Sebastian Gryphonrider's Arc

Chapter 3 of 13

Sebastian waited two hours before he found Akira near the sanctuary's western boundary, checking the posts that marked the property line. He'd given Cascade enough time to make the right choice. The dragon hadn't moved from the gazebo. Akira looked up when Sebastian approached. "Have you seen Takashi?" The question came out steady, but Sebastian caught the tension underneath. He could give Cascade one more chance to speak first, or he could tell Akira himself. The choice would determine whether Cascade learned to trust him or retreat further into silence. Sebastian kept his voice level. "Cascade is hiding him. They're both afraid of people that aren't you, me, Lyra, or Matthew." Akira's expression shifted from confusion to understanding. "Hiding him where?" Sebastian gestured toward the treeline where a snow-covered cypress stood isolated from the other trees. "Somewhere close enough for Cascade to guard. The dragon's den sits between the gazebo and wherever Takashi is waiting. He won't let anyone else through." Akira started walking before Sebastian finished speaking. Sebastian fell into step beside him, watching his friend's profile. "I built this place to be safe," Akira said quietly. "But I brought too many people in too fast." Sebastian didn't argue. Akira had already figured out the problem. What mattered now was whether he'd adjust his dream to protect the ones who needed the sanctuary most, or push forward with his original vision and risk losing them entirely. The silence between them felt different than before—less like distance and more like shared understanding.