I barely felt the sunlight creeping through the curtains when a sudden shake jolted me awake.
"Sage!" Xenos's voice cracked, and when I blinked my eyes open, I was met with his tear-filled gaze, his hands gently gripping my shoulders. "Sage, wake up—please, you need to see this."
My heart skipped. "Xenos? What—what's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong," he breathed, his voice trembling with excitement. "Everything is… perfect."
Before I could even sit up fully, he tugged me off the bed, pulling me by the hand as he rushed through the halls like a child chasing a dream. His steps were hurried, barely able to contain his joy.
"Xenos, slow down!" I laughed breathlessly, struggling to keep up. "Where are we going?"
But he only turned his head slightly, his smile wide and soft. "Just trust me."
We arrived at the chamber where the new dragon egg had been carefully guarded since its creation. But this time, something was different — the heavy air of waiting had lifted.
The egg was no longer whole.
Inside the crystal cradle, curled up like a precious gemstone, was the newborn.
A gasp escaped my lips.
The baby dragon was small — delicate even — but his scales shimmered like nothing I had ever seen. Not like Xenos's deep sapphire blues or Vyrmoth's icy silver, but instead, his entire body glowed faintly, as though carved from pure crystal. Every tiny movement made light dance across his glassy skin, sparkling in hundreds of colors.
He looked so much like Xenos — the same proud horns, the same sharp little snout, the same glimmering eyes — yet completely unique.
"He's perfect," I whispered, placing a hand over my mouth. "He's… alive."
Xenos couldn't stop smiling, his voice breaking slightly as he stared at the baby. "We did it, Sage. You did it."
I watched as the baby shifted, stretching his tiny wings with a soft, curious chirp. My heart swelled, and a thought immediately struck me.
"Wait here," I said, turning quickly toward the door. "I need to show someone."
Without giving him time to question, I rushed through the castle, my excitement now matching his. I found Vyrmoth sitting quietly in the library, flipping through old scrolls.
"Vyrmoth," I called softly, but my excitement was barely contained. "Come with me. You need to see this."
He stood, curious but calm. "Is it…?"
"Yes."
He followed me quickly back to the chamber, and when we stepped inside, his eyes widened at the sight of the little dragon. He froze for a moment, breathless.
"This…" Vyrmoth whispered, stepping closer. "This is the beginning."
The baby let out a soft squeak, sensing us nearby, his little crystal tail flicking.
Xenos smiled at his twin brother, his voice proud and full of emotion. "Vyrmoth… meet the future of our kind."
And for a moment, the world outside seemed to vanish. There was only us, and this tiny miracle that we had all fought so hard to bring into existence.
The beginning of a new era.
Not long after, the others arrived one by one — Cynfael, Jemisha, and, of course, Alohi, who practically burst into the room.
"Where is he?!" she gasped, eyes wide as she spotted the crystal-skinned baby nestled safely in the soft bedding. "Oh. My. Stars."
Everyone gathered around in awe, voices lowered in reverence as they admired the tiny miracle.
Cynfael crossed his arms with a rare smile. "I never thought I'd witness the rebirth of a dragon in my lifetime."
"He's absolutely beautiful," Jemisha whispered, tears sparkling in her eyes.
Alohi, however, was... Alohi.
"Well, someone's going to have a serious fan club when he grows up," she smirked. "Look at those eyes! Like glittering gemstones. Honestly, Sage, if I wasn't so fond of you, I'd call dibs for a future arranged marriage."
"Alohi!" I hissed, half laughing, half horrified, while everyone else chuckled.
The laughter lightened the heavy emotions in the air, but quickly the conversation shifted to the most important matter.
"What should we name him?" Jemisha asked softly, stroking one of the baby's tiny horns with her fingertip.
We all fell silent for a moment, thinking.
"Zebedee," Cynfael finally offered, his voice firm but gentle. "It means 'gift from the gods.'"
Everyone turned to him, nodding in agreement. The name settled into the room like it had been waiting for us.
"Zebedee," I repeated softly, smiling down at the baby. "Perfect."
The baby let out a soft chirp, as though approving his own name.
