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At that moment, a creature, monstrous and man-shaped, emerged from the shadows and began to approach her."Finally, the doors have been opened," it growled, its voice a low rumble. "Withdraw!" Cira commanded, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her. But the creature ignored her, bellowing at the top of its lungs, as if it wanted those on the other side to hear. "Come forth, brothers and sisters! The gates to the new world are finally open!" Cira raised her sword, pointing it at the creature. "What do you think is happening here?" "Welcome, my brothers and sisters. This is something a chimera like you wouldn't understand," it sneered. "I'm merely opening the doors of Hades!You're nothing but a fool," Cira retorted, attempting to strike at its neck, but her blade met only resistance against its hardened skin. In that moment, Cira felt utterly powerless. The magic that had fueled her was drained, consumed by the very act of opening those doors. The creature sensed her weakness and seized the opportunity to attack, its grip tightening around her throat. Cira struggled to absorb the energy from the monster, but it was futile. It laughed, a cruel sound that echoed in the darkness. "You can't do it.I'm not like the low-level monsters you've been dealing with until now. You're connected to the wires, but it's over for you. You're just a pathetic human I could crush with a mere flick of my wrist." Cira glanced at Liona, searching for help, but Liona stood frozen, paralyzed by the horror of the scene unfolding before her. The creature was intent on killing Cira, and Liona felt a dark thrill at the thought of witnessing such a brutal end. Cira tried to command the monsters surrounding her, but she was utterly spent, devoid of magic."I have to admit, you did well, sister," the creature taunted. "But by consuming Angel's blood, your essence has begun to fade. You are not one of us, and soon you will be freed from this mortal body." "You are a curse," Cira whispered, her voice barely audible. "Father is ready to see you. I don't want to see you so pathetic. Just give in and die." In that moment, as darkness threatened to swallow her whole, Cira felt her spirit abandon her body. She had regained control, but her strength was gone; she couldn't even lift a finger. This was to be her end.She closed her eyes, resigned to her fate, when suddenly, a roar pierced the silence-a dragon's roar. Cira searched for her dragon, but everything around her had faded into darkness. Just as she felt herself slipping into unconsciousness, a powerful force sliced through the air, striking the creature poised to kill her. Cira gasped, her breath returning as her dragon swooped in, positioning itself protectively between her and the monster. The trees around them were tall and thick, making it impossible for Cira to fly to safety.The dragon unleashed a torrent of fire, forcing the creature to retreat. With a mighty flap of its wings, the dragon lifted Cira, carrying her high above the ground. The creature lunged, but its attacks fell short, unable to reach them. Cira watched helplessly as the ground below disappeared, her strength waning. The dragon, sensing her need for assistance, soared toward the human camp nestled near the Vaizel mountains. As alarms blared throughout the camp, the soldiers prepared for battle, eyes fixed on the massive dragon approaching.Enzo stood at the forefront of his army, waiting for the right moment to strike. He noticed the dragon clutching something in its claws, but the darkness obscured his view. When he finally commanded his troops to attack, the dragon did not retaliate. Instead, it shielded whatever it held tightly, falling to the ground under the weight of the onslaught. As the dragon crashed to the earth, Enzo caught a glimpse of what it was protecting-a woman with red hair. "Stop the fire!" he ordered, his voice firm. Elisha, at his side, looked at him in confusion. "What are you doing?We've taken down the dragon! Why halt the attack?" "The dragon wasn't attacking us. It was defending something," Enzo replied, his gaze fixed on the fallen creature. "That woman-she must be my sister." "Even more reason to continue the assault! Your sister is the enemy! Have you forgotten?" "I haven't forgotten, but if she hadn't come to our aid, we wouldn't have been able to take down this dragon. You need to understand something before we continue this fight." "Are you aware of what you're asking me?" Elisha shot back, incredulous. "I am fully aware.If that dragon rises again, regardless of my presence, and you order an attack, you will bear the responsibility for that decision." Enzo kicked his