The dragon watched Arin for a few more seconds.
Then it closed its massive golden eye.
And went back to sleep.
Silence returned to the chamber.
Arin slowly turned toward Caelum.
"…So."
He gave a careful thumbs up.
"We good?"
Caelum looked at him calmly.
"Approach it."
Arin blinked.
"…I already did."
"Closer."
Arin stared at the dragon.
Then at Caelum.
Then back at the dragon.
"With respect," he said quietly, "that thing breathes disasters."
"Approach it."
"I believe the current distance is spiritually appropriate."
"Approach it."
Arin narrowed his eyes.
"If I die, I'm haunting you."
"You will be revived."
"That's not the point."
Caelum tilted his head slightly.
"If you refuse, I will inform the Goddess that you declined her instruction."
Arin froze.
"…You wouldn't."
Caelum said nothing.
Arin sighed deeply.
"You're both bullies."
He slowly turned toward the dragon again.
"Okay," he whispered to himself.
"Buddy."
He took one careful step forward.
"Let's maintain peace."
Another step.
"I am fragile."
Another step.
"Please do not prove that."
He was now close enough to feel the heat from its body.
Up close, it was overwhelming.
Its scales looked like burning metal. Each breath it took made the air shake slightly.
Arin swallowed.
"…Hi."
The dragon did not move.
Arin slowly raised his hand and gave another thumbs up toward Caelum.
"Is this sufficient proximity?"
Before Caelum could respond—
A voice entered his mind.
Clear.
Calm.
"Provoke it."
Caelum's eyes shifted slightly.
"My Lady."
No hesitation.
He lifted one finger subtly.
A thin pulse of divine energy flickered from him—small, sharp—
It struck the dragon's horn.
The dragon's eye snapped open instantly.
The cavern shook.
Arin slowly turned his head.
"…Why do I feel betrayed?"
The dragon lifted its head.
Its pupils narrowed.
Heat gathered in its chest.
Arin looked at Caelum.
Caelum stood still.
Poker face.
Then—
Very softly—
"…Good luck."
"…You—"
The dragon's claw came down.
Arin jumped back on pure instinct.
The claw shattered the ground where he had been standing.
Stone exploded.
"THIS WAS A PEACEFUL INTERACTION!"
The dragon swung its tail.
Arin barely ducked. The tail smashed into a pillar, cracking it in half.
Heat surged through the chamber.
The dragon opened its mouth.
Flames burst out.
Arin rolled across the ground, feeling his clothes burn at the edges.
He scrambled to his feet.
"HELP ME!"
Caelum watched calmly from a distance.
"Your body will be restored."
"That is not comforting!"
The dragon moved faster than something that size should.
Its claw struck him mid-run.
There was a sharp crack.
Arin felt something break in his side.
The impact sent him flying.
He slammed into the wall.
The air left his lungs.
Pain exploded through his body.
He dropped to the ground.
Blood filled his mouth.
He coughed.
His vision blurred.
The dragon stepped closer.
Each step heavy.
Slow.
Certain.
High above, unseen—
The Goddess watched through a thin line of time.
Her eyes did not change.
"Perhaps," she said quietly, "I expected too much from a human."
The dragon lowered its head.
Fire began gathering deep in its throat.
This was not a warning.
This was the end.
Arin tried to stand.
His legs failed.
The heat grew unbearable.
He looked up at the dragon.
"…Oh."
He slowly raised both hands in front of him.
Not brave.
Not heroic.
Just instinct.
Like anyone facing something unstoppable.
"I really don't want to die," he whispered.
The dragon released the attack.
A massive wave of flame shot toward him.
For a split second—
Everything was light.
Then—
Silence.
The flames vanished.
Not pushed away.
Not split.
Gone.
The space in front of Arin twisted.
A dark distortion expanded outward from his hands.
The fire touched it—
And disappeared.
Absorbed.
The cavern went quiet.
The dragon's flames stopped mid-breath.
The distortion flickered once.
Then settled around Arin like a thin shadow.
The dragon stepped back.
Its golden eyes widened slightly.
Not fear.
Recognition.
Its head lowered slowly.
Not in submission.
But in instinct.
It understood something ancient.
Far away, Caelum stared.
For the first time—
His expression broke.
"…Impossible."
High above—
The Goddess leaned forward slightly.
The corner of her lips curved.
"Interesting."
The distortion faded.
Arin blinked.
He slowly lowered his hands.
The fire was gone.
The dragon was quiet.
He looked at his palms.
"…Cutie?"
The cavern remained still.
And for the first time—
Heaven felt uncertain.