-Lunos, Castle of Linda Lunos – October 7335-
Lunos Castle was darker than Zirinos remembered. The black stone towers rose against the grey sky, the battlements covered with melted ice. The wind carried the smell of smoke and fear – the fear of peasants who had fled the coastal villages, the fear of soldiers watching the walls, the fear of Linda, who awaited them in the inner courtyard with sunken eyes and dishevelled silver hair.
"You have arrived," said the marchioness, embracing her daughter. "Thank the gods."
"We have arrived," Luna replied, holding her mother close. "Zirinos brought soldiers from Ban."
"Soldiers?" Linda looked at the lightly armoured men dismounting from their horses. "How many?"
"A dozen. Some of Zayan's best."
"A dozen won't kill a Krakeriar."
"It won't," Zirinos intervened, dismounting. "But it will distract. And we will take advantage."
"We?"
"I. You. The soldiers. Anyone else who wants to die."
Linda almost smiled.
"You are still so direct."
"Direct people live longer. Detours waste time."
---
The Krakeriar was in Fishermen's Bay, half a day's walk from the castle. Linda's spies reported that the creature attacked at dusk, dragging bodies into the sea, and returned at dawn to an underwater cave to feed.
"It's a juvenile," said Linda in her study, unrolling a map of the coast. "The weakest of the four. But still dangerous."
"How do we kill it?" asked Sanderá, the loyal baron.
"With fire," Zirinos replied. "And with iron. Its scales are thick, but they don't resist heat. The technique I learned in Ban… it heats the blade. Melts the ice. Burns the flesh."
"And your sword?"
"My sword will hold. I'm the one who doesn't know if I will."
Silence fell. Luna looked at Zirinos.
"You're not going alone."
"I'm going with the soldiers."
"I'm going with you."
"No."
"I'm going."
"No." His voice was dry, leaving no room for argument. "You stay with your mother. Protect the castle. The Krakeriar is mine."
"Zirinos…"
"No."
Linda touched her daughter's arm.
"Let him. He knows what he's doing."
"He does," Zirinos added. "And if he doesn't, he pretends he does. It's the same thing."
---
They left at noon.
Zirinos, the twelve soldiers from Ban, Sanderá and Erlan. They rode along the snow‑covered road, passed deserted villages, stone bridges over frozen rivers. The sky was grey, low, heavy with clouds that did not rain.
"Lord Zirinos," called one of the soldiers, a young man with light eyes. "Is it true you killed Trussum?"
"It is."
"Alone?"
"I had help."
"Who helped you?"
"A woman from another world. And a little girl."
The soldier did not ask further.
---
Fishermen's Bay smelled of blood.
The sea was calm, dark, and the waves crashed against the rocks with a dull sound. On the beach, the bodies of the fishermen lay scattered across the sand – some whole, others broken, all covered in ice.
"The monster has been here," said Sanderá, dismounting. "A few hours ago."
"It's still near," Zirinos replied, also dismounting. "We'll wait."
"Wait for what?"
"For it."
They lit fires on the beach. The soldiers sharpened their swords. Sanderá prayed quietly – a prayer to Lucinar, god of bad luck, asking that bad luck fall upon the monster and not upon them.
Zirinos did not pray. He just watched the sea.
The egg, in his backpack, pulsed.
---
The Krakeriar emerged from the water at dusk.
It was larger than Zirinos had expected – not as large as the one that had attacked Decatry port, but still enormous. Its body, covered in black ice, shone in the firelight. Its yellow eyes scanned the beach, the soldiers, the horses.
"Fire!" shouted Sanderá.
The Ban soldiers shot their first arrows. Most ricocheted off the scales, but some ignited on contact with the icy skin – a trick learned in Wuqes: arrows with white iron tips, heated red‑hot.
The Krakeriar roared. The sound was sharp, cutting, and echoed in the mountains.
"Now!" Zirinos advanced.
The sword, heated by Helena's technique, glowed in the half‑dark. The first blow struck the creature's foreleg. The ice cracked, the flesh burned, and the Krakeriar retreated, dragging its heavy body toward the water.
"Don't let it escape!" shouted Sanderá.
The soldiers shot another volley of arrows. The Krakeriar faltered. Zirinos seized the moment and drove his sword into the creature's neck.
The ice melted. The flesh opened. Blood – black, hot – gushed out.
The Krakeriar fell.
The sea water boiled around it.
Silence returned.
"Is it dead?" asked Erlan, pale.
"It is," Zirinos replied, pulling out his sword. "You can tell the marchioness."
The soldiers cheered. Sanderá hugged Erlan. Zirinos, alone, walked away from the beach.
The egg, in his backpack, pulsed more slowly.
---
On the return to the castle, Luna waited for him on the drawbridge.
"Did you kill it?" she asked, her light eyes shining.
"We killed it."
"Are you hurt?"
"A scratch. Nothing serious."
"The egg?"
"It's the same."
She looked at the backpack. The purple and red light shone through the cloth.
"It will hatch soon."
"It will."
"And if it's a dragon?"
"Then we have a dragon."
"And if it's a monster?"
"Then we also have a monster. The difference is that this one is small. For now."
Luna did not answer. She just touched his arm.
"My mother wants to speak with you."
"About what?"
"About your departure."
Zirinos entered the castle.
---
Linda Lunos stood in her study, by the window. The fire in the fireplace crackled low. The map of the coast was still unrolled on the table.
"Zirinos," she said without turning. "You killed the Krakeriar."
"I did."
"My daughter stays."
"I know."
"You leave."
"I know."
"Where to?"
"To Derylini. I need to deliver a letter from King Zayan. And I need to see Mira."
"The girl?"
"My ward."
Linda turned.
"You are a good man, Zirinos. Or you try to be."
"I try."
"You weren't in time to save Fenísia."
"No."
"But you were in time to save Luna."
"I was."
"Does that matter?"
"It matters. To her."
"And to you?"
Zirinos did not answer.
"Take the letter," said Linda. "And take my thanks. When you return, Lunos will be standing."
"I will return."
"When?"
"When the war from up there comes down."
They shook hands. Dry. Firm.
Zirinos left the study. Luna waited in the corridor.
"Are you really going?"
"I am."
"I'll take you to the port."
"You don't have to."
"I want to."
They went down the stairs in silence.
---
The ship that would take him to Derylini was called 'Sea Star'. It was smaller than the 'Golden Sand', but faster, with white sails and a thin hull, built for coastal navigation.
Zirinos boarded alone. The Ban soldiers would stay in Lunos to help Linda rebuild the defences. Sanderá and Erlan would also stay. Only Zirinos was leaving.
"Write to me," said Luna on the pier. "When you arrive."
"I will."
"And if you don't arrive?"
"Then I won't write."
She almost smiled.
"You're impossible."
"I am."
They embraced. Quick. Warm.
Zirinos climbed the gangplank. The ship pulled away from the pier.
Luna stood on the sand, waving.
The wind blew cold.
The egg, in Zirinos's backpack, pulsed.