Black clouds swirled above the Riza Forest. The wind whispered through the leaves, while faint yellow and green flashes of light flickered within the mist.
Rion circled in the air, observing the entire village from above. The trees below swayed violently, and the sharp scent of mana in the wind warned of the danger ahead.
After several hours of flight, he finally sensed something ahead.
"A goblin village… Between the third and fourth ranks… no, second and third," Rion thought silently as he observed carefully.
"Third to fifth-rank creatures. Their bodies are bound to low bloodlines — advancing to higher ranks is impossible for them."
He descended slowly. The wind beneath his wings shook the earth; the ground trembled, leaves rustled, and droplets shattered the silence.
Goblins
Rion's crimson eyes gleamed — every goblin felt the approaching pressure of death.
"They think of me as a predator… They're right."
The goblin chieftain — a fourth-rank warrior wielding a massive sword — stepped forward despite his trembling. He understood that this dragon was no ordinary beast.
"This is our land!" he shouted. "Retreat!"
Rion remained silent. Then he approached with slow, heavy steps. The ground shook with every movement.
The mist around him began to swirl and transform into crimson flames.
"This land now belongs to me," Rion's voice rumbled — deep and resonant.
The chieftain roared and charged with his sword raised — but Rion took a deep breath and unleashed a stream of fire.
The goblin vanished in an instant, reduced to ashes.
Silence fell. Then — panic.
The remaining goblins dropped to their knees, pressing their faces into the dirt.
A few trembled in resistance.
"Please, great dragon… spare us," they whispered.
Rion walked past them.
"Those who do not kneel… are enemies," he said, his voice as cold as steel.
The goblins obeyed. The air filled with the scent of blood, and fear consumed them.
Rion simply declared:
"From now on, you belong to me. Your strength will serve my purpose."
He looked around.
"Where is the best hut in this village?"
A young goblin stepped forward.
"The best hut belonged to our chieftain. With your permission, I will take you there."
Inside, Gobuta thought:
If this dragon stays, we will no longer fear orcs and lizardmen.
Rion's eyes flashed. For a moment, his dominance filled the air — as if the forest itself bowed before him.
Leaves swirled in the mist like crimson embers, and the goblins obeyed his every word.
Rion approached Noa, clenched his fist, and lowered his gaze.
For now, this village and these goblins would serve as their shelter.
He surveyed the surroundings.
Food. Shelter. Safety — for the time being.
Yet the storm within him had not yet calmed.
"My name is Rion," he declared at last.
"If anyone wishes to reject me — step forward now."
No one stepped forward. The goblins bowed.
They accepted him as their new ruler.
For Noa and Rion, this was safety.
Edge of the Riza Forest – Night
Torches burned dimly above the village, their flames flickering out one by one. The scent of blood still lingered in the air, though the wind was gradually carrying it away. The goblins had finished devouring the corpses. The night was quiet — only the distant howls of predators echoed from the forest.
Rion sat in silence.
Behind him lay Noa — still unconscious.
Clouds moved restlessly overhead, while the diamond-like crimson moons — Ruya and Siamond — peeked through.
"Peace… but this is the peace of the dead," he whispered.
Doubt stirred within him.
"How many creatures live in this place?
Where exactly are we?"
He lifted his head.
A few moments later, a young goblin appeared and bowed deeply, fear trembling in his eyes.
"Where are we? How many of you remain?" Rion asked, his tone calm yet cold.
Gobuta swallowed with difficulty.
"This is the Riza Forest, my lord. We were once eighty-four goblins… the exact number now is unclear. Fifty are warriors — third rank. Thirty are young. Only four elders remain… wise ones. There are eight females — human captives, my lord."
Rion remained silent.
"I see."
"Inspect the village — food, wounded, defenses. Report everything."
"Yes, my lord!" Gobuta bowed and hurried away.
Rion rose into the air and observed the surroundings.
The village was small but livable. Several huts had collapsed. In the center stood a well stained with blood — dark and silent.
Whispers spread among the goblins.
