The Lumeris camp had finally begun to settle.
Campfires flickered beneath the night sky.
The wounded rested.
The healers, at long last, allowed themselves a moment to breathe.
Not far from the medical tents...
Tai sat alone on an overturned supply crate.
His long coat had been set aside, and the ruined revolver rested across his lap.
Tiny metal components lay scattered on a cloth beside him.
"...Sigh."
He turned the cylinder slowly before shaking his head.
"The cylinder's completely busted."
He let out another weary sigh.
"That's not something I can patch up out here."
A familiar voice spoke from behind him.
"Not an easy part to replace?"
Tai glanced over his shoulder.
Ebruhan approached, now back in his human form.
Fresh bandages wrapped portions of his arms and neck, though his posture remained as steady as ever.
Tai chuckled.
"Not exactly."
He spun the damaged cylinder one last time before slipping the revolver into its holster.
"If we make it back to Aegis..."
"It can be repaired."
He shrugged.
"Only the old man who built these beauties and I know how they actually work."
Ebruhan raised an eyebrow.
"So they're that rare."
Tai grinned.
"One of a kind."
"And now I've gone and broken one."
He patted the holster with exaggerated disappointment.
"...Poor girl."
"She deserved a better retirement."
Ebruhan couldn't help letting out a quiet laugh.
"You worry about your weapons more than your own injuries."
Tai stretched his freshly healed shoulder.
"I know my shoulder will recover."
"My revolver isn't so lucky."
He rolled the arm experimentally.
"No pain."
"Guess the healers earned their pay today."
Ebruhan folded his arms.
"You fought well."
Tai glanced toward the dark battlefield beyond the camp.
"So did you."
A brief silence followed.
Then Tai leaned back against the crate and exhaled slowly.
"...What a day."
Ebruhan followed his gaze toward the stars.
"Indeed "
As Ebruhan and Tai continued their conversation beneath the quiet night sky.
Then—
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The alarm bell atop the watchtower rang through the entire camp.
A voice echoed moments later.
"Norvoss carriage approaching!"
Tai let out a long, exhausted groan.
"...Ah, come on."
He rubbed his face before standing.
"Give me a break..."
Across the camp, soldiers immediately sprang into action.
Armor was hastily fastened.
Weapons were drawn.
Within moments, dozens of soldiers had formed a defensive line facing the camp entrance.
In the distance...
Only a single carriage approached.
Beside it rode three escorts.
One of them...
General Aerys.
King Cedric emerged from his command tent, his commanders falling in beside him.
Vinson arrived soon after.
Even Mia stepped out from Leo's medical tent, still in her human form, confusion written across her face.
"...What's going on?"
The carriage rolled to a stop.
Its door slowly opened.
Princess Selene stepped onto the ground.
For a brief moment...
Neither side spoke.
Cedric broke the silence.
"What brings you here this time, Princess Selene?"
His gaze remained unwavering.
"If you've come to demand our surrender..."
"...you're wasting your time."
Selene slowly shook her head.
"No."
"I haven't come for that."
She drew a quiet breath.
"My father..."
"...is gravely ill."
Several Lumeris officers exchanged surprised glances.
"He wishes to see me one last time."
Her voice remained steady...
Though her eyes betrayed the emotions she was struggling to contain.
"I'm afraid..."
"...I won't reach Norvoss before it's too late."
One commander stepped forward, his expression hardening.
"Why should we even ca—"
"Enough."
Cedric raised a hand.
The commander immediately fell silent.
Cedric looked back at Selene.
"And your request?"
For the first time since arriving...
Selene lowered her head.
"I ask..."
"...that Sir Ebruhan carry me back to Norvoss."
She looked toward the Storm Dragon.
"With his speed..."
"I may still reach my father in time."
Silence followed.
Cedric's expression hardened.
"What makes you believe we'd help you?"
"You invaded our homeland."
"You brought war to our people."
"Good men died because of your campaign."
Selene never looked away.
"I deny none of it."
"My decisions brought this war."
"My soldiers fought yours."
"And many paid with their lives."
She slowly lowered her gaze.
"But tonight..."
She placed a hand over her chest.
"I stand before you neither as a conqueror..."
"...nor as the Princess of Norvoss."
She swallowed quietly.
"I stand here only..."
"...as a daughter who wishes to see her father."
She clenched her fist tightly
"If you refuse..."
She nodded slowly,
"I will understand."
The night fell completely silent.
Even the soldiers gripping their weapons found themselves unable to speak.
Ebruhan watched Selene quietly.
Then he turned toward Cedric.
The king remained silent for several moments.
Finally...
He exhaled.
