The moon shone bright above, bathing the battlefield in silver light. The sky was clear, but the night carried the scent of ash and the echo of destruction. Kael sprinted across the torn earth, his black hair streaming behind him, his sword gleaming in his grip. Before him towered the beast—the dragon, scales black as obsidian, its very breath distorting the air with waves of heat.
With a fierce cry, Kael swung his blade, the steel flashing as it cut toward the creature's flank.
CLANG!
The sword struck the dragon's scales, but instead of piercing, it rebounded with a violent shockwave that rattled his arms. Kael staggered back, his crimson eyes wide.
"Tch… too hard… even for this sword."
"Kael!!"
A voice rang from behind. He turned and caught sight of Reinhardt, sprinting toward him with his golden hair reflecting the moonlight. In his hand, the long spear glimmered, its tip carrying the weight of unyielding strength.
With a battle cry, Reinhardt leapt forward, thrusting the spear with all his might. The weapon pierced through the dragon's leg, lodging deep into its flesh.
The dragon roared in agony, the sound shaking the heavens.
It unfurled its massive wings and flapped, sending out a storm of violent wind. Kael was thrown back, the ground ripping beneath his feet. He barely managed to anchor himself by stabbing his sword into the soil, one hand clinging tightly onto the blade while the other reached out.
"Reinhardt!"
His hand caught Reinhardt's wrist just as the gale threatened to sweep them apart. Their eyes met briefly—determined, unyielding—and together they steadied themselves against the storm.
But the dragon would not wait. With a furious beat of its wings, it rose into the air, climbing higher and higher, trying to escape.
"Damn it! It's getting away!" Reinhardt cursed, his teeth clenched.
He raised his free hand. From his palm, a spectral chain burst forth, glowing faintly as it connected to the embedded spear.
"Not this time…" Reinhardt growled. He gripped the chain tight and shouted, "Kael! Help me pull this! We're not letting it run again!"
Kael nodded firmly. "Got it!"
Together, the two heroes heaved down on the chain, their combined strength dragging the dragon lower and lower. The beast thrashed, wings beating violently, but its injured leg was caught, forcing it to falter.
Suddenly, a voice rang through the sky:
"Hit the wings! Ground it!"
Both men looked up. A figure descended from above, crimson hair blazing like fire. The mage hovered in the air, wand in hand, eyes glowing with determination. With a swift incantation, a torrent of fireballs rained down, striking the dragon's wings. Explosions rippled across its body, making the beast shriek and stagger midair.
"Nicely done!" Reinhardt shouted, tightening the chain as Kael pressed harder.
The dragon's flight faltered, its colossal body collapsing back toward the battlefield with a thunderous impact that split the ground. Reinhardt snapped his hand back, summoning his spear to return to his grip.
"Kael!"
"I know!"
Kael charged forward, his sword blazing with aura as he dashed beneath the dragon's shadow. With a mighty leap, he struck, driving his blade deep into the torn membrane of its wing.
Another roar split the night, deafening and raw. The sheer force of it rattled their bones, forcing Reinhardt and the mage to cover their ears. Kael clenched his teeth, refusing to falter even as the vibration shook his very core.
Then his eyes caught something.
An old scar.
A wound that shouldn't have been there, half-healed and hidden beneath layers of scales. Kael's breath caught in his throat, his grip trembling on his sword.
"No… this wound…." His crimson eyes widened, staring into the dragon's gaze. For a fleeting second, he thought he saw not hatred—but pain.
"You…"
But before he could finish, the dragon's massive tail slammed into the ground, sending up a storm of dirt and debris. The battlefield vanished in a haze of dust.
"Kael!" Reinhardt's voice called out, and Kael quickly leapt back, rejoining him.
The mage raised her staff, chanting quickly. A blast of wind surged forth, clearing the dust from the air.
But it was too late.
When their sight cleared, the sky was already empty. The dragon was gone, its vast silhouette retreating far beyond their reach.
