The three dragons were on a mission.

And that mission? Figure out what the hell was wrong with Aeris.

She wasn’t acting like herself. She was smiling too sweetly, clinging onto Zephirion like some delicate noble lady, and worst of all—she yelled at the kids in the castle.

That was not their Aeris.

So, naturally, they did what any responsible dragons would do.

They spied on her.

Valerion, the not-so-subtle Red Dragon, peeked from behind a column, tail flicking anxiously, his fingers twitching as if resisting the urge to grab a snack.

Caelum, the ever-serious White Dragon, was hiding behind a bookshelf, peeking through the gaps like a secret investigator.

And Zephirion? He was standing in the shadows, arms crossed, watching her every move with sharp, piercing eyes.

Aeris was seated in the garden, calmly sipping tea like a perfectly proper lady. No sarcasm, no stubborn attitude, no teasing remarks.

This wasn’t normal.

“She’s possessed,” Valerion whispered dramatically.

“She’s definitely under some kind of spell,” Caelum muttered, eyes narrowing.

Zephirion didn’t say anything. He just kept watching.

Then Aeris turned slightly and smiled in their direction.

They all flinched.

"She saw us," Valerion hissed.

"No, she didn't," Caelum argued.

Zephirion remained silent.

Because for a moment, just a brief, fleeting second—he had felt her.

Not the strange, overly sweet Aeris.

But his Aeris.

His little blossom.

A flicker of resistance. A faint trace of her true self buried beneath whatever magic had her in its grasp.

And that meant…

There was still a chance to break whatever spell she was under.

Zephirion’s grip tightened. He had to act fast before she was lost completely.

---

That Night...

The castle was silent. The moon cast its silver glow over the stone walls, and a gentle breeze rustled the curtains in Aeris's chamber.

Zephirion had stayed awake, just in case. Something about tonight felt... wrong.

And then it happened.

The moment he blinked, her scent vanished.

Zephirion’s eyes snapped open.

He rushed to her chamber and it was empty. The bed was untouched, the sheets cold.

Aeris was gone.

To be continued