The next morning, the storm had eased, leaving behind a chilling mist that clung to the mountainside. The camp bustled with quiet preparation.
Elric stood firm, giving orders to the guards. "Tighten the perimeter. No one is to let their guard down for even a moment before we enter the cave." Her tone brooked no argument, and the soldiers snapped into formation, reinforcing the barriers and sharpening their weapons.
Inside the tent, Robert adjusted Kael's robe with meticulous care. He fastened the ties securely and smoothed the folds until the fabric fell neatly, obscuring Kael's pale face beneath the hood.
"I've placed a spell on this robe," Robert said softly, brushing the last bit of dust from Kael's shoulder. "It will never let you soak through, and it will keep you warm, no matter how harsh the air in that cave." His hands lingered for a moment, unwilling to let go.
Before Kael could move, Albert approached with three armored guards trailing behind him. They dropped to one knee in unison, lowering their heads respectfully. "We will accompany you into the cave, Lord Kael," Albert declared, his voice carrying pride as his hand rested on the hilt of his sword. His chest swelled slightly, almost as if he was honored by the chance. "We will protect you with our lives."
Robert's eyes flicked toward them but then shifted back to Kael. Slowly, he unwrapped the cloth from his wand, the emerald orb gleaming faintly in the pale light. "Take care of him," Robert said to Elric and Albert. His tone was quiet but sharp, almost an unspoken warning. "I'll guard the outside."
At that moment, Elric moved to Kael's side. Without hesitation, she pulled off her right glove, revealing her pale hand. She reached forward and clasped his hand firmly. "I will never let any danger touch you, Kael." Her voice was resolute, though the gentleness in her grip betrayed her fear.
With that, the group set out—Kael, Elric, Albert, and the three guards stepping into the yawning mouth of the cave, while Robert took his place among the soldiers left outside.
The moment they crossed the threshold, the air grew heavier. The world beyond the torches was swallowed by shadows. Their steps echoed, water dripping faintly from the jagged ceiling.
Elric glanced at Albert as they pressed further. "Didn't you already investigate the cave? What progress have you made about the roar we heard?"
Albert nodded, his torchlight flickering against the stone walls. "Of course. But we found nothing… at least nothing to confirm it was a beast. Perhaps it was simply a wild bear. We did discover traces of fur—likely from one of them." His tone carried the air of someone who wanted to sound certain, but his eyes betrayed doubt.
Elric frowned, her gaze shifting sideways to Kael. He walked beside her silently, his hood shadowing his face, but she never let go of his hand. The warmth of his skin against her palm was a small reassurance in the oppressive darkness.
The deeper they went, the tighter the shadows pressed around them until only the wavering firelight guided their way. Soon, the passage opened to a fork: two tunnels stretched before them, one wide enough for several men to pass side by side, the other narrow and jagged, almost suffocating to look at.
"Now what?" Elric turned to Albert, who unrolled a creased map.
Albert pointed to the right tunnel. "This path leads to an underground waterfall. It's wide enough for us to explore, and there's plenty we can investigate there. The left…" He hesitated. "The left path narrows too much. It will be difficult to enter. Perhaps impossible."
But before Albert could suggest further, Kael halted. His hand tightened slightly around Elric's. Then, without a word, he tugged her firmly toward the left passage.
The group exchanged uneasy glances, but none dared to resist. Awkwardly, they followed him.
As their footsteps echoed in the cramped tunnel, Elric leaned closer to Albert and whispered, her voice hushed but sharp, "Is Reinhardt hiding the fragments here?" Her mind had already connected Kael's strange behavior to the shards of his broken sword.
Albert shook his head immediately. "No. There is no way His Majesty would place the fragments in this place. The fragments are kept only within Delcra Castle, guarded day and night."
Elric's brows furrowed. "Then why do you think Kael senses something here?"
Albert was silent for a moment, his eyes darting to Kael's cloaked figure leading them without hesitation. "Perhaps… because this is the place where Lord Kael once fought the legendary dragon. That's all I can think of."
