The truth settled between them like ash. Starfania inhaled slowly, steadying herself.
" We focus on the encampment," she said at last, her voice firm despite the tension in her chest. " We find Lyam. That was Cantina's mission for us—and I won't lose sight of that."
She mounted Atlas in one smooth motion, gripping the harness as her thoughts raced—battle, betrayal, loyalty, and the weight of a title she never asked for. Violet stepped closer, hesitating before gently tugging at Starfania's sleeve. Her eyes were soft, understanding.
" Can I…keep you company?" she asked quietly.
Starfania glanced black, surprised for only a heartbeat before nodding. Violet smiled and climbed up behind her, Starfania instinctively tightening her grip around her waist.
" Hold on tight," Starfania said, her voice warm but resolute. Atlas surged forward, wings beating hard as dust and leaves spiraled into the air. The ground fell away beneath them, trees blurring into streaks of green and gold. Behind them, Drogo followed close, Aeron guiding him with steady hands as they rose higher into the sky.
The landscape shifted as they flew—the terrain growing harsher, rockier, the river carving deeper lines through the earth below. The air felt heavier here, charged with something unspoken. Starfania felt Violet's presence at her back, solid and grounding, a reminder that she wasn't facing this alone. They followed the river's winding path, eyes fixed on the distant horizon. Somewhere ahead lay the VulcanFire encampment. And with it, Lyam—and truths that would change everything.