Eli's voice boomed, echoing off the walls of the nearly empty room. "What do you expect from Anya? She's not a noble, and she doesn't have any connections to the royal family."I could see Sir Denise flinch at his words, but he didn't back down. He looked at me with determination in his eyes. "I don't know," he said, his voice softening. "It might sound ridiculous, but ever since I was young, I've had this gut feeling... this instinct. My gut tells me that Lady Anya can solve the problem that's eating away at Frasha, little by little, every day."Eli's eyes narrowed as he scoffed, clearly irritated. "That's just ridiculous! Isn't it more like you're trying to dump your responsibility on her?" His anger was evident in his tone, but Sir Denise didn't respond, his head hanging low as if to avoid the argument altogether.I wasn't sure what to think, either. I had no idea how to help Sir Denise. This monster invasion wasn't part of my novel, and I couldn't even begin to understand what was causing it. It only added to my growing doubts about whether this world was truly the one I'd written.Eli shot me an exasperated look, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. "You're too soft! He's obviously just trying to pass his responsibility to you!"I rolled my eyes, trying not to let his words get to me. "I'm not soft, Eli. You're just too guarded." I gave him a light tap on the shoulder and walked past him, heading toward Sir Denise.Eli wasn't convinced, though. "You're letting him manipulate you, Anya. Just because you're capable doesn't mean you have to carry the weight of everyone else's failures. This isn't your problem. Why should you take it on?"I paused, hearing the frustration in his voice. I didn't blame him for feeling that way. He'd been through a lot, and I knew how much he hated being vulnerable. Still, I couldn't just stand by and do nothing.Turning back to face him, I softened my tone. "Eli, look... I get where you're coming from. But if I have the ability to help, why wouldn't I? We can't just let this place fall apart because it's easier to walk away. If we don't do something, who will?"Eli's jaw clenched, and he paced in frustration, clearly torn. "It's not that simple, Anya. You don't know the full picture. These aren't just some monsters—they're relentless, and the people here..." His voice faltered for a moment, and he stared out the window, his back turned to me. "The people here... they've already given up. And no matter how hard you try, you can't save them all."I stepped closer, not giving up. "But I can try, right? Isn't that all we can do? You know me, Eli—this isn't about saving everyone. It's about making a difference. Even if it's just a little one."Eli exhaled sharply and finally met my gaze. He seemed worn out, his defenses slowly crumbling. "I don't want to see you get hurt, Anya. I can't stand the thought of you carrying all of this on your shoulders."I smiled gently, knowing this wasn't easy for him. "I don't have to do it alone. You're all with me, right? We're a team. But someone has to step up, Eli. And I'm willing to be that person."For a long moment, he didn't say anything. His eyes softened, and I could see the internal struggle as he weighed his words carefully. Finally, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair."Fine," he muttered, his tone reluctantly conceding. "But you better be careful, Anya. I don't want to see you get caught up in something bigger than you can handle."I smiled, relieved that he was at least on board, even if just a little. "Thanks, Eli. I promise, I'll be careful. But I have to try."With a final nod, Eli stepped back, though his concern still lingered in his eyes. "Just don't do anything reckless," he said, more softly now. "We'll figure this out together."And just like that, the tension in the room eased. The weight of our decision still hung in the air, but I knew we had made the right choice. Whatever was coming, we would face it together.Turning back to Sir Denise, I gave him a reassuring smile. "Let's rest for today. Tomorrow, we'll figure out what we need to do."Everyone seemed to welcome the idea of rest. We'd all been on edge, and the exhaustion from the fight earlier had started to weigh heavily on us. Sir Denise nodded in agreement, though his concern for the city still lingered."I'll stand guard tonight," he said, his voice calm but firm. "If you need anything, just send a soldier to my post."He led us to our rooms, each of us silently processing the gravity of the situation. The tension in the air felt almost tangible as we settled in, but at least for now, we had a brief respite from the chaos outside.