The Crown of Dusk and Flames

Chapter 1 - Evander

I ran barefoot through the soft grass, my toes sinking into the cool earth with every step. The wind rushed past me, ruffling my dark hair, the air carrying the faint scent of flowers and fresh rain. Before me, Valentina's laughter rang out- a sound as sharp and mischievous as she was. I could hear her boots thudding against the ground, always faster, always one step ahead, no matter how hard I tried to catch up.
"Come on, Evander, you're too slow!"
She taunted, her voice lilting through the trees.
"Only because you cheat!"
I shot back, grinning despite myself. Valentina darted through the woods, her movements light and quick. The black tangle of her hair whipped behind her like a shadow, her red eyes gleaming with the thrill of the chase. Her face was freckled- a feature that somehow made her even more striking, those red eyes always burning with an intensity I could never quite match. We both shared the same jet-black hair, but while my eyes were a deep blue like our mother's, hers blazed with the same fiery hue as our father's. It made her look dangerous. She loved that.

Valentina was the embodiment of chaos, with her wild spirit and her dragon blood always simmering just beneath the surface. Like me, she bore the royal lung dragon features that marked us as descendants of the ancient rulers of Drakhelm. Small, golden scales traced the sides of her neck and arms, glinting in the sunlight. Mine had a silvery hue to them, more visible in the moonshine. I could feel the faint hum of magic under my skin as I ran, the same power that connected me to the sky and the land. It was a constant presence, it is part of who we were as royal dragons- the rightful rulers of Drakhelm. But in moments like this, it was just a thrill, a rush of energy that made the world seem alive.
"Catch me if you can!"
Valentina's voice echoed ahead as she leapt over a fallen log, her dark hair flashing in the light that filtered through the trees. Her grin was wide, her freckles catching the sunlight in an almost playful challenge. I pushed harder, muscles burning as I sprinted after her, determined not to let her win this time, I may be fast- but somehow this little devil manages to always be even faster. The forest was thick here, the trees gnarled and ancient, their roots twisting through the earth like the veins of a sleeping giant. The canopy above was alive with the sounds of birds and the rustle of leaves, and for a moment, the world felt so far removed from the cold stone walls of the castle.

Finally, I broke through the edge of the trees, and I saw her standing on the hill, overlooking the sprawling expanse of Drakhelm's floating lands. The islands stretched out before us like giant stone ships, suspended in the sky by ancient magic. Each one was covered in fields and forests, connected by stone bridges and swirling mists that made it look like something out of a dream. Far under us was a cloud layer we called the Cloudsea, it was a thick layer of white fluffy clouds. Nobody dared to pass through it, it was said to keep the bad out of Eldoria. Under there was supposed to be a evil land nobody dares to enter, mother once said if I would take a step through the layer I would be erased from existence, forgotten like a small wildflower with no purpose. Tho I must admit, these clouds look like perfect cotton candy-

"Still too slow,"
Valentina teased, folding her arms across her chest as I caught up. I rolled my eyes, bending over to catch my breath.
"One of these days, you'll slip up,"
I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. Valentina was faster and fiercer than I was. She always had been. Despite her being three years younger her then me. She smirked, her red eyes glinting with amusement.
"Not today, though."

As I straightened, something caught my eye in the sky above. A flicker of movement—like a shadow, too fast to be a bird. I squinted, scanning the horizon, but there was nothing there now, just the endless expanse of blue.
"You see that?"
I asked, my voice quieter now, unsure. Valentina followed my gaze, her brow furrowing.
"See what?"
"I thought I saw something... in the sky."
She rolled her eyes, flicking her dark hair over her shoulder.
"You're always imagining things, Evander. Probably just a cloud. Or one of the whales."
I wasn't so sure, but I let it go. The unease settled in my chest, a familiar feeling lately, but it was hard to explain. Valentina didn't feel it, that much I knew. She was always so sure, so fearless, while I... I always had questions. Before I could say anything else, a voice called out from behind us, gentle but with an undeniable authority.
"Evander! Valentina!"
We both turned to see our mother, Queen Seraphina, standing at the edge of the woods. She was carrying our youngest sister, Lirael, in her arms, cradled like a precious bundle. Mother looked radiant, as always. Her long, light-blonde hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her blue eyes sparkled with warmth. She, too, had the royal dragon features: white scales adorned her neck and shoulders, blending seamlessly with her fair skin, and when she moved, there was a grace that only the pure dragons of our bloodline possessed.
"Your father is waiting,"
she said, her smile warm but tired.
"It's time for your lessons."
I saw Valentina's shoulders sag a little at the mention of lessons, but I didn't mind. I always enjoyed the time we spent with our mother, even if it meant training under our father's cold gaze. Seraphina walked toward us, the sunlight catching the scales along her neck, soft and delicate. She held Lirael close, her tiny form bundled in soft blankets. I swear one of those was mine once! Our baby sister was so small, her eyes barely open as she stirred in our mother's arms. She was the youngest of us, too young to understand anything yet, but already the subject of so much love and protection.