The wheels of the cart creaked as it rolled along the uneven dirt road, carrying Michi, Lior, Kael, Junia, and Tieu across the valley toward Qanbarash. The vast ridges of the Dragon Nation were still distant, but their jagged peaks glimmered faintly in the horizon like the backs of ancient beasts.
As the horses trotted steadily, Michi's gaze lingered on the passing trees. His voice was heavy when he finally broke the silence.
"There's something I haven't told you all yet. Drango… and Rishdania. The two I fought a long time ago." His fists tightened around the wooden edge of the cart. "They're back."
The air grew tense instantly. Lior's eyes hardened, Kael's hand went instinctively to the hilt of his sword, and Junia's bow creaked softly in her grip.
"They're here?" Junia whispered.
Michi nodded grimly. "Yeah. Their shadows still linger. I can feel them."
Kael scowled. "That's bad news. Last time nearly broke you, didn't it? If they've returned…"
Tieu, who had been silently flipping the pages of her grimoire, closed it with a soft thud. "It makes sense. They must be connected to the Arklight Guild."
"Arklight?" Michi raised an eyebrow.
Tieu's tone was sharp, clinical. "Yes. The Arklight Guild is a dark guild of assassins and contract killers. Ruthless, efficient, and feared across nations. And… their guild master's name is Sylvia." Her lips tightened. "She's known for cruelty beyond reason."
The name lingered in the air like a curse.
Before Michi could reply, the horses shrieked. The cart jolted violently as two shadows dropped from above. With a loud crack, the wooden structure split in half, tossing the group onto the road.
Dust rose.
Two figures emerged from the haze. A man and a woman, both with sharp draconic features—gleaming eyes that burned like molten gold, jagged claws curling from their hands, and faint scales glimmering along their skin.
Michi staggered to his feet, sword already drawn. "Who are you?"
The man smirked, his fangs glinting. "I am Veynar."
The woman's smile mirrored his, cruel and sharp. "And I am Veylika. The son and daughter of Drango."
The revelation cracked like thunder in Michi's chest.
Veynar spread his clawed hands wide. "We are not here for revenge. Our father's obsessions mean nothing to us."
Veylika's eyes narrowed. "We hate him. Despise him. But we are here… to test you, Michi."
"To see if you're strong enough to be worth following."
"If you defeat us…" Veynar's voice dropped to a low growl, "we will become your eternal slaves."
Kael immediately leapt forward, drawing his sword. "Then let's get this over wi—"
Lior caught his arm, holding him back. His gaze was sharp. "No. This is Michi's fight."
The air trembled with the weight of the moment. Michi's eyes locked on the siblings, his grip tightening on his blade.
"Fine. Come at me."
The siblings moved first.
Veynar lunged low, claws flashing like steel, while Veylika leapt overhead, descending with a vicious downward slash. Michi twisted sideways, sparks flying as his sword caught Veynar's claws, but Veylika's strike raked across his arm, drawing blood.
He hissed, sliding back on the dirt. Fast. Too fast.
They didn't relent. Veynar came again, sweeping with a flurry of claw strikes. Each swipe was strong enough to shred stone, forcing Michi to parry desperately, sparks scattering like fireflies.
Veylika circled him, striking from the blind spots, her movements swift and predatory. Her claws nicked his shoulder, tore at his sleeves, ripped shallow cuts across his skin.
Junia clenched her fists from the side. "Michi—!"
But Lior held her back. "He has to do this himself."
Michi staggered, breath heavy. His sword arm trembled under the relentless pressure of Veynar's strikes. Then—he ducked low, sliding beneath a wide slash, and countered with a quick thrust.
Steel pierced flesh.
Veynar snarled, stumbling back as blood seeped from his side. But before Michi could press the advantage, Veylika's claws raked across his back, forcing him to stumble forward.
Pain lanced through him, but Michi gritted his teeth and spun, blade arcing.
The slash caught Veylika's arm, drawing blood and forcing her to retreat.
"You're stronger than I expected," she hissed, licking the blood from her claw with a twisted grin.
Veynar cracked his neck. "Good. Don't disappoint us."
They lunged again, this time in perfect sync.
Michi's blade clashed with Veynar's claws, their strength locking together. Dust swirled as their eyes met—pure determination against burning challenge. Veylika came from the side, but Michi pivoted, twisting Veynar into her path. Her claws struck her brother's scales instead, giving Michi the opening.
With a shout, he slashed across both of them, his blade glowing faintly with the energy of his will. Blood sprayed, and the siblings staggered.
But they laughed.
"Not bad…" Veynar spat blood.
"Not bad at all…" Veylika added, grinning despite her wound.
Michi, panting, leveled his sword at them. "If you want to keep going, I won't stop until you're both down."
For a long moment, the siblings stared at him. Then, slowly, they lowered themselves to one knee, heads bowed.
"We yield."
"You are strong. Stronger than our cursed blood."
They pressed their fists to the ground, submission in their posture.
"From this day forward," Veynar declared, "we are yours. Your slaves."
Michi froze, chest heaving, sword trembling in his grip. Then he shook his head firmly.
"No. I don't want slaves."
The siblings looked up, eyes wide.
"Be my mates instead," Michi said, voice steady. "If you hate Drango as much as you say, then stand with me as equals. Tell me everything you know. Help me."
Silence. Then slowly, Veylika's lips curved into the faintest smile.
"As you wish… Master Michi."
Veynar chuckled, shaking his head. "No… as you demand. From now on, we walk with you."
Behind them, Lior, Kael, Junia, and Tieu exhaled with relief.
Michi lowered his sword, blood dripping from his wounds, but his eyes burned with determination.
The road to Qanbarash had only just begun.