Cold stone. Dark walls. The faint smell of ash and ancient magic filled the air.
Mia's head throbbed.
"…Ugh…"
She slowly opened her eyes.
Everything felt heavy. Her body was stiff, and her thoughts were still foggy from whatever Varkryth had used on her.
At first, all she saw was darkness.
Then—
metal bars.
Her eyes focused.
Stone chamber. Iron gate. A prison.
She froze.
A cold weight pressed against her neck.
…clink.
Mia slowly looked down.
An iron collar was locked tightly around her neck. From it, a heavy black chain extended backward—secured deep into the stone wall behind her.
For a moment…
silence.
Then—
"…What."
Her voice came out low.
She pulled once.
CLANG.
The chain didn't move.
Her eyes widened.
"No."
She pulled harder.
CLANG.
The metal bit against her neck.
"No—no, let me go!"
She twisted violently, claws scraping against the stone floor.
"Let me GO!!"
Dark smoke shifted near the chamber entrance.
A tall figure stood there calmly.
Varkryth.
In human form, arms folded behind his back like this was the most normal thing in the world.
His purple eyes watched her without urgency.
"…Ah."
His voice was smooth and calm.
"You're awake."
Mia snarled.
"What is this?!"
She yanked the chain again.
"Take this off!"
Varkryth barely glanced at the collar.
"That?"
He sounded almost thoughtful.
"A precaution."
Mia's eyes burned.
"You kidnapped me!"
Varkryth tilted his head slightly.
"No."
A pause.
"I retrieved my daughter."
Mia looked ready to commit several crimes.
"FOR THE LAST TIME—"
"I AM NOT YOUR FREAKING DAUGHTER!"
She lunged forward again.
CLANG.
The chain snapped her back.
"Let me out of here!"
Varkryth sighed very softly, like a tired father dealing with a stubborn child.
"I am afraid I won't do that."
His gaze moved over her carefully.
"Your body is undertrained." "Your mana control is unstable." "Your instincts are dulled by human comfort."
He stepped closer.
"And yet you nearly killed a Red General."
His eyes narrowed faintly.
"Imagine what you could become with proper guidance."
Mia bared her teeth.
"I'd rather stay in a barn."
For the first time—
Varkryth actually looked offended.
"A barn?"
Varkryth stared at her for a long moment.
Then exhaled through his nose.
"…Humans have damaged you deeply."
Mia nearly exploded.
"I AM FINE!"
Varkryth turned toward the door.
"Save your strength, young one."
His tail swayed once behind him.
"You have training awaiting."
Mia blinked.
"Training?"
He looked back over his shoulder.
"Yes."
A faint smile touched his face.
"Welcome home."
Then he left.
The heavy door shut behind him.
BOOM.
Silence returned.
The heavy door had barely stopped echoing before Mia tried again.
She planted all four paws against the stone floor and pulled.
Hard.
CLANG.
Nothing.
Again.
CLANG.
Still nothing.
The black chain didn't even pretend to care.
After several more attempts, Mia finally let herself drop onto the cold floor with an exhausted groan.
"…Fantastic."
She glared at the collar around her neck like it had personally insulted her ancestors.
"Chains."
She sighed dramatically.
"Why do chains keep becoming a recurring theme in my life?"
First the estate. Then training restraints. Now this.
At this point, fate clearly had a weird hobby.
"…I swear the universe has a collar obsession."
She sat up and took a slow breath.
Fine.
If brute force didn't work…
Magic.
Mia closed her eyes and focused.
Her mana gathered carefully, flowing through her body.
A faint shimmer surrounded her scales.
She pushed harder.
Come on…
Transform.
The shimmer flickered—
Then vanished.
Nothing happened.
Silence.
Mia slowly opened one eye.
"…No."
She tried again.
More mana. More focus.
The same result.
Nothing.
She stared at the collar.
Then realization hit.
The metal was faintly glowing with dark runes.
Mana suppression.
Her soul left her body for a moment.
"…You have got to be kidding me."
She fell sideways dramatically.
"Great."
"Fantastic."
"Wonderful."
"The chains really love me."
She smacked one paw lightly against the floor.
"Fk it all."
She rolled onto her back and stared at the stone ceiling.
"What kind of nonsense world did I reincarnate into?"
"Office worker dies."
"Reborn as dragon."
