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She had not been able to protect them.Tarik approached her when he noticed her lying still, staring at the corpses gathered in a single place. He knelt beside her and asked gently, "Are you okay?" "It doesn't seem like it," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was just thinking how much worse it could get once the battle truly begins," he said, trying to offer comfort. Nearby, Fay listened as Lissana spoke. "In war, there are always deaths. Even if you had been here when the battle started, you couldn't have saved everyone.Wars bring destruction, and if this is too much for you to bear, you should return to the land of the fairies. This is just the beginning of a great war. If you falter, there will be more deaths than you can save, more pain than you can endure." Fay's words were harsh, but she only wanted Lissana to understand that what lay ahead would not be any easier. Lissana clenched her fists, determination igniting within her. "In the end, I decided to fight, and I will save as many as I can.If I can save even one life that was thought destined to die, then I will have succeeded." Tarik watched her, noting how young she still was. Yet, her words and actions carried a maturity beyond her years. "There are those who grew up in the land of the fairies. This is your true home. I'm glad to see you haven't forgotten." Lissana understood the deeper meaning behind Fay's words, having grown up among fairies. Even though Fay had suggested she could return, it felt more like a desire to rid herself of the burden. "You must take charge of the dragon you released," Fay reminded her.In her preoccupation, Lissana had completely forgotten about the dragon. "Where is it?" she asked. "Where you left it. It hasn't moved from that spot," Tarik replied. They hurried back to the place where the dragon lay. It had curled up into a ball, sleeping soundly. The guardians watching over it were terrified. When Lissana tried to approach, they blocked her path. "You can't come near, girl. It's dangerous.The dragon could awaken at any moment and eat you whole, so you should leave and not return." Despite being the hereditary princess of the Kingdom of Cosset, the soldiers did not recognize her and assumed she was just a curious child. "Let her pass," Fay said. "She is the one who tamed this dragon. She is your princess." The soldiers had never seen this princess before, but they still doubted her. "You're lying. Our princess is just a baby. This girl is not our princess; you've deceived us.You are an impostor." Alessandro was flying toward the city when Abril informed him that Lissana had returned and was in the city. He soared above, using wind magic to search for her, and overheard the soldiers denying her identity. He descended near them, and the soldiers bowed as he landed. "She is no impostor. She is my daughter, your hereditary princess. Can't you see that?" The soldiers raised their heads, fear evident in their eyes as they recognized him. "Forgive us, Your Majesty. We did not know this girl was the hereditary princess." "Lissana has been in the land of the fairies.Time flows differently there, so she may seem younger than she is. She has grown so much in such a short time that you cannot deny her identity. She is my only daughter." Although Lissana spoke to her priest through the magical mirror, seeing him in person felt extravagant, especially since she hadn't seen him in so long. He looked pale and tired, yet he remained the same, showing no signs of aging. "Hello, Lissana. Are you well?" he asked. "Hello, Father. I'm fine." "I'm relieved to see you. I was very worried when your mother told me you had to return.noveldramaAs you can see, this hasn't been the best time." Though Alessandro's words were not harsh, Lissana couldn't help but ask, "Are you upset because I disobeyed you and came here?" "No, I'm not upset at all. I'm just concerned for your safety. This night has been madness." "I'm sorry, Papa. I know I did wrong, but I felt I had to return. Something didn't feel right." "It's important that you're safe, but that's not all that matters." Alessandro glanced at the ball where the dragon had curled up and asked, "What happened?" "I freed it from darkness. Now it's good," Lissana replied."Without the darkness, dragons aren't known for being good," he said. "I know, but I can't explain it. I just know it's good." Alessandro understood the incredible and mysterious power Abril possessed, and he trusted her judgment. "It's alright. I believe you." "Thank you, Papa." Lissana reached out to caress the dragon, and at her touch, it opened its eyes and purred like a cat. "See? You're harmless, like a cat," she said.Fay interjected, "A very large cat that breathes fire, has sharp claws, and is one of the hardest beasts to kill." Lissana thought Fay was exaggerating, especially since she knew that in their land, there were creatures that appeared beautiful but were anything but. "But if it's good, then it won't harm us."