"My lord, do you have any clues on how we might bypass this protection?" Nana-Roi glanced toward Leviashivae for guidance.
Leviashivae paused, his gaze fixed on the barrier surrounding the table. "The magic here is old, powerful, and undoubtedly complex," his voice measured as he contemplated the challenge ahead. "It won't yield easily to simple solutions. However, there may be a way to breach it."
As he spoke, a plan began to form in his mind, but he knew it would require precision and patience. "We need to determine the exact moment when Lady Sylvana visited this place," he explained, his eyes narrowing with determination. "That could be the key to weakening the protection."
Nana-Roi nodded in understanding. "So, I need to recall the day of Lady Sylvana's visit and use that knowledge to our advantage," she surmised, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Leviashivae nodded, his expression resolute. "Indeed. Time is our most valuable asset in this endeavor," he affirmed. "If you can pinpoint the precise moment when the protection wanes, we may have an opportunity to breach it. Are you able to remember the event that happened ten years ago?"
Initially, she seemed slightly defensive, but she quickly asserted that the dryads possessed exceptional memories, particularly for noteworthy occurrences like the one in question. "Of course, our memories are quite sharp when remembering important events," she replied confidently.
He then dipped his head slightly as a gesture of apology for any unintended offense.
As Nana-Roi began to recount the details, Leviashivae listened intently, his gaze fixed upon her as she spoke. "Please, tell me what you remember," he encouraged, eager to learn more about the past.
Eventually, she confirmed that the event had occurred on a Friday, likely around 4 am. "So yeah, three days from now."
Leviashivae suggested that they had enough adventure for the day, considering the progress they had made in their investigation. "I think we've gathered sufficient information for now," he remarked, glancing around the enchanted forest one last time.
As they emerged from the forest, they both realized that more time had passed than anticipated.
As they returned to the park, Leviashivae and Nana-Roi met with a scene of chaos. Shouts and curses filled the air, creating a tense atmosphere that immediately caught Leviashivae's attention. Frowning, he quickened his pace, his brow furrowing in concern as he moved through the crowd surrounding the source of the matter like some entertainment show.
Nana-Roi sensed his urgency and hurried to keep up with his swift stride, her expression reflecting growing anxiety. "What's happening?" she asked, her voice tinged with apprehension as they navigated through the throng of people.
As Leviashivae and Nana-Roi pushed through the crowd, their concern grew as they spotted Tama-Yui lying on the ground, with Dorea kneeling beside him, tears streaming down her face. Surrounding them were six other teenagers, their laughter and mockery echoing through the park.
The dragon's mind clouded with worry and anger at the sight in front of him. His feelings kept shouting that the events before his eyes were very wrong. The overbearing negative emotions threatened to overwhelm him, causing him to lose control for a brief moment. Inadvertently, his command resonated through the air, compelling the perpetrators to freeze in place, their laughter silenced as if turned to stone. "Stop what you are doing." His voice carries a weight that makes everybody around him freeze as if they are mere statues.
Realizing what he had done, Leviashivae quickly regained his composure, his expression hardening as he surveyed the scene before him. "Release them," he said more calmly despite his voice that cut through the tension like a knife.
With a flick of his hand, he makes the teens released from their involuntary paralysis, stumbling as they regain control of their movements. As they scrambled to their feet, their expressions shifted from amusement to confusion and fear, realizing they had caught in the act. The cowards surrounding seem to scatter in every direction because they fear the dragon's wrath.
Leviashivae turned his attention to Dorea and Tama-Yui, his gaze softening as he approached them. "Are you both alright?" he asked, his voice gentle yet filled with authority. He observed Dorea's attempts to hide her tears, his heart aching for the young girl's distress. He patiently waited for a response from the child while Nana-Roi's fury simmered beside him, her demand for answers palpable in the air.
Tama-Yui spoke up with a voice tinged with a mixture of pain and resilience. "We're fine, I think," he replied to reassure himself and the others. He lifted his bruised forearm, revealing the evidence of the altercation he had endured while protecting Dorea. "Dorea was just in shock, and I ended up with a few bruises from blocking the hits," he explained, his voice steady despite the pain evident in his words.
