The dragons fell one by one, crashing into the soil of Farmedas. Their massive bodies were shattered in grotesque conditions. Black smoke rose from the giant carcasses, while the screams of the citizens gradually faded, replaced by an eerie, oppressive silence.
At the top of the hill, the sorcerer's body was slowly enveloped by a gentle white light. His silhouette grew dimmer… then vanished completely, as if he had never truly belonged to this world—only a passing shadow.
At the same moment, the Thunder Vein—the enormous lightning crystal suspended in the sky—emitted its final glow before cracking apart and disappearing along with the ancient magic circle surrounding it.
"The magic is gone…" Luis stared at the sky with widened eyes, his breath trembling.
Beside him, Miera observed the fading remnants of lightning. "Yes… but who activated a spell on that scale? That couldn't have been ordinary magic."
Luis swallowed hard. "That was clearly a Meyer technique. There's no doubt about it."
Miera turned to him sharply. "Then the one who used that magic—could it be Luna?"
Luis slowly nodded, his face filled with both doubt and shock.
"Perhaps… she may be the only remaining descendant of the Meyer bloodline."
The two exchanged glances. Curiosity, fear, and a dreadful premonition blended into one.
---
Rey and the Prince continued calling Luna's name along with the soldiers. They searched the entire area around the Torres family home, lifting debris, checking every corner, until they finally ventured deep into the forest at the foot of the mountains.
"Luna! Luna!" Rey shouted, his breath ragged.
"Where is she…?" the Prince muttered, his face etched with worry.
Rey hesitated before turning to him. "I think we've gone too far from my house. Luna should still be around there… not in this forest."
The Prince shook his head quickly. "No. From the moment the dragons attacked until they vanished, she wasn't there. I and the other soldiers searched the entire area. She wasn't found. If she's not there…"
His gaze shifted toward the dark trees ahead.
"—then she must be in this forest."
Rey swallowed. "So you think she's hiding here?"
"I'm certain."
At that moment, a scream shattered the silence.
"Help!!"
Both of them flinched, then sprinted toward the source of the voice.
"Luna!!" they shouted in unison.
Ahead of them, Luna was leaning weakly against a large tree. A forest wolf—its body thin but its eyes feral—approached her with a low growl.
Rey instinctively raised his right hand, blue flames igniting in his palm.
The Prince didn't hesitate. He rushed forward, drew his sword, and stood protectively in front of Luna.
"Damn wolf!"
He slashed at the beast, but the wolf clamped its jaws onto the blade with tremendous force.
"Damn it…!" the Prince hissed as he struggled against the wolf's strength.
Rey immediately raised his voice, chanting a spell—fast and resolute.
"O primordial fire of all creation, incinerate the enemy before me. Burn it—blazing blue flames!"
A torrent of blue fire erupted, shooting forward like an arrow.
"Jump, Prince!" Rey shouted.
The Prince leapt backward without hesitation. The next instant, the flames struck the wolf, engulfing it completely and reducing it to nothing.
Once the wolf was defeated, the Prince and Rey rushed to Luna's side. The Prince dropped his sword and knelt beside her at once.
"Luna, are you alright!?" His voice was filled with panic.
He quickly but carefully checked her shoulders, her back, and her arms.
"I… I'm fine. Thank you…" Luna replied softly, her voice barely audible.
Before the Prince could sigh in relief, Luna's eyelids fluttered, then slowly closed. Her body slackened, and she collapsed unconscious into the Prince's arms.
Rey stepped closer, his expression unreadable—relief mixed with concern, and something else… something uncomfortable as he saw how close Luna was to the Prince.
"She's exhausted," Rey said flatly but firmly. "We need to take her to the kingdom. It's safer there."
The Prince nodded without a word.
He lifted Luna in both arms, carrying her as if she were something precious—something he could not allow to fall again.
They began walking through the dark forest, still thick with the smell of smoke from the dragons' attack.
"Rey," the Prince said after a few steps, his voice quieter, "thank you. If you hadn't been there earlier… we might both be dead."
Rey stopped briefly, then stared straight ahead.
"That's the duty of a noble," he replied shortly. "I only did what had to be done."
Their conversation faded among the trees. Only the reflection of Rey's blue flames and the sound of the Prince's footsteps echoed faintly.
From within the dark bushes, a pair of eyes watched them. The black cat—the sorcerer's familiar—followed quietly with light steps.
"How troublesome…" it muttered softly, before turning away and slipping deeper into the forest in another direction.
---
In the Kingdom of Farmedas, soldiers and mages worked without rest. They burned the scattered remains of the dragons, evacuated citizens trapped under rubble, and carried the injured to safety. Black smoke and the stench of charred flesh filled the air.
The King himself descended to the field, lifting debris alongside his soldiers. His face was covered in dust, his robe torn in several places—yet he continued working, indifferent to status or dignity.
"This attack… it was too sudden," the King said as he wiped sweat from his brow, his voice heavy.
Miera stood beside him, gripping her staff, its tip cracked from the battle. "Yes, Your Majesty. We're still waiting for the confirmed casualty report."
Several soldiers tasked with recording the casualties suddenly ran toward them, breathing heavily, their faces tense.
"Your Majesty! Lady Miera!" one of them shouted. "We've confirmed the numbers."
The King looked at him sharply. "…How many?"
The soldier swallowed before answering. "One hundred forty-nine citizens injured. Of those, seven are critically wounded."
Miera nodded slowly. "Fatalities?"
The King fell silent, his jaw tightening. He lowered his head slightly, as if holding back his emotions.
The soldier exhaled, then bowed deeply.
"The number of the deceased… one person."
A heavy silence enveloped the area.
The King stared at the ground, then slowly crouched down. His large hand covered his face.
"Only one… but still." His voice broke. "Damn it… if only I were stronger… if only I could protect everyone!"
Miera gently placed a hand on the King's shoulder. "Your Majesty, please don't blame yourself. You did what a King should do. Even more than that."
The surrounding soldiers lowered their heads as well, sharing in their King's sorrow. Because they knew… even if only one life was lost, the value of that life could never be measured by numbers.