[Akira POV]
After Tobias's escape, everything changed. The guards dragged us back into our cells, their grips tighter, their eyes colder. Chains heavier than before, and the air felt thicker—like the whole prison was holding its breath.
Security doubled. Where one guard stood before, now stood two. Where gates had once creaked lazily, they now slammed shut like the jaws of beasts. We weren't just prisoners anymore—we were threats.
Then came the division. Two search parties formed, each with a single purpose. One set out to hunt Tobias, the fugitive who'd humiliated them. The other marched into houses, seeking Solfira, whose kidnapping had rattled them.
And we—those left behind—were left with nothing but silence, iron bars, and a single thought clawing at me: I just hope they're okay.
And after ten long days, everything changed. Our execution was suddenly pardoned — all because Tobias, against all odds, had become a hero. He saved Solfira from her kidnapper, turning what should have been our doom into our redemption. Instead of chains, we were given freedom. Instead of exile, we were granted something none of us expected: citizenship in the Dragon Region.
When Tobias came back, he wasn't standing tall and victorious—he was carried in, already unconscious. His body looked bruised and bloody, as if the fight had taken everything from him. For five long days, he lay that way, silent and unmoving. Each day I watched, thinking he might never wake…
Until...
"Where am I? How'd I get here? I swear I was somewhere else… this can't be a dream. How'd I end up in a bed this big?" I heard from the room where Tobias was sleeping, though his voice sounded distorted.
I burst through the door, startling him, screaming, "You're finally awake! I thought you'd never wake up!"
"W-wait… y-you're here? I swear I was in a forest a minute ago," he muttered, stuttering.
"You're in the castle," I said. "Our execution was pardoned. You collapsed, and they brought you here five nights back, but you need rest. I will tell you everything later."
I sprinted through the halls, shouting to everyone in the large castle that Tobias had finally woken from his long sleep. Whispers spread like fire, but most of the workers only gave me cold glares—they still despised me.
The only ones who truly cared were Solfira, the king, my mother, Akita, and Kaito. Their faces lit up with relief, their joy washing away the tension that had weighed on us for days.
That night, we celebrated with a great feast. It wasn't for everyone—it was only for those who cared. And since it was in honour of him, Tobias himself was finally able to sit among us, alive and awake at last.
We all ate until our bellies were swollen like pufferfish. The hall filled with laughter and clattering plates, and by the end of the feast, everyone was too full to move.
Then the king leaned back on his throne and said with a smile, "We should all take a bath to relax our minds and bodies."
At that, Tobias choked on his drink, spitting it out in shock. "BATH!?" he shouted.
I froze for a moment, staring at him, then asked with a smile, "What's wrong with a bath? Don't you bathe?"
From the other side of the table, Solfira suddenly flushed red, looking away. My eyes darted between the two of them, a strange unease creeping in. What's the matter with both of them?
After much laughter, we finally left the dining hall, following the servants who led us toward the castle's bath. The corridor stretched on endlessly, lined with polished stone walls that gleamed under the soft torchlight.
When the doors finally opened, I couldn't believe my eyes. The bath hall was ginormous—a sprawling chamber of marble and crystal, steam rising in gentle clouds, pools of water large enough to swim in, and golden faucets shaped like dragons. The scent of herbs and flowers filled the air, and warm light reflected off the water, making the whole room glow like a sanctuary.
Tobias froze at the entrance, eyes wide. Solfira shifted behind him, cheeks burning. I sighed, wondering how this simple idea of a bath could cause her to react this way…
The baths were divided into women's and men's. Tobias and I jumped straight into the deep, hot, hot, hot water. We jumped out of the pool immediately. It was just too hot. Like, why so hot?
The king laughed so hard at our reaction to the hot water and said, "Wow, you kids amaze me. The water isn't even that hot."
"Well, it burns hell! Is it boiling? Wait, are you trying to cook us alive?!" Tobias shouted.
The king laughed in tears. "No! We, Drago, bathe in boiling water so it never gets any colder—it only gets hotter. I'll turn on the cold faucet so it mixes with the hot water."
As we soaked and relaxed in the water, we began to chat with the king.
"So, Tobias," the king said with a smile, "you really saved my daughter. That was brave of you. I can't thank you enough."
"No problem, I guess," he said, embarrassed and scratching his head.
The king chuckled. "Hmph, modesty suits you. But it's good to see you resting. You've earned it."
"And I heard you had no magic, and how old are you two?" the king asked.
"We are 12 years old," I said, and Tobias said, "It's true, I have no magic, but I am strong."
The king was in shock. "Whoa, you took on a Drago with sheer strength alone, that's really impressive."
Tobias was disappointed as he said, "I may be strong, but I'm still weak. I couldn't protect your daughter without letting her get hurt, and she had to lend me power so I could beat him." He began to punch himself in the face.
"Hey, don't beat yourself. What you did was noble, and you have earned my respect," the king said.
"So, King, are you the strongest in the realm?" I asked excitedly.
"Of course, I am the strongest in the realm. I am the king; I should be strong so I can protect my people. And no need to call me king—you can call me Magnus," he said with a smile.
Tobias and I exchanged confused looks, wondering why he preferred that, but we thought nothing of it and agreed.
As soon as we got out of the bath, we went to our bedroom—yes, our bedroom. Tobias and I would be sharing the same room, with two beds side by side.
We were given pyjamas by the staff. They were silky and smooth, very luxurious and comfortable.
Solfira came by to check on us, making sure we were okay. After she left, we immediately got into bed. I turned to Tobias and began to speak.
"So what's up with you and Solfira? You both have been acting weird lately," I whispered.
"Nothing is happening, just go to sleep," he whispered back.
"I know something is up, but I just can't prove it," I said confidently.
We fell asleep almost immediately, and the next day, we woke up feeling refreshed. As I opened my eyes, I caught sight of Tobias doing push-ups.
"63… 64… 64… 66… 67!" he counted, finishing his set and panting heavily.
"You're early," I said.
"Yes, I am, and I was just about to take a jog. Wanna join me?" he said.
"Sure, why not? Let me change real quick," I replied.
We jogged for at least two hours across the large grass field outside the castle. By the time we returned, we felt refreshed and energised, our bodies awake and ready for the day.
We were then served a healthy breakfast, the perfect reward after our morning exercise.
As we ate, Tobias took small bites, still catching his breath from the jog. I poured myself some juice and glanced at him.
"So," I began, "any plans for today? Training again, or just chilling?"
Tobias shook his head with a small smile. "Training, of course. I need to get stronger."
I laughed. "You'll never stop, will you?"
He smiled. "Not if I want to keep up with you."
Magnus entered the dining hall, smiling warmly at us. "Good morning, boys. I see you're keeping yourselves busy. Keep it up—you'll need your strength for what's coming."
"Wait, what's coming?" I asked, quite confused.
"One month from now, I will give you boys a mission to complete," Magnus said seriously.
"Wait, a mission? What for? Why can't the knights do it?" Tobias asked.
"This task is specifically for you, Tobias. I have been thinking about it, and I believe you are the perfect vessel," Magnus said firmly.
"Vessel?" Tobias and I said in sync.
"Yes. You are the one. You are skilled in swordsmanship, very strong, noble, and pure of heart," Magnus continued, a small smile forming. "And as you know, you don't have magic. I think you are the one…"
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "…to wield Drakkor's blade...Dragonheart."
To be continued…