The second day in the valley dawned even brighter than the first.
Soft light spilled over the mountains, washing the grass in gold and painting the camp with calm warmth.
Kanah stepped out of the shelter Owain made for her, stretching her arms toward the sky.
She still felt the ache in her chest from the war, from loss, from her father…
But there was a small, steady glow inside her, too.
Hope.
Owain, already awake and finishing his patrol, spotted her instantly.
His expression softened.
"Kana."
She smiled.
"Morning."
He strode over, gently brushing his thumb across her cheek.
"You slept deeper," he murmured.
"That's good."
Kanah leaned into his touch.
"Thanks to you."
Owain's breath hitched.
But before he could react, a familiar voice spoke behind them.
"Teaching her how to breathe properly would help too."
Owain stiffened.
Gerrin stepped forward with a calm smile.
Kanah blinked.
"Breathe?"
"Yes," Gerrin said, offering his hand.
"You asked to learn mana control. Now is a good time."
Owain growled.
"She didn't ask today."
"But she asked yesterday."
Owain placed a possessive arm around Kanah.
"She should eat first."
Kanah sighed.
"Owain…"
Gerrin chuckled softly.
"We can start with simple breathing. No mana usage yet."
Owain grumbled.
"Fine. But I'm watching."
Kanah took Gerrin's hand.
Owain took her other hand.
Gerrin patiently pretended nothing was strange about this.
MANA BREATHING — WITH GERRIN
Gerrin led them to a quiet patch of grass near the river.
"Sit," he encouraged gently.
Kanah sat cross-legged.
Owain sat directly behind her, hands on her hips.
Gerrin raised a brow.
"…Owain."
"What? She might fall."
"We are sitting on grass."
"It's very slippery grass."
Gerrin sighed.
Kanah giggled.
"All right," Gerrin said, clearing his throat.
"Kanah, place a hand over your heart."
She did.
"And breathe in… through your nose. Slowly. Not deeply. Just enough."
Kanah inhaled.
"Good. Now exhale."
She exhaled shakily.
Owain pressed a palm to her spine, grounding her.
Gerrin nodded.
"You carry emotions in your breath. Mana follows emotion. And what you feel settles in your chest."
Kanah swallowed.
"That… feels true."
Gerrin's eyes softened.
"You're not broken, Kanah. You're simply full."
Her breath hitched.
Owain squeezed her waist.
Gerrin continued softly:
"We'll teach you to let some of that weight go. One breath at a time."
Kanah breathed again.
This time—
her chest loosened.
Her shoulders softened.
Her heartbeat steadied.
Gerrin smiled warmly.
"Well done."
Owain looked smug.
"She's perfect."
"She did well," Gerrin corrected.
"No. Perfect."
Gerrin exhaled.
"This is going to be a long morning."
Kanah laughed.
DRAGON BREATH — WITH YLLAS
An hour later, as Gerrin finished the breathing session, a breeze cooled the air.
Yllas approached, folding his wings gracefully.
"May I take her next?" he asked.
Owain barred him with an arm immediately.
"For what."
"Breathing techniques of the dragon clans," Yllas replied calmly.
"It will help her stabilize internal heat."
Kanah blinked.
"I have internal heat?"
"Too much," Yllas said softly.
"It happens when emotions overwhelm the body."
Owain scowled.
"She's not overheating."
Kanah shrugged off her cloak.
Yllas pointed at the faint flush on her cheeks and collarbone.
Owain froze.
"When did that happen?"
"When you carried her earlier," Helion called from a nearby tree.
Owain glared at him.
Kanah groaned.
"Can we please focus?"
Yllas extended a hand.
"Come."
She took it.
Yllas positioned her standing in front of him, his hands hovering near her shoulders—never touching, but guiding.
"Dragons breathe differently," he said softly.
"Strong in the chest. Steady in the stomach. Controlled in the heart."
Kanah mimicked him, and Yllas nodded approvingly.
"Good. Again."
Owain muttered from behind:
"He's enjoying this too much."
Gerrin rolled his eyes.
"Let her breathe."
Kanah inhaled.
Exhaled.
Yllas moved closer, his breath brushing the top of her head.
"Slow," he murmured.
"You are fire, but you must not burn."
Her heart thudded.
Owain growled.
Yllas stepped back, expression unreadable.
"You did well."
Kanah smiled shyly.
"Thank you."
Owain tugged her toward him immediately.
"She's done with breathing."
A HIGH TREE RUN — WITH HELION
Helion landed in front of them with a bright grin.
"Kanah! Your turn with me."
Owain shielded her automatically.
"For what."
"Climbing trees!"
"No."
"Yes," Kanah said quickly.
Owain gaped.
"You want to climb trees?"
She shrugged.
"Helion says it's… fun?"
Helion winked.
"It's extremely fun."
Before Owain objected, Helion scooped Kanah into his arms and leapt.
"Ow—!"
"KANA—!"
Owain's roar echoed across the valley.
Helion laughed delightedly.
Kanah clung to him, heart pounding—but her fear melted into something else.
Thrill.
Freedom.
The high branches swayed beneath them as they moved like shadows through the canopy.
Helion set her on a sturdy branch.
"See? Not so scary," he said, voice warm.
Kanah laughed breathlessly.
"I feel like I'm flying."
"That's the point."
Owain appeared below them moments later, murderous.
"Get. Down."
Kanah giggled.
"Owain, I'm fine!"
Helion whispered:
"Worth it."
Owain nearly climbed the tree with his bare hands.
AN EMOTIONAL BREAKTHROUGH
Once they returned to the ground, Owain wrapped his arms around Kanah's waist, holding her tightly.
"Don't scare me like that," he murmured into her hair.
She rested her cheek against his chest.
"Okay. I won't."
Owain pressed a kiss into her crown.
"We're not used to peace yet," Gerrin said softly.
Yllas nodded.
"Your body still expects danger."
Kanah swallowed.
"My father… everything he did… I still feel it sometimes."
Owain buried his nose in her neck.
"But you're here," he whispered.
"And we're here. We're not going anywhere."
Kanah closed her eyes.
And for the first time, instead of feeling fear—
she felt surrounded by warmth.
By hands that held without hurting.
By voices that soothed instead of commanded.
By instincts that protected instead of devoured.
Yllas stood beside her, hand hovering near her shoulder.
Gerrin brushed her hair lightly away from her face.
Helion leaned close, tail flicking behind him.
Owain wrapped his arms tighter.
Kanah looked at all four of them—
and felt something shift inside her chest.
Not love yet.
But something growing in that direction.
Something real.
Something safe.
Something hers.
"I think…" she whispered, voice shaking, "I'm ready to start living again."
Owain kissed her cheek.
"We'll teach you how."
Yllas murmured:
"Together."
Helion smirked softly.
"And joyfully."
Gerrin added:
"And gently."
Kanah breathed in slowly—
and for the first time in forever, the air didn't hurt.