Morning sunlight streamed through the window onto Illusionary Feather and Blazing Heart, who slept embraced, when a knock sounded at the door.

“Ahhh~” Illusionary Feather rarely slept this deeply or sweetly. He sat up, rubbed his eyes, straightened his clothes, and opened the door.

Kerdling stood there in her crisp uniform, radiating energy. Illusionary Feather instantly recognized her morning exercise habit—no one, however fit, could wake up, wash their face, and exude such vitality so quickly. He’d practiced daily drills himself back then, so he deduced it easily.

“Kerdling, what brings you here so early?” Illusionary Feather yawned, shaking off drowsiness to ask.

“It’s not early anymore. I came to call you for breakfast,” Kerdling replied, eyeing his tired look with unreadable thoughts.

“Go ahead downstairs. I’ll wake Blazing Heart and join you shortly,” Illusionary Feather said, watching her leave before closing the door.

He walked to the bed, gazing at the sleeping girl’s adorable face. Unable to bear waking her, he gently stroked her cheek—and Blazing Heart stirred awake.

After washing up, the three of them ate breakfast together, checked out of the inn, and left.

Lily and Yote still showed yesterday’s fatigue—the aftereffects of motion sickness.

The five walked out of Scott City. Once a distance away, Illusionary Feather pulled out a Magic Vehicle from nowhere, beckoning everyone aboard. They buckled seatbelts, gripped the new paper bags he’d given them, and shifted into high alert.

Seeing their seriousness, Illusionary Feather spared no mercy. He floored the accelerator, speeding toward the next city.

Three days later, they reached the border between Feldt Kingdom and Cloudfall Kingdom—a vast forest perfect for hunting and ambushes. A road cut through it, used by merchant caravans guarded by escorts.

Illusionary Feather tensed as they entered. “Ambush ahead. Stay ready,” he warned the others.

No one answered, but the mood shifted. After three days, Lily’s group had adapted to his driving and relaxed their guard—until his words snapped them back to alertness.

True to his warning, halfway down the road, they found themselves surrounded.

“If you’re here, show yourselves. No hiding,” Illusionary Feather’s voice echoed through the trees.

Two figures appeared a hundred meters ahead. The taller one dwarfed Illusionary Feather, with a buzz-cut black hair and a Heavy Sword on his back. Lean yet agile, he wore night attire by day like a knight. Beside him stood a short, frail man in glasses, hair parted neatly—clearly a scheming advisor type.

“Dragon Tamer Academy students, indeed. Spotted us fast,” the tall knight boomed cheerfully. “But you won’t pass today.”

“Th-that voice! Uncle Kai?” Yote gasped in shock.

“You know him?” Illusionary Feather asked.

“He’s Lyster’s knight. He played with us kids often when we were little,” Yote explained.

“Then it’s confirmed,” Illusionary Feather said, stepping out of the vehicle.

The others followed. Blazing Heart rushed to his side, clutching his hand.

“Uncle Kai, is it true Lyster took that thing?” Yote’s question made the knight pause. “Yote? What are you doing here?” he countered.

“No time for reunions. Stop them from reaching the family—ruin the young lady’s plans,” the short advisor whispered to Kai.

Kai nodded. Hefting his Heavy Sword, he charged at Illusionary Feather’s group. “Yote! Test your skills against your uncle. Show me your progress!” he roared.

Yote wasted no words. Twin blades flashed as he clashed fiercely with Kai.

Mid-fight, the advisor fired a signal flare. Before Kai could react, countless *whoosh* sounds ripped from the forest—arrows, Dragon Engineer-grade ones that could pierce stone slabs.

Illusionary Feather moved. Lily and Kerdling sprang into action too—Lily shielding the left with precise fireballs that incinerated incoming arrows, Kerdling guarding the right with a cross sword. (Illusionary Feather recalled she’d bought it at the Holy Sword Store; he’d only seen her use a Heavy Sword before.) Kerdling’s strikes were blindingly fast, near peak for her level, but she missed some arrows. Illusionary Feather silently handled those with Spatial Magic.

First, neutralize the advisor. Illusionary Feather drew a black flexible sword. Keeping Blazing Heart close in one arm, he lunged at the frail man. The advisor couldn’t withstand his assault—blasted away in seconds.

A green signal flare lay on the ground. Illusionary Feather had seen a red one earlier; this must be for retreat.

He pulled it. Arrow fire ceased instantly. Only Kai and Yote still fought, evenly matched. Out of courtesy, Illusionary Feather didn’t intervene, watching their sharp exchanges—they treated each other as true rivals.

Yote attacked with twin blades. Kai defended patiently, waiting for an opening to counter and force Yote back. His experience showed. When Kai’s Heavy Sword slashed downward, Yote crossed his blades to block, then retaliated with a scissor strike. Kai parried, used the momentum to leap back, and called out, “Until next time!”

He’d spotted the green flare. Yang Rui, the advisor, had vanished. Sensing trouble, Kai retreated—he knew they might chase him to the family estate, but without proof, he’d be safe.

“Let them go,” Illusionary Feather said as they fled. He then contacted Leilo via communicator. He’d checked Leilo’s file: birthday on the 6th of Aquarius (on Dragon God Continent, months ran from Aries to Pisces). Four days from now. Illusionary Feather demanded he return home that day—or they’d cut ties. Leilo valued their friendship; soon after receiving the message, he took leave, boarded an armored vehicle, and sped homeward.

After the call, Illusionary Feather gathered everyone and drove off in pursuit.