Location: Dragon Palace - Throne Room → Family Quarters (Dragon Domain, Upper Realm)
Time: Day 213 (Doha Actual) - Evening | Calendar: 4 Voidmarch, 9938 AZI
The words hung in the air between them like frost on winter stone.
A miracle walks Doha again.
Xinglong stood in the empty courtyard beside his grandfather, hand still pressed against his spine where silver scales glowed beneath his robes. The evening sun painted the white crystal palace walls in shades of amber and rose, beautiful and haunting. Around them, the massive courtyard stretched empty—flagstones imported from the Elven domain reflecting dying light like chips of sapphire scattered across forgotten ground.
Once, this courtyard had echoed with the laughter of wyrmlings. The thunder of dragon wings launching skyward. The voices of hundreds calling greetings, sharing news, living the vibrant chaos of a thriving race.
Now? Silence. Beautiful, terrible silence broken only by wind whispering through crystal spires.
