Chapter 8

For a guardian of two worlds, could a guardian really have such a bad temper as to be called a disaster? Though he wondered about this, he decided to take Kor's stern warning to heart.

It would be nice if the dragon had a benevolent personality and willingly helped break the black magic after hearing his request, but it seemed things wouldn't be resolved so easily.

'Well... still, let's not give up and watch for an opportunity, just in case.'

Perhaps the dragon might help somewhat if it learned about the disaster that had occurred in the human realm it protected.

That's what Kinaine thought.

Until he met the dragon.

***

"Ugh!"

His head was suddenly yanked up by his hair.

However, the pain in his scalp was quickly forgotten. Because of the beautiful face that filled his vision.

"A human."

A cold voice mused.

The beautiful silver-haired man, the dragon, looked down at him.

With clear disgust.

"Now, how should I dispose of this."

* * *

Three days earlier.

Kinaine and Kor stood on the bridge leading to Solem.

The bridge made of moonlight scattered mysterious light as it crossed the dark night sky. At the end of this bridge, which only appeared during Runamoon, stood a massive gate. This was the gate that led to Solem.

The gatekeeper guarding the gate was a giant five times larger than Kinaine. He had a pair of horns on his head and wore armor with a fierce face.

The gatekeeper frowned and asked:

"So, who did you say you were?"

Hearing this question for the third time, Kor burst out in anger.

"You ignorant horned fool! Haven't I told you I'm Lord Kor, leader of the winged tribe, one of the four houses of Solem!"

"I've told you several times as well. I don't know such a person. I cannot let someone of unknown identity into Solem. If you want to enter, just show your proof of identity!"

"I've already told you I lost that proof long ago!"

"Then you cannot enter."

"Aagh! This is infuriating. Call your leader! He would know me!"

"I cannot trouble the leader with such matters."

The gatekeeper answered firmly.

"I have guarded this gate for over 300 years. I've memorized the faces of all who have passed through this gate, and I've never seen anyone like you."

"That's because I left through this gate more than 300 years ago! You thick-headed fool!"

"I cannot open the gate."

Just then.

"What's all this commotion?"

"Leader!"

Kinaine startled at the woman who had somehow approached without notice.

He hadn't sensed her presence at all.

She was at least two spans taller than Kinaine. Her red hair that reached her waist looked like blazing red flames, and like the gatekeeper, she had a pair of large horns on her head.

The woman approached the gatekeeper as if Kinaine were invisible, yawning with a sleepy face.

"Didn't I tell you? That we need to be much more careful than usual during this Runamoon. We don't know what kind of riffraff might try to sneak in aiming for the dragon's mate."

Killing intent suddenly flashed in the woman's half-closed eyes.

"If you mess up and let even the smallest scratch come to my precious little ember... Then everything becomes a sea of flames. Understand?"

"Th-that is, this person of unknown identity has been causing a disturbance, demanding to be let in."

"Then you should chase them away, why are you hemming and hawing!"

The gatekeeper, scolded by the woman, wore a dejected expression that didn't match his fierce face.

"But they won't listen no matter how many times I say they can't enter. They claim they passed through this gate more than 300 years ago so I don't know them, and that they're the leader of the winged tribe..."

"What?"

Her half-closed eyes suddenly flew open as if finally awake. The woman's gaze, hastily scanning the surroundings, finally fell on the giant crow.

"...Kor?"

"It's been a while, Igni."

"You crazy thing!"

The woman, Igni, exclaimed in shock as she ran toward Kor.

"How did you come here!"

"Because my punishment period ended."

"Has it been that long already? Wait, who's that?"

Igni frowned as she belatedly noticed Kinaine.

"No way?"

Like a dog examining someone for the first time, Igni began circling around Kinaine.

"No horns, no ears, no scales, no wings..."

After a brief examination confirming her thoughts, she turned to Kor with a serious expression.

"A human? Did you really bring a human here?"

"Yes."

