The room was still, faintly lit by the morning glow slipping through the curtains. Mei sat across from Reider in Vael's quarters, her hands folded in her lap. He, as always, sat with perfect composure — unmoving, unreadable, the faint shimmer of the city beyond casting thin silver lines across his face.
"…Who is Vael?" he asked flatly.
The question cut through the quiet like the ring of steel. Mei froze, uncertain, her gaze flicking toward the closed door before she answered.
"She is not what she seems," she murmured.
---
Elsewhere, within the royal palace, a young prince sat beside his father in the throne room. The light from the tall windows framed their silhouettes in gold.
"Father," the prince asked, his tone cautious, "what do you know about Lady Vael?"
The king didn't turn. His eyes remained fixed on the horizon beyond the glass. "She is something more than human," he said finally.
---
Far from the palace's warmth, within the cold, stone chambers of the church, a knight stood before Lucian. Candles flickered, painting the inquisitor's face in ominous light.
"…Who exactly is Vael?" the knight dared to ask.
Lucian leaned back in his chair, his lips curling into a cruel smirk. "A relic," he said softly. "A relic of a forgotten time."
---
Back in Vael's room, Mei exhaled slowly, her fingers pressing into her temples. "Vael…" she whispered, almost to herself. "Vael is a dragon."
Reider's crimson eyes didn't change, but something flickered within them — a faint spark of curiosity. "A mythical creature," he said.
---
At the same moment, in the palace hall, the prince's breath caught. "…A dragon?"
The king turned at last, his gaze sharp as tempered glass. "The last of her kind."
And in the church, Lucian's smirk deepened as he swirled the crimson wine in his goblet. "A being that shouldn't exist in this era."
---
"Dragons," Mei continued, leaning forward now, her voice hushed as though even the walls could not be trusted, "were the first to understand magic. Their bodies are made of it. Pure mana, living in flesh."
"Unlike humans," the king's voice echoed in another place, "they do not use magic. They are magic."
Lucian's tone was colder, sharper, dripping with disdain. "Which is why they were wiped out."
---
Reider tilted his head. "If they were wiped out," he asked, "why is Vael here?"
Mei's expression darkened. "…Because she survived the purge."
The king clasped his hands behind his back. "Centuries ago, dragons were hunted. Feared for their strength."
Lucian's smile thinned as he set his goblet down. "The war between humans and dragons left only one alive."
"Vael," Mei whispered.
---
The prince leaned forward, trying to mask the unease in his tone. "Then why does she serve the kingdom?"
"Why is she allowed to live?" the knight asked Lucian at that same moment, his voice tense.
"Because she chose to," Mei said softly.
The king nodded. "She swore loyalty to the royal family."
Lucian gave a dry laugh. "A desperate attempt to stay alive."
---
Reider's gaze was unwavering. "…How strong is she?"
Mei exhaled. "There are levels to strength," she began.
"There are humans who use magic," said the king, his fingers tapping the armrest of his throne. "Knights. Sorcerers. Mages who channel mana externally."
Lucian gestured lazily, his tone bored. "Paladins, warlocks… all of them just scratching the surface."
Mei's eyes darkened. "Then there are those born with a magic core — true wielders."
The prince leaned closer, voice quiet. "And dragons?"
"They are beyond those levels," Lucian said, his eyes narrowing.
Mei's tone softened, but her words carried weight. "Vael isn't just powerful, Reider. She's on an entirely different scale."
The king's expression was grave. "Which is why so many fear her."
Lucian's smile faded, his next words spoken barely above a whisper. "…And why she must be eliminated."
---
Reider blinked once. "Eliminated?"
The prince tensed, gripping the edge of his chair. "Why would they want to kill her if she serves the kingdom?"
The church knight hesitated, voice uncertain. "She's been loyal for centuries. What could she possibly do now?"
Mei's voice trembled faintly. "Because no matter how much time passes… she is still a dragon."
The king's gaze dropped to the floor. "And the world has never stopped fearing dragons."
Lucian rose slowly from his seat, cloak trailing behind him. "Loyalty means nothing when power is absolute."
---
"Vael could destroy a kingdom if she wished," Mei whispered, rubbing her temples. "Even now… there's no one alive who could stop her."
The prince frowned. "Then why doesn't she?"
The knight echoed quietly, "If she's that powerful… why hasn't she turned against us?"
Mei met Reider's eyes, her voice steady. "…Because she doesn't want to."
"She chooses peace," said the king.
Lucian gave a mirthless chuckle. "No. She chooses to wait."
Reider's head tilted slightly. "Wait for what?"
Mei looked down. "No one knows."
The prince's voice was thoughtful now. "And that's why they fear her."
Lucian's eyes gleamed with venom. "A beast pretending to be human. A monster walking among us."
The church knight swallowed, then spoke carefully. "…But if she's done nothing wrong, what justifies killing her?"
Mei shook her head. "It's not about what she's done. It's about what she could do."
The king folded his hands together. "It has always been about power. About the balance of fear."
Lucian's cruel smirk returned. "You don't wait for the blade to strike before you stop the assassin."
---
Reider stared at Mei, unblinking. "…Then why hasn't the kingdom acted yet?"
Mei frowned. "Because even the king understands—"
The prince looked at his father. "You need her, don't you?"
The king's shoulders dropped slightly. "As much as the world fears her… it also relies on her."
Lucian's fingers tightened around his goblet. "For now."
Mei looked away, voice low. "Without Vael, this kingdom would have crumbled long ago."
The prince lowered his eyes. "Then what happens when the kingdom no longer needs her?"
"…What happens," the church knight asked quietly, "when fear outweighs the need?"
Lucian set his goblet down with a faint clink. "Then she will finally be hunted."
Reider's gaze sharpened. "…By you?"
Mei didn't answer. She only looked away.
The king's expression turned heavy with silence.
Lucian's dark chuckle filled the room. "…By all of us."
Reider's aura shifted — a faint, invisible ripple in the air that made Mei's breath hitch.
Outside, a single church bell tolled, its echo cutting through the morning fog.
A cold sound.
A warning.
To be continued…