Page 396 of Axis of Fire

"Then you're lucky."

His thumb brushed lightly over my hand.

"You ended up with a mentor who's determined to make sure you never have to face it alone."

Cheers erupted somewhere in the distance.

My head snapped toward the city.

"It's starting," Airis murmured without letting go of my hand.

For a heartbeat...

Everything fell silent.

Then—

Twelve bolts of radiant lightning tore across the night sky.

Each strike transformed the heavens into a different color, unveiling another sea of stars.

One by one, the bolts froze in place.

When the last one settled...

Their light connected.

A dragon emerged.

Its glowing outline shimmered in every color imaginable before the creature suddenly came alive.

Its long, serpentine body glided through the sky, weaving effortlessly between the stars as though playing a game.

Every time it caught one—

The star exploded into brilliant color.

And with every burst of light, the fireflies covering the lake beat their tiny wings, echoing those same dazzling hues.

The water sparkled beneath them.

Like millions of scattered diamonds.

"It..."

I couldn't look away.

"It's indescribably beautiful."

"They're collecting new colors," Airis said quietly.

"They'll carry them for the entire year, until the festival returns."

After a brief silence, he added,

"I found this place ten years ago."

"I've come back every year since."