As Sophia stepped through the glowing portal, the salty breeze of the Sea Kingdom greeted her. The massive coral palace stood proudly beneath the endless blue sky, its crystal towers shimmering like the surface of the ocean.
Waiting at the portal were her father, King Nerion, and her three older sisters.
Being the youngest princess, Sophia had always been the most protected—the baby of the family.
The moment she saw them, the strength she had been forcing herself to maintain disappeared.
"Father…"
She ran into his arms and burst into tears.
King Nerion wrapped his arms around his daughter, gently stroking her hair.
"My child…" he said softly. "You're home now."
One of her sisters rubbed Sophia's back.
"It's all right," she whispered. "Take your time. Tell us what happened."
The king studied her tear-filled face with growing concern.
"You returned through the emergency portal," he said. "That is unlike you. Tell me… what has happened?"
Still wiping away her tears, Sophia nodded.
"Father… I made a terrible mistake."
The king's expression became serious.
"What mistake have you made, my child?"
As they walked through the palace toward Sophia's chambers, everyone remained silent, allowing her to speak.
Sophia told them everything.
She admitted that when she arrived in Alaska, she wanted to become the leader of Red Team. She wanted to earn glory for the Sea Kingdom and prove herself worthy as a princess.
But no one chose her.
Then came the rescue mission.
She believed saving the missing civilians would finally bring honor to their family.
Instead…
"There was one girl," Sophia said, clenching her fists. "She kept standing in my way."
Anger briefly flashed across her face before guilt quickly replaced it.
"I lost control."
One of her sisters sighed and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Sophia… you only killed a common soldier. Why are you so frightened?"
Sophia immediately shook her head.
"No…"
Her voice trembled.
"She may have been a commoner… but Rose isn't."
Everyone looked at her.
"The castle collapsed on top of her."
Silence filled the hallway.
"And… she survived."
"I don't understand how."
"When the castle fell, one of my teammates suddenly grabbed her head and screamed for all of us to leave. Her face turned completely pale. She looked terrified."
"I thought something inside the castle had awakened."
Sophia swallowed hard.
"But now…"
"I think she saw Rose."
Her family exchanged uneasy glances.
The king frowned.
"Who is this Rose?"
Sophia slowly lifted her eyes.
"She's the woman who killed a Shadow."
"She captured a dragon."
"And…"
She hesitated.
"A lich follows her."
The room became silent.
"I don't know what she is anymore."
"She isn't normal."
"She doesn't act like a commoner."
Sophia's hands trembled.
"As a princess… I shouldn't be afraid."
She lowered her head.
"But Father…"
"I'm terrified."
"I'm afraid she'll come here…"
"…and kill me for what I did to Claudette."
King Nerion immediately embraced his daughter once more.
"No."
His voice carried the authority of a king.
"No one will harm my daughter."
He gently lifted her chin.
"If this Rose dares to enter my kingdom…"
His eyes hardened.
"Then she will be declaring war against the Sea Kingdom."
"I will protect you."
"No matter the cost."
⸻
Hours passed at the military base.
After speaking with General Baxter, Rose finally agreed to cooperate with the investigation.
General Sanju had already briefed Marina on everything that had happened.
When he approached Rose, he quietly bowed his head—a silent gesture of respect for her loss.
"Marina is on her way," he said gently.
Rose looked at him with hollow, exhausted eyes.
"Okay," she answered softly.
Without another word, she turned and walked back to her quarters.
She wanted to remain beside Claudette.
⸻
Nearly three hours later…
A gentle knock echoed at the entrance to the quarters.
One of the Red Team members opened the front door.
Standing outside were General Sanju and Marina.
Without a word, the soldier stepped aside, allowing them inside.
The shared living area was quiet.
Just a few steps from the entrance stood another door leading into the girls' dormitory.
The crimson dragon rested silently in front of it.
As Marina and General Sanju approached, the dragon slowly lifted its head.
Sensing no hostility, it quietly lowered its head once more.
Marina stepped forward and gently knocked on the girls' dormitory door.
"Rose…"
"It's Marina."
A moment later, the door slowly opened.
Rose stood there, her eyes swollen and red from hours of crying.
Behind her, the lich hovered silently beside Claudette's bed.
