"Alright then, let’s go on with it," Devic said. "Who goes first?"
"I’ll start," Ronan babbled.
"Okay, what do you want to be in the future, Ronan?" Devic asked.
Before Ronan could answer, Aeron cut in with a grin. "A bartender."
Everyone laughed. Ronan frowned and waved him off. "Don’t mind him. I want to be a general in the future, the highest general the world has ever seen."
"Wow," Miriam said, looking surprised. "Are you serious?"
"No, he’s not," Aeron teased again. "He only said that to impress you."
"Stop it," Ronan said, then turned to Miriam. "Yes, I’m serious. I want to be so strong that any kingdom I serve will conquer every war and every enemy."
"That’s good," Miriam replied gently. "Set your mind to it, and you’ll achieve it."
"I know he will," Devic added proudly. "That’s the son of Varek Drenn. If you know who you are and where you come from, achieving such greatness won’t be difficult."
"Yeah," Aeron added with a softer tone. "The Ronan I know will definitely make it. Isn’t that right, Ro?"
Ronan smirked. "First time you’ve said something positive about me here. Yeah, I’ll work toward it."
"Who’s going next?" Devic asked.
There was silence. Then Yvarra spoke up. "I’ll go."
She paused for a moment, then said, "What I want to be in the future is... a princess. I know it might not be possible, but that has always been my dream."
Nyella chuckled softly. "Funny how some people wish to be others, while others wish to be themselves."
She stood, walked around the table, and stopped beside Yvarra. She pulled out a small metal plate polished enough to reflect. "Look at yourself," she told her. Yvarra leaned closer and saw her own face staring back.
Then Nyella reached into her cloak, brought out a simple crown, and placed it gently on Yvarra’s head. "Every lady is a princess. You don’t need anyone to address you as such. To know it, you only have to see yourself as one and believe it."
Yvarra’s lips trembled into a smile. Her eyes glistened with tears as she whispered, "Beautiful."
"That was nice, Princess," Devic said warmly. "Thank you for that."
"You’re welcome," Nyella replied. She looked around the table. "Let’s move to the next person. Aeron, what about you? What do you want your future to be like?"
Aeron stayed silent for a moment. Finally, he said, "A voyager. I want to travel across the world with Draco. I want to see every place and every kingdom that exists. But right now, with wars and chaos everywhere, such a dream feels far away. One can only travel freely in a time of peace."
"I expected more from the Dragon Rider," Miriam said. "I thought you’d aim for something greater, something powerful."
"That’s powerful enough for him," Nyella answered before Aeron could speak. "It is his desire, and that makes it enough. If you think it’s not good enough, then tell us yours. What do you want to be, Miriam?"
Miriam looked around the table, meeting each of their eyes. At last, she said clearly, "I want to be a ruler. Not of the nomads, not of one kingdom, but of the world, and all the kingdoms in it."
"The world should have one ruler," Miriam continued. "Only then will there be true balance. Wars happen because we are divided, different people with different beliefs, and cultures. But if the whole world unites under one rule, with one practice and one way of living, then peace will finally come. That is what I dream of. That is what I will try so hard to make happen."
Nyella leaned forward. "Do you know the cost of that? To have only one empire? No kingdom would agree to it, no ruler would surrender his crown. You would have to take that power for yourself. That means war, more battles, more blood, more destruction. You cannot build peace with endless killing."
"Is that not better?" Miriam asked. "To fight once and end it all for the greater good?"
Nyella’s voice rose. "Is that what you truly believe? Is that how the nomads think? That you can buy peace with death? Do you know how many rulers in history tried the same thing and failed? Do you know how many innocent lives they destroyed in the name of unity? You would only repeat their mistakes."
Miriam did not flinch. "That is what I believe. Yes, it can be done. Those who failed did not plan well enough, but I will not fail. I will succeed."
Devic shook his head. "You think the world is bad now? It would be far worse if it were forced under one power. A world ruled by one hand will be a world without balance. Do not fool yourself, Miriam. That is not leadership. That is cruelty."
Miriam’s eyes darkened. "And what do you call the world as it is now? Kings do as they wish. They take lives, they steal lands, and they give no justice. Where is the balance in that?"
"There is still balance I think," Aeron said. "At least between kingdoms. One power balances another. None rules all."
Miriam turned to him. "Balance? Where was the balance when my people were cast out with no place to call their own? In times of danger like this no kingdom accepts us. Where is the balance in your own kingdom? Your father, who everyone says was good, was burned and murdered in cold blood. And here you are, fighting wars for the same kingdom that killed him. Tell me, where is the balance in that?"
The chamber became quiet at that. Everyone stared at Miriam, but no one spoke.
Aeron stood slowly, and without a word, he turned and walked out of the chamber.
"How cruel can you be?" Yvarra burst out, glaring at Miriam.
Nyella’s voice was colder. "This is why no kingdom accepts you or your people. You just don’t know the right things to do or say. You bring nothing but destruction and chaos."
She rose from her seat and went after aeron