"Why?!"

"Because this one is the bride candidate I've chosen this time."

Igni's mouth fell open. Her expression suggested she couldn't believe what she'd heard.

Standing dazed as if in shock, she shook her head vigorously to clear her mind.

"K-Kor. Has being trapped in the human realm for so long driven you mad? Humans..."

"I had no other choice. Even though my punishment period ended, the reason the sealing chains binding me wouldn't break was probably the dragon's will to prevent me from returning to Solem."

"..."

"Fortunately, I am still the leader of the winged tribe, and leaders have the authority to recommend bride candidates. Without this, I would have had no way to return to Solem. Isn't that right?"

After a moment of silence, Igni answered with what sounded like a sigh.

"Yes, you're right."

Only then did Kor's sharp gaze soften again.

"Now that you've confirmed my identity, I'd appreciate being let in. Time is of the essence."

After briefly looking at Kor with complicated eyes, Igni finally smiled brightly.

"Welcome back, Kor. Needless to say, much has changed since 400 years ago, so don't be too surprised."

"I'm prepared."

"You sound confident? That's good then."

Igni nodded and shouted to the gatekeeper:

"Let them in!"

"Yes!"

With the gatekeeper's booming response, the gate opened.

As Kinaine and Kor entered, the gate closed as quickly as it had opened.

Igni stared at the closed gate for a moment before sighing.

"Ah, my friend. You were always one to think a step ahead... but this time, I can only say you've made a bad move."

Well, having been bound to the human realm since that incident, what could he have known?

Though he might have heard news through spirits who traveled every seven years, he couldn't have known all the news of Solem. Especially about this generation's dragon.

"Will it be alright? A human as a bride candidate?"

The gatekeeper asked timidly.

"This generation's dragon really hates humans, doesn't he?"

The dragon's hatred of humans was a fact so well-known that there wasn't a spirit in Solem who didn't know about it. Forget being a bride - it would be fortunate if they weren't killed on sight.

"He probably didn't know that, but even if he had known, he had no other choice, so the result would have been the same."

Igni shrugged.

"Well, it's not bad for us. It means one competitor is definitely eliminated, right?"

"Even if the dragon didn't hate humans, that human wouldn't be a match for Lady Prim."

"That's right! Our Prim is the best!"

Igni smiled, thinking of her small and cute ember. She had already completely forgotten about the crow and the human he had brought.

* * *

"...So this is what they meant about not being surprised by how much had changed."

Kor stared ahead dejectedly.

There were four races of spirits in Solem.

The scaled tribe of the East, the horned tribe of the West, the tailed tribe of the South, and the winged tribe of the North.

Kor was the leader of the winged tribe that ruled the North.

High above the clouds, on a tall canyon, stood a beautiful castle decorated with gold and jewels - this was where he had lived. Because the winged tribe loved shiny things, this castle had been the pride of their race.

However, now. Along with the canyon, half of the beautiful castle had collapsed. The remaining half looked no different from ruins, having gone unmanaged for who knew how long. The golden castle's majesty, which had once been visible from far away, was nowhere to be seen.

"To think they stripped away every bit of gold..."

Kor muttered dejectedly at the sight of the castle that retained not a hint of its golden glory.

"Wait, don't tell me the treasure vault too?"

His ominous premonition proved exactly right. The vault that had once been full of treasures was now full of only dust instead. Not just the vault, but the entire castle was empty, as if everything of value had been taken.

"This can't be."

Kor lamented. The castle had clearly been empty for a long time. Even now, there wasn't a sign of life to be felt. Not one remained of the hundreds of servants who had once been there.

To think the castle he had worked so hard to return to was in this state. It was devastating and despairing.

But more than anything else...

Kor glanced at Kinaine.

He had boasted about being his patron, but now he was nothing more than a tribal leader in name only, as good as penniless. Far from being able to sponsor anyone, he was in a situation where he needed sponsorship himself.

'What should I do about this?'