Rio took a deep breath as if trying to expel the sorrow and anger within him. With heavy steps, he walked toward Zelina and Ayhan sitting on a wooden chair beside Ayhan. The fireplace's flames cast a warm orange glow on all three of their faces, but the hall with its cracked stone walls and the stale smell of ash, remained cold and eerie. Zelina with her bright blue eyes and a face full of childlike excitement stared at Rio. She paused for a moment as if ensuring he was ready to listen then said in a loud enthusiastic voice,
"Ayhan was telling me about his tribe Arashid!"
Rio glanced at Ayhan and saw his anxious expression. Ayhan raised his eyebrows, as if trapped by Zelina's eagerness with no escape. But Zelina's pure, childlike gaze, reflecting her feelings like a clear mirror was so genuine that even Ayhan couldn't resist it. With Rio's presence a weight seemed to lift from Ayhan's shoulders. He took a deep breath gave a friendly smile and said in a calm heartfelt voice,
"Well, as I was saying our tribe near the Sharan Desert. There aren't many of us, just seventy dragons in the tribe. It's not usual for dragons but we sustain ourselves with farming."
Zelina her eyes wide with astonishment said eagerly,
"Seriously? That's the first time I've heard of such a thing!"
Ayhan grinned shrugged and said in a tone mixing pride and shyness,
"Yeah, you know my father always says he wants a calm, stress-free life. And I think he succeeded because our life…"
He suddenly paused. His eyes stared at an unseen point as if a heavy memory had pulled him into the depths of his mind. His silence filled the hall like a mournful shadow. Zelina surprised glanced at Rio, but even Rio was shocked by this sudden shift. For a moment only the crackling of the wood in the fireplace and the howling of the storm through the broken windows could be heard. Then Ayhan seemed to pull himself from that void. In a voice now tinged with sorrow he continued,
"Yeah our life is really calm. Very, very calm and peaceful. Honestly, it's so calm that I'm alone most of the time."
Rio lost in thought at these words, said in a quiet, hesitant voice,
"What are you saying Ayhan?"
Ayhan gave a warm smile, ruffled Rio's hair, and said kindly,
"Rio, honestly, you're the first friend I've ever had."
Rio slightly shocked, shook his head and whispered in a trembling voice,
"I… I don't know what to say."
Ayhan still smiling gently said,
"Many dragons spend their lives in solitude. You and I are the lucky ones, aren't we?"
Rio stared at Ayhan's face for a moment. Beneath that smile he saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes. Ayhan kept swallowing as if he didn't fully believe his own words. But Rio his heart still wounded from his talk with Nadia chose to stay silent. He didn't know why but he felt this silence was necessary at least for Ayhan.
Zelina swept up in the excitement of the story let out a short squeal of joy and said loudly,
"That life sounds amazing! A peaceful life with the people you love that's incredible!"
Rio and Ayhan exchanged a surprised glance then Ayhan smiled and as if lost in thought said,
"Yeah, I guess it is incredible."
Zelina now turned to Rio with doubled enthusiasm. Her eager eyes, like an unquenchable fire, were enough for Rio to know it was his turn. He hesitated as if choosing his words carefully. Then in a quiet voice he began telling a story about his tribe, the Sun Tribe, crafting a tale to align with his father's words full of details that weren't true—to hide a truth he himself didn't want to face. When it came to his family Rio spoke of his parents with deep love and described each of his sisters so beautifully, as if they were stars in the sky. But when Nadia's name crossed his lips his face suddenly changed. A deep sorrow like a heavy shadow fell over him. His eyes bright just a moment before grew dim and sad.
Zelina and Ayhan exchanged a look as if even they in this short time, had sensed the deep rift between Rio and Nadia. Rio paused, then with a smile that barely fit his saddened face said,
"Nadia is very strong and tough. She…"
Like Ayhan he stopped mid-sentence. Words caught in his throat as if the truth—or perhaps the pain—blocked his breath. His silence echoed like a muted scream in the hall.
At that moment by the hall's entrance, Nadia hid behind a stone wall. Her head bowed she listened to Rio's words. She expected him to stay silent perhaps because she herself didn't know what to say. But that silence pierced her heart like a dagger. Her eyes always cold and emotionless trembled for a moment.
Suddenly from the dark hallway Valentina appeared with slow steps, her white wolf Frohel by her side. She stopped at the hall's entrance her turquoise eyes fixed on Rio, Ayhan, and Zelina. A soft but sorrowful smile settled on her lips. In a quiet voice as if meant only for Nadia she said,
"Look at them They've known each other for just a short time, yet they're sharing their lives. How pure, how childlike, how simple."
