As Ebruhan descended toward the Vinson Estate, he immediately noticed movement near the barn entrance.
Specifically—
Mia aggressively scratching herself with one hind leg like an oversized irritated cat
"Grrah!"
Scratch scratch scratch.
"WHY is this so itchy?!"
Loose black scales occasionally flaked off around her while her tail smacked the floor in annoyance.
Nearby, Emma stood with her arms crossed while trying not to laugh.
"You are probably shedding."
Mia stopped scratching briefly.
"…Dragons shed?"
Emma blinked.
"…Mia."
"You are literally counted as a reptile."
"…Right."
Mia looked emotionally betrayed by biology.
Then she noticed Ebruhan approaching.
"Oh."
"Hey, Ebruhan."
The blue dragon landed nearby before returning to human form.
But instead of greeting her immediately—
his eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Hm."
Mia tilted her head.
"What?"
Ebruhan studied her carefully.
"I expected you to already be within your growth phase."
Emma sighed beside them.
"Yes."
"That is exactly what worries me."
She looked toward Mia again.
"Everything about her condition suggests the phase should have started already."
Mia scratched her neck again aggressively.
"Maybe my body forgot."
Ebruhan immediately answered:
"That is not how dragon growth works."
"…Unfortunate."
Mia groaned dramatically afterward before rolling partly onto her side.
"Grrah…"
"It itchy everywhere…"
Ebruhan stepped closer and lightly inspected several loose scales near her shoulder.
A few older plates were beginning to separate naturally from the newer scales beneath.
His expression became slightly more serious afterward.
"…Your body is preparing."
Mia stopped moving for a moment.
"…Then why is nothing happening?"
That question lingered quietly in the barn afterward.
Even Emma looked uncertain now.
Because delayed growth phases in dragons were rare.
Especially for Abyss lineage dragons.
Ebruhan slowly folded his arms.
"There may be a reason your instincts are resisting the transition."
Mia blinked.
"…My instincts?"
The dragon nodded once.
"Growth phases are not merely physical."
"They are heavily connected to the mind."
Emma looked thoughtful at that.
Then Ebruhan's gaze rested on Mia again.
"…If part of you is unconsciously refusing the change…"
"…your body may continue delaying the process."
Mia froze slightly afterward.
Because unfortunately—
that explanation hit a little too close.
After all…
deep inside—
a part of Riko still feared becoming "more dragon."
Mia finally stopped scratching herself long enough to look toward Ebruhan suspiciously.
"So…"
Her tail flicked once.
"What actually brings you here?"
Ebruhan remained silent briefly before answering.
"I came to check on you."
Then his expression became more serious.
"And to inform you that I will be absent for several days."
Mia blinked.
"How long?"
"At least eight days."
Even Emma looked slightly surprised at that.
Ebruhan continued calmly:
"I must personally visit our allied kingdoms."
"Norvoss is likely preparing to move against Lumeris."
The barn suddenly became quieter.
Mia's eyes widened slightly.
"…What?"
The playful mood from earlier vanished almost immediately.
Ebruhan folded his arms.
"Their preparations are becoming increasingly obvious."
"Anti-dragon measures."
"Military coordination."
"Mobilization."
Emma frowned slightly.
"So the situation really reached that point…"
Ebruhan gave a slow nod.
"This will no longer remain simple political tension."
Then Mia suddenly lifted her head.
"WAIT."
Her eyes widened further.
"Do I have to fight too?!"
Ebruhan immediately answered:
"No."
That response surprised her slightly.
The dragon continued calmly:
"Not unless you choose to."
"This is not merely a battle, Mia."
His gaze became heavier afterward.
"It is a war."
"The future of Lumeris itself may depend on it."
Those words settled heavily in the barn.
Even Emma looked uneasy now.
Meanwhile Mia slowly looked downward.
Toward her claws.
Toward the loose scales shedding around her body.
Toward the estate she considered home.
Then finally—
she lifted her head again.
