In the Dragon Domain, within the castle courtyard, Kelbin and Sirius walked side by side.
"I've been meaning to ask, Brother," Sirius began, glancing up at him. "Why does Mother use the name Soleil instead of her family name? Or rather… why did she change it?"
Kelbin smirked. "Because it's cringe."
Sirius blinked. "Cringe?"
"Yeah," Kelbin replied, trying to hold back a laugh. "Mother said, and I quote—'Who named this cringe-ass house Dragona? I'm a dragon, and my last name is Dragona? What kind of stupid-ass logic is that?' Then she said, 'From now on, we're using the name Soleil.'"
Sirius couldn't help but smile. "You sure Mother married Father because she loved him?"
Kelbin chuckled. "Right? She probably just wanted the name," he said jokingly.
Sirius laughed softly, but then stopped walking.
"Sirius?" Kelbin turned to him.
Sirius's gaze shifted toward the far horizon—the back side of the kingdom. His expression turned sharp.
"This feeling… Ragnarök?"
Kelbin frowned. "What?"
"I'll be out for a while," Sirius said quietly. "Don't let Mother know."
"Wait—hey, little bro!" Kelbin reached out, but Sirius had already vanished into thin air.
Kelbin sighed. "What was that about…?"
"Let him be."
The sudden voice startled him. Kelbin looked up to see his father, Alexander Soleil, floating high in the sky, staring at a faint purple glow on the horizon.
"Let him enjoy this moment," Alexander said calmly.
Kelbin frowned. "Are you sure, Father? If Mother finds out, aren't you, you know… dead?"
Alexander chuckled darkly. "Dead? Let me tell you something, Kelbin. I'm the Alpha in this house."
Kelbin just stared at him.
***
Beyond the Dragon Domain and the border of the Elven realm, Sylf walked while hugging a dog-like creature.
"Are we close?" Sylf asked.
"Yes. I feel my energy coming from inside those mountains," the creature replied.
Sylf tilted her head. "But it's just a wall, right?" In front of them rose a massive boulder-like mountain, no cave, no opening. Nothing.
"Don't worry. I can open a gate," the dog said.
All at once, a purple light ascended from the mountain, devouring the sky and splitting the clouds apart. Sylf ducked and pulled the creature closer to protect it.
The dog's red eyes shook with fear. "This feeling… this energy belongs to that monster," it whimpered.
The light subsided. Sylf opened her eyes and looked — but before she could speak, a voice interrupted.
"A child?"
Sylf turned and found a child the same height as her: white hair, slit red eyes, an empty calm in his gaze. The dog lowered its head and stepped back, trembling.
That soul… that stench of death, destruction, and oblivion that it makes you want to just kill yourself rather than dying by his hands. No way… Samuel von Lunar?!
I looked at the child. Human? No, her ears were pointed. An elf, then. The black creature at her side trembled as if it might faint. I crouched and brought its head level with my eyes. Those blood-like pupils reminded me of something. The dog whimpered, on the verge of tears.
"Hey!! Don't bully Mr Dog!" a small voice piped up. I moved to stop the kid from snatching the creature, and in the scuffle, she tripped headfirst to the ground.
I looked at her. "You okay, kid?"
"Kid? We're the same age," she protested, her two-colored eyes shining with tears. I pulled out a candy from my pocket. "Don't cry — here, a candy."
Her eyes lit up. "Ooh, grapes! Thank you!" she giggled.
I looked back at the creature. This déjà vu feeling was weird. Should I burn him/her to ashes? The dog seemed to sense it and passed out. "Hey, hey — wake up." I cradled its head gently. Those blood-red eyes twitched, but it didn't fully regain consciousness.
When I looked forward again, the former boulder was gone. In its place yawned a dark entrance — a cavern swallowing the light. I stepped toward it.
"Hey, hey, wait!" the girl cried. "Where are you going?"
''inside''
"I'm coming too!" she said, snatching the dog from me and hugging the unconscious creature tightly. "The doggy said its energy is in there… Doggy helped me out earlier, so I'm returning the favour!"
"Wait—did you just say it said that?" I stopped, staring at her. "That thing can talk?"
The dog didn't move, still fainted in her arms.
I sighed and turned away. "Should I really burn it to ashes?" I muttered.
The girl hugged the dog protectively, glaring at me.
I ignored them and continued walking. "Suit yourself," I said.