Damian tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"Oh, I know that story. Yes... Archangel Michael sealed the dragon in a sword that defied even the greatest monsters. After that, he entrusted it to one of the strongest Beastfolk Tribes," he said.
Nolan leaned forward, eyes gleaming.
"And my friend beca the successor," he added.
Silence filled the room for a mont. A faint pressure gathered around Nolan—subtle, but heavy, like the warning of an incoming storm.
"So before he reaches ... I want a sword worthy of the fight. That is why I needed the Chira... and your scale," Nolan said quietly.
Damian’s expression softened with respect.
"Understood, Master. Then the fifteen-day wait is worth it," he replied.
The next morning ca softly.
Sunlight slipped into the mansion windows, warming the rooms where Nolan and his companions rested. One by one, they erged—stretching off the last hints of sleep.
Lyra was first, tightening her gloves.
Linda ca next, fixing her hair.
Celia followed, rubbing her eyes.
Damian was already awake—leaning against a wall, arms folded, expression serious.
They gathered around the long table for breakfast again—fresh bread, roasted at, potatoes, and glowing fruits prepared by dwarven chefs.
After eating, Nolan stood up.
"Pack what’s important. We leave soon," he said.
The group moved quickly. Cloaks tightened. Weapons checked. Bags tied.
Finally, they stepped outside into the crisp dwarf-kingdom air and began walking toward the edge of the city.
A few dwarves noticed imdiately.
"They’re leaving!"
"Go get the general!"
Monts later, the Dwarf General ca running—armor rattling with every step.
He stopped in front of Nolan, slightly out of breath.
"Sir... are you leaving already?" he asked.
"Yeah. I’ll be back in about fifteen days. Maybe sooner," Nolan replied.
The general’s expression tightened with concern.
"But we haven’t even repaid you yet. And the council still insists that you accept the title of king. We have no one stronger to protect us than you," he said.
Nolan let out a short breath, shaking his head.
"You’re wrong about that. I’m just soone passing through," he said.
"The one who should protect your people... is soone from your people."
The general frowned, confused.
Nolan stepped closer and rested a hand on his shoulder.
"And that soone is you," he said.
"You’re brave, smart, loyal to your people. If anyone should be king—it’s you."
The general froze, stunned.
Before he could speak, Nolan and his group turned and continued walking forward.
Linda, Celia, Lyra, and Damian followed behind him.
---
Summoning the Wyverns
Their path brought them to a wide field outside the dwarf kingdom—a grassy stretch with little to no civilians around.
A quiet breeze flowed across the plains.
Nolan raised his hand.
Magic surged into the ground.
WHOOOM!
A glowing formation appeared beneath them—five sigils swirling in a perfect 5×5 pattern.
The earth trembled.
Then—
SHUUUAAA!!!
A gigantic shadow burst from the sigils.
A massive wyvern rose from the ground, scales glistening and wings spreading wide.
This was the Wyvern King—towering, ancient, powerful.
Behind him, dozens of wyverns erupted from the earth one after another—bowing their heads respectfully to Nolan.
Nolan stepped forward.
"Take us to the Elf Tribe," he commanded.
The Wyvern King lowered its head in acknowledgnt.
Nolan turned to Linda.
"Linda, which part of the Elf territory is your tribe located from here?" he said.
Linda replied,"
"We’re not far, Master. With the wyverns... maybe an hour," she said.
Nolan nodded slowly, then looked up at the Wyvern King.
With one powerful flap—
WHOOSH!!
The Wyvern King soared into the air, wind blasting across the grass.
The other wyverns followed, forming a majestic flying escort.
Linda, Celia, Lyra, Damian, and Nolan each climbed onto wyverns waiting for them.
And with another burst of wind—
FWOOOM!!!
They shot into the sky, heading toward the hidden Elf holand.
The five wyverns lifted off at once, their wings bursting open with a thunderous WHOOOM that sent dust spiraling behind them. Nolan sat firmly on his wyvern’s back, the wind whipping against his face as they rose higher, leaving the dwarf kingdom shrinking below.
Linda held onto her wyvern with both hands, her silver hair fluttering wildly behind her. Celia leaned forward on hers, perfectly balanced as if she had flown a hundred tis before. Lyra rode hers with calm confidence, her violet eyes scanning everything beneath them. Damian, even in human form, sat cross-legged on the back of his wyvern like it was nothing—completely unfazed by the altitude or speed.
