Upon entering the Demon Mine, the tension within the expedition soared to its peak. The unknown beast’s cries echoing from afar felt like sharp claws scraping their backs. Everyone held their weapons tightly and kept a constant watch in all directions.
Yuric, at the forefront, cautiously advanced step by step, treading on the thick moss carpet as if it were a rug. His senses were alert to both monstrous beasts and the aura of dragons.
During a brief rest, Dagan asked Yuric a question, somewhat easing the tension.
“Since when did our captain become a Dragon Knight?”
“When tales of seeing a dragon surfaced. I happened to be part of that expedition, and during sleep, I found myself inside a dragon’s mind. That’s when the Earth Dragon Alaldur took root in my consciousness. Though the dragon is dead, its spirit and will still live within me.”
“So, you’re living with a dragon ghost? …That’s fascinating.”
After the brief chat, the expedition resumed their journey.
Although no monsters were seen, their droppings were frequently discovered. Agni, with red hair, accidentally stepped on some monster dung and had to scrub his shoes on the moss several times.
As soon as Kieran sensed a slight movement, he swung his club fiercely, smashing the head of a snake climbing up a tree in one blow. The decapitated snake fell from the tree and writhed for a long time.
“…I thought we’d be fighting monsters nonstop right from the start…”
However, contrary to expectations, they hadn’t encountered any monsters since entering the Demon Mine.
“It must be because the dragon’s territory is nearby. Monsters rarely dare to approach a dragon’s territory.”
Monsters don’t usually enter their own doom willingly.
Their faces were hard to read whether this was fortunate or not, considering they were venturing into a place where even monsters fear.
The first day was spent walking and resting intermittently until they reached evening. They lit a single campfire and took turns keeping watch.
As night fell, the monsters became more active, their cries echoing much louder than during the day. Regardless of the dragon’s territory, monsters began to approach them.
In the dark night, especially in a dense forest where the canopy was barely visible, even veteran mercenaries found it challenging. Since monsters are generally good at climbing trees, they had to look around themselves, above, below, and sideways.
By midnight, after a fierce battle with the monsters, the mercenaries were drenched in sweat, and sleep had fled. The expedition, unable to sleep properly, stayed awake through the night and moved forward again at dawn, having eaten a quick meal.
Throughout the morning, the expedition repeated walking and resting three times. Just as they were about to take a major break, Yuric sensed an intense energy.
!
The moment he stepped, he knew.
This is where the true dragon’s territory begins. Even Alaldur responded to this realization.
“This is Ashborn’s territory.”
Fortunately, they had found their way well.
Even Bella, with her keen abilities, noticed the subtle changes in mana flow and looked at Yuric differently.
From then on, the surroundings became unusually quiet. There wasn’t even a bird chirping. The mercenaries also realized something had changed in the environment. Their steps became even more cautious.
A light appeared in the distance. The expedition instinctively felt that their goal lay ahead.
Step by step, the expedition approached the light. Finally, they reached the source of the light and discovered… a huge nest. It was shaped like an egg and sat nestled among the great trees.
The four mercenaries froze with fear upon reaching the dragon’s nest.
It was a living calamity, perched at the pinnacle of the demon realm. Such was humanity’s understanding of the wingless wyvern.
Yuric signaled the others to stay calm and slowly approached the entrance of the nest alone. Among them, only Yuric, as a Dragon Knight, could converse relatively peacefully with Ashborn.
“Ashborn, are you there?”
Yuric waited a long time for a response.
After a while, he started to sense movement inside the dark nest.
…
And then, a head slowly emerged from the darkness.
!
At the sight of the dragon emerging from the nest, the mercenaries gasped and retreated. Even Agni, who could sense mana, and the other three mercenaries felt their breaths constricted by the dragon’s mana. The dragon’s overwhelming presence was beyond imagination.
“Familiar energy… Yes, yes… Is this Alaldur?”
“Yes, Alaldur’s physical form has returned to the universe, but his spirit remains within me. I am Mage Yuric.”
“Indeed. You are Alaldur’s Dragon Knight.”
Ashborn dragged his heavy body out of the nest. The place where wings should have been was just a black mark.
“Why have you come here?”
“I have questions for you.”
“Speak.”
“About four hundred years ago, the Magic City of Verzig vanished overnight. Do you know where it might have gone?”
Ashborn looked at Yuric intently with golden eyes. His long neck slowly lowered toward Yuric.
“Why do you seek it?”
From Ashborn’s words, Yuric felt that the wyvern knew the location of Verzig.
“In fact, there is a tower of surveillance in the Demon Realm. It can be seen from the southern wall. Since Verzig resembles it so much, I fear it might be related to demons and came here to investigate.”
Ashborn stared at Yuric intensely once more.
“You are quite a rare human, similar to Baeltar.”
Baeltar… surely, the name of the Grand Mage who issued travel permits for Verzig.
“Did you say you are looking for Verzig?”
“Yes.”
“You have already found Verzig.”
“…”
Ashborn looked down for a moment and then back up.
“Verzig lies buried beneath this land.”
…
Yuric and Bella were stunned. They never imagined Verzig could be under the wyvern’s nest.
“The one who sealed the outburst was none other than myself, Ashborn, and Baeltar.”
“What do you mean by ‘outburst’?”
“Due to the curse inside Verzig erupting, Baeltar sealed Verzig entirely and sent it to the Demon Mine, burying it deep underground. This is exactly what you see.”
Yuric’s mind was a whirlwind. Starting from the curse inside Verzig, its eruption, Baeltar’s decision, and the dragon’s nest… he wanted to understand why things had unfolded this way.
“Could you explain in detail?”
