The DragonGP rolled across the red sands, the shadow of Olympus Mons falling away behind them as they pressed onward. The tunnels were gone now—the open Martian sky stretched above, tinted rust and gold by the thin atmosphere. Every vibration of the engines echoed through the cabin like a heartbeat, faster, stronger, as though the planet itself knew they were drawing near.Matilda had her small hands pressed against the glass, eyes wide, her voice breaking into a smile. “Daddy… is that it?”Jack followed her gaze. On the horizon, glowing domes shimmered under the protective fields of light, clustered like gems against the barren wasteland. Towers rose within the largest dome, sleek and sharp, their surfaces reflecting the pale sun.“The colony,” Jack said quietly, his chest heavy but steady. “We’ve made it.”Lena gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Sarah’s eyes brimmed with tears she didn’t bother to hide, while Emily leaned forward, her sharp eyes narrowing but softening in relief.

The aroma filled every corner of the Dragon Home. Rich, smoky barbecue. Fresh pizza crust sizzling under melted cheese. Sausages crackling with heat, their juices hissing against the iron pans. For the first time in months—perhaps years—it smelled like a family gathering, not a battlefield.Sarah and Emily led the procession from the kitchen, balancing trays between them. Lena followed with careful hands, setting down bowls of salad and roasted vegetables. Matilda stumbled along proudly with a plate of steaming sausage links, her flour-streaked cheeks glowing with accomplishment.“Careful, sweetheart,” Sarah murmured as she steadied the little girl’s plate onto the long dining table. “Don’t burn your fingers.”“I didn’t!” Matilda beamed. “I carried it all by myself.”Jack watched from his seat, eyes softening. For all the battles he had fought, nothing felt more victorious than this—his family, alive and together, serving a meal in a home thought lost to time. Ryan sat across from him

Jack’s hand lingered on the dagger, its glow ebbing faintly as though satisfied with his answer. For a moment, silence lingered in the Dragon Home, each family member caught in thought. Then, slowly, Jack stood, pushing his chair back with a low scrape.Jackson’s head shot up. “Now?”Jack’s gaze was steady. “You want to learn? Then we begin.”Matilda gasped. “After dinner?”Jack’s lips twitched faintly. “Fighting doesn’t wait for full stomachs.”Sarah arched a brow but didn’t stop him. Ryan sighed, muttering under his breath, “This boy’s going to get broken bones before dessert.”Emily leaned back, crossing her arms, eyes gleaming with amusement. “Or Jack’s about to remember what teaching teenagers feels like.”Jack ignored them all, his attention fixed on his son. “Come,” he said simply.Jackson shot up so fast his chair toppled behind him. He didn’t even notice, his face glowing with eagerness as he followed his father out of the dining room. Matilda scrambled to her feet too, drago

Jackson didn’t look away from the screen, his small body pressed against his father’s side. The glow of the television danced across his face, but his eyes weren’t on the movie anymore—they were locked on Jack.“Dad…” His voice was low but restless. “Why do you like dragons so much? You always say they’re your best animal. Why?”The room stilled. Sarah turned her head from where she sat curled with her hands folded, and even Emily shifted in her chair with an expression that was half curiosity, half doubt.Jack exhaled slowly. His gaze drifted toward the dagger at his hip, then to the children gathered around him. “Why?” he repeated softly.Jackson nodded quickly. “Yeah. I mean, most people like lions, or wolves, or horses. But you… you always say dragons.”Jack’s jaw tightened, then relaxed. “Because dragons are more than animals. They aren’t beasts. They’re symbols. They carry weight across every culture, every nation, every story. To some they are destruction, to others wisdom, to

The dagger’s glow finally softened to a faint pulse, leaving the living room bathed in a soft, warm light. Outside the dome, the Martian sky stretched endlessly, pale and quiet, a faint shimmer of stars barely visible through the thin atmosphere. Jackson’s mind raced faster than the light of distant suns.“Dad…” he began, voice trembling but insistent, “where does space end? I mean… if the planets keep going, how far does it go? And why is space dark if the Sun shines on Earth, Mars, and all the planets?”Jack leaned back slightly, his fingers brushing the hilt of the dagger at his side. He spoke slowly, as though measuring each word for the child’s young mind. “Space… doesn’t really have an end, Jackson. Or at least, not one we’ve reached. Beyond the planets, beyond our solar system, the universe stretches farther than we can imagine. Light from distant stars travels millions, billions of years just to reach us. Space is mostly empty, yes… but it’s not nothing. It’s filled with radia