Mia seemed calmer after their conversation.
At least until Ebruhan suddenly remembered something.
"...I need to check on that spy."
Mia blinked.
"What spy?"
Ebruhan glanced at her.
"The one I captured about twenty days ago."
Mia tilted her head.
"...Who?"
"The beastfolk working for Selene."
"The one I caught while patrolling near the palace."
For a moment, Mia simply stared.
Then her eyes widened.
"A beastfolk?!"
Ebruhan immediately knew where this was going.
"Yes."
"They exist here?!"
The blue dragon looked genuinely confused.
"Of course they do."
Mia looked even more shocked.
"I've never seen one before!"
Ebruhan shrugged.
"Most live in forests."
"Some live within human kingdoms."
His expression darkened slightly.
"Though not every kingdom treats them well."
"Slave traders still exist."
Mia frowned.
She had heard about slavery before.
Never liked it.
Never would.
Then her attention immediately returned to the important matter.
The beastfolk.
"A beastfolk..."
Her eyes sparkled.
"What does he look like?"
Ebruhan regretted answering almost immediately.
"A white fox."
Mia leaned closer.
"Fox?"
"Fox."
"Fluffy?"
"...Yes."
Mia's eyes somehow became even brighter.
"Really fluffy?"
Ebruhan sighed.
"Unfortunately."
"And red eyes?"
"Yes."
Mia immediately clutched her chest.
"Aww..."
Back in her previous life as Riko...
She had always liked foxes.
Dogs too.
Anything fluffy, honestly.
Her imagination was already running wild.
Cute fox ears.
Fluffy tail.
Tiny fox noises.
Meanwhile Ebruhan knew exactly what she was imagining.
And it was probably wrong.
Very wrong.
"Can I meet him?"
"No."
The answer came instantly.
Mia gasped.
"Why?!"
"Because he is a spy."
"A spy who works for Selene."
"A foreign spy."
"A prisoner."
Mia waved a hand dismissively.
"Details."
"They are very important details."
Mia flew closer.
"Please?"
"No."
"Pleeeease?"
"No."
"I just want to see him."
"No."
"Just once."
"No."
"Just five minutes."
"No."
"One minute?"
"No."
"Thirty seconds?"
"No."
The black dragon narrowed her eyes.
Clearly preparing a final attack.
Ebruhan immediately became concerned.
Because Mia was most dangerous when she started thinking.
Then she pointed dramatically.
"If you don't let me meet him..."
Ebruhan felt a terrible feeling.
"...I will never talk to you again."
The blue dragon stared.
The wind howled around them.
Clouds drifted by.
Neither moved.
"..."
"..."
"...Are you serious?"
Mia nodded firmly.
"Yes."
Then she added:
"Very serious."
A pause.
Then:
"Please let me see the beastfolk."
Another pause.
"He sounds adorable."
Ebruhan nearly flew into a cloud.
"He is a spy."
"A fluffy spy."
"He gathered intelligence for another kingdom."
"A fluffy fox spy."
"He endangered national security."
"A fluffy fox spy with red eyes."
Ebruhan closed his eyes.
For several seconds.
Just silently suffering.
Mia immediately sensed victory approaching.
"Ebruhannnn..."
"No."
"Ebruhannnnnnn..."
"No."
"Ebruhannnnnnnnnn..."
The blue dragon released the longest sigh of his life.
It echoed across half the sky.
"I swear..."
"One day you are going to be the death of me."
Mia grinned.
"So can I meet him?"
Ebruhan stared at the sunset.
Questioning every decision that had led him to this moment.
Then another sigh escaped him.
"...Fine."
Mia nearly exploded with happiness.
"REALLY?!"
"One visit."
"YAY!"
"Under supervision."
"YAY!"
"And if you cause trouble..."
"I won't!"
Ebruhan gave her a look.
Mia immediately corrected herself.
"...I will try not to."
That answer somehow worried him more.
A lot more.
-------
The moment they arrived at the palace prison, Ebruhan was already regretting his decision.
Deeply.
Profoundly.
The guards escorted them through the corridors until they reached a reinforced cell.
Inside sat the infamous spy.
A white-furred fox beastfolk with striking red eyes.
A black collar remained around his neck, its dragon magic still suppressing any escape attempt.
The fox looked up as the cell door opened.
Confusion immediately appeared on his face.
Then he saw Mia.
Then things somehow became even more confusing.
Mia's eyes widened.
The fox's ears twitched.
His tail shifted slightly.
And then...
"AWWWWWW!"
Before Iyas could react, Mia had already rushed forward and dropped to her knees beside him.
Both hands immediately reached toward his head.
Pat.
Pat.
Pat.
Pat.
Iyas froze.
Completely.
