Legacy of the Dragon Lord

As the tournament passed and the academy settled into its usual rhythm, Shira found herself spending more time with Darin. At first, it was unintentional—casual meetings in the halls, coincidental training sessions—but slowly, their time together became deliberate. She hadn't expected to enjoy his company so much, but there was something about his presence that made things feel lighter, easier, like the weight of her responsibilities didn't press down so hard when he was around.

Darin had a way of drawing her out, making her laugh even when she didn't want to. He was carefree, confident, and frustratingly good at reading her moods. Whenever she felt overwhelmed by the pressure of the academy, the expectations of being a fighter, or the lingering weight of her past, he was there, distracting her in the most infuriatingly effective ways. Sometimes, it was a joke at the wrong moment, other times it was a challenge—something ridiculous like balancing on a fence while dodging pebbles he threw at her. And then, there were the quiet moments, like now.

One afternoon, after an intense practice in the training grounds, they sat beneath the towering willow tree near the academy gardens. The sun bathed the world in golden light, and Shira could feel the exhaustion melting from her limbs. She stretched her legs out in front of her, wiggling her sore fingers as she sighed.

"You always push yourself so hard," Darin said, tossing her a water flask. "It's like you don't know when to stop."

Shira took a sip and smirked. "And yet, you always keep up."

Darin leaned back on his elbows, watching the sky. "That's because you make it interesting."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "You act like it's all fun and games, but I know you're serious about getting stronger."

Darin turned his head to look at her, his expression unusually sincere. "Yeah. But strength isn't just about fighting. It's about knowing what you want—and going after it."

Shira met his gaze, something stirring in her chest at the way he looked at her. The air between them felt charged, like the calm before a storm. She felt something unspoken in the space between them, something fragile and uncertain, but undeniably real.

Before she could respond, Darin grinned and nudged her shoulder. "Come on, don't look so serious. What do you say we sneak into the kitchens later? I heard they got fresh pastries."

Shira laughed, shaking her head. "You're impossible."

"And yet, here you are, sitting with me instead of running off to train more," he teased.

She rolled her eyes but didn't argue. Maybe, just maybe, she was starting to enjoy these moments with him more than she realized.

The night air was crisp as they crept through the academy halls, careful not to wake the instructors. Shira felt a thrill of excitement, an odd contrast to her usual disciplined nature. Darin was grinning from ear to ear, clearly in his element.

"You've done this before," she whispered as they approached the kitchen door.

"Many times," he admitted with no shame. "Good food is worth the risk."

Shira shook her head but followed as he slipped inside. The kitchen was dark, but Darin moved with practiced ease, leading her to a shelf where fresh pastries had been left out to cool. He handed her one before taking a bite of his own, a satisfied hum escaping him.

"See? Worth it."

Shira took a bite, and to her surprise, it was. They sat in the quiet kitchen, the only sound the occasional rustle of the wind outside. She glanced at Darin, who seemed entirely content in the moment.

"Do you ever think about the future?" she asked suddenly.

Darin paused, then shrugged. "Not in the way most people do. I don't have some grand plan. I just want to live, experience things, make memories."

Shira frowned slightly. "That's enough for you?"

Darin looked at her, his gaze unusually soft. "It's enough when you have the right people beside you."

Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away, focusing on her pastry instead. She wasn't sure how to respond to that.

As they left the kitchen, walking back through the moonlit halls, Shira felt a strange warmth settle in her chest. She didn't know what to make of it, but she knew one thing for certain—spending time with Darin felt easy, natural. And for now, she didn't mind that at all.