Determination slowly replaced uncertainty in her eyes.
"Then do not worry."
She stood up fully now despite still looking slightly awkward from all the itching.
"I will fight with you."
Ebruhan remained silent afterward.
Mia continued:
"This kingdom raised me."
"Leo."
"Vinson."
"Emma."
Her tail slowly lashed behind her.
"This place is my home."
A faint dark-purple mana flickered subtly around her scales.
"And if someone tries to destroy it…"
Her dragon eyes narrowed.
"…then I will fight too."
For several moments, Ebruhan simply watched her quietly.
Then finally—
a faint smile appeared on the ancient dragon's face.
"…You truly have grown, Mia."
Which immediately ruined the serious atmosphere because Mia puffed her chest slightly afterward
"That right…"
Then she froze.
"…Wait."
"NO."
"GRRAH."
"Why do I keep doing that?!"
Ebruhan smiled and gave one final glance toward Mia before stepping back and transforming,
"Remain safe while I am away."
Mia nodded once.
"You too."
Then with one powerful beat of his wings—
BOOOOM.
Wind blasted across the estate grounds as he launched to the sky
Emma shielded her face from the gusts while Mia watched the blue dragon gradually disappear into the clouds.
Silence settled afterward.
Only the sound of distant wind remained.
Then Mia finally spoke quietly:
"…Miss Emma."
Emma looked toward her.
"Yes?"
Mia hesitated briefly.
"Do you really think…"
"…my mind being afraid of the growth phase could affect it?"
Emma became thoughtful immediately.
"…Possibly."
Her answer came honestly.
"I am not completely certain."
She crossed her arms slightly.
"This is actually the first time I have seen a dragon delay its growth phase for this long."
Mia lowered her gaze afterward.
Loose scales shifted softly beneath her claws.
Her thoughts quietly spiraled inward.
Because the truth was complicated.
Too complicated.
She was not merely afraid of pain.
Nor sleep.
Nor the unknown.
A part of her feared something deeper.
What if the growth phase pushed her further away from being Riko?
What if becoming stronger also meant becoming more dragon?
More instinct.
More ancient.
Less human.
The thought quietly unsettled her.
Emma noticed Mia falling silent.
"…Mia?"
The black dragon slightly lifted her head.
For a brief moment—
she genuinely considered telling the truth.
About Riko.
About the fear.
About why the growth phase terrified her more than anyone realized.
But after several seconds—
she quietly looked away instead.
"…It nothing."
Emma studied her carefully for a moment.
But eventually nodded.
"…Alright."
She did not press further.
And Mia silently appreciated that.
Because some truths still felt too heavy to place into someone else's hands.
-----------------
Evening quietly settled over the Vinson Estate.
Warm orange light stretched across the fields while the distant sounds of workers finishing their duties slowly faded into the background.
When Leo returned to the estate, the first thing he noticed was unusual silence.
No black dragon sleeping near the barn.
No tail lazily smacking the grass.
No dramatic complaints echoing somewhere nearby.
Leo blinked.
"…Where Mia?"
After asking Emma, he eventually found her sitting high atop one of the large trees near the estate garden
In human form.
Quietly staring toward the horizon.
For once—
she looked strangely small.
Leo climbed up carefully before sitting beside her on the thick branch.
The tree swayed softly beneath them.
"Hey."
He glanced sideways toward her.
"No greeting this time?"
Mia remained quiet for a second before answering softly:
"…Welcome back."
Leo immediately snorted.
"…Wow."
"That greeting was so dry even desert sand would feel offended."
Normally Mia would immediately argue back.
But this time—
she only lowered her gaze slightly.
And that alone made Leo's expression soften.
"…Mia?"
Wind moved gently through her dark hair while distant sunset light reflected faintly in her blue eyes.
"I just…"
She hesitated.
"…feel weird."
Her fingers tightened slightly against the tree branch.
"I do not know if I am ready for the growth phase yet."
Leo stayed silent and listened.