horse forward, heading toward the fallen dragon. As he approached, he saw the creature shielding his sister with its massive wings, as if it were a mother hen protecting her chick. He raised his hands, calling out, "Dragon! I'm not here to harm you. Show me what you protect." The dragon inhaled deeply, as if trying to discern who lay beneath its wings.It must have recognized a familiar scent, for it ceased its growling and unfurled its wings, revealing Cira, unconscious and vulnerable. Enzo felt a surge of urgency. Something had changed within her; he could sense it. He moved closer, kneeling beside her. "I need to help my sister. Will you allow me to approach her?" he asked the dragon. To his relief, the dragon did not resist as he neared Cira, inspecting her condition. Elisha, watching from a distance, was astonished to see the dragon's protective stance. "What are you doing?" she called out, concern etched on her face.noveldrama"She's alive, but her pulse is weak," Enzo replied, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him. "We need a healer." Hans, who had been nearby, rushed to Enzo's side. "What happened?" "The dragon didn't attack us. It came seeking help for Cira," Enzo explained, gently cradling his sister in his arms. "Get a healer, now!" Hans urged, his eyes wide with concern. Elisha stepped forward, her expression a mix of disbelief and anger. "Have you lost your mind? Why would you betray the camp? She is the enemy!" "She is my sister," Enzo replied firmly."The dark power that enveloped her seems to have dissipated. I don't believe she is under the influence of darkness right now." "And how can you be so sure? What if she's pretending to be weak?" "Can't you see? She's unconscious! She poses no threat at this moment." "But what happens when she wakes up? How can we trust that she won't attack us?" "It's not easy, but I ask you to trust me. I'm letting go of my feelings, even if she doesn't represent a danger right now." "Your decision could cost the lives of thousands," Elisha warned."I hope you don't regret this." With that, Elisha turned and left, returning to her army, keeping a watchful eye on the dragon and the mountains of Vaizel, which loomed ominously in the distance. Enzo looked down at Cira, her face pale and cold. He wrapped her in a blanket, though he secretly wished it were for himself. "I hope I'm not mistaken," he murmured. He could feel the darkness surrounding them, but he trusted his instincts. Hans returned with a healer, who quickly assessed Cira's condition. "What's wrong with her?" Enzo asked, anxiety creeping into his voice."She has lost all her power. She is completely drained," the healer replied. Relief washed over Enzo at the news. As long as Cira remained powerless, they were safe from her potential threat. Hans held Cira's hand, feeling the chill that had settled in her body. "Is she very serious?" he asked, concern etched on his features. "If she doesn't regain her strength, there are cases where the power cannot regenerate, and the user dies," the healer warned. Enzo's heart sank at the thought of losing her. "You need to do something to help her.Save her!" "I will do everything in my power, but I hope it's not too late," the healer promised. Hans gently squeezed Cira's hand, urging her to fight. "Don't die, Cira. You must wake up. Come back to me. Don't give up." Enzo knew he couldn't remain idle any longer. "I have to return to the front lines. Let me know when Cira wakes up. Even without her magic, we cannot be sure this isn't a strategy to destroy us." Hans remained by Cira's side, the coldness of her body a stark reminder of the danger they faced. "I doubt she is lying," he said quietly. "Perhaps, but this is war, Hans.Cira is the enemy. We must remain vigilant. Remember, many lives depend on our decisions." Liona, watching from the shadows, was furious that the dragon had allowed Cira to escape. She dared not show her displeasure, standing silently as events unfolded. Dagon hovered near the doors of Hades, growing increasingly impatient. "What's taking so long?" he muttered. Liona approached him cautiously. "What's going on?" "Can't you see?" Dagon snapped, frustration evident in his voice. "I don't see anything," Liona replied, peering into the darkness beyond the doors. "Nothing can be seen.The kingdom of Hades is shrouded in darkness." Dagon shifted uncomfortably. "What do you want me to do?" "If I've done the ritual correctly, why can't I see anything?" "You should have waited for her to finish," Dagon retorted. "I can't decipher what's written in these columns. What do they say?" "I don't know either. It was her translation; don't ask me what those inscriptions mean." "Damn it! I need that