The pain from the arrow lodged in his shoulder pulsed through his body like fire, his movements slower, weaker.
But he still stood.
The goblins circled him, their twisted grins stretching wide, their hungry, beady eyes locked onto him like wolves cornering a wounded prey.
"Kaka reak!"
Attack him.
The words rang in his ears as the goblins charged.
Caelum exhaled sharply, his muscles tensing.
Then—
He moved.
With a final burst of strength, he parried one goblin's blade, his dagger cutting deep into its throat.
Warm blood splattered across his face, but he barely noticed.
He turned—too slow.
A second goblin's blade plunged into his side.
"Urgh—!" His knees buckled.
Then another.
And another.
Steel tore into his flesh.
His vision blurred, but through the haze of pain, he could still see them—
Lyric. Sylvan.
Running.
Escaping.
A weak smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Be safe… Lyric. Sylvan."
The last thing he saw was the starless night sky above him, the world growing darker with every breath.
Then—
Everything went still.
Lyric couldn't look back.
She didn't dare.
If she did, she might break.
She ran, her legs aching, her hands clutching the egg tightly against her chest.
Sylvan stumbled beside her, his face pale, his body shaking as if he weren't truly there.
Their footsteps were heavy, their breaths shallow and broken.
But nothing was louder than the screaming inside Lyric's head.
"Caelum…"
She could still hear his final cry, the sound of blades piercing flesh.
The sickening gurgles.
The goblins laughing.
She bit her lip, but the tears still came.
She felt numb.
Cold.
Empty.
This was her fault.
She had been the one who dragged them here.
She had been the one who wanted to see the nest.
She had been the one who froze when they needed her to act.
And now—
Now Caelum was dead.
Her hands tightened around the egg.
She wanted to drop it.
To smash it.
To throw it into the abyss where it belonged.
"If we had never touched it… if we had never come here…"
But her fingers wouldn't let go.
They ran until night fell, their faces dirty, streaked with sweat and dried tears.
But no matter how far they ran—
The guilt chased her.
And it would never stop.
The Dragon Returns
Deep within the mountains, in the darkness of the abandoned nest, something stirred.
A massive shadow cut through the clouds, its enormous wings blotting out the stars as it descended upon the cavern.
The ground shook beneath its landing, dust and loose stones raining from above.
The dragon's serpentine eyes glowed in the dim light as it scanned its nest.
Its nostrils flared.
The scent of blood filled the air.
Its child was gone.
And in its place—
A small, lifeless body lay sprawled across the stone.
The dragon lowered its massive head, its scorching breath warming the boy's bloodied form.
It inhaled deeply.
Then—
It smelled them.
Two more scents.
Human.
And beyond them—
Monsters.
A low, guttural growl rumbled from deep within its chest.
Then, without hesitation—
It roared.
A thunderous, rage-filled cry that echoed across the mountains, through the forests, and into the night.
Present
The dragon's eyes locked onto the crying boy.
The scent was the same.
It knew his face.
It knew his fear.
The beast's wings unfurled, its claws tensing.
Then, it lunged.
Before its talons could strike—
A blur of movement.
Henry darted forward, launching himself toward the child in an instant.
With a powerful leap, he caught the boy in his arms and rolled out of the way just as the dragon's massive claws tore into the earth.
The force of the impact splintered the ground, sending dirt and debris flying into the air.
Henry landed, his grip on the boy tight, protective.
His breath was shaky, but his stance remained firm.
"That was too close…" he muttered, his eyes never leaving the dragon.
The beast towered over them, its gaze burning with undeniable rage.
Henry's jaw tightened.
"It's not just attacking aimlessly."
"It's looking for something."
"Or someone."
And right now—
That someone was them.
As Noir and Nimfa entered the village, the acrid scent of burning wood and blood filled the air. Flames clawed at the sky, casting eerie shadows over the bodies strewn across the ground.
The village was in ruins.
The wailing of the wounded and the screams of the dying mixed with the crackling fire.
Among the chaos, goblins rampaged through the streets, their twisted laughter ringing through the night.