Kael's sword trembled in his hand as he stared at the vanishing figure. His face was pale, confusion burning in his eyes.
"No… it can't be…" he whispered, his voice breaking with disbelief.
The night fell silent again—save for the echo of a dragon's roar fading into the distance.
-----------------------------------------
Kael's eyes snapped open, sweat matting his white hair to his forehead. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, as if he had been running and fighting all night. His breath came ragged, and he struggled to lift himself from the bed, wincing as a sharp pang ran through his limbs.
He pressed his hand to his neck and realized the fever. His body ached, exhaustion pressing down on him like a weight he could not lift. It felt exactly as though he had just returned from battle.
A soft knock echoed from the door.
"Young master?"
Robert's voice trembled as he stepped inside, eyes widening at Kael's pale face. His hand rose instinctively to Kael's cheek, warm against the cool sweat. "You're burning… are you okay?"
Kael tried to straighten, leaning weakly on the pillow. Robert gently held him steady, moving to inspect him. He carefully massaged Kael's right hand, and the slightest touch made Kael flinch.
"Muscle fever… it must be from using the dagger yesterday. You haven't fought in so long," Robert muttered, worry lacing his tone. Relief mingled with concern as he noted the fever wasn't high, unlike the last time Kael had fallen ill.
"I… wait here. I'll get some medicine and inform Elric."
Robert left quickly, leaving Kael to lean back, eyes fixed on the dagger lying beside him. His mind replayed the dream—the dragon, the chaos, the unfamiliar figure that had appeared but now felt distant. He closed his eyes, hoping to catch any fragments of memory, but dizziness blurred his thoughts.
A sudden flutter drew his gaze. Crimson wings appeared at the window, moving gracefully toward him. The butterfly landed on his finger, delicate yet purposeful. Almost immediately, Kael felt the fever ease, the tension in his muscles easing as though the butterfly had drawn it from him. Slowly, his body felt lighter, the lingering pain fading.
The butterfly lifted and vanished, slipping out the window. Moments later, the door opened again. Robert returned, carrying a tray with a glass of water and a potion. Elric followed behind, her red hair glinting in the morning light, her eyes wide with worry.
She moved swiftly toward him, checking his cheek, forehead, and neck, letting out a sigh of relief. "Thank God… your temperature isn't too high," she whispered, voice soft with tension, as though afraid to jinx it.
Robert handed Kael the potion. "Here, drink this slowly. You need to rest today. The weather's rainy outside, so there's no rush to move about. I'll prepare your breakfast and bring your books here."
As Robert left, Elric remained by Kael's side, dabbing his sweat with a clean towel, each motion careful and gentle. Kael let her, though his eyes stayed locked on the dagger beside him. He couldn't shake the dream from his mind, the weight of the dragon and the mysterious figure gnawing at him.
"Kael… may I request something?" Elric's voice was soft, almost tentative. Kael turned his gaze to her.
"If something happens to you again, please… wait for us to come for you. I…" She gripped her own fist tightly, her eyes glinting with worry. "…I don't want you to get hurt again."
Kael remained silent, absorbed in the memory of the explosion, the intruders, and the fragments. Deep inside, he felt a growing certainty—the dragon, the fragments, and his sword were all connected somehow.
"When you search for the other fragments, take me with you. I feel like something bad happens every time you find them. Remember when you got hurt finding the second fragment? And yesterday… with the intruders…" Elric's voice trailed off, thick with fear for him.
Kael's eyes stayed closed. He did not respond, lost in thought. Elric's hands hovered over him, hesitant, but her worry pressed forward. "It's not like you'll be fighting the Demon Kingdom again after you complete your sword. I hate seeing you suffer."
Kael's lips stayed sealed, his breathing steady but tense. Elric's gaze fell on him, still trembling from the memory of seeing him in front of her during the explosion.
"Kael—"
He suddenly gripped her wrist, the faint glow of his aura pressing against her like an unspoken force. "I need them… my sword."
