Dragon's Rise

CHAPTER XXII.

The egg began to stir, its surface fracturing with delicate cracks as life fought to break free. Rielle held her breath, her heart pounding in rhythm with the tiny tremors. This was her first time witnessing the birth of a dragon, and the weight of the moment pressed against her chest. Finally, the shell gave way, and a dragon emerged, its scales gleaming a brilliant emerald green, its eyes deep and rich as the earth itself. It let out a soft, unsteady cry, and Raezil stepped forward, her own voice trembling with joy. Rielle could feel the swell of Raezil's happiness, raw and uncontainable, as she whispered, "Tirsynth."

୨⎯ CLEO LUNARIS ⎯୧

Cleo turned sharply, her heart pounding as hazel eyes met hers, fierce and unyielding. The blade pressed harder against her throat, nicking her skin just enough for blood to bead and trail down her neck. The sting of it was distant, her focus entirely on the girl holding the knife.

"Cahira, show her what monsters we truly are."

The girl's face jolted something loose in Cleo's memory, and with it came a flood of images: the soldiers marching through Asteria, their weapons gleaming under a blood-red sky; the cries of her people; the lifeless forms of Lienna and Chief Maris. And then, the girl—a fleeting face in the chaos, light brown hair matted with blood, her blade ready to end Cleo's life. The same girl now holding a dagger at her throat. 

"When I first saw you, I thought you looked familiar," Cahira said, her voice low and venomous. "I've seen those blue eyes before—so full of anger and hatred. And then in training, I watched how you fought. So different from the rest of us. That's when I realized—an Asterian." 

Cleo stiffened. She was taller than Cahira, but the girl had leverage, forcing her to bend to the blade's will. Cahira leaned closer, her hazel eyes glinting like polished steel.

"Are you here to finish what you were set out to do?" Cleo spat, her voice dripping with venom. 

Cahira's lips curled into a cold smile. "Tempting," she said simply. 

In the next heartbeat, Cleo twisted sharply, breaking Cahira's grip and wrenching her arm. Cahira let out a sharp cry of pain, but it only seemed to ignite her further. She retaliated with a vicious kick, aiming for Cleo's stomach. Cleo dodged, barely, the air slicing past her as the strike grazed her side.

They clashed again, like storm meeting gale, each move calculated yet driven by raw, unbridled emotion. Cleo grabbed Cahira's wrist, twisting it to force her to drop the dagger, but Cahira retaliated with an elbow to Cleo's jaw, the sharp pain reverberating through her skull. Cleo stumbled back, spitting blood, but her glare didn't falter.

"You think I don't know why you're truly here, Asterian?" Cahira snarled, advancing with quick, precise movements. Her fists flew, aiming for Cleo's ribs, her face, any weak spot she could exploit. "You're here to for revenge."

Cleo ducked under the blows, her breath sharp as she countered with a sweeping kick that sent Cahira staggering. "You slaughtered my people," Cleo bit out, her voice laced with venom.

Cahira's face twisted with fury. She lunged, catching Cleo off guard, and the two tumbled to the ground. Cahira straddled Cleo, pinning her arms with surprising strength. Her dagger was gone, but her fists rained down like thunder, one landing squarely on Cleo's cheek. 

Cleo bucked beneath her, using her legs to shift their weight. She twisted her body, breaking Cahira's hold and flipping them over. Now it was Cleo on top, her hands around Cahira's throat, squeezing just enough to make her point. "You're monsters," Cleo hissed, her blue eyes blazing. "You and your kind—you're all the same."