Dragon Queen and Dragon Slayer

"Have the Sea Dragon Clan lived here for generations?", Rossweise asked.

"Yes. To adapt to the underwater environment, our dragon form gradually evolved into what it is today."

Claudia's voice was transmitted into the bubble via magical ripples.

Leon's thoughts stirred slightly, and he opened his mouth to ask, "Claudia, you know my master, don't you?"

From Claudia's earlier behavior, and from the two magic books his master had taken out before, they must have known each other. Otherwise, Claudia wouldn't have agreed to save Master so readily.

To Leon's question, Claudia was silent for a few seconds before finally replying, "You could say I know him."

"Then you two are—"

"Don't ask too much. Someone else will explain everything to you later."

Leon was taken aback, "Someone else?"

Could it be that, other than Claudia, someone else in the Sea Dragon Clan also knew him or Tiger?

With that doubt in mind, Leon and the others arrived at the deepest part of the seabed.

"Welcome to the palace of the Sea Dragon Clan—Atlantis."

After passing through endless underwater reefs and deep-sea trenches, they suddenly emerged into a secluded paradise, isolated from the world.

Atlantis.

Claudia transformed back into her human form. With a light wave of her hand, the magical bubble surrounding them disappeared.

Rebecca hurriedly covered her nose and mouth, mumbling, "Not good! Captain, the blue-haired auntie wants to suffocate us!"

"You weren't crushed into meat paste by the underwater pressure, and you're worried about breathing now?"

"Eh?"

Rebecca tried lowering her hands and took a breath, "I can... actually breathe normally?"

"The Sea Dragon Clan is, after all, a branch of the Dragon Race. We can't truly breathe underwater freely, so around the outer area of the Atlantis Palace, there's a barrier filled with enough oxygen for us to breathe," Claudia explained.

"I see...", Rebecca nodded as if she half-understood.

Rossweise looked up at the barrier above and roughly gauged the distance from the sea surface, then sighed inwardly, "This really is a great place to retreat from the world."

"Come, everyone, let's hurry and save him."

Leon responded and quickly carried his master, following Claudia at a fast pace.

"Cough cough... boy, d-did we make it...", Tiger asked weakly.

"We made it, Master. We've arrived at the Sea Dragon Clan. You're going to be okay soon."

"Ah... as long as we've arrived, as long as we've arrived."

Hearing his master say that, Leon felt something slightly off.

Master didn't seem to care about whether someone could save him, what he cared about more was... whether he could really reach the Sea Dragon Clan.

It was like this destination was his only goal, not saving his life.

But Leon didn't have time to think about it. Regardless of his master's intentions, he had to save the old man.

Claudia led them around the palace to a hidden chamber in the back.

Inside the chamber was a bed made of frozen ice. Claudia pointed to it, "Put Tiger on it."

Leon followed instructions, then asked, "Is this made from some magical material?"

"Abyssal Black Ice, used for life extension," Claudia explained concisely.

After Tiger was laid flat, he began coughing blood. Bright red blood flowed onto the ice bed.

Claudia immediately started a more detailed examination.

"Leon, and that human girl. Go to that shelf and bring me two boxes. One is labeled 'Nether Lotus Grass' and the other 'Frostbone Powder.'"

The two obeyed immediately and quickly returned with the items Claudia needed.

"Nether Lotus Grass... Frostbone Powder... and Abyssal Black Ice... Your Sea Dragon Clan really is deep-rooted. Ordinary dragons probably haven't even heard of these things," Rossweise praised.

"One of the perks of living on the ocean floor, you can find all kinds of rare treasures from ten thousand years ago."

The Nether Lotus Grass and Frostbone Powder were applied in tandem, channeling a set amount of magical energy into Tiger's magical circuit to ensure he could properly absorb the medicinal effects of these rare herbs.

Claudia's brows were tightly furrowed; she didn't dare be the slightest bit careless.

Even the smallest mistake would directly cause irreversible consequences.

Leon and the others didn't speak further, allowing Claudia to concentrate on the treatment.

At that moment, both Leon and Rebecca's hearts were in their throats.

If Tiger died just like this, it would be an unbearable blow to both of them.

Leon, needless to say, was raised by his master since childhood, everything he had now was thanks to him.

Rebecca's parents had died young too. It was thanks to Tiger's repeated support that she managed to graduate from the Dragon Slayer Academy. Every "Dad" she called him was heartfelt, like calling a real family member.

