The Empress pulled the blue light back, the flame aura dissipating.The colored dots faded, and the office returned to normal lighting."You're all dismissed."She walked back to her desk, already moving on to other matters.The group filed out of the office,Elara first, then Mira, then Flora, then Asta bringing up the rear.As the door closed behind them, the Empress stood alone.She looked down at the blue gem in her hand.Then her other hand moved, forming a small portal,red flame swirling in a tight circle.She placed the gem carefully into the portal.It disappeared, transported to a secure location only she knew.The portal snapped shut.She sat down heavily in her chair, suddenly looking very tired."Seven gems. One already in enemy hands. Six to find."She closed her eyes."Please let us be fast enough." ……………………….Outside in the hallway, Mira and Elara walked in front, chatting animatedly.Their voices carried back,Mira asking questions about Elara's travels, Elara respondin

But Elara's touch on his back was so gentle and soft, so pleading.slowly,very slowly,his grip loosened.Millimeter by millimeter.His fingers uncurled, his hand released Cassian's wrist.Cassian immediately pulled his arm back, cradling it against his chest like it was broken.His eyes went wide as he looked down at his wrist.At the bruise already forming there,deep purple, almost black in places, spreading across his skin in the exact shape of Asta's grip.Individual finger marks were visible. Clear and distinct.He stared at it, shock and disbelief written across his face.‘’How did he... that's not... that shouldn't be possible…’’Elara stepped forward, positioning herself between Asta and Cassian.Her expression had completely shifted from pained to angry now.Not shouting-angry just cold-angry.The kind of anger that's more dangerous because it's controlled."You know what, Cassian?"Her voice was sharp and cutting."You're not the boss of me. You never have been. You never will b

"Even your fiancé,the man who loves you, the man who's going to marry you,even he agrees with me!"He turned to Roderick."I never thought I'd say this, but Roderick, you're alright. You have sense andyku a a good judge."Yuki crossed her arms, her expression shifting into something playfully stubborn.Her lips curved into a small smirk."Fine. You know what? New rule."She held up one finger."The person with the engagement ring gets to make up rules whenever they want."She held up her left hand, wiggling her fingers so the ring caught the light from the lanterns.The small diamond sparkled, throwing tiny rainbows across the white sheets.Both Roderick and Jabber groaned.Loud and dramatic. Completely in sync."That's not fair!""She's using the ring card!""That's a low blow!""That's cheating on top of cheating!"Yuki just smiled, completely unbothered by their protests.Her expression was serene, victorious."All's fair in love and card games."She picked up the potion and added it

‘’"He and Frostbite were a legendary pair. Siblings who complemented each other perfectly. The Healer and the Warrior. The Mercy and the Might."’’’‘’"She'd walk the battlefields after fights and patch people up. He'd make SURE there were battles that needed patching up after. She'd negotiate peace treaties. He'd make sure everyone understood what would happen if those treaties were broken."’’‘’’That sounds... really intense.’’’‘’’"INTENSE doesn't even BEGIN to cover it."’’The Emperor Dragon was really warming to this topic now.‘’’"Thornscale was TERRIFYING in combat. Made Ragnar look like a playful puppy by comparison. And Ragnar, as you've seen, is NO joke in a fight."’’‘’"But outside of battle? When he wasn't fighting? Thornscale was completely, utterly devoted to his sister. Would do ANYTHING she asked. Would move mountains if she requested it. Would tear apart realms if she was threatened."’’‘’’"Which meant that if you made Frostbite angry,if you got on her bad side for any

Old Man Kael's eyes narrowed dangerously.His entire posture changed, becoming tense and wary."That's a very specific question. And a very, very DANGEROUS question to be asking."He crossed his arms over his chest."Why are you asking this? What happened?"Asta took a deep breath, organizing his thoughts."We fought someone tonight. A vessel. But he wasn't the REAL vessel,not the rightful one,of the dragon sealed inside him."His voice became more intense, more urgent."He KILLED the real vessel. Murdered them. Then extracted the dragon forcibly and had it sealed inside himself instead."Old Man Kael's expression darkened considerably, his jaw clenching."That's..." He stopped, clearly struggling to find words. "That's forbidden. Deeply, fundamentally forbidden. The process of forced extraction and re-sealing is one of the most dangerous things you can do with dragon magic."He walked over to the bed where Roderick and Yuki were still sitting, lowering himself down heavily."When a