-As soon as I entered the room, which I had all to myself since I was the only girl in the group, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. The long journey had taken its toll, and a bath sounded like the perfect way to relax. The warm water was refreshing, and I couldn't help but sigh as the tension in my muscles melted away.Afterward, I changed into something I had picked up from a clothing shop in the nearby town—a soft silk nightgown that fell just above my ankles, paired with a light cardigan that draped over my shoulders. It was comfortable and simple, the perfect attire for unwinding.Once I was settled, I reached into my spatial dimension and pulled out the staff I had been carrying. It was a familiar weight in my hands."If you can't help me, just say so already. You're wasting my time, you know. This is exactly why I didn't pick you up at the magic store—I knew you'd be useless," I muttered, frustration evident in my voice.The staff, clearly not amused, snapped back immediately."You dare call the great me useless?!" it huffed, its voice filled with indignation. "HAH! The root of this mess is most probably because of a Dragon! And do you know why? Of course, you don't! Because you are not an archmage!! I AM!" The staff's voice echoed with pride, as though it was trying to convince itself as much as me.It continued on in a tirade about its own greatness, its words turning into a blur of arrogance and self-importance. But amidst the rambling, one sentence pierced through, the words hanging in the air long after the staff fell silent.A Dragon?I decided to cut its complaints short. "I'll let you sleep in the boys' room tonight if you tell me how all this started." I tried to sound casual, though I couldn't ignore the nagging curiosity building up in me.The staff's tone shifted almost immediately, from its previous pompous complaints to something much softer, almost... cute? "Really?" it asked in a voice that would've been more fitting for a child, causing me to blink in surprise.I nodded, unfazed by the sudden change in its attitude."Well, you know," the staff began, its tone far more relaxed, "Dragons have immense mana, and most monsters, they multiply through mana—kind of like duplicating themselves. Anyway, there must be a dragon in the Eastern forest, and it's probably not a newborn either. Considering the monsters' reactions, it's most likely a powerful one. And since the monster flood has been ongoing for almost a year, that means the dragon's lair is in the Eastern forest. Its presence is probably making the monsters avoid that area, while simultaneously increasing their numbers due to the mana leaking from it."My mind was racing as I pieced everything together. The staff's explanation made sense, and the timing was oddly perfect—everything started going wrong only a few months ago, right when we broke out of the seal.I didn't waste time. I reached for the magical bond connecting me to the white dragon and opened a gate from my room to the boys' room. The second I did, the staff darted through and vanished. I quickly shut the gate behind her.A few moments later, a deep, sleepy voice came through the bond."You're calling just now?""Where are you?" I asked, keeping it straightforward."Did you miss me already?" he teased, sounding far too smug for someone who just woke up.I sighed, even though I knew he couldn't see me. "Just tell me where you are.""I'm in my new lair, want to come see? It's way better than where we were before." His excitement was almost contagious."Did you build it in the Eastern Forest?" I asked, suspicion creeping in."Yes, and it's definitely not because you're near the area!" he replied quickly, almost too defensively. I blinked, trying to understand. That sounded... strange."Whatever. You need to leave. Find a new place.""But it's already done!""Then deal with the monsters trying to invade my village.""You just want them gone?" he asked, sounding almost confused. I nodded, but quickly remembered he couldn't see me, so I answered verbally."Yes, I need them gone.""Alright, I'll let them stay in my territory, but only if you come visit me. I'm getting bored here. It's been quiet, and I haven't found any other dragons. Just one visit."I was hesitant, but I knew I didn't have many options. "Fine. Send me your location, and I'll open a gate.""I want you to come now," he said, his voice shifting from playful to a bit more serious.Before I could respond, I found myself suddenly in his arms. He was smirking at me, but the expression quickly changed to something else as he sniffed the air."You smell," he said, wrinkling his nose.I blinked. Seriously? That was the first thing he had to say? I wasn't sure if I should be offended or just laugh it off