Pain.
It was everywhere.
A deep, burning ache spread through every inch of Mia's body. Even breathing sent sharp stabs through her ribs.
The air was thick with the scent of herbs, medicine, and fresh bandages. Voices drifted somewhere nearby, muffled and indistinct, as though she were hearing them through water.
"...Grrgh..."
Her eyelids slowly fluttered open.
An unfamiliar stone ceiling greeted her. Lanterns cast a warm glow across the room, illuminating shelves lined with bottles, folded cloth, and healing supplies.
A healing chamber...?
She tried to move.
Instant regret.
"—Argh!"
Pain exploded through her ribs and wings, forcing a pained groan from her throat.
She was still in her dragon form, stretched across a massive reinforced marble bed built to support dragons.
A chair scraped softly beside her.
"Oh—Mia!"
Ebruhan shot to his feet.
He was in human form, bandages wrapped around his torso from shoulder to waist. He looked exhausted, but the relief on his face was unmistakable.
"You're finally awake."
He let out a quiet breath.
"...How are you feeling?"
Mia stared at him for a second before answering.
"...Like I got hit by a dragon."
Ebruhan blinked.
"...That is... surprisingly accurate."
Despite himself, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
"You took a direct hit from a dying dragon."
His expression became serious again.
"The attack was meant for me."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"You saved my life."
A brief silence followed.
"...Thank you."
His voice was quiet, but sincere.
"I owe you more than I can ever repay."
Mia gave a weak groan as she shifted slightly.
"Don't... mention it..."
Another wave of pain shot through her body.
"...Ugh..."
Suddenly—
BANG!
The chamber door flew open.
"MIAAAAAAA!!"
Leo charged inside with tears already streaming down his face.
Both Mia and Ebruhan's eyes widened.
"Leo, wait—!"
"Don't—!"
Too late.
Leo launched himself onto the bed and wrapped both arms tightly around Mia's neck.
"AAARRRGHHH!!"
Mia wheezed.
"My ribs!! My ribs, Leo!!"
Leo froze.
"...Oh."
Behind him, several healers rushed into the room in alarm.
"Careful!"
"She has multiple fractured bones!"
"Don't squeeze the patient!"
Leo immediately let go and stumbled backward.
"S-Sorry!!"
For exactly one second.
Then he wiped his eyes, pointed straight at Mia, and began scolding her none stops...,
"You idiot!"
"What were you thinking?!"
"You almost died!"
"You promised you'd come back!"
"You call that being careful?!"
Mia blinked.
"...I literally just woke up..."
Leo ignored that completely.
His eyes were still red from crying, yet he looked ready to lecture her for the next hour.
"YOU'VE BEEN UNCONSCIOUS FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK!!"
Silence filled the room.
"...A week?"
Mia's eyes widened.
"I've been asleep that long?"
"Do you have any idea how worried I was?!"
Leo jabbed an accusing finger toward her.
"You bad dragon!!"
Mia looked over at Ebruhan.
The blue dragon had suddenly become deeply fascinated by the ceiling.
He was very clearly trying not to laugh.
Meanwhile, Leo continued scolding a dragon with all the authority of an angry older brother.
Mia let out a defeated sigh.
"...My head hurts..."
"And whose fault is that?"
"...Mine."
"Correct."
Leo nodded once, completely satisfied.
Then his head suddenly snapped toward Ebruhan.
"And YOU!"
He marched across the room and pointed dramatically at him.
"Mr. Blue Guy!"
Ebruhan stiffened.
"...Yes?"
"Don't stand there acting all calm!"
Leo jabbed a finger at his chest.
"You're the reason she got hurt like that!"
An awkward silence settled over the room.
Ebruhan coughed into his fist.
"...I suppose I can't deny that."
Leo inhaled, preparing another lecture—
But before a single word escaped—
A large hand grabbed him by the ear.
"OW! HEY!!"
Vinson stood behind him with his usual unreadable expression.
Without a word, he began dragging Leo toward the door.
"Dad!!"
"You're disturbing the patient," Vinson said calmly.
"But I'm not finished yet!"
"You can continue after she recovers."
"ARRGH!! I STILL HAVE MORE TO SAY!!"
Leo flailed dramatically as he disappeared through the doorway.
The door clicked shut.
Silence returned.
Neither Mia nor Ebruhan spoke for several seconds.
Finally, Ebruhan rubbed the back of his neck.
"...He's certainly passionate."
Mia rested her head against the bed with a groan.
"...My ribs agree with him."
A moment later, the door opened once more.
Vinson stepped inside.
Unlike before, he entered alone.
The room instantly felt quieter.
He approached the bed and looked down at Mia.
His expression remained stern, but relief lingered in his eyes.
"You caused everyone quite a scare."
Mia lowered her head.
"...Sorry."
Vinson sighed softly.
Then he reached out and gently patted the top of her head, careful to avoid her injuries.
"Rest."
His voice softened.
"You've carried enough."
"Now let your body recover."
Ebruhan nodded.
"She's done more than enough, sir."
Vinson slowly turned toward him.
"And you," he said evenly, "have no right to say that."
Ebruhan scratched the back of his head.
"...Fair."
Mia lifted her head slightly.
"Sir... this wasn't his fault."
Both men looked at her.
"I chose to go."
"I made that decision."
"If anyone deserves the blame..."
She smiled faintly.
"...It's me."
Vinson was silent for a moment.
Then he shook his head.
"This isn't about blame."
He looked at her one last time.
"It's about coming home alive."