The moment Rose saw Marina, the last of her composure shattered.
She stepped forward and threw her arms around her mentor.
Marina immediately embraced her, holding her close.
"I've got you," Marina whispered softly.
"You don't have to carry this alone."
Rose buried her face against Marina's shoulder as quiet sobs shook her entire body.
Marina gently stroked her hair, saying nothing more.
Sometimes, silence offered more comfort than words ever could.
Several quiet moments passed before General Sanju spoke.
"Rose…"
His voice was gentle.
"Claudette's parents are here."
"They've come to say goodbye."
Rose slowly turned toward Claudette.
A ring of crimson phoenix flames still surrounded the bed, silently protecting her friend.
Rose stared at the flames for several long seconds.
They weren't protecting Claudette anymore.
They were protecting Rose from having to let go.
She closed her eyes.
"…Let them in."
At her whisper, the phoenix flames slowly parted, opening a path to the bedside before fading into glowing embers that disappeared completely.
General Sanju quietly stepped aside.
Claudette's parents entered the room.
The instant Claudette's mother saw her daughter lying peacefully on the bed, her knees gave way.
"No…"
Her voice cracked.
"No… my baby…"
She rushed forward and collapsed beside Claudette, crying uncontrollably.
Heartbreaking sobs echoed throughout the room.
The pain in a mother's voice pierced Rose's heart more deeply than any blade ever could.
Rose buried her face against Marina's shoulder.
She couldn't speak.
She couldn't even breathe properly.
Her tears soaked Marina's shoulder as her entire body trembled.
Marina gently stroked Rose's hair.
"You did everything you could," she whispered.
"You tried to save her."
"She isn't suffering anymore."
"Don't blame yourself."
"I know you only knew Claudette for a short time…"
"…but the fact that you care this deeply tells me everything about the kind of person you are."
As Marina spoke, Claudette's mother slowly lifted her head.
She looked toward Rose.
Rose released Marina and stood silently.
She lowered her head.
She expected anger.
She expected blame.
She expected to be struck.
Instead…
Claudette's mother walked over and wrapped her arms around Rose.
Rose froze.
"My daughter admired you," the woman whispered through her tears.
"I know…"
"I know you would've saved her if you could."
"I don't blame you."
"You became her friend."
"That was one of her greatest wishes."
A fresh wave of tears rolled down Rose's face.
"She talked about you all the time."
"You were her hero."
The words shattered what little strength Rose still had.
"I won't let hatred consume me," Claudette's mother continued.
"My heart wants revenge."
"It wants someone to blame."
"But that isn't who my daughter was."
"She wouldn't want that."
"So I won't honor her memory with revenge."
She gently held Rose's face.
"Please…"
"When we lay Claudette to rest…"
"Be there with us."
Unable to answer, Rose simply nodded as tears continued to fall.
Her eyes had become crimson from grief.
"I'm sorry," Rose whispered.
"I was trying to protect her."
Claudette's mother gave her a gentle smile.
"I know."
"I'm not blaming you."
"You were my daughter's friend."
"And for that…"
"I'll always be grateful."
She returned to Claudette's bedside and gently brushed her fingers through her daughter's hair, memorizing every feature of her face.
Silence filled the room.
After several moments, Rose turned toward Marina.
"I'm not sure how much General Sanju or General Baxter told you…"
She took a slow breath.
"But I have to find Sophia."
Marina met her eyes and nodded.
"Then let's go."
"We'll discuss everything in the conference room."
She glanced toward Claudette's parents.
"They need this time with her."
Rose nodded.
She walked toward the door before stopping.
Turning back, she respectfully bowed to Claudette's mother and father.
Neither of them spoke.
They simply returned the gesture with grateful eyes.
Rose quietly left the girls' dormitory with Marina.
The lich floated silently behind them.
As they stepped into the shared living area, the dragon suddenly shrank, its massive body transforming into one small enough to be carried in Rose's arms.
Rose looked down at the tiny dragon.
For the first time since Claudette's death…
A faint, sorrowful smile appeared on her face.
She gently picked up the dragon, cradling it against her chest like a treasured companion.
Together, they walked toward the conference room, unaware that the answers waiting inside would change everything they believed about the Sea Kingdom… and about Rose herself.
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