The banners of Lunira Axis fluttered beneath a pale silver sun, each thread woven with the sigil of the twin moons.

For the first time in months, Khael Corzedar saw a city untouched by smoke or ruin Equinoxis, the capital of balance and brilliance.

White bridges arched over flowing canals, and crystalline towers reached toward the horizon like frozen moonlight. The air shimmered faintly with Shinrei energy refined, stable, harmonious.

Even the wind felt different here.

Gentle. Controlled. As though the world itself was holding its breath in reverence.

"Still not used to this kind of quiet," Arden muttered, tugging at the collar of his ceremonial coat. His usual battlefield composure was replaced with visible discomfort. "…It's weird."

Beside him, Khael smirked faintly.

"Peace feels heavier than war sometimes."

Their father, Lito Corzedar, strode a few paces ahead, posture sharp despite his age, the deep blue mantle of command draped over his shoulders. His hair, now streaked with silver, caught the light of the capital's twin suns.

He didn't speak at first merely looked up toward the distant tower where a crescent-shaped emblem glowed above the city's heart.

"The Lunar Sage is waiting," Lito said quietly.

The streets were lined with soldiers and citizens alike tens of thousands gathered, their cheers rippling like waves.

"The Dragon Knight!"

"The Corzedar family!"

"The Storm General returns!"

Khael's expression remained calm, but deep within, his Shinrei stirred, a wind laced with quiet emotion.

He could still feel the storm from that day in his bones, the cry of the fallen, the moment their strategy tore through the Lunaris Dust supply and saved an entire region from annihilation.

Now those same people called his name with awe.

He wasn't sure he deserved it.

The palace doors opened with a deep resonance, echoing through the marble hall.

At the center stood a man draped in layered white-and-silver robes, his long pale hair flowing like liquid moonlight. A serene glow radiated from his presence, not bright but balanced, steady, pulling both shadow and light into perfect harmony.

Mirion Calneth, The Moon-Balancer.

Lunar Sage of Lunira Axis. Keeper of equilibrium between Shinrei and humanity.

When Khael, Lito, and Arden knelt before him, the sage's calm gaze softened.

"Rise, protectors of the Northern Front."

His voice carried like a song through still water clear, measured, ancient.

"The tide of corruption recedes because of your will. You faced the storm not as conquerors, but as guardians. Lunira Axis acknowledges this."

A ceremonial attendant stepped forward, carrying three objects upon a silver tray crescent-shaped medals carved from luminarite, the rare mineral that shimmered between blue and gold under the light.

"The Order of Twin Moons," Mirion announced.

"Awarded to the heroes of the capital"

Lito bowed his head as his was pinned to his chest.

Arden accepted his with a grin that was half pride, half disbelief.

When Mirion approached Khael, however, the hall fell silent.

The sage studied him for a long moment those ancient eyes tracing the faint dragon-scale shimmer that still marked Khael's forearms.

"You carry something… more," Mirion murmured, voice almost private.

"A Shinrei that bridges the mortal and the mythic. The Dragon's Breath and yet, you wield it with restraint."

Khael met his gaze, unflinching.

"Power without control is destruction. Control without heart is emptiness."

A faint smile touched Mirion's lips.

"Wise words… for one so young."

He pinned the medal on Khael's chest and in that moment, the entire hall bowed as one.

When the ceremony ended, and the noise faded into quiet corridors of moonstone and glass, Khael found himself standing at one of the palace balconies.

The wind brushed past him familiar, free.

Arden joined him, hands tucked behind his head.

"You know, people are already calling you a legend again. 'The Dragon Knight reborn.' Sounds dramatic, huh?"

Khael chuckled softly. "Let them talk."

"You really don't care?"

He turned to look at his brother, amber eyes reflecting both warmth and stormlight.

"I care," he said. "But legends aren't made for peace. They're made so others can build it."

Arden nodded slowly then smiled, the easy, bright kind that felt like sunlight after rain.

"Then let's make sure they have something worth building."

Behind them, Lito watched silently from the shadows of the hall his gaze heavy, proud, and tinged with something unspoken.

Meanwhile The southern winds were gentler than the north carrying the scent of salt and blooming vines from the coasts of the Southern Alliance.

Within a tower lined with maps and glowing sigils, Serenia Corzedar leaned over her desk, quill poised above parchment but her attention wasn't on the documents.

It was on the crystal tablet hovering just beside her a shimmering projection of the global news feed.

"Breaking Report: The Dragon Knight Returns. The Corzedar family, once again, defends the Northern Front saving the Empire of Lunira Axis from Shinrei corruption."

"Awarded by the Lunar Sage himself, Mirion Calneth, for restoring balance and uncovering the Lunaris Dust conspiracy."

A soft laugh escaped her lips.

"My little brother and my big brother… and my father, all in the news again, heh."

She leaned back against her chair, the pale moonlight from the window catching the edges of her hair silver with faint traces of blue, like still water at dusk.

The headline flickered once more: "Khael Corzedar The Dragon Knight, Savior of the North."

Serenia smiled, eyes soft but distant.

"You've grown so much, Khael… I can't believe that quiet boy who followed me through the academy halls is now Lunira's hero."

Her voice wavered for the first time a note of warmth breaking through her usual composure.

"I miss you, little brother."

The room hummed faintly with Shinrei energy lines of glowing blue flowing across the walls like living rivers.

This was no simple office; it was the Southern Strategy Chamber, where envoys like her coordinated diplomacy, defense, and intelligence for the continent's most fragile alliances.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Lady Serenia, the council awaits," said her aide, bowing slightly. "The envoys have arrived, they bring word of corruption spreading across the southern borders."

Serenia's calm expression returned instantly her composure settling like a ripple smoothing over water.

She stood, draping her silver mantle over her shoulders.

"Good. Tell them I'll join shortly."

The aide hesitated, then smiled faintly. "Your family… they must be proud."

Serenia paused eyes flicking to the crystal once more, where Khael's image glowed, standing beside their father and Arden under the twin moons of Equinoxis.

"They're not just my family," she said softly, "they're my reason to keep fighting in this forsaken land"

To be continue

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