Her gaze then fell on Nadia a look brimming with sorrow and regret as if carrying centuries of pain. She sighed deeply and continued,
"Look at what you've done to yourself! Look at the distance you've created. What has this distance brought you? Only more sorrow and pain."
Nadia still keeping her head down said in a quiet voice full of suppressed anger,
"With all due respect, please don't judge me as if you know me."
Valentina smirked but her smile was cold and bitter. In a voice where each word felt like a heavy weight she said,
"And do you know Rio?"
She shook her head in pity and passed by Nadia. As she and Frohel faded into the dark hallway she whispered,
"Let the shadow of Rio Astroid fade before it destroys everything, including your feelings."
After Valentina left Nadia glanced at Rio again then vanished into the hallways.
Later as night deepened and the castle's main hall was steeped in a heavy mournful silence under the faint glow of the fireplace, the orange flames cast dancing shadows on the cracked stone walls.
Rio and Valentina were by the fireplace with Zelina watching them her face full of curiosity. Rio held out his severed hand, and Valentina carefully changed the bandage with gentle movements.
Zelina her eyes wide with worry and wonder broke the silence and said loudly,
"Does it hurt?"
The question was like a stone dropped into still water disrupting the calm. Rio and Valentina stared at Zelina with stern eyes. Her face flushed with embarrassment she ran a hand through her hair and said with a nervous laugh,
"Sorry!"
Valentina sighed deeply as if swallowing her anger and resumed changing the bandage. Midway she glanced at Rio, her turquoise eyes gleaming like ice in the firelight. In a quiet but meaningful voice she said,
"I apologize for my foolish apprentice. She doesn't know when to open her mouth and when to keep it shut."
Rio shook his head and said softly,
"It's no problem. Actually my hand…"
Valentina shook her head cutting him off.
"That's not what I mean."
Rio paused their gazes locking. The meaning of Valentina's words hit him like a cold wave—not just the wound on his hand but the deeper scars hidden in his soul. He fell into thought then said in a voice blending exhaustion and honesty,
"It's okay I rarely get to talk to others. I'm actually grateful for her."
Zelina thrilled by his words her eyes shining and a big smile on her face, lunged toward Rio to hug him. But Valentina's terrifying look like two icy daggers froze her in place. Zelina didn't even dare blink. Instead she gently kissed Rio's cheek and said,
"Thank you."
With a shy smile Zelina left the hall leaving Rio and Valentina alone. As she departed Valentina sighed again and said in a voice tinged with fatigue,
"She made you spill your whole life story today but when it came to her turn she kept her mouth shut, didn't she?"
Rio still flushed and surprised by Zelina's sudden kiss took a moment to compose himself.
"Yeah, I guess so."
Valentina gently tightened the bandage her fingers moving carefully over the wound.
"I think in about a month, your wound will be fully healed."
Rio looked at his severed wrist now just a stitched scar. He sighed deeply and said with a voice full of longing,
"I guess I won't be able to practice swordsmanship anymore."
Valentina shook her head her eyes fixed on the flames for a moment as if seeing something Rio couldn't. After a heavy silence she said in a voice blending wisdom and sorrow,
"Thank great Setrog that you're still alive. That's all that matters."
Rio slowly stood thanked Valentina in a tired voice, and headed toward the castle's dark hallways. His steps echoed hollowly on the stone floor and his shadow stretched by the faint torchlight, looked like a wandering ghost.
Alone now, Valentina began to hum softly—a mournful gentle song as if drawn from centuries of memories. Her words echoed like a whisper in the hall, mingling with the crackling of the fire. She stared at the flames for a while as if seeking answers within them.
Her singing continued until Frohel, who had been lying silently by the fireplace like a quiet shadow lifted his head. In a deep feminine voice he said,
"Don't you think all this is strange?"
Valentina her attention caught turned to Frohel.
"What are you saying?"
Frohel without hesitation said in a tone where each word felt like a heavy secret,
"The death of Rio Astroid, Valdis's reappearance, this kid being hunted… What's happening Valentina?"
Valentina rested her hand under her chin, as if feeling the weight of Frohel's words on her shoulders. Her eyes returned to the flames the dancing shadows deepening her face.
"I don't know. But I feel this is just the beginning."
The silence after her words was like a void. The flames trembled as if they too feared the weight of this truth. Frohel lowered his head, but his eyes still gleamed.
The howling of the storm through the broken windows echoed in the background, and then Valentina resumed her singing but this time her song was sadder heavier as if mourning something—perhaps a lost past or a future still dark and unknown.