Seven days later...
Within a secured military testing ground of Kingdom of Norvoss, rows of soldiers stood guard around a strange sight.
Six massive cannons rested atop reinforced carriages.
Their barrels were engraved with complex mana-conducting runes.
Mages moved around them constantly, checking inscriptions and making adjustments.
At the center of the field stood Princess Selene and Aerys.
Selene studied the weapons silently.
"So these are the anti-dragon cannons?"
One of the dragon hunters stepped forward confidently.
"Yes, Princess."
"If the projectile strikes successfully, it will disrupt and weaken mana flow within the target."
Selene's golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"Interesting."
Beside her, Aerys folded his arms.
"If you're so confident..."
His gaze shifted toward the hunters.
"How many dragons have you actually captured?"
The hunter's confidence immediately dropped a little.
"...At least four."
Aerys raised an eyebrow.
"Only four?"
The hunter coughed awkwardly.
"Two were fire dragons."
"One was a thunder dragon."
"The last was a stone dragon."
Aerys exchanged a glance with Selene.
"I've never heard reports about those hunts."
The hunter scratched the back of his neck.
"That's because..."
"...none survived."
A brief silence followed.
"We killed them."
"And harvested usable materials afterward."
Aerys sighed.
"So your knowledge comes mostly from corpses."
"...Yes, sir."
That answer did not inspire confidence.
Selene remained calm.
"Their intelligence?"
The hunter shrugged.
"Not much."
"They didn't speak."
"They acted mostly on instinct."
"Likely lesser dragons."
He gestured toward one of the cannons.
"We used similar mana-restraining devices during those hunts."
"Much smaller, of course."
One of the mages nearby proudly added:
"These cannons are significantly more powerful."
Selene slowly approached one of the weapons.
Running her fingers across the engraved metal.
Then she asked the question everyone had been avoiding.
"And what happens..."
She turned toward them.
"...when our enemies are not lesser dragons?"
The field grew quieter.
"What happens if our opponents are a true Storm Dragon..."
Her thoughts briefly drifted toward Ebruhan.
"...or an Abyss Dragon?"
Now nobody answered immediately.
The hunters exchanged nervous glances.
Eventually the lead hunter spoke.
"I..."
"...cannot guarantee results, Princess."
At least he was honest.
"If a dragon relies on mana, these weapons should interfere with it."
He pointed toward the cannons.
"They are designed to suppress mana."
"Actually killing the dragon afterward..."
He hesitated.
"...depends entirely on the people holding the weapons."
That answer seemed far more believable.
Selene nodded slowly.
Good.
An honest answer was more valuable than false confidence.
Aerys watched the cannons quietly.
The weapons looked impressive.
Yet something still bothered him.
"If these fail..."
The commander rested a hand on his sword.
"...people die."
Nobody argued.
Because everyone present knew it was true.
If these weapons failed against Ebruhan...
the battlefield would become a slaughter.
Selene finally turned away from the cannons.
"Aerys."
"Yes, Princess?"
She pointed toward the weapons.
"Tell the mages to begin defensive exercises."
The commander waited.
Selene's eyes remained fixed on the six cannons.
"If these are truly capable of restraining dragons..."
"Then dragons will prioritize destroying them."
Understanding immediately flashed across Aerys' face.
Selene continued.
"I want layered magical shields."
"Mobile barriers."
"Dedicated protection teams."
Her voice remained calm.
"Strong enough to withstand dragon attacks."
The mages nearby visibly paled at that requirement.
Aerys, however, simply nodded.
"It shall be done."
Selene looked back toward the cannons one final time.
-----------
Far above the testing grounds of Kingdom of Norvoss, unseen by everyone below, a pair of golden eyes watched silently.
No soldier noticed.
No mage sensed him.
No hunter looked upward.
Invisible mana concealed his presence completely.
Ebruhan had observed everything.
The cannons.
The shields.
The dragon hunters.
The preparations.
And most importantly...
the determination.
Norvoss was not bluffing.
They were truly preparing for war.
The blue dragon remained silent for a few moments longer before turning away.
Then, with a powerful beat of his wings, he vanished into the clouds.
Hours later.
The skies rushed past him.
Forests became blurs.
Mountains disappeared beneath him.
Yet Ebruhan's thoughts remained elsewhere.
"...Grrah."
A low rumble escaped him.
"They really are preparing."
Not just for Lumeris.
Not just for armies.
For dragons.
