Cantina studied Starfania with quiet empathy, her gaze filled with understanding. She could tell she saw more than just her struggle–she saw the burden Starfania carried, the way she had been misunderstood, the way this path had chosen her. Lifting her head slightly, she met Cantina's eyes and asked, " How did you handle the pressure of being the Dragon Savior? "
She sighed, her expression shifting as she looked away. For the first time, a flicker of vulnerability crossed Cantina features. After a long pause, she finally answered, " I can't remember what my life was like during my time as the Dragon Savior. "
"Everything was a blur," Cantina continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "There was so much expected of me, so many lives depending on my choices. It was overwhelming."
She ran a hand through her hair, the motion absentminded. "I felt like I was trapped in a role that wasn't mine to choose. Every day brought new challenges, new foes, and always the weight of hope resting on my shoulders."
Starfania listened intently, hanging on each word. She wondered what it felt like to be so revered and yet so isolated.
"Did you ever think about walking away?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Every minute," Cantina admitted, a wry smile forming. "But then, I thought about those who believed in me. I thought about the lives I could save if I just pushed through. It was both a burden and a motivation."
She paused, scanning the horizon as if searching for something lost. "In the end, it wasn't about me. It was never about me."
Starfania felt a strange comfort in that admission.
"How did you find the strength to continue?" she pressed gently, needing to understand.
"By remembering who I was before the title. I found pieces of myself in the quiet moments, in those who stood by me. They reminded me that I was still Cantina, not just the Dragon Savior. I was allowed to feel, to falter, and to grow." Her voice steadied, infused with clarity. "And so are you, Starfania. You don't have to carry the weight alone."
Starfania felt a warmth in her heart, a flicker of hope igniting within her.
"Thank you," she finally said, almost shyly. "I needed to hear that."