The second volley never came.
Not immediately.
Because hundreds of black-armored archers hesitated.
Their bows remained drawn.
Their fingers trembled.
---
Below them—
They could see everything.
The burning houses.
The wounded children.
The old woman embracing her grandchildren.
And at the center—
One girl.
Bleeding.
Holding a barrier that protected the very people who once feared her.
---
"...Commander."
A young archer whispered.
"...She isn't attacking."
---
The commander never looked away from Elsa.
---
"She is a dragon."
---
Another soldier spoke.
"But she's saving them."
---
The commander's voice remained cold.
---
"Monsters often imitate compassion."
---
Silence.
---
No one believed those words anymore.
Not after what they had seen.
---
The commander slowly drew his own bow.
"If you refuse..."
He looked at his soldiers.
"...I will execute every one of you for insubordination."
---
Fear returned.
Not fear of Elsa.
Fear of authority.
---
Jack stepped forward.
His sword pointed toward the commander.
---
"Enough."
---
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
---
"I, Sir Jack of the Royal Knights, declare this order unlawful."
---
The commander laughed.
---
"You abandoned your title."
---
"I abandoned blind obedience."
---
The commander raised his bow.
---
"You have become a traitor."
---
Jack smiled sadly.
---
"If protecting innocent people makes me a traitor..."
He looked toward Elsa.
"...then Edward was right."
---
The name spread through the battlefield.
Edward.
Many soldiers remembered it.
The weak adventurer.
The man who vanished years ago.
The one rumored to have betrayed the kingdom.
---
A middle-aged soldier stepped forward.
---
"...Edward?"
---
Jack nodded.
---
"The man you called a traitor..."
He pointed toward Elsa.
"...raised the girl protecting your families."
---
The battlefield fell silent.
---
Some soldiers lowered their weapons.
---
Others looked at Elsa again.
Not as a dragon.
As someone's daughter.
---
The commander realized what was happening.
---
"Enough!"
He roared.
---
"Kill the target!"
---
He released his arrow.
---
It flew straight toward Elsa.
---
At that exact moment—
A soldier moved.
---
He stepped in front of the arrow.
---
The dragon-killing bolt pierced his chest.
---
Blood stained his armor.
---
The battlefield froze.
---
The young soldier collapsed to his knees.
---
It was the same young knight who had first followed Elsa into the eastern villages.
---
He looked up at her.
Smiling weakly.
---
"...Looks like..."
He coughed blood.
---
"...heroes really do..."
Another cough.
---
"...run toward people..."
---
His body fell.
Silent.
Still.
---
Elsa's eyes widened.
---
"No..."
---
The old woman screamed.
The villagers rushed toward the fallen knight.
---
He had died.
Not protecting his kingdom.
---
Protecting her.
---
For the first time since Edward's death—
Someone had willingly given their life for Elsa.
---
She slowly knelt beside him.
---
His face still carried a peaceful smile.
---
"...Idiot."
Her voice trembled.
---
"You barely knew me..."
---
A single tear fell onto his armor.
---
The commander raised his hand again.
---
"Third volley."
---
This time—
Nobody moved.
---
Not one archer.
---
"I gave you an order!"
---
Still—
Nothing.
---
One older soldier slowly lowered his bow.
---
"I joined the army..."
He said quietly.
"...to protect children."
---
Another dropped his weapon.
---
"I won't shoot the person doing my job better than I am."
---
Then another.
---
And another.
---
Soon—
Hundreds of bows rested on the ground.
---
The commander looked around in disbelief.
---
"You would betray the kingdom?"
---
An elderly veteran answered calmly.
---
"No."
He looked toward Elsa.
---
"We're finally serving it."
---
The commander's face twisted with rage.
---
"You fools..."
---
He drew his sword.
---
"If none of you will act..."
He pointed it at Elsa.
---
"...then I will."
---
Before he could take a single step—
The spear warrior stood in his path.
---
His spear rested quietly against the ground.
---
"You won't."
---
The commander laughed.
---
"You intend to stop me?"
---
The old warrior nodded.
---
"I've spent sixteen years living with one mistake."
---
He slowly raised his spear.
---
"I won't make another."
---
The commander attacked.
---
Steel met steel.
---
The impact echoed through the valley.
---
The two greatest spear masters of the kingdom stood opposed.
Not over power.
Not over glory.
---
Over one frightened girl who simply wanted to live.
---
Behind them—
Elsa remained kneeling beside the fallen young knight.
---
She looked at his peaceful face.
Then toward the villagers.
Then toward the soldiers refusing to fire.
---
Edward's words returned once more.
*"If one person understands you... tomorrow, maybe two people will."*
---
She looked around.
It wasn't two anymore.
---
It was hundreds.
---
For the first time in her life...
She truly wasn't alone.
---
Far away, inside the royal capital, the king received a report.
He read it once.
Then again.
His hand tightened around the parchment.
The report contained only one sentence.
> **"Operation Black Dawn has failed. The army is refusing to kill the Dragon-Blood."**
The king slowly stood.
His expression unreadable.
Then he spoke a single order.
---
"Bring me... the Holy Sword."
---
The minister's face turned pale.
Because that sword had only been unsheathed once in the kingdom's history.
---
The king had made his decision.
If the people would not become Elsa's executioners...
He would.