Nimfa's golden eyes widened in horror.
Her breath caught in her throat.
"So much suffering…!"
A small, trembling voice cut through the destruction.
"Mama! Save me!"
A young girl stood in the center of the carnage, her hands clutching her dress, tears streaking down her dirty face.
She was alone.
Noir's crimson eyes narrowed behind his mask.
Then—
He saw it.
Towering over the flames, its scales shimmering beneath the inferno's glow, was a dragon.
And in front of it—
Henry, shielding the child behind him.
Noir's pulse spiked. His hands tightened into fists.
"That dragon... It's the same as back then."
Nimfa Takes Action
A goblin spotted the crying girl.
Its beady eyes glowed, its jagged teeth dripping with saliva as it let out a low, guttural cackle.
"Kekeke…"
With a crazed grin, it lunged at her.
"No!"
Before she realized it, Nimfa was already moving.
Her magic surged, divine light gathering in her hands as she launched herself forward.
"Luminous Spear!"
✨ Type: Divine Projectile
✨ Effect: Summons a spear of concentrated light and hurls it at an enemy, piercing through defenses. The spear explodes upon impact, dealing additional damage to nearby foes. Targets struck are momentarily blinded, reducing their accuracy.
A brilliant golden spear materialized before her.
With a sharp whistle through the air, it struck the goblin's chest and detonated on impact.
The goblin exploded into a spray of blood and ash.
Before the girl could collapse in fear, Nimfa was there.
She pulled the child into her arms, holding her close.
"Shh… It's okay. You're safe now."
The child sobbed into her chest, her small fingers clutching onto Nimfa's dress.
Then—
A thunderous roar shook the earth.
Nimfa's heart stopped.
She turned—
The dragon was moving.
Its massive jaws parted, fangs bared. Flames licked its teeth.
It was about to devour Henry and the child behind him.
"No... No, no, no!"
She caught a glimpse of movement.
A dark blur rushed past her.
Her breath hitched.
Noir.
The dragon lunged.
Henry's body froze.
Fear paralyzed him, his arms tightening protectively around the child behind him.
"God have mercy… If you must take someone, take me. Spare the child."
He shut his eyes and braced for death.
Then—
A shockwave split the air.
A blur of black and crimson shot forward.
In the span of a heartbeat, Noir leaped—
His feet found purchase on the dragon's snout, his body twisting midair.
With a roaring burst of strength, Noir slammed his fist into the beast's jaw.
The impact echoed like thunder.
The dragon reeled backward, its massive body skidding several meters across the ground.
Smoke hissed from Noir's mask as he exhaled sharply.
He turned his piercing crimson gaze toward Henry.
"I made it in time."
Henry's eyes snapped open.
His breath came in short gasps.
He was still alive.
And standing in front of him—
A masked figure, draped in black, his presence almost inhuman.
Henry's lips parted slightly.
"...Who… are you?"
Noir didn't answer.
His gaze was already locked on the dragon, his fingers flexing in anticipation.
This fight wasn't over
The dragon regained its footing, its massive form towering over Noir.
The creature's shadow eclipsed the village, blocking out the sun as its crimson eyes locked onto its foe.
Noir stood unmoving.
The wind howled between them, carrying embers and smoke from the burning village.
A long, tense silence stretched between them.
Two predators.
One battle.
Nimfa's POV
"Is this… really the demon my kin spoke of?"
Nimfa clutched the child in her arms, her golden eyes wide with uncertainty.
Noir was nothing like the monstrous demons she had been raised to fear.
The way he shielded the villagers, the way he threw himself into danger without hesitation—
It was not the mark of a bloodthirsty beast.
It was something else entirely.
The girl in her arms peeked over Nimfa's shoulder, her tear-streaked face lighting up with awe.
"Cool!" the child gasped.
Nimfa blinked.
Even in the face of terror, innocence found wonder.
Lyric's POV
Beneath the ruins of a crumbling house, Lyric curled into herself, arms wrapped tightly around her knees.