"Gets adopted."
"Fights dragon generals."
"Possible final boss father kidnaps me"
"And now—"
She lifted the chain slightly with one claw.
"—back to collar DLC."
She groaned so loudly it probably echoed through the abyss.
"UGHHHHHHHH."
Finally, she dragged herself toward the wall and pressed her forehead against the cold stone.
Thunk.
"…I miss Wi-Fi."
Another pause.
Thunk.
"I miss instant noodles."
Thunk.
"I miss not being legally ownable."
She stayed there like that, forehead against the wall, questioning every life decision she had ever made in both worlds.
Somewhere outside the chamber…
very faintly…
she could hear monstrous creatures roaring deep in the abyss.
"Leo gonna be mad.."
The healer's chamber was quiet.
Too quiet.
White curtains. The sharp scent of medicine. Bandages. Silence.
Ebruhan sat on the edge of the bed in human form, bare chest partially wrapped in fresh bandages where Varkryth's punch had landed.
Even now, breathing too deeply hurt.
That single hit…
He looked down at his hand.
His fingers tightened.
He hated it.
Not the pain.
The helplessness.
He had failed.
Again.
The door slammed open so hard it nearly broke.
"I'M GONNA KILL YOU!!"
Leo stormed inside like pure fury given human form.
His eyes were red. His face was wet. His hands were shaking.
And before anyone could stop him—
THUD.
His fist slammed straight into Ebruhan's shoulder.
Again.
THUD.
Again.
THUD.
"I TOLD YOU!"
Another hit.
"EVERY SINGLE TIME—"
Another.
"I LET HER GO WITH YOU—"
THUD.
"SHE GETS HURT!"
THUD.
"NOW SHE'S GONE!"
Leo's voice cracked.
His punches were weak compared to a dragon. They barely moved Ebruhan.
But he kept hitting him anyway.
Crying. Cursing. Shaking.
"I trusted you!"
THUD.
"You said you'd protect her!"
THUD.
"You said she'd be safe!"
THUD.
His voice finally broke completely.
"And now she's gone…"
The next punch barely landed.
Leo's hand trembled.
"She's gone…"
He stood there, crying openly now, fists clenched against Ebruhan's chest like he could somehow force reality to change.
Ebruhan didn't block.
Didn't defend.
Didn't speak.
Because Leo was right.
Every word.
Every hit.
Every accusation.
He deserved all of it.
Quietly, Ebruhan lowered his head.
"…I know."
That only made Leo angrier.
"NO!"
He shoved him hard.
"I don't want you to KNOW!"
"I want her back!"
The room shook with the force of it.
Several healers rushed in.
"Young master Leo—!"
"Please stop!"
But Leo fought them too.
"No!"
"LET GO OF ME!"
Vinson entered behind them, his face colder than winter.
"Leo."
That single word froze the room.
Leo turned, still crying.
"Dad—"
Vinson walked forward.
Calm. Controlled. Terrifying.
He placed a hand on Leo's shoulder.
"Enough."
Leo's voice came out small now.
"But Mia—"
"I know."
That made it worse somehow.
Because Vinson's voice was calm.
Too calm.
That kind of calm only happened when someone was trying very hard not to break.
Leo collapsed against him, shaking.
Vinson held his son with one arm while looking directly at Ebruhan.
His voice was quiet.
"Can you find her?"
No blame. No shouting.
That was far heavier.
Ebruhan lifted his eyes.
For the first time since waking up…
there was fire in them.
Not pride.
Not confidence.
Something colder.
"I will."
His voice was low.
"I don't care if I have to tear open the Abyss itself."
His hand tightened over the bandages on his chest.
"I will bring her home."
Silence.
Vinson gave one slow nod.
Then without a word, he turned and walked Leo out of the room while the boy still cried into his shoulder.
The door shut softly behind them.
Ebruhan sat there alone.
Hand over his chest.
Breathing slowly.
His expression hardened and .
Very quietly, he said:
"…Blue dot, huh."
Darkness.
Not night.
Just… the Abyss.
Mia slowly opened her eyes, still half buried in exhaustion.
Her body felt heavy, but the sleep had cleared some of the dizziness from before.
She blinked.
Stone ceiling.
Black walls.
Faint glowing cracks running through the rock like veins of molten light.
Some glowed red like lava. Others pulsed with strange purple mana.
