The portal finally closed.
The enormous dimensional fracture spiraled violently for several moments after the last surviving explorer crossed through it, crimson energy twisting across the volcanic ridge like a wound stitched shut by reality itself.
Then—
Silence returned.
The Dragon Realm became quiet once more.
Only the burning crimson sky remained above the endless volcanic mountains while heated winds swept slowly across the black obsidian plains.
The surviving traces of humanity vanished completely.
No footsteps.
No voices.
No campfires.
Only Kel remained.
The black-haired man stood alone near the dimensional gate beneath the ancient sky while the long black coat around him fluttered softly against the hot winds.
The silence surrounding him should have felt lonely.
Oppressive perhaps.
Yet strangely—
It did not.
Kel quietly watched the place where the portal disappeared entirely.
His dark eyes remained calm.
Steady.
Then finally—
He turned away from it.
And began walking deeper into the Dragon Realm alone.
The volcanic ground cracked softly beneath his boots while distant roars echoed from beyond the mountain ranges far ahead.
This world still breathed heavily around him.
Ancient.
Predatory.
Beautiful.
And for the first time since entering the Dragon Realm—
Kel no longer needed to slow himself for others.
No formation to protect.
No scholars to guard.
No wounded explorers to monitor.
Only himself now.
Sairen's voice echoed softly through the soul-link after several quiet minutes passed.
"…Do you not feel lonely?"
Kel stepped across a narrow obsidian ridge while molten rivers glowed far below the canyon depths.
Then—
He smiled faintly.
A rare genuine smile.
"Lonely?"
His voice carried softly into the heated winds.
"How am I alone?"
Sairen remained quiet briefly.
Kel continued calmly while walking beneath the burning heavens.
"You are with me twenty-four hours a day."
The guardian immediately went silent.
Kel's dark eyes reflected the crimson sky faintly.
"You constantly see this world through my eyes."
"You accompany me wherever I go."
A faint volcanic wind swept through the mountains.
"So tell me…"
A small teasing smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
"…how exactly am I alone?"
Inside the soul-link—
Sairen froze momentarily.
Then immediately responded sharply.
"That is not what I meant."
Kel quietly laughed beneath his breath.
A low soft laugh rarely heard by others.
The Guardian of Scarder Lake sounded slightly irritated now.
"…You know perfectly well what I meant."
Kel continued walking calmly across the volcanic landscape.
"Perhaps."
The distant sky rumbled faintly somewhere beyond the mountains as gigantic winged shadows crossed high above the clouds.
Yet amidst the dangerous realm—
The atmosphere between the two souls strangely felt lighter now.
Sairen eventually asked again.
This time more quietly.
"…Then why do you want to continue exploring further?"
Kel's footsteps slowed slightly.
The volcanic plains ahead stretched endlessly toward distant black mountains surrounded by crimson storms and drifting ash.
The Dragon Realm truly looked infinite from here.
Beautiful.
Terrifying.
Ancient.
Then calmly—
Kel answered.
"Didn't I promise you something?"
Sairen fell silent.
Kel's voice remained soft beneath the burning sky.
"I told you I would show you the wonders of the world."
A faint pause followed.
"Wasn't that part of our contract?"
The guardian quietly listened.
"You can see different lands through me."
"Feel different places through me."
Kel slowly raised his gaze toward the crimson heavens above.
"So…"
A small smile returned.
"…I thought we should see the Dragon Realm together."
Silence followed afterward.
Longer this time.
Even the volcanic winds felt quieter somehow.
Then suddenly—
Sairen spoke sharply.
"Idiot."
Kel blinked once.
The guardian sounded genuinely angry now.
"If you die, I cannot see anything afterward."
Her voice echoed heavily through the soul-link.
"If your reason for remaining here is simply to roam dangerous places for my sake…"
A brief pause followed.
"…then leave immediately, Kel."
The volcanic wind moved softly across the black mountains around him.
Kel quietly stared ahead for several moments.
Then—
He laughed again.
More openly this time.
And Sairen instantly became even more irritated.
"Why are you laughing?!"
Kel calmly resumed walking deeper into the realm.
"Because you sound worried."
"I AM worried!"
The response came instantly.
Without hesitation.
Then—
Sairen suddenly fell silent herself.
As if realizing what she had just admitted.
Kel's smile deepened slightly afterward.
Dangerously amused now.
"Oh?"
The guardian immediately responded defensively.
"Do not misunderstand."
Kel casually stepped over a glowing magma crack while heated air distorted around the volcanic terrain.
"Too late."
"Kel."
"You're worried about me."
"I am worried about my ability to continue seeing the world."
Kel laughed softly again.
"That sounds like concern with extra steps."
Inside the soul-link—
Sairen genuinely felt like strangling him now.
"…You become unbearable whenever you tease people."
Kel calmly placed one hand behind his head while continuing through the volcanic plains.
"I learned from watching nobles."
"You are worse than nobles."
"Cruel accusation."
The guardian sighed deeply afterward.
Yet despite the irritation in her voice—
Something inside the soul-link felt strangely warm now.
Alive.
Because for a very long time—
Sairen had forgotten what casual conversation felt like.
Not duty.
Not ancient responsibility.
Not guarding sacred lands endlessly.
Just talking.
And Kel—
Perhaps intentionally—
Kept dragging her into such moments.
Meanwhile—
The Dragon Realm stretched endlessly before them.
Massive winged creatures occasionally crossed the distant skies while ancient volcanic storms rumbled across the horizon like slumbering gods.
The world remained dangerous beyond imagination.
Yet somehow—
Kel walked through it more lightly now.
Not because the danger lessened.
But because for the first time in a very long while—
The journey itself no longer felt silent.