Four days later...
The streets of Lumeris overflowed with people.
The war was finally over.
Church bells echoed across the capital as cheering citizens lined both sides of the roads to welcome the soldiers home.
Tears mixed with laughter.
A little girl cried as she ran into her father's arms, nearly knocking over the battle-worn knight.
He laughed, lifting her high into the air before showering her face with kisses.
Nearby...
A wife threw herself into her husband's embrace.
Neither of them spoke.
They simply held each other, unwilling to let go after believing they might never meet again.
An elderly mother cupped her son's face with trembling hands.
"...You're alive..."
The young soldier smiled through watery eyes.
"I told you I'd come home."
She pulled him into a tight embrace, crying openly as years of worry finally melted away.
All throughout the kingdom...
Families were reunited.
Homes once filled with fear now echoed with laughter once more.
The war...
Had finally ended.
---
Far from the celebrations...
Within the peaceful grounds of the Vinson Estate...
Silence reigned.
Warm afternoon sunlight filtered gently through the bedroom window.
Leo lay quietly beneath the blankets.
His breathing was slow.
Steady.
His eyelids twitched.
Then...
They slowly opened.
"...Mmm..."
His vision was still slightly blurry.
As he tried to move, he noticed a familiar weight resting against his chest.
He looked down.
Curled into a tiny ball atop the blanket...
Was a small black dragon.
Barely one and a half meters long.
Her wings were tucked neatly against her body.
Her tail wrapped around herself.
Soft little snores escaped her nose as she slept peacefully.
"...Mia."
A tired smile spread across Leo's face.
Carefully...
He lifted one hand.
His fingers gently stroked the top of her head.
The little dragon let out a sleepy chirp.
"Miii..."
Without even opening her eyes, she instinctively nudged her head deeper into his hand, enjoying the familiar affection.
Leo couldn't help but chuckle.
"..heh...."
His fingers continued gently scratching behind one of her horns.
For the first time since the battle...
Everything felt peaceful.
Just...
A boy...
And the dragon who had finally come home.
The palace grounds were unusually quiet.
After days of celebration, the kingdom was finally settling back into its peaceful rhythm.
Near the palace lake, Ebruhan lay beneath the shade of a large tree, his massive body resting comfortably beside the water.
His eyes were half-closed.
For once...
He wasn't watching the skies.
He wasn't tracking an enemy.
He wasn't preparing for battle.
He was simply resting.
Soft footsteps approached from behind.
"Hi, sir."
Ebruhan opened one eye.
Iyas stood nearby, wearing his usual mischievous smile.
"You need anything?"
"No."
"...Okay."
Iyas stood there for a moment.
Then—
Poof.
His human form disappeared, replaced by that of a small white fox.
He walked over to Ebruhan...
And curled up beside the enormous dragon.
Ebruhan stared down at him.
"...What are you doing?"
"Nothing."
Iyas tucked his tail closer around himself.
"Just resting."
Ebruhan sighed.
"...You could have rested somewhere else."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because this spot is comfortable."
Ebruhan stared at him for another moment.
Iyas simply closed his eyes.
"..."
The dragon finally gave up arguing.
With a quiet sigh, Ebruhan shifted his massive tail.
It slowly curled around Iyas, forming a protective barrier against the cool evening breeze.
Iyas smiled without opening his eyes.
"See?"
"Much better."
Ebruhan rolled his eyes.
But he didn't move his tail.
Instead, he turned his gaze toward the sky.
The clouds drifted lazily overhead.
The lake reflected the fading sunlight.
Ebruhan exhaled slowly.
"...Peace."
Iyas's ears twitched.
"Yeah."
For a while, neither of them said another word.
The Storm Dragon and the white fox simply remained there together...
Watching the peaceful sky.
------------
Norvoss kingdom
The grounds of the Norvoss royal palace had fallen silent.
Thousands of citizens gathered around the great funeral grounds.
Some stood with their heads bowed.
Others wept openly.
Mothers held their children close while elderly citizens whispered prayers beneath their breath. Soldiers stood in rows along the procession route, their weapons lowered and their heads bowed as the royal funeral procession passed.
At the center of it all...
A royal coffin was carried slowly toward a massive pyre of carefully arranged timber.
Eight high-ranking officers carried it upon their shoulders.
Among them was General Aerys.
His expression remained stern, but his eyes were heavy with grief.
Behind them walked the dukes, royal officials, soldiers, scholars, and citizens of Norvoss.
Some carried flowers.
Others carried candles.
Several veterans walked beside the procession in silence, their old weapons resting against their shoulders.
