Inside Albert's office, the air felt heavy. The storm outside lashed against the windows, its rumble echoing the unease that weighed on them all. Seated at the center, Elric leaned back in her chair, the letter unfolded between her fingers. Her blue eyes traced the lines with measured focus.
"Have you sent any of Delcra's men to confirm what happened there?" Elric finally asked, her voice sharp, directed at Albert.
Albert straightened in his seat. "Yes, my lady. I dispatched scouts as soon as the letter arrived. But with the storm worsening, we may only receive word by nightfall."
Robert's hand tightened at his side. "I think it connects to what happened yesterday. If the dragon's roar truly shook the earth near the baron's city, then the demon cult may still be moving freely in the shadows. They've already shown they're bold enough to attack the young master without disguising their hand."
"That's why I insisted Kael remain in my territory," Elric cut in firmly. Her gaze swept across them, unwavering. "He's safer here."
Sebastian's brow furrowed, his usual calm straining. "With respect, Lady Elric," he said evenly, "this is Lord Kael's land. He is the master of this duchy. His place is here."
Elric's eyes narrowed, her tone sharp as a blade. "And for three years under my roof, he was safe. Don't forget that, Sebastian."
The room went quiet, tension pressing down on every word. None of them dared argue further.
Elric folded the letter with finality. "Keep me informed the moment news arrives about the earthquake. Until then, this matter stays between us. I don't want Kael interfering as he did in the basement."
Albert hesitated, his concern spilling through despite protocol. "My lady… with all due respect, it was His Majesty Emperor Reinhardt who ordered Lord Kael to reside here. We cannot keep him in silence forever. Not from this."
Elric exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of her nose. "…Then we must resolve this before Kael acts. If we delay, it will be too late. Sebastian, Albert—tighten the castle's defenses. I want eyes on every corridor, every gate. Especially around Kael."
Her voice lowered into a warning, brittle with determination. "There are only two fragments left. If the search for them brings harm to Kael again… you'll never see him risk his life for this world again."
The weight of her words left the chamber hushed.
Finally, Elric turned to Robert. "And you—you didn't tell Reinhardt what happened yesterday?"
Robert bowed slightly. "I sent a discreet letter to His Majesty. By now, he should receive it, but he was already traveling to the Imperial Capital. Reinforcements from his side may not reach us in time."
Elric bit her nail in frustration, a rare crack in her composure. "Then we're on our own. If anything happens, Kael will not fight again—I won't allow it."
The meeting dissolved, each of them departing with grim faces. But Robert lingered as Elric stepped into the corridor. He followed quietly behind her, until his voice broke the silence.
"My lady," Robert said, his tone steady, almost unyielding. "May I speak?"
Elric turned slightly, her expression unreadable.
Robert's emerald eyes met hers, sharp and serious. For a moment, she blinked—he really did resemble his older brother when he looked at her like that. She let out a faint, dry laugh. "You look so much like Reinhardt when you're serious. Almost annoyingly so."
Robert didn't flinch at her jab. Instead, his words came out firm, carrying the weight of something more than a request. "Then let me speak as His Majesty would. Stop pushing the young master too much."
Elric stiffened, crossing her arms. "Pushing? You dare say that to me? The one who forces him most is Reinhardt—you don't remember that?"
Robert's jaw tightened. He stepped closer, lowering his voice, though it was more command than plea. "He is still unstable. And yet—you gave him that ring. You dragged him to the lake. And… a few days ago, I saw you…" He stopped himself, eyes closing briefly as if the words burned his tongue. He didn't need to say it—he knew she kissed Kael. "…Can't you wait until he's stable?"
For the first time, Elric's mask faltered. Her eyes widened slightly. She opened her lips to deny it, to shield herself with excuses—but the words never came. Silence betrayed her.
Finally, her shoulders dropped, her voice quieter, almost raw. "…It's not as if I forced him. I only… wanted Kael to feel better."
Robert's gaze softened, but only slightly. "And if your comfort breaks him further?" His tone was heavy with unspoken fear.
Elric's hand tightened at her side. She looked away, unable to answer.
The storm outside roared louder, as though echoing the turmoil between them.
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The corridors of the castle felt colder than usual as Elric returned to Kael's room. Robert's warning still lingered like an echo in her chest, gnawing at her thoughts. Am I pushing him too much? Perhaps he was right. Perhaps she only drew closer because Kael looked at her with the same quiet dependence he might show to anyone who gave him comfort. Maybe, to him, she was nothing more than that—a fleeting warmth in his unsteady world.
Her gaze softened the moment she stepped inside. Kael lay on the bed, his pale face bathed in the muted light that filtered through the storm clouds outside. His white hair, damp with sweat, clung lightly to his forehead.
Quietly, she sat on the edge of his bed, careful not to disturb him. Her hand reached out, brushing his skin as she checked his temperature. A small sigh of relief escaped her lips—his fever had dropped.
"…Kael… what am I to you?" Elric whispered, so softly that only the storm might have heard her.
Her eyes drifted toward the window. The rain still poured, streaking the glass. Though it was already afternoon, the skies remained heavy and dark. She thought back to the nights she had sat here when he was lost in his coma, praying endlessly for him to awaken, to smile, to live.
And now… now that he had awakened, he was thrust into a crueler fate—his memories gone, his peace stripped away, danger constantly looming over him.
Her fingers tightened around his hand, both of her own hands cradling it as though it might slip away. Her voice trembled. "Kael… I wish I could share all your suffering. I want you to stay safe. You're still so young, barely twenty… You never even had the chance to live like others your age. All your years stolen by war, by that cursed prophecy, by becoming nothing more than a puppet of the royal bloodline…"
Her tears slipped down her cheeks and landed gently on his hand. One drop. Two. They trailed over his pale skin, seeping into his warmth.