There were no windows.
No sun.
No moon.
No sense of time.
She groaned.
"Fantastic."
"I don't even know if it's morning or night."
She stretched slightly—
and froze.
The collar.
Still there.
The chain.
Still attached.
She stared at it for a moment like it had personally offended her bloodline.
Then—
footsteps.
Calm. Heavy.
Varkryth entered the chamber like he owned gravity itself.
Which, honestly, he probably did.
Mia immediately sat up straighter.
He said nothing at first.
Just looked at her.
Then—
snap.
With a single movement of his fingers, dark mana flickered.
The iron collar around her neck vanished.
The chain dropped to the floor with a heavy clang.
The bars of the chamber dissolved into black smoke.
Gone.
Mia blinked.
"…Huh."
She rubbed her neck.
Varkryth turned.
"Follow."
Mia stared.
"…Why would I listen to you?"
He didn't even look back.
"That was not a request."
Silence.
Mia considered several bad decisions.
Then sighed like a tired office worker being asked to attend another pointless meeting.
She stood and followed.
The moment she stepped outside—
she stopped.
Completely.
Because the Abyss…
was insane.
It wasn't just a dark cave.
It was an entire broken world.
Massive cracks split the earth like ancient wounds. Floating rocks drifted slowly in the air, suspended by wild unstable mana. Rivers of glowing lava carved through jagged black stone. Strange corrupted plants grew from cliffsides—twisted vines with glowing veins and flowers that looked like they might eat people.
Honestly, they probably did.
Spiked mountains rose like broken teeth toward a sky that wasn't really a sky— just endless darkness with glowing fractures above.
Deep pits opened everywhere, swallowing light.
And everywhere—
monsters.
Creatures she couldn't even properly name.
Some looked like wolves made of bone and shadow. Some had too many eyes. Some walked like humans but definitely were not.
Dragons flew overhead.
Black. Red. Gray. Things with wings that probably counted as dragons if you were brave enough.
Mia slowly looked around.
"…What the hell."
"This place looks like the final boss map."
As Varkryth walked forward, every creature they passed reacted instantly.
Heads lowered.
Bodies bowed.
Silence followed him like law.
Even the dragons above shifted their flight paths.
Nobody questioned him.
Nobody challenged him.
Because this wasn't just a ruler.
This was the ruler.
Mia swallowed.
(Yeah… okay.)
(That explains a lot.)
A massive beast with horns the size of trees passed nearby, took one look at Varkryth—
and immediately lowered itself to the ground.
Mia stared.
"…Do they all do that?"
Varkryth answered simply.
"Yes."
She squinted at him.
"…You're enjoying this."
"A little."
They kept walking.
Mia's eyes kept moving, searching routes, cliffs, exits—
instinctively.
Escape.
Varkryth noticed without even turning.
"If you are planning to escape…"
His voice was calm.
"You may try."
Mia froze.
He continued walking.
"If you believe you can outrun one thousand dragons…"
A pause.
"…and countless monsters."
He glanced back at her.
Purple eyes glowing faintly.
"…then by all means."
Mia looked around.
At the dragons.
At the monsters.
At the giant murder geography.
Then looked back at him.
"…You know, when you say it like that, it feels a little rude."
Varkryth kept walking.
Mia sighed and followed.
Because unfortunately…
he had a point.
Back to Lumeris kingdom
The royal council chamber was heavy with silence.
Large stone walls. Golden banners. A long table filled with nobles, generals, advisors… and at the very center—
the King.
Everyone already knew.
Lady Dark Flame was gone.
Taken.
And the one responsible…
was the Abyss Sovereign himself.
That alone made the air feel colder.
Ebruhan stood at the center of the chamber in human form, his chest still wrapped in bandages beneath his coat.
His voice was firm.
"We do not have time."
His eyes moved across the council.
"Every moment she remains in the Abyss increases the danger."
"She is alone there."
"She is injured."
"And Varkryth does not intend to return her willingly."
A noble immediately slammed his hand on the table.
"Which is exactly why we cannot act recklessly!"
Another joined.
"The Abyss is not enemy territory. It is worse."
"A direct move against Varkryth would be seen as war!"
"Do you understand what that means?!"
"Monsters crossing borders!"
"Corrupted dragons!"
"Entire regions destroyed!"
