Legacy of the Dragon Lord

The days continued in a pattern that Shira hadn't expected—moments stolen with Darin between training and classes, quiet conversations beneath the willow tree, the occasional thrill of sneaking into the kitchens at night. The bond between them was growing, and she felt herself relaxing in a way she hadn't since arriving at Ardent Moon Academy. Darin was warmth and lightheartedness, and being around him made the weight she carried feel just a little less heavy.

But not everyone seemed to feel the same way.

Elias was distant.

Shira noticed the shift immediately. He still trained with her, still spoke to her, but something had changed. His usual teasing remarks had dulled, his laughter was quieter, and there was a certain sharpness in his gaze when he looked at Darin. At first, she thought she was imagining it, but as time passed, it became undeniable.

It wasn't just Elias who had taken note of the change. Lyra, too, seemed more withdrawn, though her coldness was directed at Shira. The tension in the air was palpable, but Shira couldn't bring herself to confront it. Instead, she focused on the present—on Darin, on training, on the warmth that had started to bloom between them.

One evening, after an exhausting day of sparring, Darin and Shira found themselves in the courtyard, sitting on the cool stone steps. The sky above was awash with the last traces of sunlight, bleeding into the deep blue of night.

Darin stretched his legs out, sighing dramatically. "Remind me again why we train so hard? I think I lost a part of my soul back there."

Shira laughed, nudging his arm. "Because if we don't, we'll get left behind."

He turned his head to look at her, his grin softening. "And you're afraid of that?"

She hesitated. "Not afraid. I just... don't want to be weak."

"You're not weak," Darin said firmly. "Not in the slightest."

She looked at him then, really looked. His usual playful demeanor was still there, but beneath it was something more—something serious, something real. He reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering against her skin for a brief moment longer than necessary.

Her heart skipped a beat. The world around them seemed to fade, the voices of students in the distance turning to background noise. She wasn't sure who leaned in first, but suddenly the space between them felt very, very small.

"Shira."

Her name, spoken softly, broke the moment. She turned, startled, only to find Elias standing at the entrance of the courtyard. His face was unreadable, his golden eyes dark in the dim light.

Darin straightened, his easygoing smile returning as he leaned back on his hands. "Hey, Elias. You need something?"

Elias ignored him, his gaze locked onto Shira. "Can I talk to you?"

Something in his tone made her chest tighten. She glanced at Darin, who gave her a lazy shrug before standing. "I'll catch you later," he said smoothly, but there was something tight about the way he said it, something that told her he wasn't as unaffected as he wanted to seem.

When he was gone, Elias exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. "You've been spending a lot of time with him."

Shira frowned. "Is that a problem?"

Elias didn't answer right away. He stepped closer, his usual confidence wavering. "I just... I don't want you to get hurt."

She narrowed her eyes. "Darin's my friend. He's been there for me."

Elias let out a quiet scoff. "And I haven't?"

The words stung more than she expected. Of course he had. Elias had always been there. Since they were children, since the night they lost everything. But lately, he had been different, pulling away, acting like he didn't care.

"I don't know, Elias," she said, folding her arms. "Have you?"

He looked as though she had struck him. For a long moment, he didn't speak. Then, he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know what's happening between you and Darin. But I do know that I miss you."

Her breath caught.

"I miss us," he continued, his voice quieter now. "And I hate that you're slipping away from me."

Shira's heart pounded in her chest. She wasn't sure what to say, what to feel. Everything had been so simple with Darin—easy, light—but Elias had always been different. He was a part of her past, her present, and no matter how much she tried to ignore it, her heart had never quite let go of him.

"Elias..."

He shook his head. "You don't have to say anything. I just needed you to know."

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Shira standing there, the weight of his words settling over her like a storm on the horizon.