“I didn’t think you were so selfish,
At least not when it came to the children you claim to love so much.”
Lavinia commented as she looked into Kael’s eyes.
“What…?”
The Hero frowned.
“It is a gift to be able to talk to your bonds, have you not utilized that gift at all?”
The Princess questioned, and she didn’t stop there. She continued, as if she wanted nothing more than to rip Kael apart.
“Dragons are extremely prideful beings. You think they would want to stay back while the person they love the most puts himself in danger in order to ‘protect’ them?
How would you feel if I tied you down in one place and forced you to watch your bonds fight a gruesome battle for your sake?”
“I…”
Kael stuttered, staring at his children with a guilty look on his face. His children, especially Igni, stared back at him. He didn’t like that look on his father’s face. He wanted to see his father smile instead but…
He didn’t wish to stop Lavinia either.
Rather… this was something he wanted to say for a long time.
“Lord Igni is a Dragon, a Dragon who loves you more than you can ever imagine. He doesn’t wish to be protected by you. He wishes to protect you and be by your side all the time.
The last thing he would want is to hide inside a Sanctuary while you push yourself into dangerous battles without him.”
Kael stared at Igni, who stared back at him with his amber eyes shining in worry. Yes, the Dragon was worried as to how his father would take all this. The Princess, on the other hand, seemed to have no regard for Kael’s feelings and called him out.
“Lord Igni would much rather have both of you dying together in a battlefield than you exhausting yourself to death like this because of him.
You babying him like this is hurting his pride—pride that the Dragons value the most—you are hurting your own child because of your selfish wish to protect him, Kael Carter.”
The Princess pointed her finger at the Hero and…
Kael’s breathing hitched. Slowly, he once again turned towards his Igni and, seeing the hesitant look on the Dragon’s face, he understood it.
Lavinia was right…
He was too selfish.
He clenched his fists in frustration as he recalled how his little Igni constantly mentioned how he wanted to protect his father. To think he had been ignoring his child’s pride and hurting him all this while.
“You are wrong!”
Seeing her father lowering his head like this, Cirri raised her voice. The little Dragon angrily glared at Lavinia and,
“Father is the best father!
He would never hurt us!”
Lavinia’s body shuddered because of that glare. She stumbled and fell on her butt.
“Cirr—”
Kael’s expression changed at his daughter’s outburst. He wanted to stop her, but before he could say anything, he suddenly felt a large tongue licking his entire face.
It was his Igni.
He glanced at his firstborn, who was now smiling at him as he rubbed his forehead with his.
“Father is indeed the best.”
Igni spoke in his mature voice.
“Your actions will never hurt me,
But I would still like to fight by your side.”
Kael stared into Igni’s earnest eyes and,
“I understand.”
He nodded.
“Then from today onwards, no matter how much attention we draw, we will fight together.”
Kael declared as he hugged his firstborn as gently as he could. He also stared at the rest of his children and,
“Of course, this goes for the rest of you as well. We will all be fighting side by side from now on.”
He smiled.
“And Cirri, stop glaring at Princess Lavinia. She did nothing wrong.”
“But Fathe—”
“Cirri.”
Kael raised his voice and in an instant,
“Okay…”
Cirri lowered her head and jumped on top of Kael’s head instead. Only once the Dragon backed down did Lavinia calm a little. Her heart was still beating rapidly, but at least it didn’t feel like it would give out under the pressure anymore.
Soon, the Princess’s eyes fell on the hand Kael extended towards her, offering her up. She looked at him and took his hand. He pulled her up and then,
“You were in the middle of explaining the plan.”
“Right.”
The Princess nodded as she stepped back. Then, after one short look at Cirri and a deep breath, she continued,
“Lady Imperia’s Ants will watch the townspeople from the shadows. We will learn of their battle plans, find the possible faults in those plans, and come up with ways to deal with them.
We will wait for a critical moment to appear and react accordingly. From there, we will deal with everything according to the situation. Our goal will be to reduce the casualties as much as possible and, of course, ensure that none of us get hurt.
Admittedly, creating battle plans isn’t my strongest suit, so I will be leaving that to you.”
