The night deepened across the Dragon Realm.
Far beyond Blue Valley, the sacred glow of the White Lilies had already disappeared behind endless silver forests and volcanic mountain ridges. The rivalry between the Ashfang and Moonscale Clans slowly faded into distant echoes as both factions returned toward their territories beneath the ancient moonlit sky.
Yet one figure had not returned with either side.
Seralyth quietly moved through the silver forest alone.
Moonlight flowed softly across her pale silver hair while the elegant robes of the Moonscale Clan brushed silently against glowing grass beneath her feet. Her silver-blue eyes remained focused ahead while cold winds stirred through the ancient trees surrounding the mountain paths.
She was following him.
That strange Ashfang dragon.
Or at least—
The man pretending to be one.
The further she followed him after leaving Blue Valley, the stranger the situation became.
Because he truly did not return toward Ashfang territory.
No escorts.
No clan guards.
No companions.
He simply walked alone beneath the moonlight as though wandering the Dragon Realm without destination.
Which made no sense.
Draconic clans rarely allowed isolated movement during politically sensitive periods like the Dragon King succession competition. Especially not among Ashfang dragons, who valued territorial loyalty heavily.
Yet this man…
Moved entirely outside those expectations.
And somehow—
That only increased Seralyth's curiosity further.
The silver dragon woman stepped lightly across glowing roots while silently masking her presence with draconic mana.
Yet despite her stealth—
Something bothered her deeply.
The man ahead never once looked behind himself.
Not even slightly.
As though he already knew she followed him.
Sairen's voice echoed softly through Kel's soul-link.
"…You're letting her follow intentionally."
Kel calmly continued walking through the moonlit forest.
"Yes."
The guardian sighed quietly.
"…Of course you are."
The forest gradually opened near the edge of a cliffside overlooking distant volcanic valleys glowing beneath crimson rivers of magma. Ancient silver trees stretched across the mountainside while countless luminous insects drifted softly through the cold night air like floating stars.
Then finally—
Kel stopped.
A gigantic ancient tree stood near the cliff edge, its pale silver bark glowing faintly beneath moonlight while enormous roots spread across the rocky ground like frozen serpents.
The atmosphere there felt peaceful.
Quiet.
Kel calmly sat beneath the tree.
The black-haired man leaned lightly against the massive trunk while cold night winds moved through his illusionary black dragon disguise.
Then—
He simply closed his eyes.
As though genuinely preparing to sleep.
Seralyth finally stepped out from the shadows several moments later.
Moonlight illuminated her silver scales softly while her slit blue eyes carefully observed the strange draconic man beneath the ancient tree.
Still—
No reaction.
Not even surprise.
Kel slowly opened one eye slightly.
"…You followed me for quite a while."
Seralyth narrowed her eyes immediately.
"So you noticed."
Kel quietly smiled faintly.
"The forest noticed too."
The silver dragon woman stared at him silently for a moment before stepping closer beneath the moonlit branches.
The cold night winds moved softly through her silver hair while her elegant posture remained cautious.
Then finally—
She asked.
"Why didn't you return with the Ashfang soldiers?"
Kel looked upward toward the moonlit sky beyond the ancient branches above them.
"Because I'm not one of them."
Seralyth blinked once.
The answer came too naturally.
Too honestly.
Kel calmly continued.
"I arrived here recently."
His dark eyes reflected silver moonlight softly beneath the illusionary draconic disguise.
"They don't fully accept me."
The silver dragon woman quietly studied him.
And strangely—
That explanation actually matched what she observed tonight.
Too calm for an Ashfang warrior.
Too detached from clan pride.
Too controlled.
Seralyth slowly crossed her arms beneath the cold moonlight.
"Then where are you from?"
Kel remained silent briefly.
Sairen immediately whispered inside the soul-link.
"…Careful."
Kel answered calmly afterward.
"Border territories."
The silver dragon woman tilted her head slightly.
"The outer borders?"
Kel nodded once.
"I spent most of my life around isolated regions."
A faint night wind passed through the silver forest.
"So this…"
His gaze drifted briefly toward the distant valley where the clans had departed.
"…is still new to me."
Seralyth quietly watched him beneath the moonlight.
And unexpectedly—
The answer stirred something strange inside her chest.
Because draconic border territories truly existed.
Harsh regions where clan influence weakened and survival mattered more than politics.
Many dragons born there grew isolated from noble culture.
Detached.
And suddenly—
His strange behavior began making sense.
No obsession with rivalry.
No clan superiority.
No aggressive posturing.
Because perhaps—
He simply never grew up inside draconic noble society.
The silver dragon woman slowly lowered her guard slightly.
Not fully.
But enough.
Meanwhile—
Kel calmly rested against the ancient silver tree while the cold mountain winds moved softly around them.
The atmosphere strangely lacked hostility now.
Only quiet curiosity remained.
Seralyth eventually spoke again.
"You don't act like a black dragon."
Kel glanced toward her calmly.
"And what does a black dragon act like?"
The silver-haired woman almost answered immediately.
Violent.
Prideful.
Arrogant.
Yet strangely—
After tonight—
Those words suddenly felt childish.
Instead she quietly replied—
"Loud."
Kel softly laughed beneath his breath.
A quiet low laugh.
The sound caught Seralyth off guard slightly.
Because Ashfang dragons rarely laughed softly.
Meanwhile—
Sairen sounded deeply amused through the soul-link now.
"…You are collecting dragon women accidentally again."
Kel ignored her completely.
Seralyth slowly sat across from him near the massive roots of the silver tree while moonlight illuminated the clearing softly around them.
The atmosphere remained peaceful.
Ancient.
Almost dreamlike.
Then suddenly—
The silver dragon woman narrowed her eyes slightly again.
"…You still haven't told me your name."
Silence.
Kel quietly looked toward her.
Names carried weight in the Dragon Realm.
Especially among draconic bloodlines.
Then finally—
The black-haired man smiled faintly beneath the moonlight.
"You may call me…"
A brief pause followed.
"…anything you like."
Seralyth quietly asked" why."
The cold silver winds drifted softly through the ancient forest while two disguised beings sat beneath the moonlit tree.
One hiding his species.
The other unknowingly speaking to something far more dangerous than she realized.