Mia continued quietly:
"Everyone keeps saying I will become stronger."
"More dragon."
"More powerful."
Her voice slowly became smaller afterward.
"But…"
She swallowed slightly.
"…what if I stop being me?"
That question finally revealed the real fear hiding underneath everything.
Not pain.
Not sleep.
Identity.
Mia looked downward.
"What if after the growth phase…"
"…I am no longer Mia?"
Silence settled softly between them.
Then Leo gently reached over and held her hand.
Mia blinked slightly in surprise.
Leo smiled faintly afterward.
"Hey."
His voice was calm.
"No matter how much you change…"
"You are still my little sister."
He squeezed her hand lightly.
"You are still Mia."
The words were simple.
But for someone carrying the memories of both Mia and Riko—
they hit far deeper than Leo probably realized.
Because for the first time in a while—
someone was not defining her by:
dragon blood
power
instincts
destiny
or the Abyss
Just—
Mia.
Then suddenly—
Mia leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Leo.
Leo blinked in surprise.
A small sniffle followed.
"...Thank you, Leo."
Her voice was quiet.
Almost fragile.
The kind of voice she rarely allowed anyone to hear.
Leo smiled and gently patted her head.
"You are welcome."
For once, he did not make a joke.
For once, he simply sat there with her.
Then he grinned slightly.
"Remember what I said?"
Mia nodded against his shoulder.
"I know."
"I know."
Leo looked toward the sunset.
"I will always try to protect you."
A faint smile appeared on Mia's face.
Not because she believed Leo could protect her from everything.
Not because she thought he could fight dragons, kingdoms, or the Abyss.
But because he genuinely meant it.
And somehow that mattered more.
After a while, Leo pulled back slightly and looked her directly in the eyes.
"Promise me one thing."
Mia tilted her head.
"What?"
Leo pointed a finger dramatically at her.
"You will win your growth phase."
Mia stared at him for a moment.
Then a small smile finally appeared.
A real one.
Not forced.
Not nervous.
Just Mia.
"I promise."
She raised one hand slightly.
"Dragon promise."
Leo immediately brightened.
"There we go!"
"That is the Mia I know!"
He pointed toward her again.
"I believe in you!"
Mia laughed quietly.
A small laugh.
But it felt lighter than anything she had felt all day.
Below them, the estate continued peacefully as evening settled over the land.
War preparations were beginning.
Norvoss was planning.
Ebruhan was flying toward distant allies
Yet for this brief moment, sitting on a tree branch beside her brother, none of that mattered.
Because the fear that had been gripping her all day felt just a little smaller.
And deep inside, where doubt had been building for weeks, a tiny spark of determination finally answered:
"I will win."
---------
Deep beneath the royal palace of Kingdom of Lumeris, the prison corridors remained quiet.
Far too quiet.
For most prisoners, silence was comforting.
For Iyas?
It was torture.
The fox sat against the wall of his cell with his tail sprawled across the floor.
Bored.
Incredibly bored.
Painfully bored.
Over the past few hours he had attempted:
lock picking
chain twisting
collar loosening
pretending to be unconscious
pretending to be dead
actual crying
fake crying
negotiating with guards
threatening guards
complimenting guards
None of it worked.
Not even slightly.
The black collar around his neck continued glowing faintly whenever he attempted something clever.
Whatever dragon magic Ebruhan had placed on it...
it was annoyingly effective.
Iyas groaned dramatically.
Then looked toward the two guards stationed outside his cell.
"Can somebody loosen this collar a little?"
He tugged on it pitifully.
"I cannot breathe!"
One guard snorted.
"Nice try, mutt."
"Keep trying."
Iyas immediately sat upright.
"I AM A FOX!"
The second guard shrugged.
"Whatever."
The fox looked personally offended.
"There is a huge difference!"
"No there isn't."
"There absolutely is!"
"Looks like a mutt."
"THAT IS SPECIESISM!"
The first guard nearly laughed.
The second one rolled his eyes.
"Quiet!."
