"The dragon... the dragon spoke!"

Alicia tugged at Albel's sleeve, her face frozen in shock as she heard the black dragon Bahamut suddenly talk.

"I'm not deaf. I heard it too," Albel muttered, shielding Alicia behind him. He gripped the Demon Sword Laevatein, ready to fight. He still couldn't tell if this dragon was friend or foe.

"Who are you? How do you know me?" Albel demanded.

"Isharis ordered me to wait here for you," Bahamut rumbled slowly. "To take you away from this place."

"Who's Isharis?" Albel's head spun with confusion. He'd never heard that name before. Who was she?

"Isharis is the name of the First Holy Maiden," Alicia whispered in Albel's ear. "I saw her statue in the Light Sanctuary's hall."

"The First Holy Maiden?!" Albel's expression turned uneasy. Not her again. Was this dragon waiting for him on her orders too?

"Why did the First Holy Maiden send you to wait for me? What else did she say?" Albel's mind overflowed with questions. He pressed Bahamut for answers.

"I don't know. Isharis only told me to wait here and take you to the nearest land." Bahamut shook his massive head, the motion terrifying.

"So you're not our enemy?" Alicia blurted out before Albel could speak.

"Correct. Otherwise, I couldn't leave this place." A banner appeared above Bahamut's head: "Sealed Dragon." It showed he was bound here by the First Holy Maiden's seal.

"That's great, Al! We can finally go home!" Alicia clapped her hands, overjoyed at the thought of leaving the island. She'd completely forgotten Albel's earlier threat to make her his sex slave.

"Hold on. This is too..." Albel frowned. He still didn't grasp the truth. He'd just followed the First Holy Maiden's steps blindly—from arriving on this island to leaving it. Was walking this path truly safe?

Damn it. Albel cursed inwardly. Something nagged at his memory, just out of reach. He hated not controlling the big picture.

"Albel, when do we leave? I've been trapped here for ten years, waiting for you every moment." Bahamut's blood-red eyes fixed on Albel, who looked smaller than the dragon's teeth. His voice held urgent impatience.

"First, I need to return to the elf village. Settle things there before we go." Albel narrowed his eyes. He had no intel and couldn't fully trust the dragon. But after seeing his flames deflect off Albel earlier, he knew the beast feared him. Betrayal wasn't a worry.

One step at a time. Albel never overplanned—he adapted. No one threatened him anyway. Leaving the island came first.

"I'll wait here. Come when you're ready." Bahamut settled onto the ground, motionless.

"Finally going home!" Alicia skipped ahead, arms raised high, her steps light.

"..."

The old Albel would've matched her joy. But now, facing the unknown, his heart felt heavy. Everything felt prearranged—he was walking straight into the First Holy Maiden's trap.

Forget it. Raw power crushed any scheme. If she wanted to play games, let her try.

"Alusa! We're back!" Alicia dashed into the elf village entrance, shouting toward Alusa's house.

Albel rushed after her, worried she'd blab about the mutants. He reminded her sharply: stay quiet, let him handle everything. Alicia pouted but nodded under his glare.

"Did you eliminate the mutants?" Alusa burst from her room, relief flooding her face at seeing them safe.

"Of course. Nothing I can't handle." Albel smiled slightly. He hadn't killed the mutants, but he needed to reassure them.

"Really? Wonderful!" Alusa threw herself into his arms, tears of joy streaming down. The forest mutants had been a deadly threat to her people.

"Thank you, Sir Albel! Holy Maiden Alicia!" The village elder hobbled out, supported by others. He tried to kneel, but Albel caught him.

Surviving elves spread the news like a festival had begun. They danced their unique, joyful dances.

"Tonight, we must honor you with an Elven Feast," the elder announced. It was their annual grand celebration—reserved for this moment since Albel had ended a thousand-year threat.

"I... I can't—" Albel started to refuse. Bahamut waited, and he wanted to leave fast. But he couldn't say no to Alusa's hopeful eyes. He glanced at Alicia apologetically; she seemed eager to go too.

Alicia had already run off with the Fire Drake, joining elves dancing toward the village center. She waved her arms wildly.

"That idiot," Albel sighed. The crisis was over. He might as well relax here, avoiding tangled thoughts. Bahamut had waited ten years—another night wouldn't matter.

Albel walked beside Alusa through the village. The brown-haired girl smiled freely now, her earlier worries gone. She seemed as carefree as Alicia.

"The Elven Feast is our yearly celebration," Alusa explained as they headed to the feast grounds. "We sing, dance, and even confess to our..." She trailed off suddenly.

"Confess to whom?" Albel asked, puzzled by her silence.

"N-nothing! Let me show you this spot instead!" Alusa's cheeks flushed red. She turned away, pulling him toward the forest edge.

"How beautiful."

Albel followed her to a lakeside. Sunlight glittered on calm water. The view stole his breath.

"This is Moon Lake. I grew up here, training as a forest guardian. I come here to rest—it soothes my soul." Alusa stood with hands behind her back, gazing at the water.

"Yeah. The breeze feels amazing." Albel lay down on the grass. The wind brushed his face, melting his tension.

"Mm. It's my favorite place." Alusa sat beside him, smiling softly.

"But someday, I want to see the world beyond." Her next words jolted Albel awake.

"You want to leave the island?" He sat up, surprised.

"Mm. This taught me my strength isn't enough. I need to train out there, grow stronger." Alusa nodded firmly.

"What about the village? Aren't you its guardian?" Albel blinked.

"The mutants are gone. My duty ends with them." Alusa shook her head. Guardians existed only to watch the mutants.

"But a village girl like you? You'll get scammed easily out there." Albel's eyes gleamed with a sudden idea.

"I'm smart! No one can trick me!" Alusa shook a tiny fist at him.

"Still, unfamiliar places bring trouble."

"That's true..." Alusa admitted.

"So you need a trustworthy guide." Albel cleared his throat. "Ahem. I'll... reluctantly take that role." He grinned inwardly. He'd thought his chance with her was lost. Since she asked, he'd "kindly" guide her—straight to his home. She'd surely refuse such a blunt hint.

"Mm." Alusa's soft reply surprised him.

"Huh? What did you say?" Albel blinked, thinking he'd misheard.

"I said yes." Alusa turned to him, lips curving into a warm smile. "I look forward to your guidance."

Albel stared, speechless. He'd chased flowers that wouldn't bloom—only to find willows thriving where he hadn't planted. This happiness hit him like a sudden storm.