The Regressed Heir of Ravencrest

Darkness swallowed Mythralis the moment the spatial fluctuation closed around her. An endless, crushing pressure bore down on her from every direction, dragging her deeper into the void. Despite her immense strength, she couldn’t resist it, let alone hope to escape.

She already knew where she was being taken. She would be cast into one of the forbidden places, a realm devoid of even a single mote of mana, where demonic beasts roamed endlessly. There, she would be forced to fight without rest for years, her strength gradually wearing down as her recovery grew more difficult with each passing day. Until the punishment was lifted, her advancement to becoming an Ancient Dragon would remain out of reach, a delay that could last years, perhaps even decades.

Despite knowing the cruel fate awaiting her, not a trace of sadness appeared in her eyes. Her thoughts remained fixed on the boy who had saved her, and her concern for him grew with every passing moment. She had done everything she could, yet she still wished she had been granted a little more time, enough at least to see him wake up.

Get well soon... she whispered into the void.

The moment the words left her lips, the pressure shifted without warning.

Mythralis’s eyes snapped open.

The force dragging her through the darkness had abruptly changed direction. The alteration was so subtle that she almost failed to notice it, yet something had undeniably interfered. It felt as though an unseen force had reached into the very flow of the law and gently turned it aside.

Before she could make sense of what had happened, light burst through the darkness.

WHOOSH!

The crushing pressure vanished, and Mythralis found herself standing on solid ground.

For a long moment, she remained motionless, her eyes widening as she took in her surroundings. She stood in a vast expanse beneath a sky that held neither sun nor moon, yet somehow seemed caught between day and night. A soft, endless radiance filled the heavens, shifting between pale silver and faint blue like light seen through the surface of a frozen lake. Thin ribbons of light drifted silently across the sky, stretching from horizon to horizon.

Short spiritual grass covered the ground, glowing faintly beneath her feet. With each step she took, thin frost spread across the grass and bloomed into tiny ice flowers before dissolving back into light, as though the realm itself was recognising what she was. Clusters of crystal formations rose from the earth like the frozen spires of an ancient city. Some were small enough to fit in her palm, while others towered hundreds of meters overhead, their crystalline surfaces humming softly with energy.

Between the crystal spires stood ancient trees with pale silver bark, their branches heavy with leaves that shimmered like thin sheets of ice. High above them, small islands floated silently in the sky, drifting slowly through the silver light. From their edges, streams of radiant energy poured down like waterfalls, glowing softly as they fell before dissolving into mist long before they reached the ground.

Mythralis drew a slow breath, and pure, untouched energy flooded her body. It was so rich and dense that it almost seemed alive, flowing through the air like an invisible river and gathering around her as though curious about the newcomer.

Small lights soon began drifting toward her from the distance. At first, they appeared to be nothing more than floating motes, but as they approached, she recognised them as countless spirits of frost, wind, and light. They gathered at a cautious distance, observing her in silence. Some flickered nervously, while others circled her briefly before drifting away.

Far beyond them, she sensed enormous presences slumbering deep within the seemingly boundless realm. A few rivalled her own strength, while others eclipsed it entirely. Even from such a distance, their overwhelming presence sent a faint tremor through her hands. Yet none of them appeared to pay her any attention.

The Spirit Realm.

This isn’t...

Mythralis stared at the world around her, slowly coming to terms with what she had discovered. This wasn’t the forbidden place where she had expected to spend years fighting demonic beasts. It was the Spirit Realm, one of the most mysterious places in existence, a realm the Dragon Clans had been forbidden to enter for thousands of years. Even Ancient Dragons longed for the opportunity to spend a few years here, and she had only ever heard tales of its wonders.

She couldn’t understand how or why she had ended up here instead of facing the punishment imposed by the law. She searched through her memories, but couldn’t recall a single instance of a dragon of her kind entering the Spirit Realm under such circumstances.

Eventually, her thoughts returned to the boy and the traces she had discovered on him.

