Dust still hung in the air, curling lazily around the jagged stones and broken marble of the corridor.
Serin stood with her arms loosely folded, her golden eyes tracking the last few falling fragments from the shattered wall.
The faint gleam of dragon scales shimmered along her temple whenever the light caught her just right, a quiet reminder of her heritage.
Irielle, having regained some composure, straightened and asked.
"Serin… are you going to stay and help?"
The dragon princess gave her a long, almost incredulous look before letting out a soft huff of air.
"Stay? No."
Her voice carried the unshakable tone of someone whose decisions were final.
"I've already stayed longer than I ever intended. I would much rather go home now and collect the reward I was promised—one full day with my beloved elder sister. The affairs of other lands…"
She made a vague, dismissive gesture to the ruined hallway.
"...do not concern a dragon born like me."
