Inside the royal war chamber of Kingdom of Norvoss, tension quietly filled the air.
Large maps covered the central table.
Markers, reports, and military routes spread across its surface while nobles, dukes, counts, and advisors stood gathered beneath the dim golden lights of the chamber.
At the head of the table sat Princess Selene beside King Idris.
Meanwhile the heavy doors opened.
Aerys stepped inside before kneeling formally.
"Reporting the duty, my princess."
"All assigned orders have been completed."
Selene gave a small nod.
"Well done."
Then her expression became slightly more thoughtful.
"Unfortunately…"
"Our little spy has been captured."
Murmurs spread quietly across the chamber.
Aerys immediately understood.
"…Iyas?"
"Yes."
Selene rested one hand lightly against the table.
"Though it is not a severe loss."
"He possessed no knowledge regarding our actual plans."
"Still…"
A faint smile crossed her face.
"He gathered information exceptionally well."
Aerys remained silent briefly before asking:
"Shall we attempt retrieval?"
Several nobles looked toward Selene curiously.
But the princess calmly shook her head.
"Unnecessary."
Her answer came without hesitation.
"Iyas is smarter than he appears."
A faint amusement entered her voice afterward.
"He will survive somehow."
Honestly?
Everyone in the room probably believed that
Selene then shifted the discussion immediately.
"How are the countermeasures progressing?"
Aerys stood and stepped toward the war table.
"Everything remains in order."
"All requested preparations are proceeding smoothly."
He pointed toward several marked regions on the map.
"Our forces should be ready to move within a short period."
King Idris remained seated quietly nearby, listening while occasionally coughing faintly into one hand.
Then one of the dukes stepped forward.
"And as instructed, Princess…"
"We successfully contracted multiple experienced dragon hunters."
Several advisors visibly approved of that statement.
The duke continued:
"We also acquired several mana-restraining techniques and specialized equipment designed specifically for suppressing dragon activity."
Selene's golden eyes narrowed slightly in thought.
"How long until all preparations are complete?"
Aerys answered immediately.
"Less than two months, my princess."
He continued calmly:
"Additionally, several neighboring nations have agreed to support battlefield operations if conflict begins."
A low murmur spread through the chamber once more.
But despite the favorable reports—
Selene did not appear satisfied.
Instead, her expression remained cautious.
"Do not grow careless."
The room immediately quieted again.
Selene slowly looked across the gathered nobles and commanders.
"You all understand how dangerous dragons truly are."
Her gaze hardened slightly afterward.
"Especially intelligent dragons."
Even mentioning Ebruhan and Mia seemed enough to make the atmosphere heavier.
Selene folded her hands calmly.
"There may only be two dragons within Lumeris…"
"…but two dragons are already enough to alter the fate of kingdoms."
Silence filled the chamber.
Then together:
"Understood."
------------------------
Inside the royal council chamber of Kingdom of Lumeris, tension lingered heavily in the air.
Military officers, advisors, and nobles remained gathered around the long council table while maps and reports lay scattered across its surface.
The moment Ebruhan entered the room, several gazes immediately shifted toward him.
King Cedric looked up first.
"Ebruhan."
The king folded his hands calmly.
"What have you done with the spy?"
Ebruhan walked toward the table before answering simply:
"Nothing yet, sire."
A few nobles immediately exchanged looks.
Then one elderly advisor slammed his hand lightly against the table.
"We should execute it immediately!"
His voice carried sharp frustration.
"Because of that little mutt, our kingdom's information has been exposed for years!"
Several officers quietly nodded in agreement.
"The beast has already admitted to spying for Norvoss."
"Keeping it alive serves no purpose."
"Spies exist to be eliminated."
The atmosphere inside the chamber grew noticeably colder afterward.
But Ebruhan remained calm.
"He possesses little strategic value now."
The dragon crossed his arms.
"Selene clearly ensured he knew only fragments of information."
One general frowned slightly.
"Then all the more reason to remove him."
Another advisor added:
"A captured spy left alive may become a future problem."
Ebruhan's eyes slowly shifted across the room afterward.
"…Perhaps."
Then calmly:
"But he is not dangerous."
The elderly advisor scoffed.
"Not dangerous?"
"That creature infiltrated Lumeris for years!"
Even Ebruhan could not deny that part.
The dragon exhaled quietly afterward.
"…True."
Honestly?
That fact still irritated him internally
Meanwhile Cedric remained thoughtful instead of emotional.
The king tapped one finger lightly against the table.
"Does the fox appear loyal to Selene?"
Ebruhan answered almost immediately.
"Extremely."
That response made several nobles uneasy.
Ebruhan continued:
"But not fanatically."
"He behaves more like someone repaying a personal debt."
The room fell quieter afterward.
Then one younger noble muttered:
"That almost makes him sound honorable."
The elderly advisor immediately snapped back:
"He is still an enemy spy."
Ebruhan did not argue against that.
Because technically—
the advisor was correct.
Still…
the dragon remembered the terrified little fox trying to protect Selene's dignity even while collared and facing death.
