The northern wind had a different smell.
It wasn't the gentle scent of the human plains nor the dry air of the mountains where we defeated Zephyron. It was something denser, warmer, as if every breath came from a giant furnace buried beneath the earth.
"This is demi-dragon territory…" I murmured, tightening the strap of my backpack. "Definitely not the kind of place that invites tourists."
Liriel was consulting an old map we had received from the guild.
"Their borders are unstable. Draconic energy alters the local climate, so nothing here follows a normal pattern."
"Great," Vespera sighed. "We haven't even started and I already have a headache."
"You always have a headache," Elara commented. "Usually when Takumi opens his mouth."
"That's a lie. Half the time it's when you open yours."
I sighed. "Good to be back to normal."
We followed a narrow trail surrounded by black stones with glowing veins. With every step, the ground vibrated faintly — as if something enormous were sleeping deep below.
Ahead of us, imposing and almost unreal, the Scaled Gates rose on the horizon.
They were not built from metal, wood, or ordinary stone.
The immense walls appeared to be formed from huge plates resembling scales, each one with its own glow, bluish and greenish, shifting colors as the sun passed. Two gigantic towers rose at their sides, reminiscent of horns, and in the center there was a narrow slit through which warm air escaped.
"Impressive…" Elara whispered. "I've never seen anything like this."
"Dragons don't do anything halfway," Liriel replied.
As we approached, the doors moved on their own, creaking as if they were breathing.
From within the shadows, two guards emerged.
Or rather… two demi-dragons.
Tall, muscular, with small scales across their arms and necks. Their eyes glowed in golden tones, and the air around them felt warmer. One had metallic claws; the other carried a sword so large any regular human would need a horse just to transport it.
"Identify yourselves," demanded the one on the right, crossing his arms.
I swallowed hard. "Uh… group from the Kingdom of Vaillô. Adventurers. We received an official request to help with the monster attacks."
The guard raised an eyebrow. "You are the group… them?"
"'Them' who?" I asked.
The other guard replied:
"The humans who defeated two demonized generals."
Silence fell.
I felt Vespera step closer and poke my shoulder.
"Did you hear that? He thinks we're respectable."
"Don't ruin it," I muttered.
The guard examined us for a few seconds.
Then, slowly… he smiled.
"If you truly are them, then King Drathen will want to meet you immediately."
"Immediately as in 'right now'?" I asked.
"Right now."
The doors opened fully, revealing a city carved inside the mountain, lit by giant crystals attached to the ceiling. Streams of magma flowed through stone channels, illuminating the structures with a reddish glow.
It was like entering another world.
We crossed a large suspended bridge. Demi-dragons passed along the path, some with small wings, others with modest horns, and some almost indistinguishable from humans — except for their reptilian eyes.
"They're… different," Vespera commented, watching a demi-dragon child running around with small, clumsy wings flapping.
"That's called a rich culture," Liriel replied.
"I call it weird-cute," Vespera retorted.
We reached the great central hall — a massive circle where colossal pillars held up a ceiling painted with dragons flying among the stars. In the center, an eternal flame burned with blue fire.
There stood the King of the Demi-Dragons: Drathen.
He was larger than any human I had ever seen, yet still retained a humanoid shape. Long silver hair, eyes of fire, and crimson scales covering his arms and part of his face. He wore a cape made of metallic feathers — likely taken from an ancient dragon.
"Welcome," he proclaimed, his voice powerful. "You are the adventurers who answered the call."
We bowed.
I almost fell — balance has never been my strong point.
"Your Majesty," Liriel said, "we received the request for assistance. We're here to complete our mission."
Drathen examined each of us with a piercing gaze.
When his eyes reached me, they narrowed.
"You… you are Takumi."
"Yes, sir."
"Human with no draconic lineage. No flames in your blood. No wings. No scales."
"Yeah… it's just me."
"And you defeated two demonized generals."
"It was a group effort," I replied, trying to sound humble (and not shake).
The king smiled. "Interesting."
Before I could say anything, quick footsteps echoed through the hall.
A young woman approached.
Rai'kanna.
The demi-dragon princess.
Long black hair with crimson reflections. Golden eyes like liquid fire. She wore a light tunic that revealed the scales on her shoulders. She walked with confidence, almost arrogance — but without losing elegance.
When she got close, she smiled directly at me.
"You're the strong human who saved half the continent?"
"I… wouldn't say half."
"Humility," she said, bringing her face close to mine. "That's rare. I like that."
I felt Liriel, Elara, and Vespera burning with fury behind me.
"Princess, please," Drathen said, but she didn't even glance at her father.
"I want to accompany this group."
"No," the king replied immediately.
"I want to get to know the famous human," she insisted, without blinking.
The tension was so thick you could hear the eternal flame crackle.
Vespera muttered behind me, "Great… another obsessed princess. This is starting to feel like an epidemic."
Elara crossed her arms. "This is going to be a problem."
Liriel sighed. "A problem that walks, talks, and has hidden wings."
The princess smiled again.
"Then it's decided. I'm going with you tomorrow on the first mission."
"I said no," the king repeated.
"And I am your daughter," she countered, innocently.
"That doesn't mean—"
"It means whatever I want."
The king rubbed his forehead.
Ah. She was exactly the kind of princess who could start a war with a single sentence.
When we left the hall, the city was illuminated in orange tones. The flames reflected on the buildings, creating shadows that danced along the streets.
Liriel approached me, arms crossed.
"So… another princess interested in you."
"It hasn't started," I murmured.
"It has," Vespera retorted. "I saw the way she looked at you. It looked like she was going to eat you."
"Your choice of words is wonderful," I commented.
Elara took a deep breath. "Takumi, try not to let her drag you into trouble."
"I never do that."
The three of them stared at me at the same time.
"…okay, sometimes."
We headed toward the lodgings offered by the city.
On the way, I looked up at the blazing sky of the demi-dragon territory.
A new arc began there.
With monsters approaching the borders.
With a troublesome princess who wanted to marry me.
With a king who looked at me as if I were a valuable weapon.
And with a territory full of draconic secrets waiting to be revealed.
I took a deep breath.
"Let the hell begin again."