Elric swallowed, her grip tightening around Kael's hand. "The dragon…" she murmured under her breath.
And though no one spoke further, an invisible weight pressed heavier the deeper they went, as though the cave itself was holding its breath, waiting.
The tunnel grew narrower with each step, pressing in on them like a clenched fist. The damp air grew colder, their torchlight bouncing weakly off jagged stone. Kael walked at the front, guiding them without hesitation, while Elric clung tightly to his hand, unwilling to release him.
Kael said nothing, but inside his chest the pull grew stronger—his heart pounding as though it knew something waited for him ahead. Something tied to the dreams that had haunted him ever since he set foot in Delcra Castle.
At last, they reached a dead end. The tunnel was so narrow that even one man could barely fit through, let alone six. The stone ahead was solid, unyielding.
Albert stepped forward, frowning. "There's no way to continue our walk forward. If we force our way in, we'll be trapped. Turning back will be nearly impossible, and here… we'd be in complete darkness."
The guards exchanged uneasy looks.
Elric tightened her grip on Kael's hand. Her voice softened, trying to persuade him, "Kael… how about we find another way in? Forcing our way deeper could put us all in danger."
But Kael didn't respond. His other hand slid across the damp surface of the tunnel wall, fingers tracing as if searching for a hidden thread. His eyes narrowed—there had to be another way.
Then his gaze shifted toward Albert's sword. His intent was clear. He raised his hand slightly, pointing at the weapon, then at the wall.
Albert blinked, startled. "H-huh? My lord… you mean… slice the wall?" His face twisted in disbelief. "But this stone is solid! Harder than iron in some places. My sword would snap the moment I tried!"
One of the guards muttered, "He can't be serious…" Another shook his head nervously.
Even Elric stepped closer, her voice sharp with worry. "Kael, that's impossible. You'll only hurt yourself. Let's go back."
Kael's lips parted briefly, and a faint sigh escaped. His shoulders lowered, disappointment flashing across his face. The reaction tugged painfully at Elric's chest.
Then, slowly, he let go of her hand. He turned to Albert and extended his palm, signaling for the sword.
Albert stiffened. "My lord…?" His hand hovered over the hilt, hesitant. But Kael's steady gaze did not waver. Reluctantly, Albert drew his sword and placed it into Kael's outstretched hand.
The moment Kael grasped it, his body sank slightly under the weight. His fingers clenched tighter on the hilt. It was heavy—far heavier than the dagger or wooden swords he had held before. His breath hitched. For a moment, the weight threatened to overwhelm him.
But then Reinhardt's voice from long ago echoed in his memory—teaching him the basics of a sword stance, how to balance, how to move with the blade rather than against it.
He inhaled slowly. His grip steadied.
With deliberate care, Kael unsheathed the weapon. The steel glinted under the torchlight, casting streaks of light across the walls. Elric's heart pounded as she stepped back with the others, her face drawn tight with worry.
Kael raised the sword. His movements were not perfect, but there was a strange calmness in them—instinct layered with fragments of memory.
Then—
SLASH!
The sound reverberated through the tunnel as the blade cut against the stone. Dust and fragments shook loose, the ceiling trembling under the force.
The wall cracked. A hidden seam revealed itself, and with a shuddering groan, a section of the rock collapsed outward, revealing a narrow but clear passage beyond.
Albert's eyes widened, disbelief painted on his face. "This… this was never recorded in any map…" His words echoed in awe.
Kael calmly slid the blade back into its sheath and handed it back to Albert. The man quickly checked his weapon, expecting chips or damage—but the steel was pristine, as though it had never touched stone at all.
The guards stared, eyes wide, admiration brimming in their expressions. Whispers passed between them—of strength, of destiny, of the hero they once thought lost.
But Kael stood silent, unaffected, his gaze already drawn to the new passage.
Elric hurried back to his side, slipping her hand firmly into his once more. She didn't speak, but her touch was tighter than before—as if she feared losing him to the darkness ahead.
