Chapter 22 Aug 19, 2025 Mira avoided the ring unless she was sure no one else was there. She ran through formations until her legs shook, until her arms burned, until the only sound in her ears was her own breath and the beat of wings overhead. Liorith noticed. The silver drake never left for long. She'd land hard on the edge of the sparring yard, tail flicking, eyes watching. Sometimes she huffed. Sometimes she growled. Once, she nudged Mira so hard in the ribs, the girl nearly toppled into the mud. "Hey!" Mira snapped, rubbing her side. "What was that for?" "I'm fine." The dragon growled. "I am!" Mira insisted, brushing dirt off her thigh. "I just... need to get better." Liorith didn't buy it. She never did. That night, Mira stayed later than usual. The moon hung heavy, clouds crawling across the sky like thoughts she didn't want to admit. Her boots were muddy. Her shoulders ached. Her braid had come loose halfway through training, and she hadn't bothered to fix it. She sat on the edge of the practice ring, elbows on her knees, head bowed. Liorith landed behind her with a thud. "I know what you're gonna say," Mira muttered. "You're not subtle." The dragon said nothing, only walked closer. Her claws clicked against the stone. Her breath warmed Mira's back. Mira didn't turn. "I don't want to hear it. Or think it. Or feel it." Her voice cracked around the words. "I don't want to wonder if they're right. If Tessan's right." Liorith exhaled, soft this time. Almost gentle. Mira's fingers dug into her knees. Her nails left little half-moons in the fabric of her trousers. "What if I was just lucky?" she whispered. "What if that's all this bond ever was? Just one strange twist of fate. Not strength. Not magic. Just... luck." Liorith stepped closer. Mira looked up, eyes glassy, throat tight. "She thinks I don't belong here. That I never did. That I'm just a girl from some healer's hut who got handed a dragon too rare to ignore." She blinked hard, fists clenched. "I didn't earn you. I didn't fight for you like the others. I just found you and you chose me. And they hate me for it." Liorith's growl was low this time. A warning. But not to Mira - to every echo of doubt tangled in her voice. You think choice is weaker than conquest? The dragon's voice slid into her thoughts-steady, cold fire that didn't burn. I chose you. Not them. Not the Council. Me. "I thought I was getting stronger," Mira said. "I thought I was starting to prove them wrong. But then she walked back in, and now I can't breathe without wondering what they're saying behind my back." Liorith nudged her again, this time not to scold - to pull her closer. Let them speak. Wind howls loudest in hollow places. Mira finally looked up fully, her chin trembling. "Even Bastian's been..." She hesitated, then shook her head. "No, that's not fair. He's been the loudest, actually. He's defended me more than anyone." Liorith's snort rumbled through the space-less annoyance, more satisfaction. Then why do you still doubt? His voice shouts. Mine echoes through you. And still, you listen to ghosts that have no teeth. Mira's breath hitched. She didn't have an answer. Not one she liked. You don't need his shield, Liorith said, softer now, but he gives it freely. "I just don't know anymore," Mira whispered. "What if I've just been pretending this whole time? Pretending I belong. Pretending I'm a match for this world. For you." Liorith didn't growl this time. She moved slowly, deliberately, and curled her long silver tail around Mira's legs - a circle of steel and storm, coiled tight. Protective. Unyielding. Then stop pretending, the dragon said, quiet now. Be the girl who didn't beg or steal. Be the one I saw and chose. That's more than enough. Their bond flared under Mira's skin, not just warm but blazing-alive as a second heartbeat.