When they reached open sky, the clouds rolled apart like drifting curtains. The sun bathed the wyverns’ scales in gold, and the entire sky stretched endlessly around them. The Wyvern King leading them let out a powerful roar:
ROOOOOOAR!!
The cry echoed across the heavens, commanding the other wyverns to maintain formation. Nolan couldn’t help smiling.
This... this never gets old, he thought. Flying with wyverns feels like true freedom.
Below them, the Dragon-Spine Mountains ca into view—towering black peaks jutting sharply into the sky. Snow coated the tips, and mist circled the cliffs like ghosts wandering ancient ruins. Between the mountains, Nolan spotted shattered stone towers, broken bridges, and massive statues half buried beneath age and moss.
Celia pointed down slightly.
"Master, look. Those ruins... elves say that’s where the first hero fought."
Nolan narrowed his eyes.
"Demons must have passed through here once. The mana feels distorted."
Damian glanced downward.
"This place was once a battlefield for dragons and demons. Their clashes reshaped the land itself."
Lyra closed her eyes, feeling the air shift.
"There’s ancient magic here... heavy, deep. The kind that never sleeps."
The winds grew colder as they passed over the tallest peak. Snow spun up around them, sparkling as the sunlight caught each flake. The wyverns sliced through the frosty air, soaring past waterfalls that tumbled down massive cliffs into hidden lakes.
Then, just as suddenly, the cold faded.
Beyond the last mountain, the world turned green.
An endless sea of trees stretched below—the Great Greenwood. The dense canopy looked like a living erald ocean. Shafts of sunlight pierced through the leaves, lighting up animals running across branches and glowing birds fluttering between treetops.
Linda’s expression softened the mont she saw it.
"We’re close... I can feel it. This forest... it’s where I’m from."
Her voice trembled slightly—nostalgia mixed with fear.
Celia leaned her head sideways, teasing.
"Relax. With Master here, no elf will dare raise their voice."
Linda blushed.
"T-That’s not the point! My tribe is strict... they won’t just—"
Nolan reached out and placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
"I’m here. Whatever happens, let them try."
Linda’s heart raced.
The wyverns slowed. The Wyvern King growled—not aggressively, but cautiously. Nolan saw it too: the air ahead shimred faintly, like ripples in water.
"A barrier," Damian muttered. "Strong one."
The mont Linda placed her hand on the glowing barrier, she frowned.
"Leave it to ," she said confidently. "If I pour a little mana in, it will recognize ."
She pressed her palm gently against the shimring wall of light. Then she picked up a tiny ant from a leaf, placed it on the barrier, and focused her mana into that specific point—just like she had always done before.
But nothing happened.
The barrier didn’t ripple.
Didn’t glow.
Didn’t react at all.
Linda stepped back, confused. "What... what’s going on? It didn’t work. It always works. I don’t understand."
Lyra looked at her. "Did you maybe change sothing before you left a year ago?"
"No," Linda shook her head. "This barrier only refuses to open if soone removes my family’s mana signature... but who would do that?"
Everyone looked around the forest, tension thick in the air.
Nolan’s cracked his knuckles. "Alright then. Stand back."
He pulled his fist back. The air behind him warped from sheer pressure—his muscles bulged, aura flaring.
"This barrier is strong..." he smirked. "But it won’t be stronger than my fist."
BOOOOM!
His punch landed like a teor.
The barrier didn’t just crack—
It shattered, exploding outward like thousands of pieces of glowing glass dissolving into the wind.
Leaves trembled. Birds fled the treetops.
And in the sudden silence, they stepped inside the forest.
The mont they did—
shff! shff! shff!
Dozens of figures dropped from the trees.
Arrows aid.
Bows drawn tight.
Surrounded.
Lyra scanned the area calmly. "Master... around thirty-five elves. All aiming at us."
Nolan raised his hand slowly. "Good. No one attack. We ca here in peace."
Nolan lifted both his hands as well. "Everyone, raise your hands. Don’t give them an excuse."
They all raised their hands.
"We co in peace!" Nolan said loudly and clearly.
From behind him, Linda stepped forward and raised her hand slightly.
"It’s !" she shouted. "It’s —Linda!"
An elf among the archers blinked, his bow lowering slightly. His eyes widened.
"...Linda? Princess Linda? You’ve been missing for almost a year!"
A wave of whispers broke among the elves as several of them slowly lowered their bows.
But one of the elves suddenly narrowed his eyes, glaring at Nolan and the others.
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