His brain simply stopped functioning.
The fox slowly leaned away.
"What the..."
Pat.
Pat.
Pat.
His ears flattened.
"What are you doing?!"
Meanwhile, Ebruhan had already left the cell.
Not because he was busy.
Not because he had important matters to discuss.
But because he had correctly predicted this exact outcome.
Outside, he spoke with one of the guards.
"Has he behaved?"
The guard nodded.
"Mostly."
A pause.
"He complains a lot."
"I heard that."
"He also tried convincing us to loosen his collar because he couldn't breathe."
Ebruhan nodded.
"Classic."
Back inside the cell...
Mia was having the greatest day of her life.
The black-haired dragon girl continued admiring the fox.
"Hi!"
Iyas blinked.
"...Hi?"
"I'm Mia."
"..."
The fox glanced toward the open cell door.
Then toward Mia.
Then toward the open cell door again.
Trying to determine if this was some sort of interrogation tactic.
Mia continued happily.
"I just love foxes, you know?"
"...What?"
"Look at those ears!"
She pointed dramatically.
"And your tail!"
The tail immediately moved behind Iyas protectively.
"You are adorable."
Iyas stared.
"...What?"
"Adorable."
"What?"
"Adorable."
The fox looked genuinely offended.
"I am a highly trained intelligence operative!"
Mia tilted her head.
"An adorable highly trained intelligence operative."
"..."
"..."
"...That somehow sounds worse."
Mia reached toward his ears again.
Iyas immediately leaned back.
"Don't touch those!"
"Why?"
"Because they're mine!"
Mia gasped dramatically.
"You can move them."
"Of course I can move them!"
The ears twitched angrily.
Mia pointed.
"They moved again!"
The fox looked like he was losing a battle against reality itself.
Several seconds later, he finally asked the obvious question.
"Who are you?"
"Mia."
"I know that."
"No you don't."
"I literally just heard you say it."
Mia nodded.
"Fair point."
Iyas stared.
The dragon girl was somehow stranger than she looks,
Finally, the fox narroow his eyes suspiciously.
"Wait."
"You aren't here to interrogate me?"
"No."
"Threaten me?"
"No."
"Execute me?"
Mia looked horrified.
"No!"
Iyas blinked.
Then pointed at himself.
"Then why are you here?"
Mia answered without hesitation.
"To see the fluffy beastfolk."
The spy sat in silence.
For several long seconds.
Then slowly looked toward the ceiling.
As if asking the universe why this was happening.
Outside the cell, one of the guards glanced toward Ebruhan.
The sounds of Mia excitedly talking about fox ears echoed down the hallway.
The guard rubbed his forehead.
"...Is she always like this?"
Ebruhan sighed.
"I don't know either "
Then he glanced back toward the cell.
Where Iyas was currently trying to explain that he was a dangerous spy while Mia continued complimenting his tail.
----------
The prison cell had somehow become the strangest place in the kingdom.
Mia was still sitting beside the fox beastfolk, happily admiring his ears.
"Gosh..."
Her eyes sparkled.
"You really are adorable."
Iyas stared blankly.
After the last several minutes, he had completely given up trying to understand her.
"...Thanks?"
The cell door opened.
Ebruhan stepped inside.
Immediately both Mia and Iyas turned toward him.
The blue dragon glanced between them.
One looked fascinated.
The other looked traumatized.
He wasn't entirely sure which one worried him more.
Without a word, Ebruhan raised a hand.
Snap.
Blue mana flashed.
The black collar around Iyas' neck dissolved into countless particles of light.
The chain attached to the wall vanished moments later.
Iyas froze.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
His hand moved toward his neck.
Gone.
The collar was gone.
For the first time in weeks, he was free.
Ebruhan folded his arms.
"Since I have no interest in killing a child who was merely repaying a debt..."
The fox looked up.
"I will let you go."
Iyas blinked.
Then blinked again.
As if waiting for the catch.
Ebruhan's golden eyes narrowed.
"But understand this."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
"If I ever find you spying inside this kingdom again..."
Mana crackled around his fingers.
"I will personally rip you apart."
The threat was calm.
Simple.
And terrifyingly believable.
Iyas immediately nodded.
"Understood."
A few moments passed.
Then the fox tilted his head.
"So..."
Ebruhan already disliked that tone.
"...I can stay here?"
The dragon stared.
"What?"
Iyas pointed at the floor.
"You know."
"Here."
"No."
The answer came instantly.
"Who said you could stay here?"
The fox's ears drooped slightly.
"...Right."
Then he looked away.
A rare seriousness appeared on his face.
"I can't exactly go back to Norvoss."
Ebruhan shrugged.
"Not my problem."
The fox winced.
The dragon pointed toward the exit.
