When Dawn meets Dusk

Chapter 5: The Weight of Duty

The days at Memorial Palace passed like an unbroken cycle, each one blurring into the next. For Lily, the sense of routine was both a comfort and a burden. She continued her duties as Hebe’s secretary, organizing reports, drafting battle plans, and ensuring the flow of information within the Imperial Feathers remained seamless. But even as she worked, her thoughts often drifted back to that dream of peace—a dream that felt more distant with every passing day.

It was a chilly afternoon when Hebe summoned Lily to the strategy room. Lily arrived promptly, as she always did, but her heart was heavy with the same question that had been haunting her for weeks now. Could this war truly end? Was there a way for them to escape the endless fighting?

Hebe stood by the large table in the center of the room, her posture as composed as ever. Her armor gleamed in the dim light, a symbol of her unwavering dedication to their cause. Across from her stood Raymond, the sergeant of the Imperial Feathers, his face serious and focused as they pored overmaps and charts of their latest reconnaissance.

Lily approached quietly, standing a few steps behind Hebe, waiting for her to speak. Hebe glanced over her shoulder, acknowledging Lily’s presence with a nod.

“Lily,” Hebe said, her voice calm but authoritative. “We’ve received reports of increased activity from the Abyss Seekers. I need you to review the intel and ensure it reaches our commanders before nightfall.”

Lily nodded, stepping forward to examine the documents laid out before them. As she scanned the pages, her mind raced with thoughts of the conflict. The Abyss Seekers were always moving in the shadows, their actions unpredictable. But Lily couldn’t shake the feeling that both sides were caught in an endless dance, neither willing to back down, neither capable of finding a true resolution.

Hebe continued speaking, her tone measured and precise. “We’ve confirmed that Zarif, the Abyss Seekers’ shadow sergeant, is leading their latest offensive. It’s crucial that we anticipate his moves. Raymond will handle the scouts, but I want you to coordinate with the other officers.”

Lily nodded again, but her heart wasn’t in it. She carried out her duties with the same efficiency she always did, but deep inside, the weight of the war felt heavier than ever. Was there truly no way out of this?

Back in Obumbratio, Ezyati remained in her room, curled up on her bed, lost in her thoughts. The cold, oppressive atmosphere of the fortress always made her feel small, but being alone magnified that feeling. Cheryl had been called away to meet with Brendan again, leaving Ezyati with nothing to do but daydream about the life they could have if the war ever ended.

She shifted her wings, letting out a small sigh. “Will it ever end?” she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible in the empty room.

The war had defined her entire existence. She didn’t remember a time when there wasn’t talk of battles, strategies, and enemies. The Abyss Seekers were all she had ever known, but Cheryl was her world. And Cheryl, despite her cold demeanor with others, had always shown Ezyati warmth and love. Ezyati wanted nothing more than to live a quiet life with her mama, away from the darkness of Obumbratio and the looming shadow of the war.

A knock on the door startled Ezyati from her thoughts. She sat up quickly, her wings folding tightly against her back. “Come in,” she called softly.

The door creaked open, and to her relief, Cheryl stepped inside. The familiar sight of her mother brought an immediate sense of comfort. Cheryl’s elegant black dress swayed as she moved gracefully into the room, her eyes softening when they met Ezyati’s gaze.

“Were you lonely, dear?” Cheryl asked, her voice gentle in contrast to the cold, emotionless tone she used with others.

Ezyati nodded, her heart lifting as she jumped off the bed and ran to Cheryl’s side. “I was thinking… about us.”

Cheryl raised an eyebrow, tilting her head slightly. “Oh? And what were you thinking?”

Ezyati hesitated for a moment, unsure how to express the jumble of thoughts in her mind. But she finally spoke, her voice quiet but filled with emotion. “I was thinking about what it would be like… if the war ended. If we could just live together, without all of this.”

Cheryl’s expression softened further, a rare warmth touching her features as she knelt down to Ezyati’s level. She gently cupped Ezyati’s cheek, her thumb brushing against the small dragon’s scales. “I think about that too, little one,” she admitted quietly.

Ezyati’s eyes widened in surprise. “You do?”

Cheryl nodded, her voice calm but filled with a quiet sadness. “I’ve lived through many battles, seen many lives lost. But if there was a way for us to escape this—if there was a way for you to live freely, I would take it.”

Ezyati’s heart swelled at Cheryl’s words, but a shadow of doubt lingered in her mind. “But… can we really? Will Brendan ever let us leave?”

Cheryl’s expression hardened slightly, the mention of Brendan reminding her of the complex web they were caught in. “Brendan doesn’t control everything,” she said firmly. “One day, we will find a way. I promise you that.”

Ezyati’s heart lightened at Cheryl’s words, but she couldn’t ignore the uncertainty that came with them. The war was a powerful force, and escaping its grasp felt impossible. Still, she trusted Cheryl with everything she had. If her mama said there was hope, then Ezyati would believe in it.

Meanwhile, back at Memorial Palace, Lily sat in her office, staring at the reports on her desk. She had finished her tasks for the day, but her mind was far from quiet. The war seemed to have no end in sight, and every new piece of intelligence only confirmed that the Abyss Seekers were preparing for another offensive.

She rested her head in her hands, her thoughts drifting once again to the dream of peace. Could she ever have that normal life she longed for? Or was she forever bound to the war, just like her comrades, just like Hebe?

Medousa floated silently beside her, its soft glow a constant reminder of the life she had chosen. Lily had dedicated herself to the Imperial Feathers, and though she believed in their cause, she couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to life than endless conflict.

The war had taken so much already—friends, family, time. What more would it demand before it was over? And when it did end, if it ever did, would there be anything left of her to enjoy that peace she so desperately craved?

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the courtyard outside, Lily stood up from her desk and walked over to the window. She watched as the last remnants of daylight faded away, leaving the palace bathed in twilight.

For both Lily and Ezyati, the hope for a life beyond war was a fragile thing, like a small flicker of light in the darkness. Yet despite the uncertainty, both clung to that hope, dreaming of a future where they could finally be free of the burdens that weighed so heavily on their hearts.