Suddenly, Kael's fingers twitched.
Elric flinched, quickly leaning back—afraid she had woken him unintentionally. But Kael didn't stir awake. Instead, his body shifted uneasily. His brows furrowed, sweat beading anew on his forehead. His breathing grew shallow, uneven, as though he were being hunted in his dreams.
"Kael?" Elric whispered, worry lacing her tone. She pressed her palm lightly against his chest, feeling the erratic rhythm of his breath. His lips parted, and he began to mumble.
"…li…"
The sound was faint, broken. Elric leaned in, pressing her ear close to his lips, her heartbeat quickening.
"…licht…"
And then, silence. His breath steadied once more, his face smoothing into uneasy calm.
Elric's eyes widened. "…Licht?" she repeated under her breath. Her brows furrowed as she studied his face. Who… is Licht? In all the years she had known Kael, she had never once heard that name cross his lips.
Her grip loosened on his hand. Slowly, she released it and brushed his damp hair from his forehead, gently wiping away the sweat that clung to him. Her expression hardened slightly as her gaze fell to the dagger lying beside his bed.
"…Could it be connected?" she murmured, suspicion twisting in her chest.
Her hand hovered above it before finally lowering. The moment her fingertip grazed the hilt, a sharp static burst jolted through her skin.
"—!" Elric gasped, yanking her hand back instinctively. Her heart pounded as her eyes widened at the faint crackle of energy that lingered around the blade.
A deafening thunderclap shook the skies above, rattling the windowpane. Elric's breath caught as she looked back at Kael, still sleeping peacefully, untouched by the storm—or by the weapon beside him.
The dagger had rejected her. It was as if it belonged solely to him.
Her hand trembled faintly. Deep in her heart, an unshakable dread spread like ice. This dagger… this name… this power. If Kael clings to it, will it protect him… or destroy him?
She reached for his hand again, holding it tightly as though to anchor him. Her lips parted in a desperate murmur, almost a vow but nothing out.
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The storm outside had dulled into steady rainfall, a constant murmur against the balcony doors. Kael stirred, his lashes fluttering before his crimson eyes cracked open. The first thing he felt was warmth—the pressure of someone's hand wrapped gently around his own.
Turning his head slightly, he saw Elric slumped in the chair beside his bed, still holding him even in her sleep. Her head tilted forward, strands of silver hair falling across her face, her lips parted in faint, steady breaths.
Kael's gaze lingered on her, unreadable. Slowly, carefully, he pulled his hand free from her grasp. He shifted upright, his movements stiff but deliberate, and slipped off the bed. His bare feet touched the cold floor as he padded quietly toward the balcony.
With one slow motion, he drew the curtains apart. The gray light of evening spilled into the room, casting his pale figure in shadow. The rain had not ceased—its rhythm against the glass was relentless. He glanced at the clock on the wall. Evening already.
"Kael?"
Her voice was soft, fragile, like a thread in the silence.
He turned. Elric was already awake, her drowsiness gone the instant she felt his hand slip away. She rose quickly from the chair, worry etched into her expression.
"Are you okay?" she asked, crossing the room in hurried steps. Her hand reached for his arm, steadying him as if she feared he might collapse. "I saw you struggling in your sleep. You were having a nightmare, weren't you? Are you alright now?"
Kael didn't answer. His eyes only fixed on her, quiet and unreadable, catching the way her blue eyes brimmed with worry.
Elric guided him gently toward the nearby chair, easing him down to sit. She pressed her palm to his cheek, then his forehead. A relieved smile softened her lips. "Your fever has cooled down… thank goodness."
She pulled back slightly, though her hand lingered against his arm. Her tone became firmer, though warmth underlay every word. "I want you to rest until tomorrow, Kael. Even if your fever has gone down, your body needs time. No more pushing yourself." She almost sounded like a physician, but Kael could see it was only her concern breaking through.
His crimson eyes studied her, silent for a long moment before he finally spoke.
"...You know anything about the dragon?"
Elric froze. Her smile faltered. "…Dragon?" She forced a small, shaky laugh as if to lighten the weight of his words. "Did you dream of it again?"
Kael gave a single, slow nod. "I dream about it these past few days."
Her hands clenched softly against his sleeve, but she didn't avert her gaze. She hesitated, then finally answered. "…Well… I believe it was three years after you became the Hero. Both hero parties were dispatched here to defeat a dragon."
Kael's brow twitched faintly at the word.
Elric caught it, her lips pressing together. She continued quietly, almost carefully, "The dragon attacked the city. It brought ruin to the human realms. I don't know the details of how you defeated it, but… you protected Delcra from total destruction that day." Her hand squeezed his gently, as if fearing her words would harm him.
"You saved everyone, Kael. That's why the people here love you so dearly. They can still call this place home because you were there to protect them." She smiled faintly, though her voice trembled at the edges.
Kael said nothing. His gaze drifted past her, his thoughts elsewhere. In his dreams, the dragon had not felt like a mindless beast bent on destruction. There was something more—something darker—behind its fury.
"…But… the dragon… it was different." His voice was low, hesitant. "I don't think it just wanted to destroy the city."
Elric tilted her head, confusion flickering in her emerald eyes. "…What do you mean?"
Kael met her gaze. "Do they here have the actual picture of the dragon that you said? I want to see it."
Elric blinked, startled by the request. For a moment she simply studied him, sensing the weight in his words—the urgency hidden beneath his calm. Finally, she gave a slow nod. "…I will try to ask Sebastian about it."
Her eyes lingered on him a moment longer before she rose, stepping back to give him space. Quietly, she retreated toward the door, her thoughts heavy with worry.
Behind her, Kael sat in silence, staring out through the balcony window. The rain had not stopped.