I Alone Breed Dragons

The carriage rolled past the border of the dragon kingdom. Guards searched each carriage before granting passage to those with a permit, and the line was longer than expected. Quinette drew the curtains, looking at the window. "I should meet the guards to make way for our carriage."

"No need for that. I think I’ll rather fly there." I then climbed down from the carriage, eyes turning my way as my wings grew out of my back. Unfurled, I took off into the air, shooting up, over the walls.

The guards stationed at the fortress readied themselves; three dragons in their armor conjured elemental magic — trespassing wouldn’t be taken lightly. The guards announced as they prepared for a fight.

"Who’s trespassing?" Quinette’s dark wings spread in the air as she hovered, her silhouette — her horns and wings against the sunlight — casting a shadow on the guards. On sighting her, the guards’ faces shifted with relief. "Commander Quinette!"

"Stand down."

I didn’t wait for the reunion; I continued my flight, heading straight to Aria’s house.

The mansion was quiet, with guards stationed around. Footsteps echoed, moving around hesitantly around the mansion. Some remaining building materials were seen getting shipped away. I walked past the chamber that we had been teleported away from, expecting an empty space, but my expectation was defeated — they had renovated the building, laying brick walls to cover up the hole.

I walked toward the main hall room, just past my chamber. The guards’ reactions shifted as I walked by. I could sense Aria’s mana signature just up ahead, pointing toward the library. I traced it; the library door was partially open, and as I got closer, Aria’s voice, engaged in a conversation, drifted to me.

"Aria, we completed our search — every nook and cranny around the dragon kingdom, even outside the kingdom. It’s high time we acknowledge their death and prepare to report to the queen. This assassin faction needs to be dealt with more seriously."

"What of Farmhills village? I heard some info about his appearance there."

"There’s none there — we already searched."

My ears perked up. No one had searched our village; the guard was lying. Why? My only guess was Maltie — she was the only one who knew where I was, and since she had spies everywhere, it wasn’t far-fetched that she had someone even among the dragon kingdom’s royal guards.

Then I heard Aria exhale. "I failed to follow your order, my queen. I couldn’t sense a third mana signature belonging to the queen, so I could guess she was talking to herself.

"..."

"How long are you going to keep standing at the door? Show yourself." Aria said, and our eyes met through the slim parting of the door — those slanted serpent eyes of hers. I smirked, then pushed the door open, walking into the room. I met Aria, seated behind the table close to the window, still in her immaculate white dress, her silver hair stretched down in waves, adorned with precious jewels. I doffed my hat. "How long did you know I was here?"

"From the moment you walked into this mansion, I felt your mana." Aria’s chest then dropped. "Thank goodness you’re alive. Where’s Baroness Quinette?"

"I believe she had something to take care of..."

"The kingdom was thrown into disarray from you going missing. Ray, stop all searches, and spread the news to the baroness of the Armor of Hearts House — she’s returned."

The guard then bowed before taking her leave.

"So... you read books too?" I said, walking to Aria. I studied the multitude of shelves lined with books, old ones, neatly stacked in rows, tracing a finger through them.

"I do... though only when I’m stressed. Thinking about the queen’s punishment if she returned to find out you were gone would have been something else — none of us wants to find out."

"So the queen doesn’t know yet."

"She doesn’t."

"...You didn’t report the case yet."

"..."

Aria then stood up, her heels clicking, the sound bouncing off the walls of the pin-drop-silent library, as she walked over.

"If I did, fear of the queen returning immediately would put the baronesses at a disadvantage. For that reason, I didn’t report the case to the queen yet — not until she arrives from her journey."

I narrowed my eyes at Aria... her reason wasn’t valid enough for me. She had more loyalty to the queen than that; the first thing that would have come to her head the moment me and Quinette were abducted was to report to the queen, but she didn’t — insisting it was for the baronesses? She was lying, I deduced. She was hiding something about the queen’s whereabouts.

"Aria, from my stay in the western kingdom, I didn’t hear or see any hint of the dragon queen’s presence around. Do you know where she truly is? Did she travel somewhere farther, like to the east or north, supposedly?"

"The queen’s whereabouts are confidential. But that aside, I’m eager to know what happened to you. Come, let’s sit. I want to know where you were transported to, and if you have any idea who might be involved in the baroness’s abduction."

I then joined Aria as we sat at the table, where I told her everything about what happened, leaving the goblin details out.

"So they used forbidden magic to cast a dungeon, trapping you two. And you guys defeated the dungeon boss and escaped — an SSS rank. That’s actually impressive, almost unbelievable."

Aria said, calmly assessing me, resting her hand on the table. "If you escaped and stayed hidden for weeks in your village, tell me why you returned. You had a chance to escape."

"I’m here at my own accord, because I have a mission to complete."

"Which is?"

"That’s confidential."

"Will you agree to help the baroness complete their role before the queen’s ultimatum?"

"It depends."

"With that, I also think your suspicion of Maltie is more concrete — we have to apprehend her before her next move. She must have some way she unlocks the vault without the queen or Aldric. Mana she isn’t telling us about."