The great dining hall was illuminated by golden chandeliers. The long table, covered with immaculate linens, overflowed with food.
But the atmosphere…
Was not one of celebration.
It was tense.
The king observed everyone in silence as he sipped from a glass of wine. To his right sat the queen; to his left, Ariane. Further down, Susan, Lili, and Raz occupied their seats. Gaius remained standing, as always, watchful.
The clinking of cutlery was the only sound breaking the silence.
Until Ariane spoke.
—Father… there is something we must discuss.
The king did not lift his gaze from his glass.
—Now?
—It's urgent.
That was enough.
The king gently set the glass down on the table.
—Speak.
Ariane placed her hands on the table, elegant, firm.
—We have received information about a creature in the northern forest.
Gaius said nothing.
But his gaze hardened.
The king frowned.
—What kind of creature?
Ariane paused briefly.
As if carefully choosing her words.
—A low level dragon.
The sound of cutlery stopped.
Completely.
Lili's eyes widened in surprise.
Susan went still.
And Raz…
Only smiled faintly.
—A low level dragon? —the king repeated, incredulous—. Are you sure about what you're saying?
—Completely.
The king shook his head.
—That makes no sense. There are no recent records of dragons in that area.
—That is precisely why it is dangerous —Ariane replied calmly—. It's unpredictable.
The king placed both hands on the table.
—And what do you propose?
Ariane did not hesitate.
—Send the heroes.
The silence that followed was heavy.
The king stared at her.
—No.
Direct.
Without hesitation.
Ariane did not move.
—Father—
—I said no.
His voice was firm.
—I will not send three young people, still adapting to this world, to face a dragon.
Susan lowered her gaze.
Lili clenched her fists.
Raz watched in silence.
—We don't know the magnitude of the threat —the king continued—. It could be a creature far beyond their level.
Ariane tilted her head slightly.
—Or it could be an opportunity.
The king frowned.
—An opportunity?
—To test them.
Gaius raised his gaze slightly.
The king tapped his fingers lightly on the table.
—I don't need to test them by risking their lives.
—But the kingdom does need to know if it can trust them.
That made the king fall silent.
Ariane took advantage.
—If that low level dragon moves closer to inhabited territory… how many lives will we lose?
—Then we will send troops —the king replied.
—Against a low level dragon? —she countered softly—. You know better than anyone that would be a massacre.
The king clenched his jaw.
He did not respond.
—The heroes were summoned for this —Ariane added—. To face threats the army cannot.
Susan lifted her gaze.
—Your Majesty… —she said respectfully—. If necessary, I…
But she hesitated.
Lili spoke, more firmly:
—If it's for the kingdom… we'll try.
The king looked at them.
And then…
He looked at Raz.
—And you?
All eyes fell on him.
Raz slowly set his fork down on the plate.
He smiled.
But this time…
Softer.
More thoughtful.
—Your Majesty… —he began—. If I may be honest…
The king nodded.
—Go ahead.
Raz rested his arms on the table.
—I don't know the true strength of a low level dragon or any dragon in this world.
He glanced at Ariane for a second.
Then back to the king.
—But from what I've seen… and from how everyone reacted when they heard that word…
He paused briefly.
—I don't think we're ready.
Silence.
Ariane narrowed her eyes slightly.
Raz continued.
—I'm not saying we can't improve. But right now… it would be risky.
The king nodded slowly.
—Exactly.
—And taking risks without fully understanding the enemy… usually ends badly.
Ariane lightly tapped a finger against the table.
—So… you suggest doing nothing?
Raz looked at her.
Smiling.
—I suggest not rushing.
—Meanwhile —she replied—, that thing is still out there.
—Yes —Raz said—. And so are we.
The tension grew.
Ariane leaned slightly forward.
—Are you afraid?
The question was direct.
The atmosphere tightened even more.
Lili looked at Raz.
Susan did too.
The king frowned.
Raz… chuckled softly.
—Yes! (That was a lie)
That surprised everyone.
—If someone says they don't fear something they don't understand… they're either a fool or lying.
Ariane watched him closely.
Searching for something.
—But fear isn't the problem —Raz added—. The problem is making bad decisions out of pride.
The king nodded more firmly.
—Well said.
Ariane leaned back in her chair.
—So… we'll let a dragon roam freely near the kingdom?
—No —the king replied—. We will investigate first.
—That will take time.
—And save lives.
Silence.
Ariane closed her eyes for a moment.
Breathed.
And when she opened them…
Her tone changed.
Softer.
More persuasive.
—Father… I'm not asking you to send them to die.
The king looked at her.
—Then explain.
—Just to assess.
Gaius raised his gaze slightly.
—Let them go, observe, measure the threat… and return.
Raz narrowed his eyes slightly.
—Without engaging it directly —she added—. Just reconnaissance.
The king hesitated.
—That's still dangerous.
—But controlled.
The queen, who had remained silent, spoke for the first time.
—Perhaps… if they don't get too close…
The king looked at her.
Then at the heroes.
Susan seemed determined.
Lili as well.
Raz…
Still smiling.
But his eyes were thinking.
—If anything goes wrong —the king said slowly—, you withdraw immediately.
Ariane did not respond.
—Is that clear? —he added, looking directly at Raz.
—Completely —he replied.
—I don't want dead heroes.
Ariane lowered her gaze slightly.
Hiding her smile.
—Then… —the king said at last—. A small team will go. With Gaius supervising the mission from a distance.
Gaius nodded.
—Yes, Your Majesty.
—And under no circumstances… —the king added—, will you engage the dragon unless absolutely necessary.
Ariane lifted her gaze.
—Of course.
But her eyes…
Said something else.
Raz noticed.
For a second.
Very brief.
And his smile…
Did not fade.
But his mind…
Activated.
"This isn't just reconnaissance…"
Dinner continued.
But no one ate in peace anymore.
Because at that table…
More than a mission had been decided.
A trap had been set.