Dragon Savior: A New Beginning ( Update Version)

An Unexpected Awakening (127)

Starfania turned sharply, her body instinctively positioning itself fully in front of Atlas. Her eyes locked onto the speaker—cold, unflinching.

" What makes you think he is a monster?" she asked. The man stood rigid, his armor scorched at the edges, jaw set with open disdain. " Because that's exactly what he is. Look at him. What kind of dragon causes this much destruction with a single fireball? He turned our training grounds to ash. For everyone's safety, he should be restrained—permanently."

A murmur rippled through the gathered crowd. Starfania shook her head slowly. " That's not true. He wasn't attacking—he was scared. Upset. He was taken, bound and surrounded by strangers with weapons. He acted on instinct, not cruelty."

The man scoffed. " And why should I care about his feelings? He endangered lives."

The words struck like a spark to dry tinder. Atlas growled. Low. Deep. Dangerous. The sound rolled through the training grounds like distant thunder, and several soldiers instinctively stepped back, hands tightening around their weapons. Atlas's midnight eyes narrowed, locking onto the man with unmistakable warning. " Atlas. Enough."

Starfania raised her hand. The dragon hesitated—then obeyed. The growl faded into a tense exhale, though his gaze never left the man. The sheer control stunned more than one onlooker.

" This isn't how we solve anything," Starfania said, forcing calm into her voice as the air crackled with fear. " Reacting with fear only creates more fear."

" We could've lost our best warriors!" The man snapped.

" I understand your fear," Starfania replied, meeting his anger head on. " But that doesn't make Atlas a monster. It makes him...like us."

His words slowed the crowd, confusion replacing outrage.

" Atlas was trying to protect me," she continued. " He sensed danger where he couldn't understand the situation. That doesn't make him evil. It makes him loyal."

She placed a hand against Atlas's warm scales. He lowered his head slightly, responding to her touch.

" We can communicate with him," she said, louder now, addressing everyone. " Dragons are not mindless weapons. They think. They feel. And when treated with trust they respond with it."

The man shook his head. " You think words undo destruction?"

" No," Starfania answered. " But understanding prevents it from happening again."

He stepped forward, fists clenched. " Why should we listen to a child?"

The words echoed. Others began to murmur.

" She's young—"

" Just a girl—"

" What does she know of our losses?"

Lyam said nothing. He watched. Starfania felt the weight of every eye pressing down on her. She could feel Atlas's tension, Aeron and Violet standing rigid at her back. This was it. She took a breath—and stepped forward.

" You're right," she said. " I am young."

The murmurs faltered.

" I haven't lived through all of Primara's losses. I haven't worn your armor or bled on these grounds. " Her voice didn't waver. " But I do know what it means to be judged before being understood. To be feared for what you are instead of seen for who you choose to be."

She turned slightly, gesturing to Atlas. " You see a monster. I see a guardian who panicked because he was chained."

Then she looked back at the man—the hardest one to reach. " If you believe strength is controlled through fear, then restrain him. If you believe strength is unity...then let me prove he can be trusted."

Silence fell. Lyam's eyes narrowed—not with suspicion, but interest. Starfania squared her shoulder, voice steady. " Give me one chance. Judge us by what we do next—not by what you fear we might become."

All eyes turned to the man. And this time...he hesitated.