The silence between us lasted less than a minute before Ceal ruined it.
Ceal: "No."
I blinked.
Astaroso: "I haven't asked yet."
Ceal: "You looked at me."
Astaroso: "...Fair."
I scratched the back of my neck.
Astaroso: "Hypothetically."
Ceal: "No."
Astaroso: "You don't even know the hypothetical."
Ceal: "I don't need to."
Astaroso: "You're impossible."
Ceal: "I've been told."
I sighed.
Living with him for eighteen years had been a mistake.
He knew me too well.
Subtlety clearly wasn't going to work.
Astaroso: "There's an S-Rank Dungeon about seventy kilometers west of here."
Ceal: "I know."
Astaroso: "I want to go there."
Ceal: "No."
That was immediate.
Astaroso: "You answered unusually fast."
Ceal: "Because the answer is unusually simple."
Astaroso: "Hear me out."
Ceal: "No."
Astaroso: "You're making this difficult."
Ceal: "That's the idea."
I frowned.
Time for Plan B.
Astaroso: "Do you know why nobody has ever cleared it?"
Ceal: "Because everyone dies."
Astaroso: "Technically correct."
Ceal: "That's usually how failed expeditions end."
I stared at him.
Astaroso: "...You're enjoying this."
Ceal: "A little."
I took a slow breath.
Astaroso: "It isn't actually a dungeon."
That finally earned me his attention.
Ceal: "Continue."
Astaroso: "It's... different."
Ceal: "Very descriptive."
Astaroso: "I'm trying."
Ceal: "Try harder."
Lucien had definitely corrupted him.
Unfortunately, I couldn't explain the truth.
"I know because I wrote the place."
That conversation would be difficult.
So I settled for the closest thing.
Astaroso: "I know there's something valuable inside."
Ceal: "How?"
There it was.
The one question I couldn't answer.
Astaroso: "...Instinct."
He stared at me.
Long enough to become uncomfortable.
Ceal: "You're lying."
Astaroso: "I'm withholding."
Ceal: "Same difference."
Astaroso: "...Fair."
The silence returned.
Then—
Ceal: "What's inside?"
I hesitated.
Astaroso: "A weapon."
Ceal: "Legendary?"
Astaroso: "If my instinct is right."
Ceal: "If?"
Astaroso: "About ninety percent."
Ceal: "Only ninety?"
Astaroso: "The other ten percent is why I need you."
He didn't look convinced.
Ceal: "There are easier ways to commit suicide."
Astaroso: "This one comes with treasure."
Ceal: "Not convincing."
I spread my hands.
Astaroso: "Look at it logically."
Ceal: "I'd rather not."
Astaroso: "Humor me."
He sighed.
Ceal: "...Fine."
Progress.
Astaroso: "You're strong."
Ceal: "I know."
Astaroso: "Fifteen-Star."
Ceal: "Still aware."
Astaroso: "The dungeon recommends Ten-Star."
Ceal: "I'm waiting."
Astaroso: "So statistically—"
Ceal: "No."
Astaroso: "You didn't even let me finish."
Ceal: "I didn't need to."
I gave up arguing.
The warmth beneath my scales continued growing.
It wasn't painful anymore.
If anything...
It felt welcoming.
My wings unconsciously drifted west again.
Ceal: "It's getting stronger."
I looked at him.
Astaroso: "You noticed?"
Ceal: "Your scales are glowing."
I glanced down.
Thin golden lines shimmered between the crimson scales on my arms.
I hadn't even noticed.
Another few moments passed.
Finally, I stopped trying to joke.
Astaroso: "I need that weapon."
He looked at me for several seconds.
The amusement disappeared from his face.
He knew me well enough to recognize when I was serious.
Ceal slowed to a hover.
I stopped beside him.
The wind howled around us.
Ceal: "One question."
Astaroso: "Ask."
Ceal: "If I refuse..."
He didn't finish.
He didn't need to.
I stayed silent.
That was answer enough.
He sighed.
A long, tired sigh.
Ceal: "You're impossible."
Astaroso: "I learned from the best."
Ceal: "I don't remember teaching you this."
Astaroso: "You didn't."
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
Then finally nodded.
Ceal: "One condition."
I straightened immediately.
Astaroso: "Anything."
Ceal: "Inside that dungeon, you follow every order I give."
Ceal: "No arguments."
Ceal: "No improvising."
Ceal: "No heroics."
Ceal: "If I tell you to run..."
Ceal: "...you run."
Ceal: "If I tell you to hide..."
Ceal: "...you hide."
Ceal: "If I tell you to leave the weapon behind..."
I hesitated.
He simply looked at me.
Astaroso: "...Exactly."
Only then did he relax.
He turned toward the western mountains.
Ceal: "Let's see what was important enough..."
Ceal: "...to convince me to walk into an S-Rank Dungeon."
I looked toward the distant peaks.
The warmth inside me pulsed again.
Somewhere beyond those mountains...
Hageth was waiting.
I smiled.
Then the two of us folded our wings and accelerated toward the place where dragons went to die.