"I am bored!."
"Then be bored quietly."
Iyas stared at them for several seconds.
Then:
"…Do either of you play cards?"
"No."
"Chess?"
"No."
"Board games?"
"No."
"Storytelling?"
"No."
"Friendship?"
"No."
The fox looked devastated.
Silence returned.
Thirty seconds passed.
Then:
"Hey."
"No."
"I didn't even ask anything."
"No."
Another thirty seconds.
"Hey."
The guards simultaneously groaned.
-------
After a while ,Iyas finally stopped talking.
A miracle.
The guards almost celebrated.
The fox slowly curled into a ball against the stone wall, his tail wrapped around himself.
For once, there were no complaints.
No schemes.
No dramatic speeches.
Only a long, quiet sigh.
"...Sorry, Princess."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
The prison corridor remained silent.
And as the torchlight flickered across the walls, Iyas found his thoughts drifting backward.
Years.
Years backward.
At that time, Princess Selene had been only eighteen.
Norvoss was still an occupied kingdom.
Weak.
Broken.
Forgotten.
The roads were dangerous.
Bandits roamed freely.
Slave traders operated openly beneath the protection of corrupt officials.
And among their captives had been a young fox beastfolk.
Hungry.
Dirty.
Terrified.
Iyas.
He still remembered the cage.
The beatings for trying to escape..
The merchants discussing prices.
Not as a person.
As merchandise.
One buyer had spoken about selling him to experimenters.
Another discussed training him as a servant.
Neither possibility sounded pleasant.
Then she appeared.
At first he thought she was simply another noble.
Beautiful clothes.
Calm eyes.
Dangerously calm eyes.
The traders had thought the same thing.
They were wrong.
Very wrong.
The conversation ended.
And somehow the cage door opened afterward.
Iyas still remembered staring upward in disbelief.
Freedom.
Just like that
No cage.
No price tag hanging over his life.
Selene had simply turned away afterward.
As though saving him was nothing remarkable.
As though she had already forgotten him.
Then came her voice.
"You are free."
"Go."
That should have been the end of it.
For most people, it would have been.
But young Iyas had immediately scrambled after her.
"Wait!"
Selene stopped.
Slowly turning around.
Golden eyes studying him.
"What now?"
The fox swallowed nervously.
Then blurted out:
"Can I follow you?"
A brief silence followed.
"...What?"
"Please!"
"I can work for you!"
Selene looked genuinely confused.
"What exactly could you possibly do for me?"
The question hit harder than any insult.
Because at the time—
he honestly did not know.
He had no wealth.
No skills.
No education.
No status.
Nothing.
Selene sighed lightly.
"Go home, kid."
But Iyas refused to move.
"I can be useful!"
His voice cracked slightly.
"I really can!"
"I'll do anything to repay you!"
For the first time, amusement touched Selene's expression.
A very small smile.
The dangerous kind.
"Oh?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"Anything?"
Young Iyas nodded immediately.
"Yes!"
The smile widened ever so slightly.
And somehow that should have worried him.
A lot.
Instead, he felt hopeful.
Which in hindsight was probably his first mistake.
Years later, that single decision had transformed him into one of Norvoss's most valuable intelligence assets.
While soldiers fought battles openly—
Iyas worked in shadows.
Gathering names.
Listening to conversations.
Tracking movements.
Delivering information.
He became one of the unseen eyes that allowed Selene to move pieces across the board.
Intel from Iyas helped expose weaknesses.
Helped identify targets.
Helped reveal routes and schedules.
Sometimes entire operations began because of information gathered by one small fox no one bothered to notice.
And when Selene's campaign against Qtorn began...
his reports had played their part there as well.
Not as a warrior.
Not as a commander.
But as an eye watching from places others ignored.
Back in the prison cell, Iyas slowly opened his eyes.
The memory faded.
Reality returned.
"...Well."
He looked down at the dragon collar around his neck.
"...This is probably not how I imagined my career ending."
---------------