Her body trembled, her breath coming in ragged sobs.
"This is all my fault."
Tears burned down her cheeks, dripping onto the dusty floor.
"Caelum..."
His name echoed in her mind, each syllable cutting deeper than the last.
The smirk he gave her before shoving her out of the nest.
The blood spilling from his wounds.
The moment he sacrificed himself for her foolishness.
The guilt suffocated her.
She couldn't breathe.
She didn't deserve to.
Then—
A flickering light shimmered in front of her.
Soft. Gentle. Warm.
Lyric froze, her breath hitching.
The light grew, taking shape—
A silhouette of a woman.
Long flowing hair, golden eyes full of sorrow and love, an aura of ethereal grace that felt both familiar and foreign.
Lyric's heart pounded.
"Who…?"
The glowing figure knelt in front of her, brushing a faint, intangible hand against her head.
The touch wasn't physical—but Lyric felt it deep within her soul.
And then—
A voice as soft as the wind, yet as heavy as destiny itself.
"Oh, child… do not let your grief chain you. You must move forward."
Lyric's breath caught in her throat.
The voice was gentle, but it carried an undeniable weight.
The warmth of it wrapped around her, soothing yet aching.
"The past you carry is a part of you, but if you let it consume you, you will never see the future ahead."
Lyric's lips trembled.
She wanted to scream—
To beg for forgiveness.
But the light embraced her, pulling her away from the abyss she had been drowning in.
The figure began to fade, its golden light flickering like a dying ember.
Lyric reached out—
"Wait!"
The figure smiled softly.
"He never blamed you, Lyric. Do not waste his sacrifice. Live… and make it mean something."
And just like that—
The light vanished.
Lyric sat there, stunned.
Her tears still clung to her lashes, but the crushing weight on her chest had lifted—if only just a little.
She breathed.
For the first time since that day, she breathed.
She wiped her eyes, her hands clenching into fists.
"Move forward…" she whispered, repeating the words.
She crawled out from under the rubble, her body still trembling but her heart stronger than before.
"Caelum…"
Her breath steadied.
Her resolve solidified.
Then—
She ran.
Her feet carried her toward the only thing that mattered now.
The dragon egg.
Noir's crimson eyes narrowed.
Something shifted in the air.
"That feeling… it's familiar."
The dragon's claws lashed out—
Noir vanished.
✨ Shadow Step
Description: Teleports a short distance through shadows, allowing Noir to evade attacks or close in on enemies.
Advanced Use: Leaves a shadowy afterimage that confuses opponents.
Noir reappeared behind Henry and the child.
He grabbed Henry by the collar and yanked him out of the way just before the dragon's claws tore through the ground where they once stood.
"Go!" Noir ordered. "Take the child and get out of here."
Henry stared at him, stunned.
Noir's masked face revealed nothing, but his presence alone commanded urgency.
Henry swallowed hard, then nodded. "Thank you, masked warrior."
Noir glanced back at him briefly.
Then—
The dragon struck again.
Noir dodged effortlessly, moving like a shadow in the firelight.
A short distance away, Sylvan trembled.
The boy hugged his arms to his chest, his voice barely a whisper.
"It's our fault… all of it…"
Henry glanced at him, confused.
"Sylvan? What do you mean?"
Sylvan's hands tightened into fists.
His face paled.
"The egg… the dragon egg… it's in the village."
Henry's stomach dropped.
"What?"
At that moment, Nimfa approached, the child still tucked against her waist.
She had overheard Sylvan's words.
"Egg?" she asked, gently patting the boy's head to calm him. "What do you mean?"
Sylvan bit his lip, looking away.
Henry, however, was frozen.
His eyes flicked toward Nimfa—
For the first time, he truly saw her.
Her golden eyes glowed with concern.
Her silver hair rippled in the firelight, shimmering like celestial silk.
For a moment, the chaos around them blurred.
Henry's breath caught in his throat.
"She's… beautiful."
But there was no time for such thoughts.
The truth was out.
The egg was in the village.
And the dragon would not stop until it found it.