A group of royal scholars recited an ancient mourning poem.
Their voices carried across the courtyard.
«"May the king's path be guided by the light of those who came before him."
"May his burdens end with this world."
"And may his name remain within the hearts of those he left behind."»
The procession eventually reached the pyre.
The coffin was carefully placed upon the timber.
For several moments...
No one moved.
Then Selene stepped forward.
She approached the coffin alone.
Her eyes were still red from the days of mourning.
She placed one hand against the polished wood.
"...Father."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
She reached for the necklace around her neck.
Slowly removing it...
She placed it upon the coffin.
Aerys stepped forward next.
He removed his battle mace from his back.
The weapon that had served him through countless battles.
He placed it beside the coffin.
One of the dukes approached.
He removed his ceremonial dagger and placed it beside the mace.
Another noble placed a golden ring.
A veteran soldier laid down a worn sword.
A scholar placed a small book of poetry.
Citizens followed.
Flowers.
Letters.
Family heirlooms.
Small tokens of gratitude.
Piece by piece...
The coffin became surrounded by the memories of an entire kingdom.
Eventually, everyone stepped back.
Selene climbed the small ceremonial platform overlooking the pyre.
She held a bow in her hands.
The courtyard fell completely silent.
Selene looked upon the coffin one final time.
Then she spoke.
"My father was not a perfect king."
A few citizens lowered their heads.
"But he never claimed to be."
"He inherited a wounded kingdom..."
"...and spent the rest of his life trying to give it a future."
Her fingers tightened around the bow.
"He taught me that a ruler does not exist above their people."
"They exist for them."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"But more importantly..."
"He taught me how to be a daughter."
A tear slipped down her cheek.
"And for that..."
She lowered her head.
"...I will always be grateful."
Selene slowly raised her gaze.
"Father..."
"I cannot promise that I will become the ruler you were."
"But I promise..."
"I will protect the people you left in my care."
Her expression hardened.
"I will protect Norvoss."
She drew a slow breath.
"So rest now."
"You have carried enough."
Silence.
Selene raised her bow.
Around the pyre, several high-ranking officers followed her example.
Mages stepped forward.
One by one, they touched their hands to the arrowheads.
Red magical flames ignited.
The fire burned brightly against the evening sky.
Selene nocked her flaming arrow.
She drew the bowstring.
The entire courtyard held its breath.
Then—
"Loose."
FWOOSH!
Dozens of arrows flew through the air.
Red streaks crossed the sky before striking the massive pyre.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The timber caught fire.
At first, small flames danced across the wood.
Then they spread.
Higher.
Brighter.
The fire slowly surrounded the coffin.
Selene stood perfectly still.
She watched as the flames consumed the pyre.
The fire around the coffin changed.
The wooden structure...
The coffin...
And everything resting beside it...
Slowly began breaking apart into countless glowing red particles.
They rose gently into the night sky.
Flowers.
Weapons.
The necklace.
The coffin.
Everything.
All becoming tiny sparks of crimson light.
Selene watched them ascend.
Her lips trembled.
"...Farewell..."
One final tear rolled down her cheek.
"...Father."
The red particles continued upward...
Until they disappeared among the stars.
Across the funeral grounds, every Norvoss soldier placed a hand against the emblem of their kingdom.
Then, as one...
They bowed their heads silently.
A final farewell to the king who had spent his life serving Norvoss.
------------
The following morning...
--------------
Morning sunlight spilled through the tall windows of the royal chambers.
Selene sat silently before a large mirror.
Behind her, several servants carefully prepared her for the ceremony.
Her hair was arranged.
Her royal attire was fastened.
The crest of Norvoss was placed over her chest.
Every detail had to be perfect.
Today was not simply another day.
Today, she would become the ruler of Norvoss.
One of the servants stepped back.
"Your Majesty..."
Selene looked at her reflection.
For a moment, she barely recognized the woman staring back at her.
Yesterday...
She had been a daughter mourning her father.
Today...
She had to become a queen.
A knock came from the door.
"Enter."
The doors opened.
Aerys stepped inside.
His armor was polished, though several faint marks from the recent battle remained.
He stopped several steps away and bowed deeply.
"My princess"
Selene looked at him through the mirror.
Aerys straightened.
"It is time."
For a moment, Selene said nothing.
Then she heard it.
Faintly at first...
Then louder.
The voices of thousands of people gathering outside the palace.
"Long live Norvoss!"
"Queen Selene!"
The sound of cheering rolled through the palace grounds.