"We thought he would kill us… What will happen now?"
No one dared meet Rion's gaze.
Then an old goblin stepped forward — hunched, yet a spark still remained in his eyes.
"My lord… my name is Gabuta."
"Gabuta?" Rion smiled faintly. "That boy was Gobuta. Your names are almost the same."
"Yes, my lord. We are from the same village — our names are similar."
Rion's expression hardened.
"This forest — it is the Riza Forest, correct?"
"Yes."
"What do you know about it? Speak."
Gabuta took a deep breath.
"The Riza Forest is vast. We are only at its edge. If you travel south for five or six days, you will reach a human town."
"A human town…" Rion narrowed his eyes. "Remember that. What is the danger level here?"
"Mostly low and mid-rank creatures. The higher ones live deep within the forest — they do not come here."
"Their strength?"
"I have not seen them, my lord. But according to rumors… ninth or tenth rank."
Rion nodded. "Understood. You may go."
The elder bowed and left, trembling. He did not know how long this dragon's mercy would last.
Rion returned to Noa's side.
Still unconscious.
He knelt and watched silently.
"What else must I do to wake you…?"
He carried him into the hut and laid him down.
He sighed softly. Mana flowed from his body — a pure energy mist spreading across the ground.
A gentle light rippled above Noa's body. Rion had drawn a healing circle around him inside the hut.
"If he wakes… he will see that the world has changed.
But the Noa who returns… will he be the one I once knew?"
Rion erected a barrier — a transparent dome of energy that enclosed him like glass.
Sunlight began to filter through the trees.
At Rion's command, the goblins lined up — silent and disciplined.
"Gobuta!" Rion called.
The young goblin ran over and knelt.
"Yes, my lord!"
"Have you finished the report?"
"Yes, my lord. Seventy goblins remain. Forty warriors, two elders, twenty-eight young. Eight human females. I have not yet calculated the food reserves."
Rion nodded.
"Well done. From now on, you will be my chief aide."
Gobuta's eyes widened.
"T-thank you, my lord!"
"When I am absent, you will lead.
And when my companion awakens — show him the same respect you show me."
"As you command!"
Rion climbed to a hilltop.
The first rays of dawn passed over the village.
The goblins worked in silence. The forest wind was warm, but his heart was not.
The wind rustled the trees.
He stood motionless for a long time.
The morning light passed — cold and pale.
He sighed.
"Forgive me, Noa.
It is not yet time to rest."
He returned to the hut.
Noa's face was pale, his lips dry — yet his heart still beat.
Rion placed his hand on Noa's chest.
Mana flowed forth — crimson mist sinking into his body.
The air trembled.
Noa drew a sharp breath.
He sat up abruptly —
"What… was that?" His voice echoed weakly, as if coming from far away.
Rion replied gently:
"I directed my mana into your heart. Your body resisted. That is why you felt pain."
Noa lowered his head.
Then he whispered: "No, that's not it…"
He raised his head and turned toward Rion.
"Rion… can you kill me?"
Rion froze.
"What are you saying?"
He raised his hand — but stopped.
"I… cannot feel my fingers.
What is on my hand?"
Rion closed his eyes.
"I bound your arms with branches — so your broken arm would heal faster."
Noa gave a weak, bitter smile.
"Marius broke my arm. He took my mother… My brother… betrayed me."
He turned away.
"So I am still alive, huh? Why?"
Rion's voice was calm.
"They teleported us into the Riza Forest. But it was a mistake.
We landed on the edge — not in the center.
If we had fallen into the middle… we both would have died."
Noa lay motionless. His eyes stared at the ceiling — empty, unfocused.
"So you saved me again…" he whispered.
"You have always been better than me."
Rion did not reply.
Then Noa said softly:
"Can you leave me alone for a while?"
Rion nodded.
"Of course. Food will be brought soon."
He stepped outside.
The sun was rising over the forest — but inside the hut, night still lingered.
Noa lay motionless, whispering words only he could hear:
"I am alive… but why?"