The air in the grand meeting chamber was thick with tension. At the head of the long, polished table sat King Arthur, his elbows resting on the surface, fingers intertwined in deep contemplation.
Across from him, the commander, captains, counselors, and elementiels stood in solemn anticipation, the gravity of their mission weighing heavily on them all.
The king's sharp eyes swept over the group. "So," he said finally. "This potion… it will separate them?"
Jack met his gaze with unwavering confidence. "Yes, Your Majesty," he confirmed. "We've tested it, and it's ready."
Elijah leaned forward. "When do you believe the egg will hatch?"
"Probably before noon tomorrow."
A murmur ran through the room. Counselor Charles spoke up next. "Then there is no time to waste. The army must move at dawn and ride south."
A hush settled over the group. Then, Captain Sasha, her green eyes calculating, turned to Jack. "How many dragons did you see in this… dimension?"
Jason answered before Jack could. "There were a lot," he said, voice edged with frustration. "Probably thousands."
The revelation sent ripples of unease through the room.
Captain Will, his hand stroking his chin in thought, muttered, "Then this Darius… he must be the one who created that red crystal we found on the black dragon—the one that nullified our crystals' power."
"But how?!" Counselor Richard interjected, brows furrowed in confusion. "How could he have done that while still inside his egg?"
Alina stepped forward. "Perhaps he used the dragons to craft it after studying the knights in battle. He wouldn't need to be fully developed to influence them."
The king exhaled deeply, his gaze sweeping over the assembled warriors. "Whatever the case may be, we have a solution. We ride south at first light, and we end this."
The room buzzed with murmurs of agreement—until Arthur added, "And I will be riding alongside you."
Silence fell. All eyes turned toward him in shock.
The Commander cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, with all due respect, I don't believe that would be necessary—"
Arthur rose to his feet. "For nearly three weeks, the dragons have terrorized the south. And now, we finally have a solution," he said, his voice strong with conviction. "What kind of king would I be if I simply sat back now? I will ride with my people tomorrow."
A moment of heavy silence followed. Then, Elijah smiled, nodding in quiet approval. "Very well, Your Majesty," he said. "The elementiels will focus on Darius. The knights will handle the dragons."
Arthur gave a firm nod. "Then it's settled."
One by one, the counselors gave their approval.
Tomorrow would decide the fate of their world.
The cool evening air greeted Jason and the others as they stepped into the comforting glow of the bakery. Grandpa Mark stood behind the counter, his eyes kind yet perceptive as he studied their tired faces.
"How did it go?" he asked.
Jack exhaled. "We found Darius. A plan is in place. We move at dawn."
Mark's eyes flickered with something unreadable, but he gave a small nod. "Good. That's good," he said.
Jack stretched, rolling his shoulders. "I should probably head out now and get some rest—"
"Why not stay here tonight?" Connor interrupted. "We're leaving first thing in the morning anyway."
Jack hesitated, then gave a small nod. "Alright then. Just for tonight."
Grandpa Mark stroked his beard. "Only problem is, we don't have a spare room."
"Don't worry, Pa," Connor said, flashing a grin. "He can stay in my room."
Mark chuckled. "Alrightie then." His expression softened as he glanced at the others. "You all must be exhausted. How about some dinner before you rest?"
As everyone murmured their agreement, Jason silently turned and headed for the stairs.
Anna caught the movement and called after him. "Hey, Jason. Aren't you going to eat?"
Jason paused, his fingers gripping the wooden banister. "No thanks," he muttered. "Not hungry." Without another word, he disappeared into his room, shutting the door behind him.
A quiet unease settled over the group.
Anna's brows knit together in concern. "He's been like that nearly all day…"
Grandpa Mark placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, offering her a warm smile. "Don't worry, Anna," he said softly. "He'll be okay."
But as Mark turned toward the kitchen, his smile slowly faded.
Dawn cast golden light over the barracks as the knights fastened their armor, the air filled with the metallic clink of buckles and straps. Ben was adjusting his chest plate when he heard footsteps approaching.
"Hey, Ben," Frank said, his tone gentle. "You good?"
Ben hesitated, his hands pausing on the straps. "I'm… alright," he said finally. "Just a little nervous."
Before Frank could respond, Mike grinned and clapped a hand on Ben's shoulder. "Don't worry! I'll protect you with my awesome power!"
Cynthia crossed her arms, shaking her head. "Wow, our little hero."
Mike's face flushed red. "Hey! Don't call me little!"
Cynthia smirked before turning to Ben. She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "It's okay to be nervous, Ben. As long as we stick together, we'll be fine."