Murmurs of agreement spread.
Ebruhan's jaw tightened.
"I understand perfectly."
"Then you should understand why this is impossible," one general said coldly.
"We cannot risk an entire kingdom for one dragon."
Silence.
The words hung like poison.
Ebruhan's eyes turned sharp.
"One dragon?"
His voice dropped.
"That 'one dragon' protected this kingdom."
"She bled for out people."
"She nearly died for our soldiers."
His mana flickered in the room.
"And now you call her expendable?"
No one answered.
Because they knew.
He was right.
But fear was louder.
At the head of the table, the King finally spoke.
"Enough."
Silence returned instantly.
The King looked at Ebruhan.
His expression was not cruel.
It was tired.
Heavy.
"Ebruhan."
His voice was quiet.
"You know what the Abyss is."
"Yes."
"You know what Varkryth is."
"…Yes."
"And you know what happens if we provoke him."
Ebruhan didn't answer.
Because he did.
The King folded his hands.
"If we march into the Abyss, we do not rescue one dragon."
"We invite catastrophe for thousands."
His eyes hardened.
"As king, I cannot allow that."
The finality in those words hit like stone.
Denied.
The room felt smaller.
Ebruhan stood there in silence.
Then slowly…
he nodded.
"I understand."
Several nobles visibly relaxed.
Then Ebruhan continued.
"That is why I will go alone."
The room exploded.
"Absolutely not!"
"Have you lost your mind?!"
"That's suicide!"
The King stood.
"No."
His voice cut through everything.
"Ebruhan. No."
For the first time—
Ebruhan looked directly at him not as protector to king…
but as dragon to man.
Calm.
Resolved.
"With respect, Your Majesty…"
"…I was not asking permission."
Silence.
Even the air stopped moving.
The King stepped down from the throne platform slowly.
His voice lowered.
"If you go alone, you may never return."
Ebruhan gave a small smile.
"I know."
"And if Varkryth kills you?"
"Then at least I failed trying."
The King stared at him for a long moment.
Then asked the real question.
"Why?"
Not politics. Not duty.
Why?
Ebruhan's answer came quietly.
"Because she would do the same for me."
That silenced everyone.
Because everyone in that room knew…
she would.
The King closed his eyes for a moment.
When he opened them, there was sadness there.
But also understanding.
"…Then I cannot stop you."
A pause.
"But I will not send soldiers after your corpse."
Ebruhan gave a respectful bow.
"That is fair."
He turned toward the great doors.
Every step echoed.
No grand speech.
No dramatic farewell.
Just certainty.
As he reached the exit—
the King spoke one last time.
"Bring her home."
Ebruhan stopped.
Without turning, he answered:
"I intend to."
Then he walked out.
Alone.
As Ebruhan reached the great doors of the council chamber, the King's voice stopped him one last time.
Not as ruler.
Not as monarch.
But as something far older.
As a friend.
"Ebruhan."
He paused.
The chamber was quiet.
When the King spoke again, his voice was softer.
"…As a friend."
A small pause.
"I wish you good luck."
For the first time that day, Ebruhan's expression eased.
Just slightly.
He gave a small nod.
"Thank you."
One of the older generals let out a long sigh and pushed himself up from his chair.
"Well then."
He cracked his shoulders.
"If our royal protector insists on doing something suicidal…"
He smirked.
"…then I suppose some of us should come along."
Another general stood.
Then another.
Steel moved. Chairs scraped.
Even a few knights stepped forward.
Ebruhan turned.
And immediately shut it down.
"No."
The room paused.
The first general frowned.
"Don't be stupid."
Ebruhan's voice stayed calm.
"No soldiers."
"No knights."
"No army."
His eyes were steady.
"This is not a battlefield you belong in."
The general opened his mouth—
Ebruhan cut him off.
"If Varkryth sees an armed force entering the Abyss, he will not see a rescue."
"He will see war."
"And then thousands die."
Silence.
Because again—
he was right.
He took one slow breath.
"If I go alone, there is still room for words."
"If we go together, there is only fire."
No one argued after that.
Because no one could.
The older general sighed again.
"…I hate when you're reasonable."
Ebruhan allowed the faintest smile.
"I know."
Then he turned and left.
No ceremony. No escort.
Just purpose.
Outside, the wind was cold.