"...Most kingdoms would refuse."
"There is no obligation for us to help our enemy."
He paused before continuing.
"But..."
"I am neither a monster..."
"...nor a man without compassion."
His gaze shifted toward Ebruhan..
"So this decision..."
"...is not mine."
"It belongs entirely to Ebruhan."
Every eye in the camp turned toward him.
Ebruhan looked at Selene for a long moment.
He saw no proud princess standing before him.
Only a daughter desperately trying not to cry.
Without another word...
A brilliant flash of light enveloped him.
His human form disappeared.
In its place stood the massive Storm Dragon.
The earth rumbled softly beneath his weight.
He lowered himself until one broad shoulder rested near the ground.
An invitation.
He had made his decision.
A stunned silence settled over the Lumeris camp.
No one had expected that answer.
Selene looking at Ebruhan with trembling eyes.
Soldiers exchanged bewildered glances.
Even the commanders stood speechless.
Mia blinked in surprise.
She hadn't expected Ebruhan to agree so readily.
For a brief moment, countless thoughts crossed her mind.
She's our enemy...
She started this war...
But then...
She remembered Selene's eyes.
Those weren't the eyes of a conqueror.
They were the eyes of a daughter afraid she was running out of time.
Mia quietly lowered her gaze.
...This isn't the time for me to judge her.
Ebruhan remained lowered to the ground, waiting patiently.
He turned his massive head toward Selene.
"Get on."
His deep voice carried across the silent camp.
"I am not some mindless beast who would ignore a daughter's request."
Selene bowed respectfully,
Without another word, she climbed onto his broad back.
Aerys hesitated for only a second before stepping forward.
He looked up at the great Storm Dragon.
"...Thank you."
There was no pride left in his voice.
Only gratitude.
He climbed on behind Selene.
Once both were secure...
Ebruhan slowly unfolded his enormous wings.
A powerful gust swept through the camp.
Before taking flight, shimmering blue mana gathered around the two humans.
A translucent barrier wrapped around them.
Ebruhan glanced back.
"Your human bodies were not made to withstand the speed I'm about to fly."
The tips of his wings began glowing with brilliant blue light.
"So..."
"Hold on."
BOOM!
The ground exploded beneath him.
A deafening shockwave rolled across the camp as the Storm Dragon launched skyward.
Within seconds...
He became nothing more than a streak of blue racing across the heavens.
A faint trail of shimmering light lingered behind him...
Before disappearing into the night.
The entire Lumeris camp stood silently, watching until even that trail vanished.
Mia looked up at the empty sky.
A small smile slowly appeared on her face.
"...That's our Ebruhan."
She turned around and quietly walked back toward Leo's tent.
Tai watched the empty horizon for another moment before letting out a tired chuckle.
"...Well."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"That was unexpected."
---------------
High above the clouds...
The world below had become little more than patches of darkness broken by moonlit rivers and distant mountain ranges.
A fierce wind howled around them.
Fortunately, Ebruhan's protective barrier wrapped tightly around Selene and Aerys, shielding them from the crushing air pressure and freezing winds generated by his incredible speed.
Even so...
The sheer velocity left Selene speechless.
She had never imagined a creature could cross the skies this quickly.
Ebruhan glanced back over one shoulder, his blue eyes briefly checking the two humans riding on his back.
For several moments, only the rush of wind filled the silence.
Then Ebruhan spoke.
"Do not mistake this for kindness, Selene."
His deep voice remained calm.
"I'm not helping the Princess of Norvoss."
His wings beat steadily against the night air.
"I'm only helping a daughter who wishes to see her father."
Selene lowered her head.
"...I understand."
There was no argument.
No attempt to justify herself.
Only quiet acceptance.
After a moment, she asked softly,
"How long before we reach Norvoss?"
Ebruhan looked ahead, his gaze fixed on the endless horizon.
"If I can maintain this pace..."
"We should arrive by tomorrow's sunset."
Almost as if to contradict his own words...
The blue glow surrounding his wings flickered.
For an instant, his speed noticeably dropped.
The mana quickly stabilized, and he accelerated once more.
Ebruhan frowned slightly.
"...My mana is still recovering from the battle."
His wounds had healed.
His reserves had not.
"So I can't guarantee that estimate."
Selene looked at the great dragon in silence.
He had fought an entire war that very day.
His body was still recovering.
Yet he was pushing himself to fly across the continent...
For her.
She quietly tightened her grip on the scales beneath her.
"...Thank you."
This time...
Ebruhan didn't answer.
He simply continued flying through the endless night, his wings carrying them ever closer to the kingdom where a father waited for his daughter.