The Blind Enchantress and Last Dragon Rider

"Twirl, my lady."

Stella's voice was soft, and reverent, her hands stilling at Lumina's waist as she stepped back to admire how beautifully she had dressed Lumina.

"Graciously… my lady." Stella praised her lady. Lumina obeyed with elegance, her bare feet brushing against the polished marble floor as she turned in a slow, graceful circle.

The robe she wore shimmered beneath the light an opulent garment of deep twilight blue, stitched with threads of silver that wove across the fabric.

Wide sleeves fell like waterfalls from her arms, lined with soft velvet and trimmed. The gown was layered with gauzy silk beneath the outer robes.

Then a belt of braided silver cords cinched her slender waist, the last gift given to her by her mother, the necklace rested on her bare chest.

Stella had taken her time with the hair long strands of raven black brushed smooth and coiled into a knot at the crown of her head, held in place with ivory pins shaped like phoenix feathers. 

"The stars themselves would bow if they could see you now," Stella whispered, stepping forward to adjust a single lock of hair near her temple.

"My lady… you now look exquisite."

Stella's voice was low, almost reverent, filled with admiration. Lumina smiled faintly, her fingers brushing the soft folds of her robe as she turned toward the sound.

"I truly wish," Stella continued gently, "You could one day see just how beautiful you look." The smile on Lumina's face faltered.

For a moment, the room was quiet as Stella's words sank deep into the silence. 

The pain flickered behind her expression, a wound carefully buried that now threatened to resurface. The last time she saw her face was when she was eight years old.

Her breath hitched softly, as she recalled the memory of what had transpired outside the realm.

He was the one, the only one who could help her see, after the ceremony she planned to go out of the realm again. She needed to find this person. She raised a hand to her eyes, fingertips trembling against shut lids.

"My lady…" Stella's voice came again, this time gentler, cautious. "Did you… did you finally meet the person you were hoping to meet?"

Lumina sighed at the thought. The last time she had seen the world… It had been the day her mother died.

And even though her mother had tried to shield her from the horror, to protect her blindfolded eyes, Lumina had seen it. The blood, how she was pleading.

Just then Lumina felt the air shift, this feeling was familiar to her. Lumina then lowered her hands slowly. "Stella?" she whispered, stretching her arm slightly, searching for her presence. Her fingers moved through space… but nothing moved. Stella wasn't speaking. It was like time had stopped.

Then her breath caught aware of what had occurred.

"Aunt Seraphine?" Her voice trembled in disbelief. She hadn't expected her aunt to come into the realm, she never did. 

Seraphine's reply came in, calm and composed. "Why are you surprised? Did I not tell you I go where I must?"

Lumina's brows knit. "You never enter the realm. You always say too many ears here."

"This meeting could not wait, and you are standing on the edge of its turning."

Lumina felt the familiar invisible weight press upon her shoulders. She turned her face toward her aunt.

"Did you meet him?" Seraphine asked.

Lumina understood her aunt's question. "Yes… but it was only for a few seconds. I… I didn't know it was him. I could see… just for a moment. And then the darkness swallowed everything again."

There was a pause, and then Seraphine took in a deep breath. "He's the one who slew the Kraken."

Lumina's spine straightened. "Kraken? That was the beast chasing us? He saved me, then…?"

"Yes, and now, because of that, the Drakonis have rushed to finalize the marriage alliance. They fear what's coming. The Beast protects the realms if anything happens it will cause great chaos to the realms, especially the Drakonis,"

She paused and stared at Lumina who listened keenly, "I still don't understand why Drakonia wants so much collaboration from the celestial realm but it seems there are more things that we are missing and the Kraken Beast is like a last hope for them."

 Lumina swallowed. Her lips parted. "But… Aunt… what does this have to do with me?"

"Everything," Seraphina replied. "The Drakonis realm holds the secrets you seek about your mother, about your power…" She explained.

"But she's the one getting married," Lumina said quietly. "Rhynera. Not me. I can't enter the Drakonis realm like this."

"You must find a way. Their world is not what it seems?" Lumina gave a small nod, though uncertainty clouded her.

"I just found out they haven't seen dragons in decades. They have hidden this truth well," Lumina's mouth parted. The news shook her.

"So why form a union now? Dad…"

"To gain protection," Seraphina cut her off. "To mask their weakness. The Celestial bond will guard them from future attacks."

Lumina reached a hand toward the voice but met only air.

"Aunt… I don't understand. What am I supposed to do?"

"Enter their world and find the truth. If you want answers about your mother… about who you truly are… this is the only path left."

"What.." Lumina whispered in shock but then the atmosphere stirred around her. The stillness lifted and the air moved again. 

"Aunt!" she cried out. But Seraphine was gone. Stella blinked, looking at her strangely. 

"My lady? Are you alright? You were talking… but there's no one else here."

Lumina lowered her face. Her voice was steady. "It's nothing."

Stella didn't press further. She only smiled. "The king is waiting, my lady. It's time."

Lumina stood, the weight of her aunt's words echoing in her chest. So much still made no sense. Why now? Why her? 

How all of a sudden is her power related to the Drakonis world? What more truths does she want to know?