Selene closed her eyes.
She took a slow breath.
Then stood.
"...Let's go."
Aerys stepped aside.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
---
The palace doors opened.
A wave of sound immediately washed over Selene.
Thousands of citizens had gathered across the palace grounds.
Soldiers stood in perfectly ordered formations along the ceremonial avenue.
Knights held their spears upright.
Mounted cavalry waited behind them, their horses restless beneath the morning sun.
Dukes, nobles, scholars, priests, and representatives from across Norvoss filled the ceremonial grounds.
And beyond them...
Ordinary citizens.
The people her father had ruled.
The people she had now inherited.
As Selene walked toward the ceremonial stage, the crowd erupted.
"SELENE!"
"LONG LIVE NORVOSS!"
"LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!"
She continued forward.
One step.
Then another.
Until she reached the center of the stage.
She stopped.
Slowly...
She turned toward the crowd.
The cheering gradually faded.
One by one, thousands of people fell silent.
Selene looked across them.
For a moment...
She saw her father.
Not as he had been on his final day.
But as she remembered him.
Standing beside her when she was young.
Teaching her.
Correcting her.
Praising her.
Calling her...
Little flower.
Selene's hand tightened slightly.
Then she spoke.
"People of Norvoss."
Her voice carried across the entire courtyard.
"My father, King Idris, has passed from this world."
The crowd remained silent.
"He spent his life rebuilding this kingdom."
"He endured hardship so that the people of Norvoss could have a future."
She lowered her gaze briefly.
"I cannot replace him."
A murmur passed through the crowd.
"But I can carry forward what he entrusted to me."
Selene raised her head.
"Therefore, before you all..."
"I swear."
Her voice became firmer.
"I shall protect the people of Norvoss."
"I shall uphold the laws of this kingdom."
"I shall defend our borders."
"I shall not abandon our people when times become difficult."
"And when Norvoss faces hardship..."
"I will stand among you."
She placed her hand over her heart.
"I will not rule above you."
"I will rule with you."
The crowd remained completely silent.
Selene's golden eyes swept across them.
"And if I ever forget the responsibility that comes with this crown..."
"...then remind me."
"Because this crown does not belong to me."
She looked toward the royal crest displayed above the stage.
"It belongs to Norvoss."
For several seconds...
There was silence.
Then—
One soldier struck the butt of his spear against the ground.
THOOM!
Another followed.
THOOM!
Then another.
Soon, hundreds of spears struck the ground together.
THOOM! THOOM! THOOM!
The sound echoed across the palace grounds.
A royal priest stepped forward.
In his hands rested the crown of Norvoss.
He approached Selene slowly.
She lowered herself to one knee.
The priest raised the crown.
"Before the people of Norvoss..."
"Before the ancestors who came before us..."
"And before the memory of King Idris..."
"I crown you..."
"Selene, Queen of the New Norvoss."
The crown was lowered onto her head.
For a moment...
Everything was silent.
Then the priest raised his voice.
"LONG LIVE THE NOVOROSS QUEEN!"
The soldiers slammed their spears into the ground.
THOOM!
"LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!"
The crowd erupted.
"LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!"
Horses reared and cried out.
Trumpets sounded.
Banners were raised high above the palace.
The entire courtyard seemed to shake beneath the celebration.
Selene slowly stood.
She looked across the cheering kingdom.
Her kingdom.
A smile appeared on her face.
But beneath that smile...
She quietly took one deep breath.
And, so quietly that no one else could hear...
She whispered,
"...I will make you proud."
Her eyes glistened.
"Father."
At the Vinson estate, five days had passed since Mia's Growth Phase.
Leo had improved considerably.
He could speak more clearly now. He could sit up without assistance, and, with someone supporting him, he could even manage a few slow steps.
Mia had been beside him through all of it.
On a warm, sunny afternoon, Leo carefully lowered himself onto a seat near the guest room.
Mia sat beside him while Emma stood nearby.
Emma was the first to speak.
"So, since you've finished your Growth Phase... what do you think your attribute will be?"
Mia tilted her head.
"Attribute?"
"Every dragon discovers their natural attribute after completing the Growth Phase," Emma explained. "Some awaken attributes related to elements, while others develop abilities tied to their nature or lineage."
Mia fell silent.
She wasn't sure.
There had been no voice telling her what her attribute was.
No ancient record.
No magical inscription.
Nothing.
But there was something she remembered.
The feeling she had experienced when Ebruhan was about to be killed by Varkryth.
That overwhelming urge to protect him.
