46

"So you're the rumored Holy Knight of Aio? You actually believe that man can defeat His Majesty? How naive! Let's bet how many seconds he'll last before Lusia!"

A trace of a smile appeared on Aile's face—"I believe in him."

"'Believe?'" The red-haired girl—Tridiss, the "Dragon Mother"—snorted in disdain. "Do you even know what you're doing? His Majesty Ivan Reyes will become the greatest king in history! And you dare to plot his assassination?"

Their blades and shields parted. Tridiss swung her sword again with twice the force—but the Mystic Silver Shield remained unscathed, not a scratch on it.

"'What a revolting shield. Did you buy all your gear with money?'"

"'Says the one who keeps a dragon as a pet!'" Aile shoved her aside with her shield and thrust her sword forward—but Tridiss dodged it.

"'You think a man who killed his father and brother can be a great king? Ridiculous! Haven't you heard the tale of the Highcourt prince cursed for kin-slaying? Murdering kin is the gravest sin in the eyes of the gods! Such a man has no right to rule Dawn City!'"

"'Hmph! Second Prince Turing Reyes has coveted the throne for years! If His Majesty had stood idly by while the Aeon Sect grew powerful, it would be the prince who committed kin-slaying! His Majesty merely struck first to secure his position!'"

"'Nonsense—!'"

"'Don't you believe it? It's said there's a secret escape tunnel beneath the Aeon Grand Cathedral! Didn't the second prince foresee that day and prepare an escape route?'"

"'Shut up!!'" Aile roared in fury. She imbued her shield with light, just like the Priestess's Blade of Light skill—and hurled it!

Tridiss hastily swung her sword to block—but was still knocked to the ground!

"'The second prince is already dead—and you still slander him!!'" The shield spun in a circle and returned to Aile's hand.

The second prince should have only mentioned the tunnel to Aile. It seemed the First Prince's spies were deeply embedded.

"'@$*+#%^—!'" Tridiss shouted in Dragon tongue. In response came a roar! A long dragon neck thrust through the broken latticed window, snorting a blast of scorching breath. Then the dragon folded its wings, its foreclaws scraping as its scaled body forced its way inside!

This dragon was still juvenile, barely large enough to ride. But challenging it was still impossible for a mortal.

After landing, the dragon shook its head, glaring at Aile. Then it took a deep breath—and unleashed dragonfire!

Aile showed no fear, raising her Mystic Silver Shield! Aio gave her courage! The second prince gave her the resolve to fight to the end! This shield, the final token he gave her, became a barrier against the dragonfire at the critical moment!

Only mystic silver could withstand dragonfire—

Seconds ticked by as Aile endured the suffocating heat—

"'Since you failed to burn me alive—'" Aile, who had been buying time from the start, finally smiled. She channeled 'light' into her shield! It transformed into a reflective mirror! The blinding glare briefly stung Tridiss and the dragon's eyes.

Aile raised her right hand high—"'Now I'll send you and your dragon to meet Aio!'"

"'Wait—!!!'"

A purple cat leaped down and clung tightly to Aile's raised arm.

"'Anya???' Aile shook her off—"'What are you doing?? Trying to stop me?'"

"'You can't kill that dragon! It might be the last one! If you kill it, it's gone forever!'" said the Druid girl, Anya.

"'Now you tell me this? Are you crazy?'"

The dragon shook its head, clearly having regained its sight.

With a *poof*, Anya transformed back into human form. "'Please let me try to communicate with it—!'"

"'Communicate???' Aile stared at her incredulously.

The dragon glared menacingly at Anya, snorting scorching breath! Anya boldly approached, as if facing not a dragon but a large dog.

A red light enveloped her body as Anya used the power of 'Nature's Will' to communicate with the dragon. The dragon gave her a fierce glare, as if losing interest, then turned, climbed the window, squeezed out—and flew away.

"'You—you!! What did you do to my dragon!!!'" Tridiss swung her sword at Anya—but missed as Anya instantly transformed into a cat. Hitting an agile cat with a two-handed sword wasn't easy. At that moment, Aile hurled her Mystic Silver Shield! It struck Tridiss square on the forehead! She collapsed instantly.

The battle was over—

"'So from now on, whenever we face beast-type enemies, can we just leave them to you?'" Aile said. "'Where have you been? Only coming back now.'"

"'I went to the Adventurer Guild—! They were checking the full names of Leon, Naya, and yours, saying they need to report to the First Prince—!'" Anya, in cat form, pulled out an adventurer team registration form from somewhere.

"'I sensed a conspiracy, so I intercepted them halfway—!'"

"'Full names?'" Aile took the form. "'What does the First Prince want with our full names?'"

"'I don't know—!'"

"'Could it be related to the curse that killed the king and second prince?'" Aile's imagination ran wild—"'Legend says there's a curse where you make a straw doll, write the victim's name on a cloth strip, attach it to the doll, then stab it with needles—the harm transfers to the person whose name is written!'"

"'Oh—? That does sound plausible—!'"

"'Anya, you saved us,'" Aile said with lingering fear. "'Though my full name isn't on the form, Naya's is!'"

In fact, Naya's name had already been written on it.

To be continued.