Aurelia knelt beside Lioris and gently wrapped her arms around her. Her voice trembled, heavy with emotion.

  "I don’t know what hurts more—your pain or my helplessness. But I swear on my title as a Hero... I will take your revenge, Lioris. No matter what it costs me."

  Lioris blinked at her, surprised by the sudden warmth. Then her eyes shifted toward Iyak, as if asking what he thought.

  Iyak scratched the back of his head, awkward but trying to be sincere.

  "Yeah... that's right. I’ll help too. Who do they think they are, attacking people for no reason? Huh?"

  But Lioris looked down, her serpent tail curling tightly. Her voice cracked, tears threatening to fall.

  "They had a reason... they always did. But I never thought they’d take it so far—to the point of slaughter..."

  Aurelia leaned closer, her brows furrowed.

  "What reason? Are you hiding something from us, Lioris?"

  Lioris took a shaky breath and wiped her eyes.

  "They always believed we were a curse... that Lamias were the plague of Moonshade Forest. But under the protection of the Red Dragon, no one dared to harm us."

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  Her tone turned bitter. "Everything changed the day the Red Dragon vanished. Rumors say a man in a black hood came and... captured him."

  Aurelia’s eyes widened, and her jaw dropped.

  "Wait—captured? The Red Dragon? Are you saying a human took down that dragon?!"

  Even Iyak paused, blinking in disbelief.

  "Okay, what now? Are we all just pretending that's normal?"

  Aurelia ignored him and stood abruptly. Her voice was low, but her fists were clenched with fury.

  "That dragon... wasn’t just strong. He was one of the Essence Dragons—the beings who helped the gods create life itself."

  Iyak’s mouth dropped open.

  "Wait, wait, pause. You’re telling me someone captured a dragon that’s basically a god’s roommate? Are we in a fairy tale or a nightmare?"

  Aurelia didn’t answer. Her gaze was locked on something distant, haunted.

  "I once fought that dragon," she said quietly. "It was my first and only defeat. His power was... absolute. He didn't even try to kill me. Just stopped me with a single roar."

  Iyak gave her a slow look.

  "You fought a world-ending dragon, lost, and you're still walking around with that smug face? Honestly, that's more terrifying than the dragon."

  But Aurelia wasn’t joking anymore. She gripped her sword tighter, the leather creaking beneath her fingers.

  "Whoever this man is... he's tampering with the foundation of life. If the Red Dragon has been captured, that balance is broken. I can't let this go on."

  Iyak waved his hand.

  "Okay, cool speech. But do you even know where this guy is? I mean, he clearly has a thing for dragons and hoods. Should we just knock on every evil lair in the world?"

  "I’ll find him." Aurelia’s eyes burned with determination. "Even if I have to tear this world apart, I will find him. He’s not just threatening monsters. He’s endangering everyone—including you."

  Iyak leaned back, hands behind his head.

  "Whoa, whoa. Leave me out of your melodrama. I’m just a handsome traveler, not a chosen hero."

  Aurelia gave him a death glare, then turned without a word and stormed off.

  Iyak watched her disappear between the trees.

  "And there she goes... the mighty hero, walking dramatically... in the wrong direction. The exit’s to the right, genius."

  He shook his head, sighed, then sat beside Lioris. The forest, once soaked in darkness, began to glow with golden light as dawn broke through the trees.

  Lioris looked at him, teary-eyed but smiling slightly.

  "She really is intense."

  Iyak smirked.

  "Yeah. And completely insane. But hey... at least she’s our side."