The feeling that had erupted again when she sensed Leo in danger.
And the same feeling that had driven her forward when she herself had been trapped inside the Growth Phase.
It wasn't anger.
It wasn't hatred.
It was something deeper.
A simple desire.
Protect them.
Mia slowly smiled.
"I think..."
She looked down at her hands.
"My attribute is..."
She raised her eyes toward Emma.
"Will."
Emma blinked.
"Will?"
Mia nodded.
"Yeah."
She placed a hand over her chest.
"I don't know if that's really an attribute... but whenever someone I care about is in danger..."
Her expression softened.
"I can't bring myself to give up."
Emma stared at her for a moment.
Then she smiled faintly.
"Will..."
She seemed to consider the word carefully.
"That's certainly an unusual attribute."
Leo, sitting beside Mia, gave a weak laugh.
"Sounds... like you."
Mia looked at him.
"Really?"
Leo nodded.
"You're... stubborn."
Mia puffed her cheeks.
"That's not a fact!"
Leo smiled.
"I meant it as one."
Emma chuckled softly.
"Perhaps 'Will' suits you better than you realize."
Mia looked toward the sunlight spilling across the garden.
She remembered the feeling.
The moment she had stood back up.
The moment she had decided she would protect the people she called family, no matter how frightening the obstacle in front of her was.
Maybe that was what her power truly represented.
Not destruction.
Not strength.
Not even the darkness within her.
But the refusal to surrender.
Mia smiled.
"Then..."
She quietly clenched her fist.
"I think I'll keep it."
Will.
The attribute born from the one thing Mia had never been willing to lose.
Outside the window, two black crows perched silently on a nearby branch.
One had striking blue eyes.
The other had deep purple eyes.
Neither made a sound as they watched Mia, Leo, and Emma through the window.
After a few moments, the blue-eyed crow spread its wings.
The other followed.
They flew higher and higher, disappearing into the morning clouds.
Far above the estate, where the clouds concealed them from prying eyes, their forms began to change.
Black feathers dissolved into dark mist.
Wings expanded.
Within moments, two dragons emerged from the transformation.
They were still considerably smaller than their true forms—roughly the size of an adult horse. It was a deliberate precaution. Neither of them wanted their presence noticed.
Nythera glanced down through the clouds toward the distant estate.
"She has passed her first battle."
Varkryth looked down as well.
"Indeed."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"And you played a crucial role, my love. Your gift protected her when she needed it most."
Nythera shook her head.
"No."
Varkryth looked at her.
"My shield helped her survive... but it wasn't what truly protected her."
Her gaze remained fixed on the estate.
"It was that human boy."
Varkryth's expression became quieter.
"Leo."
Nythera nodded.
"He had no magic. No dragon strength. No special ability capable of standing against a mana-restraining cannon."
She paused.
"And yet, when Mia was in danger, he stood between her and death without hesitation."
Varkryth remained silent.
Nythera's eyes softened.
"That kind of courage cannot be given by magic."
She looked at him.
"Perhaps that's why she chose them."
Varkryth raised an eyebrow.
"Rather than us?"
Nythera gave a small smile.
"Perhaps."
She looked down again.
"She already has people willing to fight for her."
A brief silence followed.
"Maybe..." Nythera continued, "that's why she chose to stay with them instead of coming with us."
Varkryth looked toward the horizon.
For once, the Abyss Sovereign had no immediate answer.
Varkryth looked toward the distant horizon one last time.
"And this..."
His voice carried a quiet certainty.
"...is only the beginning of her life story."
Nythera's gaze remained fixed on the world below.
"I wonder where it will lead her."
Varkryth gave a faint smile.
"That is something even I cannot know."
Nythera glanced at him.
"Then I suppose we'll just have to observe."
"From a distance."
"Of course."
The two dragons turned toward the Abyss.
Their wings beat once.
Twice.
Then the world above slowly disappeared beneath a sea of clouds.
Deep Within the Abyss
Inside the ancient halls of Abyssal royalty...
Silence reigned.
The vast chamber was illuminated only by the faint purple glow of ancient crystals embedded within the walls.
At the center of the chamber rested black dragon eggs.
Both belonged to Nythera.
One of the eggs trembled.
Crack.
A tiny fracture appeared across the surface of one egg.
A second crack followed.
Crack...
The fracture slowly spread across the shell.
A faint purple light leaked through the gaps.
Then—
CRACK!
A small piece of the shell fell away.
Something moved inside.
The egg trembled.
Another crack spread across its surface.
Whatever was inside...
Was finally ready to be born.