I expected a discussion between dragons and adventurers to be a bit more nerve-wracking but the conversation was quite tame. For the most part…

Mister Ed and Akai spoke back and forth about whether or not the dragon siblings should all go back with us to Istoria. Mister Ed said it was necessary if they wanted to prove that not all creatures in the Tower were monsters.

Akai ultimately went against it though, he was adamant that getting Alice back home was their number one priority. I understood both sides and even then I felt it was a difficult decision.

As for Arga and I…we sort of just blended in the back. Without much chance to jump into the discussion, we felt invisible. We stared passed the two figures and saw Alice and Zephier standing behind them, in the same boat we were in.

Mister Ed had his arms crossed with an even more serious expression overtaking his face. It was nearing the point of animosity.

“We need you to return with us, it’s the only way we will be able to convince everyone that you are not a threat. Trust goes a long way, Akai.”

Mister Ed, who usually spoke quite stoically and reserved was amidst a passionate debate. It was strange to see him change so much around Akai that I wondered if it wasn’t something else. Perhaps he saw something to this all that we didn’t.

A wave of angst grew inside of my stomach, almost like a warning of something to come. I wasn’t sure if it was related or not but I couldn't get my mind off of it. My mind was brought back to the room as Akai and Mister Ed’s conversation continued.

“Trust goes both ways. It is simply too dangerous for me to put my family at risk like that, especially after just escaping danger within the Tower. Going to the world of humans…you can’t ensure that we will be safe there, can you?”

His words hung in the air like a heavy cloud over us all, especially Mister Ed. He remained silent and Akai thought he had gotten his answer. He turned away and was ready to leave when suddenly Mister Ed’s voice brought him back.

“I can.”

My eyes—along with everyone else in the room—jolted open at his retort.

Could he really do that, was it up to him? I know that we were able to accept her, but it wasn’t easy. It took time, we had to see her for who she was. I’m not even sure that Veldor fully accepts her yet, so how would the entire city?!

The nervous wave brewing inside of me grew larger, causing my hand to grip over my stomach just to calm it slightly.

Akai didn’t seem too convinced, his eyebrow rose just as my curiosity did. “How can you be so sure, you’re not their ruler? To me, this sounds like nothing but a false promise. Are you that desperate to have us accompany you back?”

Mister Ed raised his arm to his chest and crossed it over to the opposite shoulder, then bent down on one knee. I’m sure that if Veldor had seen it, he would have had a lot to say about it. It might have been a good thing that he waited outside then.

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Mister Ed knelt before a creature from the Tower—a dragon!

“I give you my word. No matter what, if you put your faith in me, I will make sure to clear your names.”

The glow in his eye returned.

Alice’s pupils grew larger as if something Mister Ed had said resonated with her. She turned to her brother and tugged at his clothes, drawing his attention to her.

“You can trust him brother, I know you can. A promise… isn't taken lightly by humans. Not by these ones.”

Akai looked at his sister with apprehension but ultimately couldn't refuse, not to her at least. He turned to Mister Ed and lowered his head with a respective bow. “Then I suppose I will trust you. So for your sake and ours, please clear our names.” He smiled brightly.

I finally felt like I was able to speak again. “So it’s decided, Alice is coming with us?” I asked excitedly.

My smile couldn't be contained; both ends of my mouth were pressed against my cheeks. I thought I was the only one that happy when suddenly a blur of pink rushed into my chest and launched me through the air and onto the ground.

I sat up from the hard ground under me and when I looked up, Alice’s teary expression greeted me back.

“I’m so glad we—we don’t have to say goodbye!” Her words choked back behind the flow of tears and snot running down her face.

I didn’t know how it was possible for her to still look cute even through all of that crying. I used my sleeve to wipe away the sticky streams of snot and tears on her cheeks.

“I told you, Alice. We’re not going anywhere.”

A pair of arms wrapped around us both and squeezed us together. Suddenly Arga’s voice came between us and was followed by her cheery grin. “Why do you guys always leave me out of things~”

We turned to Arga who held us tightly and smiled. I felt better than ever, everything had fallen into place again.

Akai stood at the other end of the room, watching as we held and laughed with his sister. His face lit up in a smile from seeing her.

“I’m glad they managed to find her when they did, who knows what would have happened if they didn’t? I wish I could have tracked her down sooner…” Akai’s face turned bitter as he cursed his own ability.

Mister Ed who stood beside him suddenly turned worried, as if he had come to a grave realisation.

“Akai, how is it that you were able to find Alice in the first place? Was it some sort of ability, possibly because she is your sister?” He asked nervously.

“It wasn’t an ability, it was Alice. All dragons are able to sense the queen's presence when nearby, that’s just how we are.”

Akai turned uneasy, his eyes opened as wide as possible with a wicked look of fear coursing through his face. It was clear that something terrible had crossed his mind, just as it did for Mister Ed.

“What’s wrong with you two?” I looked up and asked.

“Brother…?” Alice muttered.

An explosion erupted outside—loud enough to shake the tent—suddenly the ground shook and the reverberation of whatever it was hit us. It was as if we were standing on jelly and all the support from the ground had shattered beneath us.

In a panicked state, my eyes jolted across the room from one person to the next trying to make sense of what was happening. Everyone seemed just as afraid as I was.

Alice gripped hold of my side.

“Alice!” I answered anxiously.

I grabbed her back and made sure she couldn't be taken from me, I felt like I had to protect her with my life. I only hoped that it wouldn’t come to that.

A wave of air hit the tent and it flew over us and out of sight, effortlessly. It was no accident, a wave of concentrated wind had blown it away.

My eyes followed the origin of the wind and led to the top of the Hollow against one of the many curved mountainsides surrounding us. A massive cloud of smoke and dust scattered near the top and once it lifted, revealed a hole in the mountain.

Two figures emerged from the smoke. I could feel their presence, one of them was clearly very powerful. Such a potent level of mana…it was unlike anything we had faced before.

The feeling of their stares caused an intense sensation over me. The cold sensation of curved steel wrapped around my throat…death had arrived for us.

“What is that…it—it’s—a monster?”