The council chamber grew louder almost immediately after Ebruhan spoke.
Several nobles clearly disliked where the discussion was heading.
Ebruhan remained standing calmly near the center of the chamber while torchlight reflected faintly in his golden eyes.
"Based on his behavior…"
The dragon spoke thoughtfully.
"I believe the fox revealed Selene's identity by his own choice."
A few advisors frowned immediately.
Ebruhan continued:
"I highly doubt someone like Princess Selene would intentionally send a spy incapable of enduring interrogation."
The room quieted slightly afterward.
Because unfortunately—
that logic made sense.
Selene had proven herself too careful for such a mistake.
One officer crossed his arms impatiently.
"That changes nothing."
Another advisor added sharply:
"Because of that creature, Norvoss is likely already preparing countermeasures against you!"
"Against dragons!"
Several others immediately agreed.
"Yes!"
"Leaving the spy alive is foolish!"
But Ebruhan simply answered calmly:
"Even without the spy…"
His gaze shifted across the room.
"…Selene would still prepare those measures."
Silence.
That statement immediately changed the atmosphere.
Ebruhan folded his arms afterward.
"She is cautious."
"Intelligent."
"And ambitious."
"There was never a future where Norvoss ignored dragons."
The dragon's voice remained steady.
"She would have sought dragon hunters, restraint methods, and anti-dragon tactics eventually regardless of espionage."
One noble looked frustrated.
"Then why spare the fox at all?"
Ebruhan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Because killing him changes nothing."
The growing arguments inside the council chamber finally came to an end when King Cedric raised one hand.
"Enough."
The king's voice was calm.
Yet firm enough to silence the entire room immediately.
"We gain nothing from conflict among ourselves."
The nobles slowly quieted afterward.
Cedric leaned slightly forward in his chair.
"If Norvoss truly intends to prepare counters against our protector…"
His gaze shifted briefly toward Ebruhan.
"…then we shall learn how to resist those counters."
Several officers straightened at once.
That statement immediately shifted the discussion from fear to preparation.
Cedric continued:
"We will strengthen anti-restraint measures."
"Research dragon mana interference."
"And prepare defensive responses before Norvoss makes its move."
One advisor nodded slowly.
"A wise decision, Your Majesty."
Another general added:
"If they study dragons…"
"Then we must study dragon hunters as well."
The king gave a small nod.
"Precisely."
Then Cedric looked directly toward Ebruhan.
"And Ebruhan."
The dragon lowered his head slightly.
"My king?"
"Inform our allied kingdoms."
Cedric's expression hardened subtly.
"They must understand the political climate is changing."
"If Norvoss truly begins mobilizing anti-dragon assets…"
"…this will no longer remain a problem exclusive to Lumeris."
A quiet tension settled across the chamber afterward.
Because everyone present understood what that meant.
This was no longer simply border politics.
Norvoss was preparing for a future where dragons themselves could become battlefield targets.
Ebruhan remained silent briefly.
Then finally:
"…Understood."
Though inwardly—
the dragon's thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.
Toward a certain small black dragon currently sleeping peacefully back at the Vinson Estate.
Because if anti-dragon weapons truly began spreading across kingdoms…
then Mia's future would become far more dangerous than before.
----
As Ebruhan departed from the council chamber, the heavy doors slowly closed behind him.
The room remained quiet for a few moments afterward.
Then one of the older advisors finally spoke.
"My king…"
He frowned slightly while adjusting his robes.
"I still do not understand."
"Why is Ebruhan showing mercy toward that spy?"
Several nobles quietly nodded in agreement.
Another advisor added:
"The creature infiltrated our kingdom for years."
"Any other realm would have executed him immediately."
King Cedric remained silent briefly before answering.
"I do not believe this is mercy."
The room quieted again.
Cedric leaned back slightly in his chair.
"Ebruhan is not naïve."
"He understands exactly what the fox has done."
One general frowned.
"Then why spare him?"
Cedric's gaze shifted toward the chamber doors where Ebruhan had left moments earlier.
"Because Ebruhan thinks like a dragon."
That answer confused several people immediately
The king continued calmly:
"When dragons destroy something…"
"They usually do so because it serves a purpose."
"Not because emotions demand it."
The older advisor slowly narrowed his eyes in thought.
Cedric folded his hands together.
"To Ebruhan…"
"The fox is no longer a meaningful threat."
"So killing him accomplishes little."
Another noble hesitated before speaking.
"…Then perhaps Ebruhan simply pities him?"
Cedric gave a faint smile at that.
"Possibly."
Then more quietly:
"Or perhaps he sees a reflection of himself."
Several advisors looked surprised.
The king continued:
"Do not forget."
"Ebruhan himself once survived because someone chose not to discard him."
That line silenced the room completely.
Because everyone present knew the story.
Years ago, Cedric had found an injured dragon in the forest.
Instead of fearing him…
he offered shelter.
Trust.
Kindness.
And in return—
Lumeris gained its royal protector.
Cedric exhaled quietly afterward.
"Loyalty born from gratitude…"
His eyes lowered slightly.
"…is something Ebruhan understands very well."