That night, after Raion finished his training, he returned to his room following dinner.
A crimson glow flickered outside the window.
Raion looked up — Duke Yanryu hovered in the night sky atop his blazing dragon, the creature's jaws opening and closing as it spat flickering tongues of flame that lit the air around it.
"Follow me," Duke Yanryu said curtly, steering the fire dragon out of the city.
Raion's expression shifted several times. He considered calling for help from Tabasa or William, but then restrained the thought and walked to the window.
With a sharp whistle, his young griffin burst from its cozy nest and soared toward him. Raion mounted it swiftly and urged it to chase the duke's fading figure.
Before long, they arrived at the same plain where they had fought earlier that day.
Now it was deep night, quiet except for the pale glow of the red and blue twin moons spreading across the open field.
Duke Yanryu halted midair, and his dragon turned to face them. Raion made his griffin stop twenty meters away.
The dragon's slitted golden eyes locked on the small griffin with contempt. It gave a sharp snort, releasing a puff of smoke in disdain.
The little griffin chirped nervously, trembling. Raion stroked the feathers along its neck to calm it.
Duke Yanryu studied Raion. "You're the captain of the Griffin Squadron, aren't you?"
Raion met his gaze. "That's right."
"Then I'd like you to lose to us in two days' time. How does that sound?"
Raion's eyes flashed with anger. "Hmph. I'd never do something like that."
The duke's tone remained perfectly calm. "If you agree, I'll overlook the matter concerning your Churuka. In fact, I'll even allow you to marry her. You can come to Kelmania and command my elite vanguard. You've seen their strength yourself."
Raion's fists tightened.
"This old man's revolting," Dever muttered in Raion's mind. "Buddy, let's just beat him up already."
"Because you're Churuka's father, I'll pretend I didn't hear that," Raion said coldly. "If that's all, I'm leaving."
Duke Yanryu stared at him in silence for a moment, a faint smile spreading across his face.
"What are you laughing at?" Raion snapped.
"Oh, nothing," said the duke, his tone wickedly smooth. "If you were to accept, I'd never let Churuka marry someone like you anyway. Even if she hates me for it, I'd rather kill her than let her fall into your hands."
Raion gripped Dever tightly, his fighting spirit rising. "You really think you can?"
"Don't be rash," the duke said, almost paternally, though his eyes were cold. "I've changed my mind. Toristine and Kelmania will soon be allies. The emperor will marry Toristine's princess — and I'll have Churuka marry you. That will only strengthen our alliance."
"Wishful thinking," Raion said, his eyes blazing. "I won't let you take Louise away."
"Ah, yes," the duke mused, "you're the princess's lover, aren't you? But this is political business — the alliance comes before lovers. I can always separate you two if it helps my kingdom."
Raion's anger boiled over. "In your dreams!"
The griffin lunged forward. The fire dragon's jaws opened wide, unleashing three enormous fireballs in rapid succession — each one several times larger than its head.
Raion whipped Dever through the air, the sword's blade glowing as it cleaved through and absorbed the first two blasts. Steering hard, he had the griffin dodge the third and streak straight toward the duke.
The dragon soared higher, and Duke Yanryu raised one hand, pointing down at Raion.
"Yiya Feier, Albrook!" he chanted. [Flame Explosion]
A massive sphere of swirling fire — nearly five meters across — coalesced before the duke and began to descend toward Raion like a falling sun.
Unlike their earlier duel indoors, here in the open sky Raion could maneuver freely. Seeing the deadly spell closing in, he kicked his griffin sharply.
Sensing mortal danger, the little creature flared its wings and darted hard to the right, shooting through the air at top speed as the burning orb followed like a living comet.
Raion spun, raising his sword and chanting swiftly:
"Garfield Wendy Wendy Tu!" [Great Wind Thorn]
Razor winds gathered, wrapping tightly around his long sword.
He guided the griffin in a wide arc and charged straight for the duke, head-on.
The giant fireball rushed to meet him. Duke Yanryu frowned. Has he gone insane? He's not even dodging?
"Go!" Raion shouted, his eyes locked on the duke.
His sword thrust forward — and with a thunderous sound, [Great Wind Thorn] shot from Dever like an arrow.
The spear of wind brushed past the blazing mass of [Flame Explosion], scattering the outer layer of fire into dancing embers.
The attack came faster than the duke could react. "Ugh!" He gasped as the wind spear pierced his abdomen. Pain tore through him, and his control over the [Flame Explosion] collapsed.
The enormous fireball spun out of direction, dropping toward the earth as Raion yanked hard on the reins, sending his griffin soaring straight upward. The explosion roared past beneath them — close enough to burn.
BOOM!
The detonation lit up the night, shaking the plain with a column of fire tens of meters high. Dirt and debris rained down, leaving behind a smoking crater nearly ten meters wide.
Raion steadied his griffin and held his position, watching without striking again.
Duke Yanryu clutched his bleeding abdomen, his face ghostly pale. The fire dragon beneath him hissed furiously, its golden eyes locked on Raion. If not for the duke's stern command, it would have torn through the sky to attack.
"Well done," Duke Yanryu managed, his voice strained. "It's been a long time since anyone managed to wound me."
Raion kept silent, Dever still raised.
"Boy… your name is Raion, correct?" the duke said between breaths. "The earlier [Depth Bomb], the wind spell just now, and the fire magic that Churuka taught you — tell me, are you… a three-element [Triangle-tier] mage?"
Raion nodded. "Yes. I command water, fire, and wind."