The sun hung low over the academy, painting the sky in streaks of orange and gold.
The once-bustling training field now sat quiet, save for the wind brushing through the grass.
Mila still in her PE instructor uniform stood alone at the edge of the field.
Her silver hair shimmered faintly in the light, tied loosely behind her back.
She let out a small sigh as she stared at the horizon, the faint trail of smoke still visible from where the meteors had fallen the night before.
Again…
Why does that always happen when I use Arthianos…?
She clenched her hand, watching the faint flicker of flame in her palm before snuffing it out.
It wasn't the dragon. She could feel that much.
This was something else something buried, stirring from the farthest corners of her magic.
Her thoughts were broken when footsteps approached behind her.
"You've been standing there for hours," a calm, familiar voice said.
She didn't need to turn to know who it was.
"The Sage," she murmured softly.
He walked to her side, his long robes flowing with each step.
For a moment, neither spoke just the sound of waves in the distance.
"You push yourself too hard," he finally said. "First with your students, now here. The Headmistress is starting to worry."
Mila gave a small smile, faint but polite. "You mean you're worried."
The Sage's lips curved slightly. "Perhaps both."
A silence followed. Then his gaze shifted upward to the sky where faint, silvery clouds were slowly dispersing.
"Tell me," he began, "what do you think about those meteors?"
Mila tensed slightly.
She hid her reaction behind a slow exhale.
"They're beautiful," she said simply. "Terrifying, but beautiful."
He studied her closely. "You've noticed they've only fallen near the academy's perimeter lately?"
"Yes," Mila replied. "I assumed it was just… coincidence."
"Coincidence doesn't leave craters that large," he said quietly. "And the energy readings…"
He glanced at her, eyes narrowing just slightly.
"They're almost identical to the traces from that night in the forest."
Mila's chest tightened.
That night the first time she used Arthianos.
She forced a small laugh, though it didn't sound natural. "You think I'm behind the meteors again?"
The Sage didn't answer. Instead, he took a few slow steps forward, gazing at the crater faintly visible beyond the walls of the academy.
"I don't think it's you," he said finally. "But I do think it's something connected to you. Something you haven't yet understood."
His tone wasn't accusatory this time it carried concern, even faint hesitation.
Mila's eyes softened. "You mean like… a spell out of control?"
"Or something far older," he murmured.
The wind picked up, carrying the smell of salt and ash.
"Tell me, Miss Mila," he said, turning back to her. "When you summon your dragon… do you hear anything?"
She hesitated.
Images flashed fire, scales, and a voice echoing in her head, 'My queen.'
"…Sometimes," she admitted quietly. "But it's not hostile. It's… familiar."
The Sage nodded slowly. "That makes it even more concerning. Power that feels familiar is the easiest to lose yourself to."
Mila looked away, her silver hair fluttering in the wind. "I know that better than anyone."
Another silence. Then, the Sage looked up at the sky again.
Dark streaks crossed the clouds faint remnants of meteor smoke.
"When we find out what causes those," he said softly, "I hope it won't be too late to stop it."
Mila's gaze followed his, her golden eyes shimmering faintly behind her disguise.
"Then let's hope I find it first," she whispered.
The Sage turned to her, his expression unreadable but there was something like trust hidden in his eyes.
"Be careful, Miss Mila," he said finally. "Even dragons have limits."
Then he walked away, his figure fading into the twilight.
Mila stood there alone once more, staring at the faint trails in the sky.
The wind blew softly against her face, and her hand slowly tightened into a fist.
"…Limits can be broken," she muttered.
And somewhere far above, a faint red light pulsed in the clouds
the first sign that something else was watching her.