It was a time of foolishness; it was a time of relief.
It was a time of impending doom; it was a time of peace, barely held together after catastrophe.
In a grand hall of House Fafner, nine shadowed figures sat.
They were the heads of the major clans—each a symbol of power in the Dragon Kingdom.
And sitting at the center, radiant and silent, was the tenth: the Golden Dragon himself.
Their eyes were on him. They had questions. He had answers.
The first clan head beside Fafner spoke coldly.
"There isn't much to question, is there? We all know the Golden Dragon clan is the main branch of this kingdom."
He looked around the table.
"So, as we agree… we'll believe what he's told us."
Fafner nodded slowly.
"You could say that," he said, his voice calm—but sharp.
Then he stood, towering over the others.
"But there's one thing you seem to forget."
"I'm your king."
"You speak to me with such insolence. Are you prepared to lose your head next, dear family head?"
The room tensed. The clan leader who had spoken hesitated.
Fafner continued, voice steady.
"I've earned disgrace for this matter. I've endured much.
But I won't let you defy the rules of our ancestors. A king is a king—
—and you family heads should bow before me and speak with a bit more grace. Do you understand?"
Outside the room, Ember and Luck stood by the heavy doors.
Luck whispered, "What do you think is going on?"
Ember answered slowly, "It's just the meeting. About the theft.
Something that valuable being stolen… it's changed everything."
"I know," Luck said. "It's made things really bad for you guys, hasn't it?"
Ember nodded.
"We don't have the barrier anymore. You know that, right?
The goddess Uxil gave us that artifact to separate the Dragon Kingdom from the rest of the world. It was our shield."
Luck sighed.
"Yeah, I know. But… did your father really need to arrest that man?"
"You told us the truth already," Ember replied. "He wasn't your friend.
My father might've done you a big favor."
"Who knows?" she added. "Maybe that guy really was the one behind it all."
"And you were the one who let him in—so just shut your mouth, Lars."
"Don't let anyone find out it was you… or you'll be the one rotting in that prison instead of him."
Luck looked down, ashamed.
"I failed. As crown prince of Leventha… I let all of you down.
I'll remember this favor."
Ember softened her voice.
"Don't worry about favors. My father sees you like a son.
But… if you really want to repay him, help us with the dungeons for now."
Luck nodded.
"I will. I'll call Sir Lars. He's a great man. I'll ask Shelly, too.
If possible, I'll even reach out to Madam Mischle to help."
Ember smiled slightly.
"That knight of yours—Lars—he's a good man.
He's already helped us a lot. We owe him."
"How is he, by the way?"
Luck smiled faintly.
"He's fine. Wandering your kingdom. Helping people whose homes and livelihoods were destroyed…"
The sound of the shovel was clear,
Far from the palace, in a field of golden grain under the setting sun.
His sleeves were rolled up. His black hair was damp with sweat.
He looked like any other farmer—just a strong, average man trying to get by.
Beside him, a fat, grumpy old man barked,
"Hey, do it right!"
Lars gritted his teeth.
Yeah, I'm working, old man…
Where did I get myself into? I thought I'd help people after the disaster, but then I bumped into this guy—
He was carrying four jars of booze. They shattered. Now he's treating me like a slave…
But fine… it's my fault. I'm a knight. I'll take responsibility.
The fat old man tossed him a wooden cup.
"Drink this water. Then help me hunt pigs in the forest, if you really want to pay me back!"
Lars sighed, lowering his shovel.
It's been the whole day… and this guy only gave me water. Not even bread.
Still, he nodded. "Yeah, yeah… sir."
The sun was dipping low now.
The light stretched long shadows across the ground.
It was time to hunt… or be hunted.