Is this because of that being?

It has to be... No one else could have done something like this.

She thought about the connection between that being and the boy who had saved her, but quickly stopped herself. Even entertaining thoughts about that existence was not something to be done carelessly.

She calmed herself and remained still for a while. Around her, the spirits gradually grew bolder, drifting closer until a few brushed lightly against her arm before scattering like startled birds.

Finally, Mythralis let out a quiet breath.

Whatever the reason for her arrival, she was here now. She could sense that she would be allowed to remain in the Spirit Realm for only a few years, and she intended to make the most of that opportunity.

She walked toward the nearest crystal spire and sat at its base, closing her eyes. The realm’s dense energy gathered around her, seeping into her wounds and flowing toward her Dragon Heart. The spirits drifted closer, settling into a quiet circle around her as though keeping watch.

Before she sank fully into her recovery, Mythralis opened her eyes one last time and looked up at the silver sky.

Something had changed her fate today.

First the boy, who had freed her from the corruption she couldn’t resist. Then the traces of that being clinging to him. And now this.

She didn’t believe in coincidences...

"I forgot to ask for your name..." she murmured softly, a hint of sadness in her voice as it faded into the endless light.

Then she closed her eyes, and the Spirit Realm fell silent around her.

———

Meanwhile, in Northwatch

It was approaching noon.

Several hours had passed since the battle ended, yet the Outer District remained eerily quiet. Behind locked doors and shuttered windows, the people who had lost consciousness beneath the dragon’s terrifying pressure were slowly beginning to wake.

Some found themselves sprawled across the cold floors of their homes, while others stirred against the walls or doors of nearby inns, their throats dry and their heads pounding. Confusion lingered for a few moments before memories of the maddened roar came rushing back. They hurried toward their windows, staring at the distant walls with growing fear.

Mothers checked on their children, while husbands searched for their wives. Cries of relief broke the silence as families reunited, grateful to find their loved ones unharmed. Others ventured into the streets, desperately seeking news about the battle and the soldiers defending the fortress.

Soon, they spotted soldiers moving through the streets, some carrying the wounded and others heading toward the gates. The people rushed toward them with questions, but the soldiers only told them that the Beast Tide was over. No matter how much they were asked, none of them said anything more.

The walls still stood, and the sky above Northwatch remained quiet.

———

At the Guest House

William’s eyes slowly opened.

For a moment, he couldn’t make sense of his surroundings. His vision was still blurred, and his head throbbed as he struggled to remember what had happened. Then the memory of the terrifying pressure that had swept through Northwatch returned, and he immediately turned toward his family.

"Elene...! Anna... Sepharina!" he called urgently, shaking them gently.

Sepharina stirred first, followed by Anna, both blinking groggily as they regained consciousness. Elene took longer to respond, and William’s heart tightened with fear until her eyes finally opened. Though she remained weak, the elixir Ethan had given her had strengthened her body enough to help her endure the overwhelming pressure.

"You’re all right..." William murmured, pulling his family into a trembling embrace.

For several moments, he couldn’t bring himself to let go. The last thing he remembered was the crushing pressure that had forced them all unconscious, one after another, while he held them close. He had feared that something terrible was about to happen, and now, feeling them breathing against him, he struggled to hold back his tears.

"W-what happened?" Anna asked, her voice hoarse.

"I don’t know..." William replied, glancing toward the window. "B-but it seems to be over."

His voice still trembled with uncertainty.

Then, almost simultaneously, their thoughts turned to the same person.

"Young Master..." Elene whispered, her face paling with worry.

Anna and Sepharina echoed her concern, their relief at being alive quickly overshadowed by fear for Ethan. If the pressure had been so overwhelming even here, what had happened to those who had been fighting on the walls?

The two sisters immediately scrambled out of bed and hurried toward the door before their parents could stop them.

"We should go too," Elene said, looking at William.

He nodded and helped her to her feet. Elene’s hand tightened around his arm as they followed their daughters out of the room.