He left without a word, the emptiness he left behind quickly filling with anger. She snatched up her sword and drove it into the nearest training dummy. One slash took its head; the next dozen left it shredded. Breathless, she froze—memories of her mother holding her brother softening her rage. She remembered them watching from the sidelines as she and her father sparred, dragons wheeling in the sky with eyes full of hope. After a while, a sense of boredom washed over her. Glancing at the Volcanic Field clock, she cursed under her breath. It's nearly time for school.

She dreaded going—bullying was as predictable as the sunrise. Everyone knew she was different, that she didn't buy into the school's teaching or its principal's words. This made her an outcast in a kingdom already considered an outcast. Her father's propaganda had convinced most that dragons were vile. These moments of isolation weighed on her, she knew that she was different. There was no denying this, but she was determined to face it, even if she had to do it alone.

She stepped from the arena onto the uneven sidewalk, the noise of the kingdom rushing back in. A faint, otherworldly sound of lava trickling nearby caught her attention, reminding her of the volatile forces that shaped the land now. The buildings along her route each bore VulcanFire's crest, their style varied but united in loyalty. Ten minutes later, she stood before Wildfire High School—famous for its repeated victories in the annual Dragon Games. Each year, nations and kingdoms clashed in a contest of skills and strategy. The winners took bragging rights, a cash prize, and glory for their home. And every year, it was the only time VulcanFire treated dragons with anything resembling respect.

Starfania reached for the door, but a familiar, gentle voice stopped her. Turning around and saw her best friend Aeron, his warm smile chasing away the morning's shadow. She hadn't expected to see him—he should've been in class. "Hey, Aeron! How are you? "

"Glad to see you too! I'm doing well. You?"

" Just an intense training session with my father," she said, with a small smile. They had grown up together. He'd been there the day everything changed for her, and she owed him more than she could ever repay.

Aeron's mesmerizing hair featured striking blue locks with delicate green highlights fading towards the end. A band-aid was located on their left cheek, adding an endearing touch of vulnerability, and a navy scarf contrasted his beautiful pale skin. He often wore a stylish navy green shirt with a black accent on his shoulders, along with a dragon-inspired mask, which was a gift from his father. Their forest eyes seemed to hold the mystery of the universe, and when their gaze met, she could still feel their connection.

He knew her doubts about blindly following her father—and he voiced the question she could never shake.

" Why do you always obey your father without question?" he asked gently. " Family matters, I get that. But the weight he put on you—it must be exhausting. "

She sighed. "It is. But he's my father. We're all we've got "

The weight of his expectations clung to her—born from all they'd both lost. Loyalty felt like the only way to earn his approval. Aeron's words resonated deep within her, stirring a newfound resolve to explore her options. The bell rang, cutting the moment short. As they headed inside, Starfania silently vowed: she would write her own story, one worth remembering.