Arcane Trine

"Verena..." Evelyn's fingers brushed gently across Verena's cheek while Saphira quickly hid under the sleeves.

She had never seen her like this, her savior, her anchor, reduced to something so fragile.

 It was always Evelyn who stumbled, always Verena who caught her. 

But now… now, her knight had fallen, and the weight of the dragon loomed squarely on her shoulders.

Fairy tales made it simple. 

The knight slayed the beast, won the battle, married the princess.

But what if the princess faced the dragon herself?

Did that mean she deserved the knight? Or… did that mean she never needed saving to begin with?

And what about the knight? Who saved them when they collapsed under their own armor?

The thought stung.

Maybe she was more pathetic than she'd ever admitted. 

All this time, she'd been spiraling, powerless and afraid, while the only person who dared to shield her paid the price.