The Dragon's Shield

The Wolf King casually played with a sword as he negotiated with Lynaria.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Of course. Hand over the sword, and you can leave," Lynaria replied confidently.

"Very well, take it if you can withstand its power," the Wolf King smirked.

Without hesitation, Lynaria threw her sword toward him. With surprising agility, he caught it—only to immediately feel an overwhelming pain. He fell to his knees, pleading for help, but it was too late. The sword drained his life force, leaving nothing but a faint gust of wind where he once stood.

With the Wolf King's death, the wolf forces quickly fled the battlefield. Victory belonged to Lynaria's army. Afterward, they returned to the Dragon Palace. Ares, hearing the news, rushed to meet Lynaria at the gates. But Lynaria passed him without a word, her mind set on finding Kaelron.

Once inside the palace, Lynaria and her commanders reported the battle's outcome to Kaelron. He nodded in approval, then ordered them to rest. As Lynaria turned to leave, he called out to her.

"Stay. There's something I need to discuss."

She obeyed, returning to her place in front of him. Kaelron's expression grew serious.

"Tomorrow, we're going to the human world. Come with me. There's something I want to show you."

"Yes, my lord," Lynaria responded, her tone respectful but her thoughts guarded.

"Rest now. I'm satisfied with your work," Kaelron said with a rare hint of approval.

Lynaria gave a small nod and left the room, her thoughts racing.

"Shouldn't I just follow his orders? But why does he seem displeased with me? I don't understand…" She tried to push the thoughts aside, focusing instead on her duties, her usual stoic expression in place.

The next morning, Kaelron instructed Lynaria to leave her sword behind as they prepared to leave the palace before dawn. She tried to explain to Glosbe, who insisted on coming along, that today would be different. After some resistance, the lion finally agreed to follow her orders.

Kaelron and Lynaria made their way to a secluded hill, one that no one had visited before. As the sun began to rise, they sat side by side, watching the breathtaking view. Kaelron, usually so stern, seemed uncharacteristically gentle, treating Lynaria with unexpected kindness. She found his behavior strangely unsettling.

"Are you cold? Lean on me, I can keep you warm," Kaelron offered, his tone softer than usual.

Lynaria hesitated, uncomfortable with the closeness. "I'm fine," she replied, but Kaelron's commanding tone left her little choice. She leaned against him reluctantly.

"I want to see the real you—the side that isn't just the strong woman who hides her fragility," Kaelron murmured, his gaze intense.

In that moment, Lynaria felt a flicker of uncertainty. She didn't know that Kaelron had been thinking about her more than she realized. The sunrise was mesmerizing, and for a brief moment, she couldn't help but smile, the beauty of the moment catching her off guard. Kaelron noticed, his eyes softening.

"Your smile... it's beautiful," he said, his words sincere.

Lynaria blushed, feeling an unexpected warmth spread through her. The compliment made her smile even more.

After a brief silence, Kaelron's tone shifted back to business. "Today, the prince of the Wolf Kingdom will cause a stir in the human world. He's angry because you killed his father."

"But I'm not carrying the Dragon Sword," Lynaria pointed out.

"I don't need you to fight. I just need you to blend in as an ordinary human and protect the innocent quietly," Kaelron explained, his voice calm but firm.

"But won't they recognize me?"

"They won't if you leave your sword behind."

Lynaria nodded, understanding her mission. "I'll do as you command, my lord."

As they prepared to leave, Ares suddenly appeared, and Kaelron instructed him to accompany Lynaria.

Ares grinned, eager for the task. "It seems fate has brought us together again, General. This time, you're mine."

"Don't use that title here, Advisor. You'll ruin our plan if you do," Lynaria snapped, clearly irritated.

"Alright, alright, I'll call you something more... appropriate," Ares chuckled, teasing her.

Lynaria ignored his playful remarks and focused on the task at hand. They soon arrived at a bustling market—an unusual one where not only humans, but many supernatural beings gathered.

"I don't get it. Why do they come here? Don't they have markets in their world?" Lynaria mused.

"You don't know? This place isn't just a regular market. Let me show you," Ares said with a mischievous grin.

He led her through a narrow, trash-strewn alley to a seemingly dead-end wall. Without hesitation, Ares pulled out a token and pressed it against the wall. To Lynaria's astonishment, the wall slid open, revealing a hidden portal.

Ares grinned. "This is where things get interesting."

They stepped through the portal into a nightclub, far more than what Lynaria had expected.

"So, the alley was just a cover for this?" Lynaria asked, her eyes wide.

"Don't forget about the market," Ares replied, his tone serious now. "This is where they'll meet. We need to be cautious."

"They? I thought it was just the Wolf Prince causing trouble," Lynaria remarked, still trying to make sense of everything.

"No, the Wolf Prince is working with other supernatural kingdoms. They're planning against the Dragon Kingdom," Ares explained gravely.

Lynaria's eyes narrowed. "It sounds like the Wolf Prince is far more dangerous than his father."

Just then, a group of people passed by, and Ares pointed to the handsome man leading them.

"That's the Wolf Prince," he said, noting Lynaria's surprised expression.

"Sun?" she whispered under her breath.

"You know him?" Ares asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No," Lynaria replied quickly, though the shock in her voice was hard to hide.

Ares frowned, but before he could press further, another group entered the nightclub, this time led by a beautiful woman. Ares turned to Lynaria.

"They're from the underwater kingdom," he said, his voice tinged with bitterness.

"Is she the mermaid queen?" Lynaria asked.

"Yes. Kaelron rejected her proposal, and now they're our enemies," Ares replied.

"Wait—he turned down a queen? Why?" Lynaria was baffled. "She's stunning."

"I don't know his reasons, but Kaelron has always been hard to approach, especially by women who take the initiative. If they push too hard, he'll be harsh with them," Ares explained.

Lynaria considered this. "But he's different with me. Am I the first woman he's been close to?"

Ares grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You're lucky. You're the first girl he's allowed into his inner circle. You even get to enter his chamber."

Lynaria shot him a glare. "Our relationship is strictly professional. I'm his guard—nothing more."

Ares chuckled, clearly enjoying the situation. "Sure, sure. Professional, indeed. But don't fool yourself—everyone knows the truth."

Before Lynaria could retort, the tension in the room shifted, and a man watched them from a distance, his eyes focused on Lynaria.

"Are you interested in that girl?" he murmured, a dark smile playing on his lips.