The morning after our sibling outing hit like a rough landing—slow, heavy, and full of regret for that third glowing dessert.
I lay in my dorm bed staring at the ceiling, the faint hum of academy life filtering through the window.
Lillith had already banged on my door twice, demanding details about the sky spectacle that half the student body was still buzzing about.
Nora sent a note via enchanted paper bird that simply read, "You glowed. Literally. Explain."
Even Kent had left a fork propped against my door with a scribbled message: For emergency dragon defense. Or pastry emergencies.
I dragged myself up, splashed water on my face, and caught my reflection in the small mirror.
My eyes stared back—brighter since the intensified training with Alectra.
The changes within felt more settled.
Belle's absence still ached, a quiet void beneath the surface, but last night's laughter with my sister had reinforced something important.
I wasn't facing this alone.