“Originally, Verzig was a demonic weapon built by demons to rule this land. However, when humans reclaimed it, they also took possession of Verzig. It faithfully served to monitor and repel demons coming through the Demon Mine for a long time.”
What Ashborn revealed was information Yuric had never heard before.
“There was a curse inside Verzig. Baeltar sealed and controlled it. He became Verzig’s overseer.”
“…I see.”
“The curse was stably sealed. According to the plan, there would have been no outburst.”
“What happened?”
“Two copies of the Book of Hell, the Codex, appeared almost simultaneously.”
Codex!
Yuric’s eyes widened at the familiar name.
“The hellish energy caused the curse to erupt, weakening the sealing magic. Baeltar couldn’t act in time. He sealed Verzig with the curse and sent it to the Demon Mine, burying it deep underground, hoping to prevent further chaos. And I, Ashborn, guard it to ensure it doesn’t move freely.”
Only then did Yuric and Bella fully comprehend the events and disappearance of Verzig that day.
“And you, Ashborn, have guarded this place for four hundred years.”
Ashborn recalled his dear friend, Baeltar.
Baeltar not only spared Ashborn’s life after defeat but cherished him. He firmly believed that the conflict between humans and dragons was merely a historical tragedy and that they could coexist harmoniously.
Ashborn, moved by Baeltar’s compassion and vision, vowed never to fight humans again. However, the wyvern tribe saw him as a traitor and tore off his wings.
“I am a useless dragon who can’t fly anyway. But it is enough to protect my dear friend’s last moments.”
Ashborn raised his neck and let out a long mournful cry—a requiem for his friend, Baeltar.
“Therefore, it’s fine. I will guard this place.”
Yuric instinctively sensed fragments of Ashborn’s memories.
Having felt that, Yuric couldn’t simply leave Ashborn’s situation as it was.
Ashborn, like Alaldur, was a hero to humanity. Despite losing his most precious wings, he lived without resentment, thinking only of his friend.
How could Yuric remain indifferent to such a dragon who had devoted himself so selflessly for humanity?
Yuric wanted to help Ashborn. At least, to restore his wings.
Where Ashborn’s wings were torn, dozens of draconic incantations intertwined like a curse. These were the denunciations and criticisms from his kin, forbidding his wings from ever regrowing. Human magic seemed powerless against this.
But.
If nature allowed.
If the universe willed it.
Yuric recalled a memory from long ago.
On the day he left the Holy-Magic Guild city after staying there for a long time.
The spirit living in the ancient tree in the guild’s garden had given him a feather.
Yuric took out the sacred feather he had treasured, which seemed to belong to another world.
Its transparent and luminous quality had a natural power that made anyone bow their heads in awe.
Seeing this, Ashborn reacted immediately.
“That… Could it be… a blessing from a spirit…?”
Ashborn couldn’t find words to respond. Spirits were an unknown domain even to dragons.
Yuric politely asked if he could ride on Ashborn’s back. The wyvern willingly lowered himself to be ridden. Yuric climbed onto the dragon’s back and approached the area where the wings were torn. It felt more sinister up close.
How much pain had Ashborn endured over the years?
Yuric brought the feather to the wound. Immediately, the incantations and the feather’s energy clashed violently.
…
No matter how sacred the spirit’s feather was, it couldn’t completely eliminate the deadly incantations. Eventually, the feather disappeared without a trace.
Ah.
Yuric sadly gazed at the wound.
“I’m sorry. I’ve wasted such a precious item.”
“I’m the one who should apologize. I couldn’t help you.”
“No, this is my burden to bear. Still, it feels a little lighter now. You’ve conveyed your thoughts to me sufficiently. Thank you, Dragon Knight.”
Suddenly, spirits began gathering around them.
The mercenaries rubbed their eyes, wondering what they were witnessing.
“Are these ghosts?”
“Are they spirits?”
“Are those spirits? Isn’t that a legend?”
Bella, too, was speechless at this impossible phenomenon.
While one or two spirits wouldn’t be surprising, the sight of hundreds or thousands gathering was unimaginable.
“What is this…”
This was the first time for the wyvern as well.
And as time passed, more spirits continued to gather.
Just then, something flew down from the sky.
The very spirit that had been perched on the ancient tree.
The spirit gently landed on Ashborn’s back. Instantly, the surrounding spirits surged toward the wyvern like playful children.
!
Dozens of incantations intertwined, but the spirits delicately plucked away small chunks at a time.
Alone, it wouldn’t work. But together, they could create a miracle.
Ashborn’s body began to tremble slightly.
Something began to grow where his wings were torn.
The spirits continued to line up and pluck away the incantations’ energy. When a spirit swallowed too much and collapsed, the others would reach into its mouth to share the energy. Then, the spirit would revive.
Everyone silently watched this scene.
How could this moment be described in words?
Ashborn roared loudly toward the sky.
As the incantations clinging to him gradually faded, his wings grew more prominently.
When the wyvern stood up, the expedition retreated.
The spirits flowing from the forest were endless.
The incantations, once thought eternal, were diminishing.
Yuric thanked the universe repeatedly for its mercy.
After a long time, the wings visibly grew.
The new spirit, perched on the wyvern’s back, finally spread its wings and swallowed the last remaining incantation with its beak. Simultaneously, Ashborn’s wings fully regenerated.
!
Ashborn flew up and down several times, then crashed back down. But he didn’t give up. He continued until he became familiar with his wings again.
Finally, Ashborn soared high into the sky. He circled and roared triumphantly several times.
The spirits that had completed their task scattered back into the forest. Yuric gently stroked the new spirit perched on his arm.
“Thank you truly.”
“May blessings be upon you.”
Then, it flew higher and disappeared somewhere.
Ashborn flew in circles in the sky for a long time.
Yuric offered a deep thank you to nature for granting Ashborn new wings.
