Morning sunlight kissed the crystal leaves of Aetheria.Water flowed like liquid sapphire, dancing beneath bridges grown from living vines. Mana ripples shimmered in the air, making every breath feel refreshing.
Airi's laughter echoed in the garden.
She knelt beside the blooming flowers, summoning three floating mana spheres above her palms. They glowed gently, releasing tiny sparkling droplets like rain.
A gentle wind brushed her hair.
Haruto sparred with Frost on the open plains nearby. The Wolf Lord moved fast, a silver flash across the grass. Haruto stood calm, centered, sword lowered instead of raised. His stance did not show power. It showed control.
Frost lunged.
Haruto did not flinch.He sidestepped, tapped Frost's shoulder with the flat of his blade, and moved as fluid as water.
Airi stopped watering the flowers.
"Onii chan is so cool."
Frost grunted, annoyed but impressed.
"You have grown annoyingly stable."
"I will take that as a compliment," Haruto replied.
Frost snorted."You cannot take anything as a compliment. You are emotionless."
Airi puffed her cheeks.
"He is not emotionless. He is just shy."
Haruto looked away, ears slightly red.Frost smirked like a wolf who found prey.
"So shy that I fear he will actually ascend into a cloud and disappear."
Airi burst into giggles.Haruto was about to retort when Frost's ears twitched.
Something shifted.
The wind stopped.
The leaves stopped.
Even mana particles froze in place.
The world itself held its breath.
Haruto felt high mana pressure, like standing before a storm.Frost took a defensive stance, his voice a low growl.
"Something ancient is coming."
Airi stood behind Haruto, gripping his sleeve.
"Is it dangerous?"
Frost did not answer.He only stared toward the treeline.
The Great Forest parted on its own.No footsteps.No sound.
Just a voice.
"Permission to enter the sanctuary."
A girl walked out of the trees.
Barefoot.
Long silver hair spilled down to her back like strands of moonlight.Her eyes held a golden glow, deeper than fire, deeper than life.She wore a dress woven from mana itself, shifting like the night sky.
Her presence was not intimidating.
Her presence was truth.
Frost lowered his head, not in submission, but in acknowledgment.
"You came in a form so small. Bold choice."
The girl smiled softly.
"I wanted to avoid frightening the children."
Airi blinked.
"You can talk!"
The girl knelt down to be level with Airi, her expression gentle."I have spoken many languages for thousands of years."
Airi tilted her head.
"You look like a normal girl. Are you a spirit?"
"No." The girl smiled. "I am a dragon."
Airi opened her mouth in awe.
"Like a real dragon dragon?"
The girl chuckled, and her eyes glowed with power.
"I am Lunara. The Dragon Queen."
Wind swirled around them, lifting petals into the air.Haruto instinctively stepped in front of Airi.
"A dragon queen. Why are you here?"
Lunara did not move.Her voice remained calm and soft.
"I came to pledge my allegiance to Airi, the Eternal Princess."
Haruto blinked.
"Allegiance?"
Lunara placed her right hand on the ground, kneeling respectfully before Airi.
"I wish to live under your rule. My dragons will follow. From today onward, if you accept, we will protect this land."
Airi's brain stopped functioning for a moment.
"Me? Rule… you?"
"Yes." Lunara smiled.
"You may not know it, but your presence changes the world. Dragons respect that."
Airi pressed her fingers together nervously.
"But… I do not know how to be a ruler."
"You rule naturally," Lunara said."Not with force. With kindness."
Frost chuckled.
"See? Even the Dragon Queen fell for her."
The Fairy Queen hovered nearby, wings sparkling like stardust."I tried to warn you. Airi does not recruit allies. She collects fans."
Airi blushed intensely.
"I do not collect fans. I just talk nicely."
Frost leaned toward Haruto.
"She tamed a Legendary Dragon by talking nicely. And you still believe she is normal."
Haruto rubbed his forehead.
"Yes. Of course. Talking. That is totally normal."
Airi turned to Lunara.
"You can stay with us. Everyone is welcome."
The Fairy Queen clapped her hands.
"Let us celebrate our new resident. I will prepare food."
Food in Aetheria meant something magical.
Celebration
Villagers gathered near the cooking area.
Fresh bread steamed in baskets.Mana noodles shimmered in bowls.Fruits glowed with pastel colors, bursting with sweetness and light mana.