Elric flinched. His eyes gleamed, a power rising from him she had never felt before. "Kael?"
His grip tightened slightly. "I need my sword."
Her fingers trembled under the pressure, her voice faltering. "Ka… Kael?"
Then, just as quickly, he released her wrist. She stared, stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief. He seemed almost embarrassed, as though realizing what he had done. A brief, silent tension hung between them.
Kael moved swiftly, with urgency in every step. He got up from the bed, heart racing from his own actions. Elric reached out.
"W-wait!"
But he was already at the door, hand on the handle. His steps quickened, and in a blink, he opened the door and stepped out, leaving Elric frozen in place, her expression a mixture of worry and awe.
Kael's steps grew heavier with each pace, his body moving as though his mind was elsewhere. Elric hurried behind him, her voice sharp with worry.
"Kael! Stop! Where are you going?"
But Kael didn't stop. He didn't even glance back. His stride only quickened, desperate to escape the confusion twisting inside his head.
"Kael!" Elric rushed forward and caught his wrist. Her grip was firm, her tone carrying authority that left no room for refusal. "Look at me!"
Kael froze, but his back remained facing her. He stood there, silent and rigid, his figure almost trembling as though torn apart inside.
Elric stared at his stillness, her heart tightening. A memory flashed in her mind—Robert, trembling when Kael's eyes had turned sharp after holding the second fragment. And now, just moments ago, she herself had shaken under his grip.
"…Is he feeling guilty?" she murmured to herself, her eyes softening. Slowly, she loosened her hold on his wrist.
"Kael…" she called again, this time gently, her voice laced with quiet warmth. "Look, I'm fine. Truly."
Her tone pierced through the haze. Slowly, Kael turned his head, crimson eyes falling to the wrist she had shown him. There was no mark, no redness—only pale skin untouched.
When he finally faced her, Elric took a step closer, her eyes never leaving his. Without hesitation, she lifted her arms and wrapped them around him. Standing on her toes to reach, she pulled his head down until it rested against her shoulder.
Her fingers brushed through his white hair, tender and steady. "I'm sorry… I'll never speak about giving up on the fragments again." Her voice wavered slightly, sadness threaded within. She hadn't wanted him to pursue them—hadn't wanted him to bleed and suffer again—but she could no longer deny that Kael's resolve was his own.
She could feel the heat of his fevered cheek pressing against her shoulder. The warmth made her chest ache.
"…Let's go back to your bed. You need rest first," she whispered, cupping his face gently with a faint smile.
Kael remained silent, his eyes distant.
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor. Elric broke the embrace just as Albert appeared, a folded letter clutched tightly in his hand. His face was pale, his breath uneven as if he had run the entire way.
"Lady Elr—" His voice cut short when he caught sight of Kael standing with her. His eyes widened briefly before he bowed stiffly toward him. "Lord Kael… thank you, for saving me yesterday."
Kael gave no reply, only his unreadable gaze.
Elric stepped slightly in front of Kael, her hand brushing down to hold his wrist, protective without seeming so. Her voice shifted—no longer soft as it had been for Kael, but sharp, cool, and commanding.
"Were you searching for me, Albert?"
Albert blinked, startled by her sudden change in tone, before bowing again. "Y-Yes, my lady. Forgive me. This letter… it came from the Baron of the nearest city. He said something strange has happened there." He extended the letter.
Elric took it swiftly, her expression tightening as her eyes scanned the lines. Her brows furrowed deeper with each sentence.
Behind her, Kael tilted his head just enough to catch glimpses of the ink on the page. Words like earthquake, strange rumbling, and beastly roars from the forest stood out. His hand twitched faintly at his side.
Elric noticed the way his gaze lingered on the parchment, the subtle shift in his aura. She quickly folded the letter closed and forced a faint smile, though her voice betrayed her nerves.
"Kael… let's go back to your room."
Her tone was gentle again, but her fingers holding the letter trembled. She knew he had seen the words. She knew the storm inside him hadn't quieted.