He absolutely couldn't collapse here, on the cusp of dawn.

After the round of treatment ended, Claudia leaned against the edge of the ice bed, exhausted, sweat dripping from her forehead.

But Tiger showed no reaction.

"Senior, how... how is my master?", Leon asked urgently.

Claudia slowly stood up, paused for a moment, then shook her head.

"His heart is damaged beyond repair. Even a miracle healing herb like Nether Lotus Grass can't extend his life."

Like a thunderclap on a clear day, Leon was stunned on the spot.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but it was as if something blocked his throat, no sound came out.

He knew what that thing was... it was a mixture of despair and sorrow.

Rossweise gently walked to his side and tightly held his hand.

She could clearly feel that this hand, one that had slain countless enemies and endured countless storms, was trembling uncontrollably.

"No... it can't be, my master wouldn't just—"

"Leon."

Before his emotions completely broke down, Claudia spoke, "Tiger knows better than any of us that his injuries can't be healed. He came here not to seek survival."

"Then why did my master still insist on coming to the Sea Dragon Clan? If there's no way to save him here, why did he come?"

"Because—"

Before she could explain, a commotion came from the chamber entrance.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, you can't go in. Her Highness Claudia gave orders, we—"

"Let me in! Sister, he came to find me, right? I know he came to find me! Let me in!"

"Your Highness, Princess Charlotte!"

'Charlotte...'

'That name—'

Leon looked toward the chamber door. That familiar figure was trying to rush in, ignoring the guards' obstruction.

He stared in disbelief and muttered,

"Mistress..."

———

Charlotte burst into the chamber, her face full of anxiety.

Leon and Rebecca immediately stepped forward to meet her.

"Mistress? Why are you here?", Leon asked blankly.

Rebecca held her head with both hands, her big eyes starting to spin, "I'm totally confused. First, Dad wanted to come to the Sea Dragon Clan, and now Aunt Charlotte suddenly shows up. I feel like I'm missing a chunk of memory."

Charlotte looked at Leon, whom she hadn't seen in years. Her anxious heart was also filled with some comfort.

But now was not the time for reminiscing.

Charlotte didn't have time to explain much to Leon and Rebecca. She quickly walked over to the ice bed.

When she saw the dying Tiger lying on it, her whole body seemed drained, her legs went weak, and she nearly collapsed to the floor.

It was Claudia who supported her from behind.

Charlotte stared in disbelief at the elderly man before her. Her trembling fingers reached out and gently touched Tiger's weathered cheek.

His body heat was slowly fading, and his breathing, heartbeat, and pulse were barely detectable.

Charlotte's lips trembled uncontrollably, and tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.

"Tiger... I'm here, Tiger... can you open your eyes and look at me?"

Her tearful voice was heart-wrenching.

As if hearing Charlotte's voice, Tiger slowly opened his eyes.

But near the end of life, his eyelids felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

Still, he summoned all his strength to try and clearly see the person in front of him.

His wife, Charlotte.

On that pale, weary face, a smile finally appeared. He called her nickname in a faint voice, "Charlotte... you finally came."

Tiger tried to raise his hand to touch the side of his beloved's face.

But the speed at which life was leaving him was too fast. Even breathing was difficult now, how could he have the strength to raise his hand?

But Charlotte gently lifted Tiger's hand and pressed his palm tightly against her face.

"I'm here, Tiger. You can feel me, right?"

The moment his hand touched her cheek, Tiger felt the warmth of her tears.

"You're crying... Charlotte, don't cry... You won't look pretty if you cry... cough cough—cough cough—"

Tiger couldn't even finish his words before coughing up several mouthfuls of blood.

With his heart shattered beyond repair, Tiger was now hanging on by just a breath, sustained only by healing magic and Claudia's rescue.

Once the magic and medicine wore off—

"Why is my Mistress... here?", Leon walked over to Claudia and asked in a low voice.

"Your master must have told you before, when you all decided to rebel against the Empire, he sent Charlotte to a safe place."

Claudia said, "That 'safe place' referred to here."

Leon's memory flashed back, his master had indeed said that before.

But...

"My master said she went back to her family... so the Sea Dragon Clan is—"

Halfway through the sentence, Leon was startled by his own guess.

Claudia slowly looked at him and said aloud the answer in his heart, "That's right. Just like you, Tiger married a dragon as his wife."

"H-how—"

He was momentarily at a loss for words.

The amount of information wasn't much, but it was enough to shake him.

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