Lunara sat beside Airi.
She picked up a fruit, bit into it, and froze like her soul left her body.
"This is… incredible."
Frost smirked.
"She has lived for thousands of years yet has never tasted mana peach."
Lunara grabbed three more fruits immediately and ate them like she had been starved her entire life.
Haruto tried not to laugh.The Fairy Queen leaned in close to Haruto.
"Have you noticed something interesting, Prince of Death?"
"Regarding?"
"Airi has many rare abilities. Beast taming. Mana purity. Natural charisma. She is not only a princess."
Frost chimed in without hesitation.
"She is wife material."
Every villager stopped eating.
Silence.
Airi choked on her juice and turned red like a glowing apple.
"Frost! No… do not say that!"
Haruto flinched so hard he dropped his spoon.
"We already told you we are siblings."
Frost casually took a bite of meat.
"You two behave like a newlywed couple."
Airi turned bright red."Stop it stop it stop it!"
Haruto pointed at Frost.
"Do not tease Airi about that."
Frost flicked his tail.
"I am teasing you."
The Fairy Queen elbowed Frost.
"At least wait until they are older."
Airi buried her face in Haruto's sleeve.
"Onii chan please make them stop."
Haruto sighed and patted her head.
"Airi. Calm. Nobody is marrying anyone."
Frost whispered loudly.
"For now."
Airi threw a fruit at him.
Afternoon — Airi learns dragon magic
On an open field, Lunara summoned wind mana.
Tiny dragon shaped energy wisps flew around her.Airi tried to copy, but her dragon looked more like a floating potato.
Haruto nearly choked on air.
Frost nodded seriously.
"Impressive. It resembles a potato."
"It is a dragon," Airi insisted.
"It is a potato," Frost corrected.
The potato dragon exploded gently into sparkles.
Airi gasped.
"I exploded my potato."
Haruto softened his expression.
"Try again. I will watch."
Lunara knelt beside Airi.
"Close your eyes. Do not force mana. Invite it."
Airi exhaled.
Wind gathered gently.
A perfect tiny dragon formed.
Lunara smiled proudly.
"See? When you do not rush, the world bends for you."
Airi jumped in joy.
"I made a real dragon!"
Haruto smiled from the distance, a soft, rare smile only Airi ever brought out.
Frost whispered to Lunara.
"He treats her like the last light in his life."
Lunara nodded.
"He fears losing happiness more than any threat. He will protect her beyond reason."
Meanwhile…DOMINIAN EMPIRE
Heroes Journey — Day 1
Thousands of soldiers lined the gates.
Seven heroes stood before them.
The Emperor gave one command.
"Find the Eternal Princess." (Source of info: Shadow Wraith from Chapter 6)
Hiroshi Tanaka, the leader, stepped forward.
"We will bring salvation to this world."
His sword glowed with holy light.
Akira spun his katana lazily.
"If I get bored, I am cutting a mountain in half."
Daichi slammed his shield into the ground, the earth cracked beneath him.
"I want a challenge."
Emilia spoke to a floating spirit that followed her.
"I hope the spirits are wrong. I do not want to fight a child."
Rin checked her map.
"We reach the Great Forest in five days."
Sora vanished into shadows.
"If Airi is cute I am kidnapping her."
Yumi whispered a prayer.
"Please let this end without bloodshed…"
They marched.
Not tired.Not threatened.
They were overpowered.
The Empire's strongest weapons.
The sky darkened for a moment as something vast watched them.
Rin noticed.
"The forest reacted to us."
Hiroshi smirked.
"Good. Let it."
Night — Aetheria
Lanterns floated in the air, glowing like stars.
Airi fell asleep on a blanket near Haruto, her head on his lap.Haruto gently brushed her hair aside.
Frost, Lunara, and the Fairy Queen stood watching the horizon.
Lunara spoke quietly.
"The heroes have begun moving."
Frost lowered his voice.
"They will step into the forest on the fifth day."
The Fairy Queen looked at Airi.
"So it begins."
Haruto placed a hand over Airi's.
"No matter who comes, I will protect her."
Lunara smiled faintly.
"You will not protect her alone."
Frost's eyes glowed.
"Let them come. We are waiting."
Airi slept peacefully.
Unaware that seven heroes were walking toward her.
Unaware a war was preparing to begin.
End of Chapter 10