Specifically dragons.
The realization sat heavily in his mind.
Then, inevitably, his thoughts drifted toward Mia.
Mia.
The troublesome black dragon who somehow found a way to insert herself into every dangerous situation possible.
Ebruhan already knew what would happen if war arrived.
He could practically hear her voice.
"Ain't letting my bro charge alone."
The dragon sighed.
Because she absolutely would say that.
And worse...
she would mean it.
He remembered the battle against the Red Dragon General.
She could have stayed behind.
She didn't.
She fought anyway.
Nearly died.
He remembered the Abyss.
The impossible situation.
The overwhelming odds.
She still chose to stand and fight.
Even against Varkryth.
Even against a being so far beyond her that most dragons would not even consider resistance.
Yet she stood there anyway.
For him.
For her family.
For the people she cared about.
Sometimes Ebruhan genuinely wondered.
Was that her greatest strength?
Or her greatest weakness?
The willingness to risk everything.
The refusal to abandon others.
The stubborn determination that constantly drove her forward.
He honestly didn't know.
Perhaps it was both.
The wind roared around him.
Ebruhan closed his eyes briefly.
"Mia..."
A small smile appeared despite his worries.
"You really are a foolish dragon."
The words carried no anger.
No frustration.
Only affection.
Because despite all the trouble she caused...
Despite all the reckless decisions...
Despite all the headaches...
He was grateful.
Grateful she existed.
Grateful she had survived.
Grateful she had never lost that part of herself.
Then the smile faded.
Reality returned.
War.
Norvoss.
Anti-dragon weapons.
Allies.
Armies.
And above all else...
Mia's delayed growth phase.
The timing could not have been worse.
Every instinct told him something was wrong.
Growth phases did not simply delay themselves.
Not like this.
Not for this long.
And yet nobody had answers.
Not him.
Not Emma.
Not even Nythera.
The blue dragon exhaled heavily.
Then accelerated.
Mana exploded around his body.
Clouds tore apart in his wake.
The distant borders of Lumeris appeared on the horizon.
Whatever came next...
War.
Growth.
Or both.
He would face it.
Just as he always had.
And hopefully...
Mia would be ready too.
Because the world seemed determined to throw every possible challenge at the young black dragon at once.
And Ebruhan had a feeling the hardest trials were still ahead.
--------
The council chamber grew quiet as the doors opened.
Several nobles, generals, and advisors immediately turned their attention toward the newcomer.
Ebruhan had returned.
The expression on his face alone was enough to tell everyone the news was not good.
King King Cedric straightened in his seat.
"Ebruhan."
The dragon approached the council table.
Then he spoke.
"They are preparing seriously, my king."
The room immediately became tense.
Cedric folded his hands.
"What are they preparing?"
Ebruhan was silent for a moment.
As though choosing his words carefully.
Then he answered.
"Anti-dragon weapons."
Several people froze.
One noble nearly dropped his quill.
A general frowned.
"What kind of weapons?"
Ebruhan placed a sketch onto the table.
"Cannons."
The room erupted into murmurs.
"Cannons?"
"For dragons?"
"Impossible."
Ebruhan ignored the reactions.
"I personally observed six of them."
The murmurs immediately died.
Because if Ebruhan had seen them himself...
Then they existed.
The dragon continued.
"They are mounted on reinforced carriages."
"Covered in mana-conducting runes."
"Designed specifically to interfere with a dragon's mana."
The generals exchanged uneasy glances.
One advisor frowned.
"Can they kill a dragon?"
Ebruhan shook his head.
"That remains uncertain."
"But that is not their purpose."
The room listened carefully.
"They are intended to weaken dragons."
"Restrict mana."
"Reduce combat effectiveness."
Several mages immediately began discussing possibilities among themselves.
One looked particularly pale.
"Mana suppression on that scale..."
Ebruhan nodded.
"They have also hired experienced dragon hunters."
Now the room became truly silent.
Not because dragon hunters were powerful.
But because somebody had gone out of their way to gather them.
To study them.
To learn from them.
That showed planning.
Years of planning.
King Cedric remained calm.
"What else?"
Ebruhan's expression darkened.
"They expect dragons to target the cannons."
A general blinked.
"Naturally."
"They know that."
Ebruhan nodded.
"They are already preparing countermeasures."
The room grew heavier.
"Mages."
"Protective barriers."
"Dedicated protection teams."
"Layered magical shields."
