Dragon's Rise

CHAPTER IX.

"Are you alone, just like me?" Rielle whispered, her voice barely a breath. The question lingered in the still air between them, unspoken yet understood. She knew the ache of solitude too well, its weight a familiar companion these past days. But as she gazed at the creature before her—wild and untamed, yet impossibly close—something shifted. In its presence, she felt a quiet solace bloom within her, a fragile warmth she hadn't known she was missing. She wasn't alone anymore. Not with this creature, not in this moment. For the first time in days, her heart stirred with something more than emptiness.

୨⎯ CLEO LUNARIS ⎯୧

Cleo adjusted the strap of her satchel for the hundredth time, her fingers trembling slightly despite her steady resolve. She turned to Heath, her father, the man who had taught her everything she knew about resilience and courage. His weathered face, etched with years of hardship and love, softened as he placed his hands on her shoulders.

"This isn't goodbye," Heath said, his voice firm but carrying a tenderness that made her chest ache. "You're going to make us proud, Cleo. You always do."

She nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. "I know." Her voice was steady, but her hands betrayed her, gripping the edges of his tunic as if she might never let go. She could feel the tears threatening to spill, but she blinked them away. Heath didn't need to see that this was the hardest thing she'd ever done—leaving him, Asteria, and the life she'd always known.

"Keep your wits about you," he added, his hands dropping to her sides. "And your heart strong."

"I will," she promised, her voice barely a whisper. She forced a smile, though it felt brittle.

As Cleo stepped back, ready to turn toward the waiting carriage, a voice broke through the murmurs of the gathered crowd.

"Cleo!"

She turned, and before she could register anything else, Dominic was there, pulling her into a tight embrace. The sheer strength of his hold made her heart twist. She didn't realize how much she needed it until now.

"Don't you dare forget about us," he murmured into her ear, his voice thick with emotion.

"I won't," she said, her voice cracking slightly. She pulled back, just enough to see his face, and saw the unspoken worry in his eyes.

Dominic reached into his pocket and pressed a small box into her hand. "I had it made for you," he said, his voice uncharacteristically quiet. "Don't open it until you're in Northcrest."

Cleo looked down at the box, its weight surprisingly heavy in her palm, and nodded. "Thank you, Nic." She pulled him into another hug, tighter this time, savoring the fleeting comfort it brought.

"It's time, Miss Cleo," a soldier called, his tone apologetic but firm.

She pulled away from Dominic reluctantly, glancing over her shoulder at the carriage. Her heart sank further as she turned to face the crowd. The entire village had gathered to send her off. Faces she'd known her whole life smiled back at her, some tearful, some hopeful.

"Be careful, Cleo!" someone shouted.

"Bring back a dragon!" another voice added, and the crowd erupted into cheers and well-wishes.

Cleo forced a wave, her hand trembling slightly, and climbed into the carriage. As it began to move, she leaned out the window, watching the village slowly disappear behind her. The shouts of encouragement faded, replaced by the rhythmic clatter of hooves against the dirt road.

She let out a slow breath, her gaze shifting to the forest that loomed ahead. Soon, the border came into view—the same one she had crossed just days ago. Only this time, the weight of the moment pressed down on her.