The silver forest remained silent beneath the ancient moon.
Cold winds drifted softly through the glowing branches overhead while pale light painted the mountains and valleys in soft silver-blue radiance. Countless luminous insects floated lazily around the ancient tree, turning the clearing into something almost dreamlike.
Far away—
The distant roars of dragons echoed across the Dragon Realm.
Yet here—
Beneath the massive silver tree—
The atmosphere felt strangely peaceful.
Seralyth quietly sat upon one of the ancient roots while looking toward the strange black dragon before her.
Or rather—
The dragon who called himself Vael.
The more she listened to him—
The stranger her emotions became.
Because draconic society was built upon caution.
Bloodlines.
Status.
Territories.
Especially during the Dragon King succession period.
Yet despite knowing all that—
She remained here.
Talking calmly with a black dragon male beneath the moonlight like this.
If anyone from the Moonscale Clan discovered this scene—
The rumors alone would become unbearable.
And yet—
Seralyth did not leave.
Meanwhile—
Kel quietly observed her changing expression beneath the silver light.
The slight hesitation in her eyes.
The way her fingers unconsciously tightened against her robe.
The subtle caution returning after emotional sympathy softened her earlier guard.
She remembered reality again.
Good.
Because emotions without restraint created recklessness.
And reckless people became dangerous.
Sairen softly whispered inside the soul-link.
"…You're analyzing her like a strategist again."
Kel calmly leaned against the ancient tree.
"Because she's intelligent."
The guardian sighed quietly.
"…You say that while emotionally manipulating her."
Kel ignored the comment entirely.
A brief silence passed beneath the moonlit branches before Seralyth slowly reached inside her robe.
The movement immediately sharpened Kel's attention instinctively.
Not outwardly.
But internally—
Every detail entered calculation.
Then—
The silver dragon woman pulled out a small black pouch embroidered with silver draconic patterns.
The faint sound of coins shifting inside echoed softly through the clearing.
Seralyth extended it toward him.
"Take this."
Kel looked toward the pouch quietly.
The silver-haired woman avoided direct eye contact momentarily before speaking again.
"Go stay at an inn tonight."
Her voice remained calm.
Yet softer than before.
"And tomorrow…"
A faint pause followed.
"…meet me at the central square."
Kel quietly watched her.
Seralyth continued while brushing a strand of silver hair behind one elegant horn.
"I can help you find work."
The moonlight reflected softly across her silver scales while cold winds moved gently through the clearing.
"To survive in the central territories alone isn't easy."
For several seconds—
Kel remained silent.
And strangely—
That silence made Seralyth slightly nervous.
Because now that she offered help—
The reality of what she was doing truly surfaced.
Helping a black dragon outsider.
Meeting him again tomorrow.
Speaking privately like this.
If someone discovered it—
The political implications alone could become disastrous.
Yet despite understanding that—
She still extended the pouch toward him.
Because somewhere during their conversation—
The lonely outsider story had reached her heart more deeply than expected.
Meanwhile—
Kel slowly looked toward the offered money.
Then calmly—
He smiled faintly.
"Thank you."
Seralyth relaxed slightly hearing that.
But before she could fully respond—
Kel gently pushed the pouch back toward her.
"But I don't need your help."
The silver dragon woman blinked once.
"…What?"
Kel's dark eyes reflected the moonlight calmly.
"Your kindness alone is enough."
His voice remained steady beneath the ancient silver branches.
"But accepting your help…"
A faint pause followed.
"…would create unnecessary suspicion."
Seralyth quietly stared at him.
Kel slowly looked toward the distant mountains where both dragon clans had already departed.
"Even now…"
The black-haired man softly laughed beneath his breath.
"…if someone discovered us sitting here together, it would already become scandalous."
The cold night wind moved through the clearing.
"A black dragon male."
"A silver dragon woman."
Kel tilted his head slightly.
"Talking peacefully beneath moonlight."
Seralyth's silver-blue eyes widened faintly.
Because unfortunately—
He was correct.
The political tension between clans already remained fragile.
And noble dragon society loved rumors more than truth.
If discovered—
This meeting alone could create countless misunderstandings.
Kel calmly continued.
"So taking your help openly…"
He slowly shook his head.
"…is impossible."
The silver dragon woman quietly lowered her gaze afterward.
For some reason—
His refusal did not feel arrogant.
Nor dismissive.
Instead—
It felt thoughtful.
Careful.
As though he genuinely considered her position before his own benefit.
Which only made her emotions more complicated.
Sairen softly muttered through the soul-link.
"…You reject help so elegantly."
Kel ignored her again.
Then quietly—
He looked toward Seralyth once more.
"But…"
A faint gentle smile appeared briefly.
"…thank you."
The silver dragon woman slowly raised her eyes again.
Kel's expression remained calm beneath the moonlight.
"You're the first person here to offer me help."
And strangely—
Those simple words carried more weight than dramatic speeches ever could.
Seralyth felt her chest tighten faintly.
Because now she imagined it clearly.
An outsider dragon wandering unfamiliar territories alone.
Rejected quietly.
Viewed suspiciously.
And still smiling calmly through it all.
The image made him appear unbearably lonely beneath the moonlight.
Unfortunately—
Almost everything about that image was fabricated.
Sairen sounded deeply unimpressed inside the soul-link.
"…You are evil."
Kel calmly continued speaking externally.
"May I know your name properly, miss?"
The silver dragon woman hesitated briefly.
Then quietly answered.
"…Seralyth."
The name drifted softly through the cold night air.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
Like silver itself.
Kel slowly repeated it.
"Seralyth."
His voice carried the name carefully.
Respectfully.
Then—
The black-haired man slightly lowered his head beneath the moonlight.
"Thank you for your kindness, Miss Seralyth."
The ancient silver branches swayed softly above them.
And then—
Kel spoke words Seralyth would remember far longer than she expected.
"In the future…"
His dark eyes met hers calmly.
"…if you ever need help…"
A faint pause followed.
"…I will be the first to aid you."
The cold mountain winds seemed quieter afterward.
"…Why?"
The question escaped Seralyth almost instinctively.
Kel softly smiled beneath the moonlit tree.
"Because you listened to my story."
Silence followed.
Long.
Dangerously quiet.
The silver dragon woman looked toward him without speaking.
And somewhere deep inside her chest—
Something shifted slightly.
Because in draconic society—
Most conversations revolved around value.
Power.
Bloodline.
Status.
Yet beneath this ancient silver tree—
A lonely outsider had simply thanked her for listening.
And somehow—
That felt more genuine than most noble dragons she knew.