Felix climbed the mountain slowly.His breathing was steady but heavy.He pressed his hand against the rock and pulled himself up. Small stones fell down from under his boots.
Leon sat on Felix's back, one hand resting on his shoulder to stay balanced. His legs were steady at Felix's sides.
His cloak moved back and forth in the strong wind. He looked ahead toward the top of the mountain.
Nox floated beside them. He moved upward without touching the rocks. His coat did not move much, even in the wind. He looked relaxed.
He turned his head toward Leon.
"Is this the reason you asked this mountain?"
Felix reached up again and grabbed another edge. His fingers tightened. He pulled himself higher.
Leon did not look at Nox at first.
"Yes," he said calmly. "It is."
Nox rose a little higher than them and looked down.
"It's all for that lizard?"
Felix paused for a second but kept climbing.
Leon lifted his head and looked directly at Nox.
His expression became serious.
"It is not a lizard."
He spoke clearly.
"It's a dragon."
Nox waved his hand lightly in the air.
"Yes, yes."
Felix continued climbing. He placed his foot carefully on a small edge and pushed himself up. His fingers tightened around the stone.
Leon looked forward at the mountain peak.
"I need it," he said calmly.
The wind blew harder. His cloak moved behind him.
"I need to obtain it...no matter what..."
He did not finish the sentence.
Nox floated closer to Leon's side. He looked down at him.
"Aren't you a bit too greedy?"
Leon did not answer.
Nox continued speaking, counting on his fingers.
"You already have the System."
He raised one finger.
"Your skill, Author's Legacy."
Another finger.
"An Ether Heart."
Another.
"Void Magic."
Another.
"And even more…" He pointed at himself with a small smile.
"Me."
Leon slowly turned his head and looked at him.
"You?"
He raised one eyebrow.
Felix kept climbing, breathing calm even as he pulled himself up another ledge.
Nox placed a hand on his chest while floating.
"Yes. Me."
He moved closer to Leon's eye level.
"Do not underestimate my value."
Leon stared at him for a moment.
Felix adjusted his grip and climbed higher, small rocks falling past them.
Nox crossed his arms again.
"I am clearly your greatest asset."
Felix grabbed another edge and pulled himself up.
Leon was about to reply to Nox—
When a loud shout came from below.
"But why the hell are you bringing me?!"
All three paused.
Leon and Nox looked down.
Far below them, clinging to the rock face with both arms and one leg barely holding—
Kylus looked up angrily.
His hair was messy. His face was red from climbing.
"Answer me!" he shouted again. "Why am I here?!"
Leon looked down at Kylus from Felix's back.
His face was calm, but his voice was firm.
"You are my subordinate," he said.
He pointed down at him.
"And I am your Lord. You should always follow me."
The wind blew between them. Small stones rolled down the cliff.
Kylus clicked his tongue.
"Tch."
He pulled himself up with effort and glared upward.
"If I knew this," he said through clenched teeth, "I would have never sworn loyalty to you, kid."
"It's too late to regret now."
Felix adjusted his grip and continued climbing.Nox floated nearby, watching the exchange with quiet amusement.
Felix looked down at Kylus, who was still struggling below.He shifted his grip on the rock and spoke loudly.
"Come on! It's just a mountain. You can do it!"
Kylus glared up at him while pulling himself higher.
"It's easy for you," he shouted back. "You're a Swordmaster!"
Felix gave a small smile and continued climbing.
Kylus muttered under his breath but kept moving. His arms shook, but he did not stop.
Nox floated upward without effort, watching them.
Leon stayed quiet on Felix's back, looking toward the top.
They climbed for hours.
The sky slowly changed color. The wind grew colder. Their movements became slower, but they continued.
Finally, Felix reached higher ground. He lifted himself up and looked ahead.
Just below the peak—
He saw it.
A narrow ledge.
It stretched along the mountain wall, hidden in shadow.
Felix's eyes widened slightly.
He looked up toward Leon.
"We've reached!"
He pointed carefully with one hand.
"There is a narrow ledge below the peak, just like Master Leon said."
Felix carefully moved sideways and stepped onto the narrow ledge. His boots touched flat ground at last.
He slowly lowered himself and helped Leon down from his back.
Kylus pulled himself up a moment later. He grabbed the edge with both hands and rolled onto the ledge, breathing hard.
He lay on his back for a few seconds, staring at the sky.
Nox floated down and stood lightly on the stone surface.
The ledge was narrow and long. Cold wind passed over it. Above them, the peak stood close. Behind them, the cliff dropped straight down.
Felix stood up and looked around.
They were finally on the ledge.
Leon stepped forward on the narrow ledge. He looked along the mountain wall, then toward the shadowed areas near the peak.
He brushed dust from his cloak and spoke calmly.
"Let's find the cave."
Felix straightened his back and nodded. He began walking carefully along the ledge, one hand close to the rock wall for balance.
Kylus pushed himself up from the ground and followed, still breathing heavily but alert.
Nox moved ahead of them, floating slightly above the stone as his eyes scanned the mountain face.
All four began searching along the ledge.
Felix stopped walking.
"There," he said quietly.
A dark opening stood ahead of them, carved into the mountain wall. It was partly covered by large broken rocks. Cold air flowed out from inside.
Leon stepped closer and looked at the entrance without speaking.
Kylus moved beside Felix and stared at the darkness.
"So this is it…" he muttered.
Nox floated forward and hovered near the entrance. He looked inside for a moment.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
He lifted his hand and closed his eyes for a moment.
The cold air brushed past him.
Then he opened his eyes.
"I can feel it," he said quietly.
Felix stiffened.
Kylus placed his hand on his bow.
Leon did not move.
Nox looked into the darkness of the cave.
"There is a dragonic presence inside."
The wind passed over the ledge again.
Nox tilted his head slightly.
"But… it is not as strong as a Primordial Dragon."
"Are you sure it is the place?."
Leon stepped forward.
Then he spoke slowly.
"Yes,It is."
He took another step forward.
"This is the place."
He looked straight ahead.
"This is...Valkor's Grave."