Another gentle pat landed on her head.
"Rest."
Then he quietly left the room.
The soft click of the closing door echoed behind him.
Silence settled once more.
Ebruhan leaned back in his chair.
"You should listen to him."
"You're in much worse shape than I am."
Mia snorted.
"Oh, please..."
"I'm fi—"
"AAARGH!"
She tried to shift on the bed.
Instant regret.
Pain shot through her ribs hard enough to make her freeze.
She remained perfectly still.
"...Okay."
A long sigh escaped her.
"...Maybe I'm not that fine."
Ebruhan couldn't help smiling.
"...That's more believable."
Night settled quietly over the healing chamber.
The lanterns burned low, bathing the room in a warm golden glow. Most of the healers had retired hours ago, leaving only the soft crackle of the flames and the occasional rustle of bandages to break the silence.
But Leo was still awake.
Every time Mia shifted uncomfortably, he was on his feet in an instant.
Carefully, he patted the places the healers had shown him, easing the stiffness in her muscles. Every so often, he would replace the warm herbal compresses wrapped around her ribs and wings.
He wasn't particularly good at it.
More than once, he had to adjust a bandage after wrapping it crooked.
But he never complained.
He simply kept trying.
Mia watched him quietly for several minutes before finally speaking.
"...Why are you doing all this?"
Leo paused.
He looked at her as if she'd asked the most ridiculous question imaginable.
"You really have to ask?"
He gently straightened the bandage around her wing before shrugging.
"I'm your big brother."
His answer was simple.
"So, of course I'm doing this."
Mia fell silent.
Back in her old life...
No one had ever stayed awake through the night just to make sure she was comfortable.
No one had patiently cared for her simply because they wanted to.
A warmth spread quietly through her chest.
"...Right."
Leo never noticed the change in her expression.
He was too busy placing another warm herbal cloth across her sore ribs.
"Does that hurt?"
She tested a slow breath.
"...Less than before."
He smiled.
"Good."
Leo pulled his chair closer to the bed and sat beside her once more, keeping watch as though guarding the most precious treasure in the world.
For the first time since waking...
Mia finally relaxed enough to fall asleep.
Far beyond the capital...
Beyond the borders marked on any human map...
Beyond the lands where even seasoned adventurers feared to tread...
The world changed.
Jagged mountains clawed toward a lifeless sky.
Twisted forests stretched across the horizon, their blackened trees devoid of leaves.
The earth itself was scarred by countless abyssal fissures—bottomless wounds from which thick black mist seeped endlessly into the air.
Monsters roamed these cursed lands without restraint.
Corrupted beasts.
Misshapen horrors.
Creatures whose forms had long since abandoned reason.
Even dragons.
At the heart of this desolation yawned an enormous abyss.
Its depths swallowed every trace of light.
From above, a lone figure descended through the darkened sky.
Its wings resembled torn leather.
Its body was covered in jagged black scales lined with bone-like spikes.
The creature landed near the edge of the abyss before immediately dropping to one knee.
"My Lord Varkryth."
Its voice remained low, careful.
"I, Skarn, bring word from General Kalis."
A brief pause.
"...He has fallen."
Silence answered him.
Only the mournful wind echoed through the broken cliffs.
Then...
The darkness moved.
A deep rumble rolled through the abyss like distant thunder.
Black mist poured upward.
The cliffs trembled.
Something immense was rising.
Two enormous violet eyes slowly opened within the darkness.
They glowed like twin stars buried beneath an endless sea of shadow.
A claw the size of a house gripped the cliff's edge.
Stone shattered beneath its weight.
Another followed.
Then an enormous head emerged from the abyss.
Black scales absorbed what little light existed, making the colossal dragon seem carved from living darkness.
His wings unfolded slowly, spreading across the cliffs like storm clouds.
Forty-six meters of ancient power climbed from the abyss.
The air itself seemed to grow heavier.
This was Varkryth.
Lord of the Abyss.
His voice shook the mountains.
"...Impossible."
His glowing eyes narrowed.
"Are you certain?"
Skarn lowered his head even further.
"Yes, my lord."
"General Kalis is dead."
"The one who defeated him was the kingdom's royal protector dragon... Ebruhan."
Varkryth's claws dug into the stone, leaving deep grooves.
"And?"
Skarn hesitated.
"...There was another."
"A young black dragon."
"The reports describe her mana reserves as... extraordinary."
He swallowed.
"Even General Kalis struggled against her."
"...Though he managed to wound her severely before he fell."
Silence returned.
Varkryth slowly stepped fully from the abyss.
His towering form cast an enormous shadow across the wasteland.
"A black dragon..."
His voice sank into a thoughtful growl.
Skarn cautiously continued.
"My lord... if she survives and continues to grow..."
"...She may become a threat."
"We could mobilize our forces now."
"We could eliminate her before that happens."
For a long time...
Varkryth said nothing.
Then a deep, rumbling chuckle echoed from within his chest.
"No."
His glowing eyes drifted toward the distant human kingdom.
"Do not engage her."
"...Not yet."
His massive tail swept lazily behind him, scattering loose stone with effortless force.
"Watch her."
"Nothing more."
Skarn slowly lifted his head.
"My lord...?"
Varkryth's gaze remained fixed on the horizon.
"A young black dragon..."
His pupils narrowed.
"...No."
His voice became almost a whisper.
"...Surely not."
For the first time in centuries...
The Lord of the Abyss looked uncertain.
And somewhere deep within memories he had long believed buried...
A forgotten name stirred.