"Now leave before I change my mind and throw you over the nearest mountain."
Iyas didn't move.
Ebruhan narrowed his eyes.
"But where do I go?"
Nobody answered.
Iyas looked genuinely lost.
"Princess Selene basically said I belong to you people now."
Ebruhan snorted.
"And you're willing to accept that?"
The fox laughed bitterly.
"No."
His ears lowered.
"Honestly?"
"I didn't want any of this."
The room grew quieter.
Even Mia stopped smiling.
Iyas looked at the floor.
"I was just trying to be useful."
No jokes.
No dramatic acting.
Just honesty.
"Now my master has released me."
He glanced toward Ebruhan.
"And you spared my life."
The fox swallowed.
"So..."
He took a deep breath.
"I can be useful to you."
Ebruhan raised an eyebrow.
The statement was so unexpected that even Mia blinked.
Iyas quickly continued.
"I mean it."
"I know I'm a spy."
"I know nobody should trust me."
"But I have my honor."
The fox clenched his fists.
"If I give my word..."
His voice became firmer.
"I try to keep it."
Silence.
Then Ebruhan laughed.
A short, dry laugh.
"Honor?"
The dragon's eyes narrowed.
"A word from you?"
The fox immediately looked nervous.
Ebruhan stepped forward.
"You revealed your master."
The words struck directly.
"And now you speak of honor?"
Iyas visibly shrank.
His ears flattened.
For several seconds, he couldn't answer.
Then he looked away.
"...I..."
"...I..."
Nothing came out.
Because Ebruhan wasn't wrong.
Not entirely.
The fox's tail lowered.
"I know how it looks."
His voice became small.
"But..."
He swallowed hard.
Then bowed deeply.
"Please."
No jokes.
No tricks.
No exaggeration.
Just desperation.
"Give me one chance, sir."
The room fell silent.
"I'll prove it."
"I'll be useful."
His voice trembled slightly.
"I'll be so useful that one day you'll be glad you didn't kill me."
The prison cell became quiet.
Mia looked at Iyas.
Then at Ebruhan.
Then back at Iyas.
The fox remained bowed.
Waiting.
Hoping.
For the first time since his capture...
Not acting like a spy.
Not acting like a fool.
Just a lost kid who no longer knew where he belonged.
----------------
The prison cell fell silent.
Iyas remained bowed, waiting for judgment.
Waiting for rejection.
Or perhaps another threat.
Anything.
Instead, Ebruhan simply closed his eyes.
For several moments, the blue dragon said nothing.
The guards outside watched quietly.
Even Mia remained silent.
Finally, Ebruhan spoke.
"...Change into your human form."
Iyas blinked.
"What?"
"Your human form."
The fox immediately straightened.
"R-Right!"
White mana gathered around his body.
A cloud of smoke burst outward.
Moments later, the fox was gone.
In his place stood a young beastfolk.
Around fifteen years old.
White fox ears sat atop his head.
A fluffy white tail swayed nervously behind him.
His red eyes darted between Ebruhan and Mia.
White hair fell messily around his face, and he wore a simple black suit that looked slightly worn from travel.
He was slightly taller than Mia's human form.
Though that wasn't saying much.
Mia's eyes widened.
Then widened further.
Then widened somehow even more.
"AWWWW!"
Iyas immediately took a step back.
"No."
Mia stepped forward.
"Those ears!"
"No."
The dragon girl reached toward them.
Iyas instantly covered both ears with his hands.
"Grrah!"
"Stop it!"
"But they're fluffy!"
"They're attached to my head!"
"Exactly!"
"THAT DOESN'T HELP!"
Ebruhan pinched the bridge of his nose.
Already regretting everything.
Somehow, giving the fox freedom had created new problems.
Eventually, Ebruhan cleared his throat.
Both turned toward him.
The dragon's expression became serious.
"Follow me."
Iyas immediately straightened.
"Sir?"
Ebruhan's golden eyes met his.
"You have made your decision."
The fox nodded nervously.
"I have."
Ebruhan folded his arms.
"Very well."
The room became quiet.
"Since you have chosen to become my subordinate..."
Iyas froze.
"...I will allow you to remain in Lumeris."
For a moment, the fox simply stared.
As if he couldn't believe what he had heard.
Then relief washed over his face.
Genuine relief.
But Ebruhan wasn't finished.
His gaze hardened.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop slightly.
"However."
Iyas immediately swallowed.
"If you betray this kingdom."
The blue dragon stepped forward.
"If you betray Mia."
Another step.
"If you betray the trust I am giving you today."
Mana flickered faintly around his body.
Then his voice became deadly calm.
"I will ensure your death is more painful than anything you have ever experienced."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even Mia didn't interrupt.
