The Dragon Realm entered a strange season afterward.
Not officially.
Not politically.
But within the Crimson Dragon Mansion—
Everything began changing quietly.
The once dying estate slowly regained life beneath the burning crimson skies.
Ancient servants who previously moved through the halls like frightened ghosts now carried purpose within their steps again. Retainers who once whispered only of decline had begun speaking carefully about possibilities instead.
Hope had returned.
Dangerous hope.
And at the center of it all—
Were three people.
Velor.
Vistara.
And Kel.
The Crimson Princess had fully recovered within weeks.
No traces of curses remained inside her mana veins anymore. The pale weakness haunting her body for years disappeared gradually beneath proper treatment, draconic recovery rituals, and Kel's continuous medicinal supervision.
Yet strangely—
Her recovery changed more than merely her health.
It changed the mansion atmosphere itself.
Because Vistara Von Drakhar had once been the true pride of the Crimson Bloodline.
Before illness consumed her.
Before politics destroyed her future.
And now—
She had returned.
The retainers almost looked frightened by how quickly the Crimson Princess regained control over internal affairs.
Documents previously ignored were reorganized.
Corrupt servants disappeared quietly.
Political letters began moving across draconic territories once more.
Ancient Crimson alliances were reawakened carefully.
And amidst all that—
Velor trained.
Endlessly.
The succession competition approached closer with every passing week.
The Dragon Throne waited for thirteen heirs.
And unlike before—
Velor finally possessed preparation.
Or more accurately—
He possessed monsters teaching him.
The massive training grounds behind the Crimson Mansion echoed continuously with explosions of mana and cracking stone beneath the crimson skies.
Ancient obsidian pillars surrounded the arena while volcanic winds swept endlessly through the open mountainous cliffs nearby.
And at the center—
Velor fought.
"Again."
Kel's calm voice echoed across the arena.
The black dragon disguise had returned.
Dark scales covered his body once more while golden slit eyes reflected the burning skies above. The retainers only knew him as Vael publicly now.
The Demonic Black Dragon.
Meanwhile—
Velor charged forward violently.
Crimson flames exploded around his body while draconic pressure surged heavily through the arena floor. His movements had grown faster now.
Sharper.
But still too emotional.
Kel moved slightly sideways.
Effortless.
Velor's claw strike missed entirely.
And instantly—
Kel struck two fingers against a pressure point beneath Velor's shoulder.
CRACK.
Velor lost balance immediately.
Before he could recover—
Kel swept his leg lightly.
BOOM.
The future Dragon Emperor crashed against the arena floor again.
Dust erupted upward.
Silence followed.
Several observing retainers winced unconsciously.
Because despite Velor growing stronger rapidly—
Kel still dismantled him effortlessly every single time.
Meanwhile—
Vistara sat beneath a nearby crimson pavilion calmly watching the training session.
Elegant crimson robes flowed softly around her figure while volcanic winds moved through her long hair beneath flickering lantern light.
Her crimson eyes remained focused upon the arena thoughtfully.
Not merely on Velor.
On Kel too.
Because over the past weeks—
The more she observed him…
The less she understood him.
A human noble.
Yet calmer than dragons.
Merciless during combat training.
Yet strangely gentle elsewhere.
And most dangerous of all—
He never treated her differently because she was a princess.
No reverence.
No obsession.
No political calculation.
Just honesty.
That alone made him frighteningly different from nearly everyone within noble society.
Meanwhile—
Velor rose from the shattered ground again while blood dripped slightly from his lip.
His crimson eyes burned with frustration.
"I was faster that time."
Kel calmly folded his arms.
"Yes."
Silence.
Then—
The black dragon tilted his head slightly.
"But your emotions moved first."
Velor frowned immediately.
"What does that even mean?"
Kel slowly walked toward him across the cracked arena floor.
Volcanic winds moved softly through his dark hair beneath illusionary scales.
"When you attack…"
He calmly pointed toward Velor's chest.
"…your hatred becomes predictable."
The future Dragon Emperor stiffened faintly.
Kel's voice remained calm.
Cold.
Precise.
"You want to overpower opponents."
A faint pause followed.
"That's why stronger enemies will always control your rhythm."
Vistara quietly listened from nearby.
And internally—
She realized something important.
Kel was not merely training Velor physically.
He was reshaping him mentally.
Because the future Dragon Emperor originally relied heavily upon overwhelming aggression and hatred.
But Kel continuously forced him toward control instead.
Precision.
Patience.
Awareness.
Meanwhile—
Velor exhaled sharply before asking—
"Then what should I do?"
Kel calmly looked toward the crimson skies above.
"Think before rage arrives."
The volcanic winds howled softly through the arena.
"Hatred is useful."
Velor narrowed his eyes slightly.
"But hatred should obey you."
Kel's golden slit eyes shifted back toward him.
"…not control you."
Silence spread afterward.
Vistara quietly lowered her gaze slightly.
Because strangely—
Those words did not only apply to Velor.
They applied to Kel too.
The human standing beneath borrowed dragon scales carried darkness within him too.
Ancient darkness.
Controlled carefully beneath calmness.
And perhaps—
That was why he understood Velor so well.
Meanwhile—
The training resumed.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Hours passed beneath the burning heavens while shattered stone accumulated across the arena.
Velor improved visibly every single day now.
His movements grew sharper.
More controlled.
More efficient.
And throughout it all—
Kel remained merciless.
No praise.
No softness.
Only correction.
Yet strangely—
Velor respected him more with every passing day.
Because unlike noble instructors—
Kel never lied to him.
Never flattered him.
Never feared him.
And slowly—
The future Dragon Emperor began changing.
Meanwhile—
Vistara continued watching from afar.
At first—
It had simply been curiosity.
Then admiration.
Then something more dangerous.
Because the more time she spent near Kel…
The more naturally drawn toward him she became.
Not intentionally.
Not romantically at first.
Simply…
Comfort.
For years she had lived surrounded by political masks, hidden schemes, fear, and dying hope.
Yet Kel somehow existed outside all of it.
He spoke honestly.
Moved freely.
Ignored status naturally.
And perhaps most dangerously—
He carried the ability to make impossible things seem ordinary.
Like curing death itself.
One evening—
After Velor finally collapsed from exhaustion during training—
Kel quietly handed him medicinal water before walking toward the pavilion where Vistara sat.
The crimson skies burned softly above them while volcanic winds drifted through ancient pillars nearby.
"You're staring again."
Vistara blinked faintly before realizing he noticed.
Then softly smiled.
Elegant.
Dangerous.
"You notice too much."
Kel calmly sat opposite her beneath the pavilion.
"It keeps people alive."
The princess quietly observed him beneath flickering lantern light.
The illusionary black dragon appearance remained active now.
Yet strangely—
She no longer saw the disguise anymore.
Only Kel.
Then softly—
Vistara asked—
"Do humans always speak this bluntly?"
Kel quietly leaned against the pavilion pillar.
"No."
A faint pause followed.
"Only the troublesome ones."
For the first time in years—
The Crimson Princess genuinely laughed softly.
And unknowingly—
Something inside her heart moved slightly closer toward the human who walked beneath dragon skin.