Lilith lay on the grass for several minutes, her breaths slowly regaining some steadiness. The voice's lingering echoes still haunted her mind, but the comforting presence of the small dragons had given her just enough strength to rise. With trembling legs, she pushed herself up and stood, gazing out at the mountaintop one last time.
The night was serene again, with the celestial wolves' howls carrying softly through the air and the moon casting its gentle glow over the landscape. Lilith reached behind her, and with a graceful motion, her angelic wings unfolded, shimmering with radiant light. Though her body was still heavy with the remnants of pain and confusion, she knew she needed to return to the castle.
The dragons watched her closely, their luminous eyes filled with quiet devotion. As she launched into the sky, they followed alongside her, their smaller wings beating rhythmically. They flew beside her like loyal companions, their faint chirps filling the air with a touch of warmth as they accompanied her on her journey.
Halfway home, the baby dragons began to slow, their tiny bodies weary from the flight. One by one, they peeled away, lingering in the air as they chirped softly in farewell. Lilith glanced back, her lips curving into a faint smile at their loyalty, even as the weight of her thoughts clouded her mind once more.
She soared alone now, the castle looming closer in the distance. The soft light of the moon illuminated its towers, and the quiet night air seemed heavier with the knowledge of what awaited her there. Lilith clenched her fists tightly, her crimson-tinged wings glowing faintly as she steeled herself for what was to come.
Lilith pushed open the grand doors of the castle, her steps heavy from the night's trials. The familiar dim glow of the halls greeted her, but it offered no comfort—only the reminder of the confrontation that awaited her. Her wings folded elegantly behind her as she made her way through the corridor, her expression steeled yet distant, her mind still clouded by confusion and fatigue.
Then, as if on cue, a sharp voice cut through the quiet air. "Where were you all this time?"
Lilith halted. She recognized the tone immediately—it was unmistakable. Her heart skipped a beat, a spark of tension flaring within her. But instead of letting it consume her, she exhaled slowly, grounding herself. She turned around, her movement deliberate and fluid, and raised her gaze to meet his.
Her eyes locked onto the figure standing before her. They burned with unshakable determination, and though exhaustion tugged at the edges of her expression, her stance remained firm. The flicker of crimson in her gaze hadn't entirely vanished, and its subtle glow added to her commanding presence.
"I'm tired," she said coldly, her voice steady and unyielding. "And frankly, I'm tired of you."
Her words were sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. She took a step closer, her wings shifting slightly behind her as if to emphasize her resolve. The man before her faltered for just a moment, his irritation fading into a brief flicker of uncertainty as he registered the fire in her eyes.
Lilith wasn't willing to back down—not tonight. Despite the storm raging inside her, she held her ground, her determination acting as a shield against his imposing presence. She was done with his probing questions, his incessant demands. She had fought battles in her soul tonight far greater than his petty attempts at control. And she wasn't about to let him drag her any further into conflict.
Azareon's voice dripped with irony, his smirk practically audible as he remarked, "Looks like you had a tough time outside, huh? Your face is like someone who's seen a ghost—what a mess. Go to sleep now; tomorrow we talk."
Lilith's jaw tightened, her crimson eyes narrowing as she turned fully to face him. She wasn't about to let him take control of the situation, not after everything she had endured tonight. He might've aimed to rattle her, to provoke a reaction, but Lilith refused to let him see even a flicker of weakness.
"Funny coming from you," she retorted sharply, her voice unwavering. "You spend all your time haunting people's lives, so I suppose you'd recognize what a mess looks like."
Azareon raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by her cutting response. There was a flicker of amusement in his expression, but Lilith didn't give him the satisfaction of elaborating further.
"I'm fine," she added firmly, her tone final. "And you don't decide when we talk, or about what. Not tonight."
Her wings shifted slightly behind her, their faint glow adding an air of authority to her stance. Azareon's gaze lingered on her for a moment, as though weighing whether to push further. But Lilith didn't flinch—her resolve was carved into every word, every movement.
Tired as she was, she wouldn't let him dominate the conversation. She had endured enough for one night. Without waiting for him to reply, she turned and continued down the hall, her footsteps echoing softly against the stone walls.
Azareon's voice thundered through the hall, its commanding presence reverberating off the stone walls. "Maybe it's time for me to show you who rules this continent, little girl!" he shouted, his tone sharp and menacing, carrying an edge meant to intimidate.
Lilith froze in place, her body trembling under the weight of his words. The sheer power behind his voice unsettled her, stirring a storm of conflicting emotions. For a fleeting moment, the crimson glow in her eyes flickered faintly, a physical reminder of the strength within her that she hadn't yet fully claimed.
But she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her falter. She steadied herself, forcing her breathing to slow as she fought the instinct to react. Her grip tightened at her side as her wings shifted slightly, but she kept her back to him, refusing to meet his gaze.
Without turning around, Lilith lifted a hand in a dismissive wave, her posture deceptively calm despite the turmoil bubbling inside her. "I'm not in the mood for your theatrics, Azareon. Save it for someone who cares." Her voice was cold but unwavering, cutting through the tension with quiet defiance.
She resumed her stride, heading toward her room with determined steps. Each footfall echoed through the corridor, the sound growing softer as the distance between her and Azareon increased. Her body still felt the strain of the night's trials, but she refused to let him drag her into yet another fight.
Behind her, the silence lingered for a moment before fading into the quiet hum of the castle's halls. Lilith knew he wouldn't let this go easily, but for now, she had escaped his grasp—and she intended to rest before facing him again.