The next morning dawned bright and clear, the sun casting a hopeful light over the courtyard. The riders gathered again, their eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of their friend.
As the day wore on, their anxiety grew. They tried to stay positive, but the weight of the impending deadline loomed over them. By mid-afternoon, there was still no sign of Isabel, and the mood had shifted from hopeful to desperate.
Eamon paced back and forth, his frustration evident. "Where could she be? We've seen almost every other rider and dragon arrive."
Kaelan placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We have to trust that she's okay. Isabel is resourceful and strong. She'll make it."
Alaric, his eyes scanning the horizon, suddenly tensed. "Wait, do you see that? Something's approaching."
All eyes turned to where Alaric was pointing. In the distance, a speck appeared on the horizon, growing larger as it drew closer. The riders' hearts leaped with hope as they thought maybe the rider was Isabel.
The dragon got closer to the platform and roared with all his might, causing everyone to stand up in shock and look at the ferocious dragon. It was an earth dragon, but it lacked the usual gentleness associated with such dragons, and its roar sent a shiver down their spines.
The rider on the dragon's back landed gracefully on the platform. It was the third princess, Elysia, with her formidable dragon. The crowd erupted in cheers as they recognized the princess, though there was still a palpable fear lingering in their hearts from the dragon's ferocity.
The Grandmaster stepped forward, his voice steady and commanding. "Welcome, Princess Elysia of House Ashéncrest, and your bonded dragon. Your presence adds strength and honor to our assembly."
The king, however, remained expressionless as he looked at the dragon, his face betraying no emotion. Elysia's eyes dimmed as she noticed the lack of response from her father.
She glanced around, trying to find her mother, but she was nowhere to be seen. Only her brother stood on the balcony, giving her a small, encouraging smile. Elysia managed to smile back at him, but the disappointment was evident in her eyes.
Elysia looked at her dragon, who immediately flew away from the platform. She regained her graceful smile and walked towards the upper chamber reserved for royals.
Inside, she found her brother, Crown Prince Adrian. "Where is Mother? Why isn't she here?" she asked, trying to contain her anger behind a composed facade, though it was as visible as day to Adrian.
He didn't point it out, simply responding, "Mother is sick and resting in her room."
Elysia's eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded and made her way to her mother's room, not noticing the look in Adrian's eyes as she walked away. Her anger was bubbling inside her, and she couldn't wait to vent her grievances to her mother.
When Elysia reached the door, she took a deep breath before entering. Inside, the room was dimly lit, and the scent of herbs filled the air. Her mother, Queen Marie, lay in bed, looking pale and frail.
"Mother," Elysia said softly, approaching the bed. "Why are you not outside? Everyone was waiting for you."
Queen Eveline opened her eyes and gave her daughter a weak smile. "Elysia, my dear. I'm sorry I couldn't be there. My health hasn't been the best lately."
Elysia's anger didn't dissipate. "Why didn't anyone tell me you were unwell?"
The queen sighed. "We didn't want to worry you while you were on your quest. But it seems there's something else bothering you, my dear. What is it?"
Elysia sat down beside her mother, her voice trembling with emotion. "It's Father. He didn't even acknowledge me or my dragon. It's as if... as if I don't matter to him."
Queen Eveline looked away, her expression unreadable. "Your father... he has his reasons, Elysia. Reasons that I don't fully understand."
Elysia's anger flared up again. "It's always about his reasons. But what about me? Why can't he show that he cares, just once?"
The queen's eyes were sad. "I don't have answers for you, Elysia. But you must find your own path and your own way to prove your worth."
Elysia stood up, her fists clenched. "I will. I'll prove to him that I'm not someone to be ignored."
Queen Eveline reached out, but Elysia had already turned away. She stormed out of the room, her mind ablaze with anger and determination.
Queen Marie closed her eyes painfully. Was it really my fault that even my daughters have to bear the brunt of this? Why can't he just treat us with love? But remembering that hateful face, all of the pain from her eyes vanished, and she mumbled with hatred, "I will never let her win. I will fight for my rights and my daughters."
As Elysia walked through the castle, she muttered to herself, her eyes filled with hatred.
"Why does he treat me this way? Adrian gets all the praise, all the attention. And what do I get? Nothing but indifference. I've trained just as hard, if not harder. I bonded with my dragon, faced challenges, and yet he looks at me like I'm invisible."
Her dragon, sensing her distress, landed gracefully beside her as she exited the castle. Elysia stroked his scales absentmindedly, finding some comfort in his presence. "We'll show him, won't we? We'll show him what we're capable of."
The dragon rumbled in agreement, his eyes glowing with shared resolve.
Adrian approached her. "Elysia, I know you're upset, but..."
Elysia cut him off, her voice sharp. "Upset? Upset doesn't even begin to cover it, Adrian. Father has always favored you. Do you know what that's like? To be constantly overlooked, no matter what you do?"
Adrian sighed. "Elysia, it's not a competition. Don't blame father every time, and maybe the fault lies in you. You have to see yourself where you went wrong.
Elysia's eyes blazed with fury. "Then it's my fault that I don't even know why my father didn't even acknowledge my existence.
I'll prove to him, to everyone, that I'm just as worthy as you, if not more."
Adrian watched her, "Just don't let it drive you to a place you can't come back from, Elysia."
She mounted her dragon, looking down at Adrian with steely determination. "Don't worry about me, brother. I'll find my way. With or without his approval."
With that, she urged her dragon into the sky, the powerful wings carrying them higher and higher. As they soared above the castle, Elysia felt a sense of freedom and purpose. She would carve her own path, not defined by her father's indifference or her brother's concern, but by her own strength and will.
And one day, they would all see her for what she truly was: a force to be reckoned with.
Adrian looked at the figure of the dragon that started to become smaller and smaller and said in a small voice, You shouldn't have done it. Do you think Father was not aware of it?