Chapter 39: A New Alliance

Chapter 39: A New Alliance

Silvia's POV

The weight of the trial still clung to Silvia's shoulders as she stood before the gathered Terrans. The chamber felt different now. The way they looked at her had changed. She was no longer just an outsider, a warrior, or an anomaly.

She was one of them.

The elder Terran studied her for a long moment, then spoke. "You have passed the trial, but your true test begins now. Words alone will not unite our people. Actions will."

Silvia squared her shoulders, feeling Dragon's presence steady beside her. "Then let's not waste any time. If we want to stop the war, we need allies. We need to bring both sides together before it's too late."

A murmur spread through the assembled Terrans, their glowing blue eyes flickering with uncertainty. One of them, younger than the rest, stepped forward hesitantly. "And if they do not listen? If the humans continue to see us as the enemy?"

Silvia exhaled. "Then we show them the truth. Not through war, but through undeniable proof. If the humans knew what their ancestors had done—if they saw the cost of their mistakes—some would listen. And those that do… we unite them."

Dragon crossed his arms, his voice low. "And the ones who won't listen? What then?"

Silvia didn't hesitate. "Then we fight only when we have no other choice. But not to destroy them. To protect those who believe in something better."

The elder Terran regarded her with something unreadable in his ancient eyes. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he nodded. "Then you must seek out the hidden."

Tarren, who had remained silent until now, furrowed his brow. "The hidden?"

The elder gestured toward the deeper caverns beyond. "There are those among us who have lived in exile, neither trusting humans nor their own kind. They have seen what the surface has become. If they believe in you, they will be the bridge we need."

Silvia glanced at Dragon. His jaw was tight, but he gave a slow nod. "Then we find them. And we bring them into the fight."

The elder's gaze softened. "Then go. And may fate walk with you, Earthstar."

As the chamber echoed with murmurs of approval, Silvia felt something she hadn't in a long time.

Hope.

A Moment Alone

Later that night, as the fires in the underground halls dimmed and the voices of the gathered Terrans faded into the shadows, Silvia found herself alone with Dragon. The tension in her body had finally eased, but something in her chest remained tight—something she couldn't name.

Dragon watched her closely, leaning casually against a carved stone pillar. "You're quiet tonight. That's not like you."

Silvia let out a breathy laugh, running a hand through her hair. "I guess I have a lot on my mind. I just passed a trial where I fought a version of myself, learned that I might be the only one who can unite two warring races, and now we're about to track down an exiled group of warriors who may or may not try to kill us." She turned to him, arching a brow. "Forgive me if I'm not in a celebratory mood."

Dragon pushed off the pillar, stepping closer. "You're carrying too much on your shoulders again."

She scoffed. "What else is new?"

Before she could say another word, Dragon reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The motion was soft, careful, unlike the usual teasing or exasperation in his actions. His fingertips lingered a second longer than necessary, his golden eyes dark with something deeper.

"You're not alone in this, Silvia," he murmured. "You never were."

Silvia swallowed hard. She had spent so much time fighting, resisting—not just the war, not just the expectations placed on her—but the way her heart ached whenever she looked at him.

She had lost too much. To let herself feel something for Dragon—someone who could so easily be ripped away—felt dangerous.

But standing here, inches apart, she wondered if resisting was doing more harm than good.

"Dragon…" she started, her voice softer than she expected.

He smirked, tilting his head. "I'm listening."

She hesitated, then took a slow breath. "I don't know what happens next. I don't know if this plan will work, or if I'll even live long enough to see the world change. But right now, in this moment, I need…"

She didn't have the words. But Dragon did.

He stepped closer, closing the space between them. "Then let me be here, just for this moment."

Silvia didn't stop him. Didn't step away.

When his lips brushed against hers, it wasn't a battle, wasn't a challenge. It was soft, slow, the kind of kiss that felt like an anchor in a world that never stopped shifting. She let herself lean into him, let herself breathe him in, let herself feel something good in the middle of all this chaos.

When they finally parted, Dragon rested his forehead against hers, his voice husky. "If I didn't already love you, I'd be in real trouble right now."

Silvia let out a shaky laugh, pressing a hand against his chest. "You're such an idiot."

He grinned. "And you kissed that idiot, so what does that make you?"

Silvia rolled her eyes, stepping back—but she didn't push him away. Not completely.

"Let's find those exiles," she murmured. "And when this is over, maybe we can figure out what this is."

Dragon's smirk softened into something almost gentle. "I'll hold you to that."

As they walked away together, Silvia felt something settle inside her.

For the first time in a long time, she wasn't just fighting for the future.

She had something in the present worth holding onto, too.