He stepped into the palace courtyard and with one movement—
blue light surged.
His human form vanished.
Massive blue wings unfolded beneath the sky.
The royal protector dragon stood in full form, scales gleaming like stormlight.
Servants and guards stepped back instinctively.
Without hesitation—
he launched into the sky.
BOOM.
Wind exploded through the courtyard as he flew.
Straight toward Vinson's estate.
Because before the Abyss…
there was one thing he had to do.
He landed hard near the front gates.
The estate guards nearly jumped out of their armor.
"Sir Ebruhan!"
One guard hurried forward and bowed quickly.
"Is Young Master Leo and Lord Vinson here?"
"Yes, sir!"
The guard straightened immediately.
"Please, follow me."
Ebruhan nodded and walked forward.
The estate felt different now.
Too quiet.
Like the whole place was holding its breath.
No giant black dragon sleeping in the barn. No sarcastic comments from the hay.
Just absence.
It made the silence heavier.
As they approached the main house, Ebruhan could already hear raised voices inside.
Leo.
Of course.
The guard opened the door carefully.
"They're inside, sir."
Ebruhan stepped forward.
And prepared for the conversation he was not looking forward to.
Because telling a family:
"I am going into the Abyss to bring her back"
…was somehow scarier than facing Varkryth.
The main hall of Vinson's estate felt unusually heavy.
Even the servants moved quietly.
No one laughed. No one relaxed.
Because Mia wasn't there.
At the center of the room, Vinson stood near the large window, hands behind his back, staring outside.
When Ebruhan entered, he turned slowly.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
The kind of calm built from sleepless nights.
"What brings you here, Ebruhan?"
Before Ebruhan could answer—
footsteps.
Leo came rushing down the stairs.
His eyes were still red. His face still carried the evidence of too many sleepless nights and too much anger.
The moment he saw Ebruhan, his jaw tightened.
For a second, it looked like he might start punching him again.
Instead, he stopped.
Waiting.
Ebruhan stood straight.
No excuses. No softening.
"I came to say…"
His voice was steady.
"…I am going to bring her back."
Silence.
Vinson's expression changed first.
Not shock.
Sharp focus.
"What?"
A pause.
"With who?"
Ebruhan met his gaze.
"Alone."
Leo blinked.
Then frowned.
"…What do you mean, alone?"
Ebruhan exhaled slowly.
"Because of me, she was taken."
His voice lowered.
"I failed to stop him."
"I failed to protect her."
His hand tightened slightly.
"So yes."
"This is my responsibility."
Leo stepped forward immediately.
"No."
His voice cracked.
"No, that's stupid."
"You said the Abyss is suicide!"
"And now you're just going to fly there alone?!"
Ebruhan looked at him quietly.
"Yes."
Leo's fists clenched.
"That's insane!"
"I know."
"What if you die?!"
Another pause.
Ebruhan answered honestly.
"Then I die."
Leo looked like he wanted to scream.
Instead, his voice came out smaller.
"…That's not good enough."
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Ebruhan stepped closer.
He placed one hand gently on Leo's shoulder.
The gesture was calm. Steady.
Like an older brother.
"Leo."
Leo refused to look at him.
Ebruhan's voice softened.
"Listen to me."
Slowly, Leo lifted his eyes.
Ebruhan looked directly at him.
No hesitation. No uncertainty.
"Don't worry."
His grip on Leo's shoulder tightened slightly.
"I will bring your sister back."
The room felt still.
Then he spoke the words that mattered most.
"I swear it on my dragon soul…"
A pause.
"…and on my honor."
Leo's eyes widened.
Because that wasn't a casual promise.
For dragons—
that was sacred.
That was everything.
You did not speak those words lightly.
Not ever.
Even Vinson's expression shifted.
Because he understood what that meant.
Leo's lips trembled slightly.
"…You idiot."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"You better."
Ebruhan gave the faintest smile.
"I intend to."
Vinson stepped forward.
His voice was quiet.
"If you fail…"
Ebruhan nodded once.
"I know."
Vinson looked at him for a long moment.
Then extended his hand.
Not as count to protector.
But as a father trusting someone with his child.
"Then bring my daughter home."
Ebruhan looked at the hand.
Then took it firmly.
"I will."
No grand drama.
No speeches.
Just truth.
Outside, the wind moved softly through the estate.