Then Vyrmoth spoke up, his tone calm and full of quiet wisdom. "He will remain like this for a while," he said, gazing at Zebedee. "It will take time before he's strong enough to take human form. His magic is still developing — crystallizing, you could say."
Jemisha blinked at him, clearly impressed. "You seem to know a lot about dragon physiology."
"Well," Vyrmoth chuckled lightly, "I may have spent my life reading ancient texts from the old world. Polar bear scholars aren't as primitive as they sound."
Jemisha and I both stared at him, exchanging quick glances filled with admiration.
Xenos, standing beside me, stiffened slightly. He remained silent, his expression neutral — but I caught the tiniest flicker of jealousy in his eyes. He didn't say anything, though.
Instead, he wrapped his arm gently around my waist, pulling me closer.
I bit back a small smile. Oh, Xenos… you're so easy to read sometimes.
For now, we all stood together, surrounding little Zebedee — a family forged not by blood alone, but by everything we had endured and survived together. And somehow, I knew this was only the beginning of what was to come.
As everyone slowly began to settle after the arrival of Zebedee, Vyrmoth gently tapped my shoulder and motioned for me to follow him.
"I'd like a word, if you don't mind," he said softly, casting a quick glance at Xenos.
Before I could answer, Xenos narrowed his eyes. "Why do you need to speak to her privately?"
"Relax, brother," Vyrmoth replied with a calm smile. "I just want to get to know the woman who risked everything to bring me here. Surely you trust her judgment."
Xenos scoffed, his jaw tightening. "I trust her. You, on the other hand..."
"Xenos," I whispered, trying to calm him, but his voice only grew sharper.
"I don't like you pulling her aside like this," he snapped, his voice echoing slightly in the chamber.
Vyrmoth remained composed, his voice steady and smooth. "If your possessiveness clouds your trust, then perhaps you're not as confident in your bond as you pretend to be."
Xenos clenched his fists. "Watch your mouth."
"Oh, I am watching it. And right now, it's shouting like a child."
"ENOUGH!" I shouted, stepping between them, my voice firm. Both of them froze, staring at me. "I won't talk to either of you until you both apologise to each other. This is ridiculous."
Without waiting for a response, I turned and stormed out of the room, leaving both brothers glaring at each other in silence.
---
The cool evening air helped clear my mind as I wandered through the castle's backyard garden. The night was still, but something odd caught my eye.
There, beneath the tall willow tree, I saw Jemisha.
My stomach dropped.
A tall, pale man with flowing black hair and glowing red eyes stood over her. His hand suddenly lashed across her cheek, the slap echoing faintly in the quiet air. Before I could even shout, he grabbed her chin roughly and kissed her with a force that made my blood boil.
I stepped forward, fury rising in my chest. "HEY!"
But Jemisha immediately turned, pushing me back. "No! Sage, it's fine."
"Fine?" I repeated, stunned. "Jemisha, he just—"
"It's okay. Really. This is... Nero. My boyfriend."
I froze. "Your what?"
"I forgave him," she said quickly, her voice trembling slightly but trying to sound confident. "He loves me. He was just—just upset. It's nothing."
My eyes flickered between them. Nero stood there, smirking, completely unfazed.
"Jemisha," I said, lowering my voice but making sure every word cut through, "you're being naive. You don't know what you're doing. That man—" I pointed at Nero "—is dangerous. You can't be with someone like him."
"You don't understand," she whispered, her voice breaking slightly. "You don't know what we've been through."
I looked into her eyes — desperate, scared, confused — but she clung to him like he was the only lifeline she had.
Nero wrapped an arm around her shoulders possessively, his cold eyes locking onto mine with a smug grin.
"Stay out of things that don't concern you, Lady Sage," he said smoothly. "Jemisha belongs where she wishes to be."
I clenched my fists but forced myself to take a step back. This wasn't over. Not even close.
"Jemisha," I said one last time, my voice thick with emotion, "if you ever need me — really need me — I'll be here."
She nodded weakly, but I could see the conflict in her eyes as Nero led her away into the shadows of the garden.
And I stood there, heart pounding, knowing full well that a much darker storm was beginning to form.