Together, they stepped forward, the group following in hushed silence, their torches flickering against the freshly opened path.
The hidden passage was unlike anything they had seen before. From the moment they stepped inside, the air felt different, almost sacred. The jagged stone walls glowed faintly with veins of light, as though the rock itself breathed with a pale radiance. Pools of water rippled at their feet, each step sending tiny waves across the ground. The surface reflected the light, painting their surroundings in ghostly hues.
Albert stopped in his tracks, eyes wide in awe. "It's… it's as if we've stepped into the demon realm. The features are nearly identical…" His voice carried both fear and amazement. He ran his hand across the glowing wall, shaking his head. "But this—this shouldn't exist here…"
The guards exchanged uneasy glances, their grips tightening on their torches and weapons.
Kael, however, was not captivated like the rest. His crimson eyes drifted elsewhere. Ahead, fluttering silently in the shimmering air, a crimson butterfly appeared—its wings glowing faintly like embers. Only he could see it.
His breath hitched. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, following it. His pace quickened, almost as if pulled by a thread only he could feel.
"Kael—!" Elric's voice rang sharp, startled by the sudden urgency in his steps. She hurried after him, her hand tightening desperately around his. "Be careful! Don't go too far!" But he did not heed her words, his gaze fixed solely on the butterfly that beckoned him deeper.
The further they followed, the brighter the tunnel became. The source was unexplainable—there was no sunlight, yet the cavern glowed as though it held its own hidden sky. The deeper they went, the more it felt like they were walking within a memory rather than stone.
Elric tightened her hold on Kael's hand, her brows furrowed. "Don't let go… I won't let you go," she whispered, more to herself than to him.
At last, the tunnel widened and came to an abrupt end. Their footsteps slowed… then stopped.
Before them lay the colossal remains of a beast. A skeleton, larger than any of them had ever seen, sprawled across the cavern floor. Its ribcage arched like the ruins of a great cathedral, plants weaving through the hollow bones as if nature itself had claimed the fallen titan.
Albert stepped forward, his eyes widening in shock. "This… this is the bone of a dragon…" He crouched, running his fingers along the marks etched deep into the ancient skeleton. His voice trembled as he spoke. "Based on the slashes carved into it… it must be the same dragon that Lord Kael once fought."
The guards murmured in awe, staring at the remains of the legendary beast.
Elric's eyes softened, her voice quiet and reverent. "So… he spent his last breath here. No wonder no one ever found the corpse." She lowered her gaze, as though paying respect.
Meanwhile, Kael's steps slowed. He released Elric's hand and drifted toward the bones. His eyes were fixed on the butterfly, now perched gracefully on the dragon's skull, its crimson wings glowing faintly in the cavern light.
Drawn by an instinct he couldn't name, Kael reached out and placed his hand against the cold bone.
"Kael, don't touch it—!" Elric's warning cut off abruptly as her breath caught in her throat.
Tears were falling down Kael's face.
He pressed his hand to his chest as though trying to steady the pain inside. A crushing weight filled him—loss, sorrow, grief that wasn't his, yet carved itself into him as if it were. He didn't understand why. He only knew the pain was unbearable.
His knees buckled. He collapsed onto the ground, clutching his chest as his tears spilled freely, his body trembling under the weight of emotions he couldn't name.
"Kael!" Elric rushed to his side, kneeling beside him. Without hesitation, she pulled him into her arms, holding him tightly against her chest. Her hand stroked his back as if to soothe away the pain she couldn't understand.
"It's okay, Kael… it's okay… I'm here," she whispered, her voice trembling with both fear and tenderness.
She didn't know why he wept, why grief poured from him so violently before the dragon's remains. All she knew was that Kael was mourning—for the beast, for something long gone, perhaps even for something within himself.
And so she held him close, letting him cry in her embrace, her own chest tightening as if she, too, could feel the dragon's long-forgotten sorrow echoing through his tears.