The dragon's molten eyes narrowed, pinning them in place. With a hiss of breath, it lowered its massive head until its snout loomed inches away. Smoke curled from its nostrils, carrying the sharp tang of scorched metal. Starfania swallowed hard but went closer to him, while Aeron stayed behind, still trembling in fear. 

" We mean no harm," she said. " I only came because I couldn't ignore you any longer. They may have forbidden me from entering this cave…but I won't forget you, Bone." 

The dragon growled low, the sound shaking the cavern walls. Loose crystals clattered against his ribs. Every instinct screamed run, yet Starfania's unshaken presence rooted him to the ground. 

" Star…are you sure?" he whispered, voice raw with fear. His knuckles whitened as he formed a fist. Her eyes never left the beast. " Yes. He's not our enemy. He's broken. Alone. Just like us."

 With a suspended heartbeat, the dragon's glare remained unyielding. Then something flickered in its eyes—not rage, but recognition. Its head tilted, a deep rumble resonating from its chest. The menace in the sound softened, carrying a note of memory. Starfania took another small step forward, her voice trembling but resolute. " Bone…it's me. Starfania. You're not forgotten."

The silence stretched unbearably. Then, with a shuddering exhale, the dragon lowered fully, its enormous frame coiling against the stone floor. The ground quivered as it settled, but no threat lingered in its posture—only weariness. Aeron stared in disbelief.

" It…it listens to you." His words were barely more than a breath. Starfania allowed a fragile smile, relief welling in her chest.

" No," she whispered. " He remembers."

 As the dragon's molten gaze lingered on Starfania, and for a fleeting instant Aeron thought it was searching her face—not for who she was, but for who she reminded it of. A flicker of recognition glimmered, as though in her eyes Bone glimpsed Lyria, his lost rider. Then, with a guttural rumble, the dragon leaned closer. Its massive tongue brushed across Starfania's cheek in a slow, deliberate stroke. The warmth and moisture should have been revolting, but a wave of serenity spread through her chest, dissolving every shred of fear. She closed her eyes, exhaling in relief, and let a smile bloom across her lips. Aeron, however, could only gape.

" You've got to be kidding me…" he muttered, his voice caught between disbelief and awe.

 The dragon that had nearly crushed them moments ago now licked Starfania like a loyal hound. The sheer absurdity of it left him reeling. Bone nudged her shoulder with his snout, a deep vibration humming through the cavern—not a threat, but a sound that carried affection. Starfania raised her hand, running her fingers gently along the dragon's metallic scales. The one menacing surface shimmered faintly in the glow of the crystals, each stroke calming the storm inside her heart.

" It's alright," she murmured, turning slightly to Aeron. " He's not what they say he is."

Still dazed, Aeron shook his head. " Star…how do you even know this dragon?" 

Her smile softened as she kept stroking Bone's neck. " It's a long story. Bone has been in my family for generations. When I was little, I'd sneak out into the gardens, and he was always there. He was the one I played with…the one who watched over me."

 Aeron's eyes widened, locked on her as though afraid to miss a single word.

" After my mother passed," she continued, her voice heavy with memory, " my father forced Bone into this cave. For all his hatred of dragons, he couldn't bring himself to kill him—because Bone belonged to her. My mother's dragon. Her friend. Her protector. When the ambush came, he tried to reach us…but he didn't make it in time."

At her words, Bone released a sound unlike any growl Aeron had ever heard. A mournful rumble, low and resonant, heavily carried the weight of grief. His noble head lowered further, scales clicking softly against stone as though bowing to her memory. Aeron's expression shifted, the sharp edge of fear giving way to something quieter, sadder. 

" I never knew," he whispered. " After Lady Lyria's death, everything changed. The soldiers…they slaughtered dragons in the streets. I remember it. But no one ever said one had survived."

He paused, his voice heavy. " It stopped being a nation that lived alongside dragons. It became a kingdom that fears them, despises them–uses them only when it suits power."

Starfania's gaze drifted down, nodding with quiet understanding. " I remember that day so clearly. It felt as if the gods themselves struck us down, reshaping everything. Even the land shifted. But we're still standing…and maybe that's what matters most."