Drakonis

Peace

"Come on, Frostbone!" I joked, laughing as I tossed a small, ball for him to chase. Frostbone bounded after it, his icy scales shimmering in the sunlight as he leaped gracefully through the air. We were in the castle courtyard, a rare bit of freedom from the usual chaos of the castle.

Three years alone in the northern mountains had left me isolated from my family, with only Frostbone and the elders for company. Each day was a mix of solitude and monotony, but those long, quiet days strengthened our bond immeasurably. We'd created our own games, and the simplicity of them often felt like the only solace amidst the stillness of the mountains.

Frostbone returned the ball with a playful nudge, his bright eyes twinkling with mischief. I caught it with a grin and readied myself for another throw when a sharp voice cut through our playful moment.

"Seriously, Loran? Playing games with a dragon?" Kairos sauntered over, his tone dripping with condescension. "Don't you have more important things to be doing?"

I shot him a glare, feeling the familiar pang of irritation. "Some of us know how to appreciate the small things, Kairos."

Kairos shrugged, his smirk never wavering. "Well, if you're done playing, maybe you could help with something actually useful."

Frostbone's playful energy seemed to wane slightly at Kairos's interruption, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of frustration. I patted Frostbone's side reassuringly. "We'll continue this later," I promised him before turning my attention back to Kairos.

"What do you need?" I said forcefully, glaring at Kairos as he strolled into the courtyard.

"Grandmother said I must continue your lessons in our tongue. Apparently, you're not exactly shining at it," he laughed, his tone mocking.

I rolled my eyes, bristling at his condescension. Speaking in Drakonis had never come easily to me. Infani was my first language, and despite the elders' persistent efforts to teach me their dragon tongue, I still struggled. The nuances of Drakonis always seemed just out of reach.

"And what about you?" I shot back, "You're not the mighty warrior you once acted like." I could see the anger flaring in his eyes, a clear sign I'd hit a nerve.

Kairos's gaze hardened. "I protect Nymara now," he whispered, his voice carrying an edge I hadn't heard before.

I felt a sting of jealousy and frustration. "She doesn't need your protection... now that I'm here," I retorted sharply. His smirk widened, but there was a hint of something else in his eyes—something that made me question the depth of their relationship.

The tension between us was palpable. Kairos had obviously grown closer to Nymara during the years I was away, and the thought of him being involved with her in any way grated on me. I focused on Frostbone, who was watching the exchange with a curious tilt of his head, and tried to ignore the jealousy gnawing at me.

Kairos's smirk grew as he sauntered closer. "You know," he began, his tone laced with satisfaction, "while you were away, Nymara often came to me for support. The war took a toll on her, and I was the one she leaned on. It's strange how things change when you're not around."

I felt a surge of jealousy and frustration. "And what exactly did you do for her?"

Kairos's eyes gleamed with a mix of pride and something darker. "I was there for her during the hardest times. It wasn't just about being a shoulder to cry on. We've grown quite close. In fact, things have developed so much that there's talk of a future together."

The implication hit me like a punch to the gut. "Future together?" I echoed, struggling to keep my voice steady. "Are you saying—"

He didn't need to finish. The look in his eyes said it all. The possibility of him taking Nymara's hand in marriage was like a cold, hard slap. My heart sank, and I felt a hot flush of anger and hurt rise to my face.

"You've got to be kidding me," I said, trying to keep my voice from trembling. "You're really planning to marry her?"

Kairos's smirk didn't waver. "The war changed everything, Loran. Nymara and I have built something strong together."

I clenched my fists, my knuckles white. "I didn't come back to find you replacing me in her life," I said, my voice tight with emotion. "She's not just some prize to be won."

Kairos's gaze was unyielding, and I could see the satisfaction in his eyes as he watched my reaction. I turned away, unable to hide the storm of emotions brewing inside me. Frostbone's concerned nudge barely registered as I tried to steady my breath and regain my composure.

Kairos followed me out of the courtyard as I stormed toward the castle gates. "Marriage? He has to be lying," I scoffed, venting my frustration to Frostbone. The cool breeze did little to calm the fire building inside me.

Frostbone gave a gentle shake of his head, his large, expressive eyes mirroring my own turmoil. "She would never do that. Right?" I pleaded, desperately seeking reassurance from my dragon friend. His silent response felt like a confirmation of my worst fears.

I kicked a rock forcefully, watching it skitter across the ground. The anger and betrayal swirled in my chest, consuming me. Everything had turned to shit, just as I feared it would if I left. I had returned to find my place taken, my feelings dismissed, and the future I had hoped for slipping away.

My mind raced with memories of Nymara and the dreams we had shared. Now, they felt like cruel illusions. The weight of Kairos's smug declaration pressed heavily on me, igniting a deep sense of loss and rage. I felt like a stranger in my own life, watching as it unraveled before my eyes.

I leaned against the stone wall, trying to steady my racing heart as I stared out at the distant horizon. Frostbone stayed close, his presence a comforting reminder that I wasn't entirely alone. "What's happening, Frostbone?" I whispered, the words barely escaping my lips.

The weight of Kairos's revelation about Nymara was almost too much to bear, but it was the larger, darker shadow of the war that loomed over me now. The realization that I had returned to find everything in turmoil, with the war still ravaging lives, struck a deep chord of fear within me. It wasn't just about Nymara and Kairos; it was about the entire world I had once known being torn apart.

My thoughts raced, overwhelmed by the fear of what was to come. The battles, the losses, and the relentless march of conflict seemed to stretch endlessly before us. I could feel the ground shifting beneath me, not just in my personal life but in the world itself. The war was far from over, and the destruction it left in its wake was a stark reminder of how fragile everything had become.

I kicked at the ground, frustration and fear blending into a suffocating haze. The future seemed uncertain and fraught with peril, and I felt powerless to change the course of events. The thought of facing the ongoing conflict, of trying to rebuild what had been lost while grappling with my own personal heartbreak, was almost too much to bear.

"Everything's falling apart," I muttered, the fear creeping into my voice. "How do I even begin to fix this?"

The enormity of the situation was overwhelming. I felt as though I was standing on the edge of a precipice, looking down into a chasm of uncertainty. My old confidence seemed to be slipping away, replaced by a paralyzing fear of what lay ahead.