The scene shifted to the quiet, moonlit night. The battlefield, which had roared with war cries and clashing weapons during the day, now lay eerily silent. Soldiers from both kingdoms slept inside their camps, nursing their wounds and waiting for the dawn of another blood-soaked battle.
But not everyone slept.
Kazuki's eyes snapped open, a sharp glint of purpose in them. A plan had taken shape in his mind — one he couldn't ignore. Quietly, without waking anyone, he slipped out of his tent, Elsa's faint voice in his head asking, "Where are you going in the middle of the night, Kazuki?"
"I'll explain later," Kazuki whispered back in his mind as he moved swiftly through the darkened camp, careful to avoid the guards on night watch.
Soon, he reached the middle of the war field, a desolate, grim sight. Countless corpses of fallen soldiers from both sides lay scattered across the ground, the stench of blood lingering in the air. He crouched, placing a hand on the ground, focusing his senses.
But as expected — nothing. The soul force of the fallen had long since been absorbed by the survivors on both sides.
Kazuki frowned but then recalled a lesson from his academy days.
Scene Shift — Flashback
In a large classroom filled with eager students, the academy teacher stood before them and spoke in a grave tone:
"Listen well, students. In the chaos of war, the defeated soldiers' soul force is usually claimed by the victors. However, certain places are deemed forbidden, untouched by both sides due to danger or unspoken rules. One of the most infamous among them is the 'Dragon Nest.'"
The students whispered nervously as the teacher continued:
"The Dragon Nest lies on the right side of the central warfield, beyond a great waterfall. Cross it, and you'll find a path leading directly to an ancient volcano. Inside, there's a hidden dwelling — not unbearably hot, but perilous nonetheless — where a dragon clan resides. Many reckless soldiers have ventured there, seeking power, only to meet their end. Royals, no matter how powerful, are forbidden from harming the dragons or their civilians, for such an act would be considered a direct declaration of war against the dragon kingdoms."
Scene Shift — Present
Kazuki's lips curled into a determined smile. "Looks like no one's claimed what lies there yet," he muttered to himself.
His gaze shifted to the east, and in the distance, glimmering under the moonlight, was the cascading waterfall the teacher spoke of. The roar of the water reached his ears as he began to make his way toward it, moving like a shadow, swift and silent.
Elsa's voice echoed in his mind, a hint of concern mixed with curiosity. "Kazuki… are you really going there?"
"I have to. There's power left untouched — and if I can get it, it might just turn the tide of this war."
Without looking back, Kazuki quickened his pace, the sound of the waterfall growing louder with each step, the scent of mist and ancient magic thickening in the air.
The night was far from over.