Leviashivae nodded, his eyes flickering with admiration for Tama-Yui's courage in the face of adversity. "You showed great bravery in protecting her," he acknowledged, his voice filled with respect for the young dryad. Turning to Dorea, he crouched beside her, offering her a reassuring smile. "You're safe now, Dorea," his words were a soothing balm to her shaken nerves. "We'll make sure nothing like this happens again."
Nana-Roi still seething with anger, demanded to know where their caretaker was, her eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of the responsible party. "Where is your guardian?" she asked, her voice sharp with concern and frustration.
"He... he said that he needed to do something important and would be back shortly, right Dorea?"
The princess nodded her head agreeably while erasing the evidence of her tears.
Not long after, a young dryad with glasses approached them with a demeanor cloaked in an air of timidity. Kael-Zed seemed perpetually neutral, making it difficult to discern his emotions. His hair tied up at the back, cascaded down in loose strands, framing his features with an air of quiet reserve.
Clad in the traditional white satin attire of the dryads, Kael-Zed wore it with a simplicity that belied his inner turmoil. His circular belt cinched snugly around his belly, bore the marks of wear and tear, hinting at his dedication to his duties as the village gardener.
As Nana-Roi's anger flared, Kael-Zed's demeanor shifted, his timid nature coming to the forefront. He bowed his head, avoiding direct eye contact as he listened to her reprimand. The lines of worry etched upon his brow spoke volumes, betraying his inner turmoil at having disappointed his fellow dryads and the trust placed in him by Nana-Roi. Despite his palpable sense of remorse, an odd air surrounding him made Leviashivae's keen sense tell that Kael-Zed did not really feel remorse for his action.
The dragon could only sigh as he watched another one of the dryads being unfair to the human race. It seems that their prejudice against humans is so great that they are looking for reasons to abandon these two innocent children.
Nana-Roi turned to the dragon, concern etched upon her features, and inquired if the children required a healer. Leviashivae, however, dismissed the notion with a wave of his hand, his focus now solely on Tama-Yui's injured hand. With a gentle touch, the dragon's hand hovered above the wounded skin, his eyes narrowing in concentration.
"Endure the cold," Leviashivae instructed Tama-Yui, his voice firm yet comforting. The visibly frightened boy nodded bravely, his attempts to mask his pain evident to the observant dragon. With a surge of magical energy, Leviashivae channeled his power into the boy's wound.
Tama-Yui felt a cool sensation envelop his skin, soothing the pain and discomfort. Within moments, the wound began to close, the bruises fading away as if they had never been. As the healing magic took effect, Tama-Yui's expression softened, relief washing over him as the pain subsided.
Nana-Roi's relief at seeing the children safe was overshadowed by a deep sense of guilt and self-doubt. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had failed the duty to protect Tama-Yui and Dorea. The sight of Tama-Yui's bruises served as a painful reminder of her lapse in vigilance, especially knowing that his mother had entrusted her children to her care.
As she watched Leviashivae heal the injuries with his magic, she couldn't help but feel a pang of shame for allowing the situation to escalate. Her eyes flickered with regret as she realized that her actions had not only endangered the children but also angered the dragon. She berated herself for choosing Kael-Zed as the caretaker, realizing too late that he was ill-equipped for the task.
Nana-Roi's heart weighed heavy with the burden of her mistakes, and she feared facing Leviashivae's judgment. How could she explain her lapse in judgment to him? How could she make amends for her failure to protect the children? These thoughts tormented her as she struggled to come to terms with her shortcomings. Her focus back to the boy in front of her.
With a blooming smile and genuine gratitude in Tama-Yui's eyes, he turned to Leviashivae and expressed his heartfelt thanks. "Thank you so much, Lord Leviashivae," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "I feel much better now. I can't thank you enough for your help."
Leviashivae nodded in acknowledgment at Tama-Yui's gratitude, then turned his gaze to Nana-Roi. "You need not worry, Nana-Roi," he said, his voice calm and reassuring.
Nana-Roi's surprise was evident as she wondered how the dragon could know what she was thinking. She searched his eyes for any hint of explanation but found only a mysterious smile playing at the corners of his lips. It was as if he held some secret knowledge beyond her understanding, leaving her both intrigued and unsettled.
"I think it was the time to go back and rest," said Leviahivae to the two dryads as he stood up. "Come along, Dorea." He stretched out his hand that was directly grasped tightly by the girl. They walk away leaving Nana-Roi and Tama-Yui behind after saying goodbye to one another.