Chapter 16: The Quiet Guardian
Katherine leaned against the patio railing, eyes tracing her siblings as they trained in the open grass. A gentle breeze stirred the air, carrying faint dragon chirps and bursts of laughter. She stayed apart, half-hidden by the shade of a sprawling oak, a ghost at the edge of their moment.
The dragons were barely a week old—small enough to cradle against their chests, carry in bags, or perch comfortably on their shoulders. Joey knelt, coaxing Rohan onto his outstretched arm. The white dragon moved gracefully, scales shimmering faintly like mother-of-pearl. Joey laughed softly, and for an instant, his face lost that heaviness he'd worn since Christmas.
Nearby, Chyna stood perfectly still, Lavendel curled across her neck like a silken violet scarf, eyes flickering with faintly glowing sigils. Chyna's expression was unreadable—sharp, focused, seeing far beyond the yard.
Beanca ran after Emeraldsa, her green dragon tumbling through the grass, squeaking delightedly. She scooped the creature up, playfully scolding it for leaping into her mother's azaleas. Steven laughed, carrying Ares like a squirming, crimson kitten. Fate sat quietly, serene with Goldenia sleeping soundly in her lap, the golden dragon radiating gentle warmth.
It looked so natural. So effortless.
Katherine's throat tightened.
She flexed her fingers, feeling the jade ring on her finger—the faint hum of dormant power barely noticeable. She envied them their simple intimacy, their instant bonds. It was easy to forget these dragons were only hatchlings; they seemed already entwined with her siblings' souls.
She glanced toward the edge of the yard, where Carly sat cross-legged beneath a tree, sketching fiercely in her notebook, her eyes wide with wonder. Carly was twelve and knew nothing of the heavy secrets Katherine carried—the responsibility of shielding the family, the cryptic warnings their father had left behind.
Katherine sighed softly, a whisper of frustration she allowed only herself to hear.
She'd always been the observer, the quiet guardian at the sidelines. A role she'd never asked for—but one she'd never refused. Even now, she stood outside their circle, separate, invisible in plain sight.
The sunlight grew richer, shadows stretching slowly across the grass. Katherine pushed away from the railing, drawing herself upright. She wasn't bitter, she reminded herself. Only lonely. Only tired of waiting for a chance to step forward.
In her pocket, her father's folded letter pressed gently against her thigh, as if reminding her of a duty she couldn't leave behind—one she'd carried since she was barely old enough to understand what "protect" even meant.
She watched them a moment longer—the dragons small and shimmering, her siblings happy and unburdened for once.
Then, silently, she turned back toward the house, unnoticed as she walked away.
Katherine stood alone at the kitchen counter, her fingers idly tracing the cool edge of her father's letter. The paper was worn smooth from countless rereads, words etched into her memory, a weight pressing into her chest.
Behind her, a floorboard creaked.
She turned slowly to see Joey in the doorway, Rohan nestled protectively in the crook of his elbow. The dragon glowed softly in the fading evening light, his small frame already a striking presence, iridescent scales reflecting a muted rainbow.
Joey cleared his throat gently. "Can we...talk?"
She nodded, bracing quietly for whatever might come next.
YOU ARE READING
The Five Realms
FanfictionJoey Jackson, a quiet teen with a stubborn sense of hope, is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his father during a supernatural fire at their family estate. When a shadowy figure emerges from the smoke-and a long-lost teacher delivers a cry...