“I will take care of that.”
Kael nodded confidently.
“Then let us set a camp at a safe location and wait.”
The Princess suggested. Kael nodded as he then glanced at Imperia,
“There is a cave nearby.”
Yep, the Mother of Ants had everything covered.
The camp was set. Kael and the others waited. Imperia divided her children in three parts—one kept an eye on the surroundings to ensure there was no danger, one eyed the Corrupted Beasts and their movements, and the last one focused on the town and its people.
Two more days passed by just like that. In these two days, Kael and his children did not return to the Sanctuary. They hunted and ate together with Lavinia. Lavinia also taught Kael some Fourth Circle Spells. Kael also trained Sword Aura, Ancient Pulse Magic, and Illusion Magic back in Everveil.
“Father.”
On the third day, while Kael and the others were eating, Imperia called out. Everyone stared at the youngest and,
“It is time.”
The Ant reported and Kael nodded with a solemn look on his face.
“Be prepared.”
…
At the center of the Greyvale Town Square, a tall, broad-shouldered armored man with a heavy build hardened by years of battle stood with a grim look on his face as he passed orders to others around him.
His armor was old but well-kept—scratched and dented in places, proof of the many fights he had survived. He had a thick brown beard streaked with grey, and his short hair was always messy under his helmet.
He had sharp and steady eyes, a deep scar running from his left cheek to his jawline, and a long, heavy longsword hung around his waist.
He was Darnic Vale, the Captain of Greyvale Town’s Troops, the man known as the Shield of Greyvale—a shield that refuses to break.
“Captain Darnic!”
A scout ran towards him, his face pale, breath short, and eyes wide with panic.
“They’re coming!”
He gasped.
“T-They are here! All of them!”
Darnic stared at the scout, giving him some time to catch his breath.
“How long?”
He asked.
Unlike the scout, his voice had a terrifying calmness that seemed to affect others around him. Even the panicking scout calmed a little and reported.
“Less than an hour.”
“How many?”
“We do not have the exact numbers, but there are more than fifty for sure.”
Darnic nodded and turned to the guards gathered around him.
“Move the children, the old, the sick, and the ones who can’t fight. Take them to the granary cellar and the chapel crypts. Tell the rest to prepare.”
“Yes, Captain!”
The instant the order was passed, the guards went on the move.
The entire town came alive with shouts and rushing footsteps. Mothers gathered their children, old men limped toward shelter, and guards guided the crowd with firm voices.
Up on the walls and behind wooden barricades, the defenders took their positions. Archers prepared fire arrows, and oil barrels were rolled into place. Hunters smeared poison on their blades, while others stacked crates and sharpened stakes.
Mages stood with quiet focus near the barricade gaps, ready to cast at a moment’s notice. It wasn’t just the Tamers—the Bonds seemed nervous as well.
They could sense the upcoming danger as well.
A nervous silence fell over Greyvale.
They were ready.
Or at least…
They thought they were.
“Captain Darnic.”
Suddenly, a slender woman with sharp features walked towards Darnic, who was observing the town from above.
The woman had long black hair tied back in a tight braid that reached the middle of her back. Her skin was pale, possibly from years spent in the forest shade, and her green eyes were bright and alert, always scanning, always calculating.
She wore leather armor dyed in shades of dark brown and green, perfect for blending into the woods. Small knives were strapped to her thighs, and a shortbow rested across her back.
One look at her would be enough to make one believe that she was a warrior hunter. That, however, was wrong.
She was a Mage who had trained not only in magic, but also in close combat.
Not just that,
“Town Head Elda.”
Yes, she was the Town Head of Greyvale Town.
“How are the preparations?”
Elda questioned with a solemn look on her face.
At that question, Darnic, who only showed a brave front in front of others, decided to be honest in front of the Town Head he was loyal to.
“…It will be difficult to survive.”
“So this is it, huh…?”
Elda muttered with a weak smile on her face as she grabbed her knife. The Town Head was prepared to die with her people.
“Unless a Dragon comes to save us, yes.”
Darnic let out a hollow laugh as well, his eyes staring at the sky, as if praying for a miracle to happen.