One advisor rubbed his forehead.
"So they are planning for our reactions before we even make them."
"Yes."
Ebruhan's answer was immediate.
A long silence followed.
Then one noble slammed a fist against the table.
"Then we strike first!"
Several others nodded.
"We cannot allow these weapons to be completed!"
"Destroy them before they become a threat!"
Ebruhan immediately shook his head.
"No."
The room looked toward him.
The dragon folded his arms.
"That is exactly what Selene expects."
The statement silenced everyone.
"If we attack recklessly..."
"They gain justification."
"They gain initiative."
"They gain control of the battlefield."
King Cedric slowly nodded.
He had been thinking the same thing.
Finally the king stood.
The room quieted instantly.
"We now know Norvoss is preparing."
His gaze swept across the council.
"So we will prepare as well."
No panic.
No shouting.
Just resolve.
Cedric looked toward Ebruhan.
"You have done well."
The dragon lowered his head respectfully.
"Thank you, my king."
The king's expression hardened.
"From this moment forward..."
"Lumeris will assume war is possible."
The room became silent once more.
Not because they were afraid.
But because everyone present understood what those words meant.
The game between kingdoms was ending.
And preparations for something far more dangerous had already begun.
The council chamber fell silent.
The commander's words lingered in the air.
A veteran officer slowly stood from his seat.
"If war breaks out..."
His gaze shifted toward Ebruhan.
"And based on what we know..."
"Lady Dark Flame's attacks can pierce magical shields."
Several officers nodded.
They all remembered the reports.
The battle against the Red Dragon General.
The unusual black mana.
The ability to break through defenses other dragons struggled against.
The commander folded his arms.
"We could deploy her on the battlefield."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Ebruhan's eyes narrowed.
"No."
The answer came immediately.
Cold.
Firm.
Absolute.
The commander frowned.
"Sir?"
Ebruhan's voice remained steady.
"Mia is not a weapon."
The room became quiet.
The commander hesitated.
Then continued anyway.
"With all due respect, Royal Protector..."
A few advisors immediately looked uncomfortable.
But the commander pressed on.
"It may be better than nothing."
Ebruhan's gaze hardened.
The commander swallowed but did not back down.
"If we lose..."
His voice became more serious.
"What happens then?"
Nobody answered.
The commander continued.
"Can we guarantee her safety if the kingdom falls?"
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Because it was a legitimate question.
A painful one.
But legitimate.
Ebruhan looked away briefly.
Not because he lacked an answer.
Because he hated the answer.
The commander noticed.
"So you cannot."
Ebruhan slowly looked back at him.
"No."
The single word echoed through the chamber.
The commander's expression softened slightly.
"Then surely you understand my concern."
For a moment nobody spoke.
Then King Cedric finally rose from his throne.
Immediately the room fell silent.
The king's gaze swept across the council.
"I understand both arguments."
His voice remained calm.
The commander lowered his head respectfully.
Ebruhan remained standing.
Cedric continued.
"Mia possesses abilities that may become valuable during a war."
Several officers nodded.
Then the king's expression hardened.
"But."
One word.
Enough to stop everyone.
"She is also a child."
Nobody argued.
Because despite her strength...
Despite her victories...
Despite her dragon blood...
She was still eight years old.
The king looked directly at the commander.
"I will not order her onto a battlefield."
The commander's shoulders stiffened.
"My king..."
Cedric raised a hand.
"If Mia chooses to fight..."
The room listened carefully.
"That decision will be hers."
Not the military's.
Not the council's.
Not the king's.
Hers.
Ebruhan felt some of the tension leave his shoulders.
Just a little.
The commander sat down slowly.
Clearly unhappy.
But respectful enough to accept the ruling.
The king then looked toward Ebruhan.
"And you."
Ebruhan straightened.
"Yes, my king?"
Cedric's expression softened slightly.
"If that day comes..."
"If Mia chooses to stand on the battlefield..."
His gaze became serious again.
"Then make sure she returns."
The blue dragon was silent for a moment.
Then he lowered his head.
"...I will."
Yet deep inside, Ebruhan already knew the uncomfortable truth.
If war truly arrived...
If Lumeris was threatened...
If Leo was in danger...
If Ebruhan himself stood on the battlefield...
Mia would come.
No order would stop her.
No command would stop her.
No wall would stop her.
Because that was who she was.
And somehow...
That realization worried him more than any anti-dragon cannon ever could.
--------------