Because everybody knew Ebruhan meant every word.
Iyas stood frozen.
Then quickly lowered his head.
"Y-Yes, sir!"
His tail puffed up slightly from nerves.
"I won't let you down!"
The response came immediately.
Without hesitation.
Without tricks.
Without excuses.
Ebruhan studied him for a few moments.
Then nodded once.
"Good."
The tension eased slightly.
The very next second...
Mia poked one of Iyas' ears.
"ACK!"
Mia grinned.
"It twitched!"
"Of course it twitched!"
She reached for the other one.
Iyas immediately retreated.
"No!"
"Come back!"
"Stay away from me!"
"They're fluffy!"
"I KNOW THEY'RE FLUFFY!"
Ebruhan watched the two chase each other around the cell.
The dragon released a long sigh.
He had just recruited a former enemy spy.
A decision that might affect the future of the kingdom.
A serious matter.
An important matter.
Yet somehow...
The first challenge of Iyas' new life wasn't loyalty.
Wasn't espionage.
Wasn't politics.
It was surviving Mia's obsession with fox ears.
The moment they stepped out of the prison , Iyas immediately positioned himself beside Ebruhan.
No.
Not beside.
Practically behind him.
Using the blue dragon as a living shield.
Every time Mia moved one direction...
Iyas moved the opposite direction.
Like a terrified prey animal avoiding a predator.
Or perhaps...
avoiding an overly affectionate dragon.
Mia stepped right.
Iyas instantly stepped left.
Mia moved closer.
Iyas hid behind Ebruhan's back
The dragon noticed all of this.
And did absolutely nothing.
"Sir."
Iyas looked up hopefully.
"Tell her to stop."
Ebruhan didn't even look at him.
"Stop what?"
"The staring!"
Ebruhan glanced toward Mia.
She was indeed staring.
Very intensely.
At the fox ears.
The blue dragon shrugged.
"Why would I stop a dragon obsessed with something?"
Iyas stared.
"..."
"...Sir?"
"Yes?"
"That doesn't sound like protection."
"It isn't."
The fox looked genuinely betrayed.
Meanwhile Mia had somehow appeared behind him.
A finger reached toward his tail.
Poke.
The tail immediately jumped.
Iyas nearly jumped with it.
"Lady!"
He spun around.
"Personal space, please!"
His fluffy tail immediately disappeared behind his legs.
Protected.
Defended.
Hidden from the dragon menace.
Mia placed both hands behind her back.
"Fine."
The response sounded suspiciously innocent.
The kind of innocent that made Ebruhan suspicious.
And he'd known her..
Iyas remained cautious.
Very cautious.
The same caution he usually reserved for enemy agents.
Eventually Mia sighed dramatically.
"Still..."
A smile appeared on her face.
"It really is cool seeing a beastfolk."
The sincerity in her voice surprised him.
For the first time, she wasn't looking at him like a walking stuffed animal.
Well...
Mostly.
Ebruhan folded his arms.
"You know dragons are superiors"
The blue dragon smirked slightly.
"Just stating facts."
Mia pointed toward Iyas.
"He has fluffy ears."
Ebruhan raised an eyebrow.
"I have wings."
"He has fluffy ears."
"I can fly."
"He has fluffy ears."
Iyas watched the conversation.
Then slowly realized something.
He wasn't being compared to a human.
He wasn't being compared to a soldier.
Or a noble.
Or another beastfolk.
He was apparently competing against a dragon.
In a contest about fluffiness.
And somehow...
He was winning.
Ebruhan looked away.
Defeated.
"I hate this argument."
"You lost."
"I know."
Mia grinned triumphantly.
Then stretched her arms.
"Anyway."
"I should head back."
She looked toward Ebruhan.
"Thanks for letting me meet him."
The blue dragon nodded.
"Try not to cause troubles"
Mia laughed.
Then transformed.
Dark mana swirled around her.
Moments later, a black dragon stood where the girl had been.
She spread her wings.
"See you later!"
With a powerful leap, she launched into the sky.
The courtyard became quiet.
For a few moments, Iyas simply watched her disappear into the distance.
Then he released a long breath.
"Finally."
The fox relaxed.
His shoulders dropped.
The danger had passed.
The ears were safe.
The tail was safe.
Everything was safe.
Ebruhan glanced at him.
"Comfortable?"
"Yes."
"Good."
The dragon turned and began walking away.
Iyas followed.
Then Ebruhan added:
"She'll probably visit tomorrow."
The fox stopped walking.
"...What?"
Ebruhan kept moving.
"Tomorrow."
The color drained from Iyas' face.
"Sir."
"No."
"Sir."
"No."
"Please."
"No."
The blue dragon continued down the hallway,.. he got council to attend.. for this fox..