Ben managed a small smile. "Thanks, Cynthia."
Adam joined them, his expression calm. "Besides, the elementiels will be fighting alongside us."
Mike placed both hands behind his head, exhaling dramatically. "Man, I wish I was an elementiel. Having all those awesome powers must be incredible. Jason's really lucky."
Ben's expression shifted. "I don't think I'd want that kind of power."
Frank frowned. "Why not?"
Ben exhaled. "Having power is… one thing. But the responsibility that comes with it? That's what scares me. It's a lot of weight to carry."
He paused, then continued, his voice quieter, "People who have that much power… sometimes they lose themselves. They start believing they're above others, and no one can stop them. It takes an incredible amount of courage and willpower to carry a burden like that and not let it corrupt you."
The group fell silent, each lost in thought.
Adam studied Ben thoughtfully before shifting his gaze upward, watching the first rays of sunlight peek over the horizon.
The streets of the kingdom were still quiet when Jason descended the stairs of the bakery, his expression distant.
Before he could step outside, a firm but gentle hand gripped his shoulder.
"Jason," Grandpa Mark said softly. "Please… be careful."
Jason paused but didn't answer. He gave a brief nod, then stepped out into the morning light.
Outside, Jack, Anna, and Connor were already waiting. Without a word, Jason joined them as they took to the skies.
Mark watched them go, standing in the doorway long after they had disappeared. Then, slowly, he clenched his fist.
The streets came alive as the army assembled, knights mounting their horses, banners unfurling in the wind. Citizens gathered on either side of the main road, their cheers echoing through the kingdom.
At the front of the procession, King Arthur rode a majestic white stallion, his gold and white armor gleaming under the sun. A golden crystal embedded in his chest plate pulsed faintly, and his crown caught the morning light, a symbol of unwavering hope.
Behind him, rows of knights followed, banners held high, each displaying the emblem of a lion gripping a golden sword.
Later that morning, Miss Claire arrived at the bakery, pushing open the door with urgency.
"Mark? Are you here?" she called.
Silence.
She frowned, moving toward the kitchen, but found it empty. Growing concerned, she pushed open the back door—and there, sitting on a worn wooden stool, was Mark, his shoulders slumped.
She hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. "Mark? What are you doing out here?"
Mark glanced up. "Oh, Claire. Wasn't expecting you."
She sat beside him. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"
He inhaled deeply, pressing his fingers to the bridge of his nose. "It's… nothing," he murmured. "Just needed some fresh air."
Claire studied him for a moment before gently placing her hand on his knee. "Please. Talk to me."
Mark sighed, his gaze distant. "All I ever wanted… was for Jason to live a normal life. A happy life, free from the burden his power brings. But… I suppose that was just wishful thinking."
He let out a bitter chuckle.
"He's so much like his father," Mark continued. "Jason believes he has no excuse to fail. That if he has the power to protect others, then it's his duty to risk everything." His voice grew softer. "But what he doesn't understand is… no matter how strong you are, you can't always save everyone."
He lowered his head. "Maybe I'm just afraid to accept reality. Maybe if I had trained him earlier… if I hadn't kept him in the dark…" He exhaled shakily. "Stacey would still be with us."
Claire's breath hitched.
Mark gave a hollow laugh, his eyes glistening. "I really am a terrible person, aren't I?"
"No, you're not!" Claire protested, gripping his hand tightly.
Surprised, Mark looked at her.
"Everything you did was because you loved him," she said firmly. "You were afraid—because you didn't want to lose Jason like how you lost Daniel."
"But Jason isn't alone," Claire continued. "He has new friends now. People just like him—people who will stand by him and guide him through his journey." She smiled, her fingers tightening around his. "And he has you."
Mark stared at her, struggling to respond.
Claire gave him a small, knowing smile. "We all make mistakes, Mark. We're human, after all. But what matters is what we choose to do after those mistakes. We can let them break us… or we can let them shape us into something better."
She hesitated, then added gently, "No matter how angry Jason is at you right now… deep down, he still cares about you." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Just as I… care about you."
Before he could react, she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss against his cheek.
Mark's eyes widened.
Claire stood quickly, brushing her hands on her dress. "I should get going," she said, turning toward the door.
Mark stared after her, speechless. Then, he exhaled a slow, shaky breath, looking up at the morning sky.
As she walked away, she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, cheeks flushed.
She sighed to herself. "Oh, Claire… you really should learn how to take your own advice."
As the army rode southward, the elementiels flew overhead, their figures slicing through the sky like streaks of energy.
Jason flew ahead of the others, his fiery eyes locked forward, his mind racing with a singular thought.