girl back. She must come to help us." "The dragon is with her. Where could she possibly be?" "She's here, but I don't think she's nearby." "There's a human army near the mountains.If she emerges, she'll be killed." "I'll send an army with you. As soon as you see her, take her down and eliminate that dragon that helped her escape." "Where do I even start searching?" Liona asked, exasperated. "Dragons have great strength and power. If you track her down, you'll find her." "Then you'll leave me to it?" Liona asked, her determination hardening. Dagon ordered the monsters surrounding them to gather, instructing Liona to mount one that resembled a horse. "Do as I asked." "Just know that if you do, you'll prove your worth. I'd hate to see you get rid of me." "No, you won't.I assure you," Liona replied, her resolve unwavering. She rode one of the monsters, knowing it could sense the presence of other creatures, including dragons. These monsters had been revived with dark power, resembling true beasts, so controlling them shouldn't be difficult. She was determined to find Cira before Dagon unleashed his wrath upon her. When the earth shook, Leriana ordered Fay to head to the human kingdom immediately. As she finalized her preparations, Cassiel approached her. "I have to stay. Do you understand?" "Yes, I do," Leriana replied."If I can't force you to fight, I can at least ask for your help..." "I don't think I'll step onto the battlefield, but I'll assist you wherever I can. Just don't make me fight against the dark king again." Cassiel embraced Leriana, knowing the toll it had taken on her when she faced the dark king. "I won't," Leriana promised. "Be careful. This time, don't die." "I won't.I promise I'll return to you." "Find the nearest entrance to the Shur Desert so you can get there as soon as possible." "Thank you." Cassiel left behind a necklace he had worn, something Leriana had given him long ago, a treasure he had kept close to his heart. "I give you this as a guarantee that you will return." "I'm surprised you still have it." "To me, it's a treasure, which is why it was kept safe in the guardians' room. I didn't want to lose it. This will be the guarantee of your return." "If I don't see it, it will be destroyed." Cassiel knew Leriana spoke the truth; she couldn't lie."Please give me time. Don't destroy it, and don't run away." "That's something I can't promise." "I wish you could lie." Fay appeared, interrupting their farewell. "Your Majesty, I'm sorry to interrupt, but I come to inform you that we are ready to go." "We must depart. There's no point in delaying any longer. Open the door." Everyone gathered in the garden, where the army awaited to march to the kingdom of Xurt. Tarik stood beside his mother, ready to bid farewell. "I'm glad to see you've come to send off the army," he said."You belong here as the hereditary prince." Leriana smiled, walking slowly as she offered words of encouragement to her soldiers before opening a portal that led to the kingdom of Xurt. "Good luck on your journey, my faithful friends. May the winds guide you, and may you return safely." With her words, the soldiers crossed the portal. Cassiel followed, casting one last glance at Leriana, wishing he could return soon. Kiara approached her mother's workshop, hesitating before asking, "Is it possible to pass?" "Of course, come in," Enora replied.Enora had been speaking with Dantriel when Kiara entered. Upon seeing her, Dantriel bowed respectfully. "Good morning, Princess Kiara." "Good morning, Dantriel. Could you give us a moment alone?" Dantriel glanced at Enora, seeking her approval. "Make sure everything is ready for us to leave. I'll be with you shortly." "Yes, Your Majesty." Dantriel exited the workshop, and Kiara turned to her mother. "Are you saying that Dantriel can't hear us?" Enora noticed her daughter's armor, realizing she was preparing to lead her army. "Will you truly lead your own army?Would you send me away?" "What mother would send her only daughter to war?" Enora replied gently. "I would. I'm more prepared to fight these monsters than you think." "Though I am the queen, I am also a warrior, and one far more experienced than you. I don't want to risk your life against these creatures." "But..." "Don't expose yourself to danger if it can be avoided. If you fall, it will be here, so don't insist any further, Kiara. This is my final word." Kiara had hoped to return, but she hadn't imagined her mother would lead the army herself.If she had known, she wouldn't have come back, fearing she might never see her mother again. Enora saw the anxiety in her daughter's eyes, sensing there was something more she needed to say but struggling to find the words. "What's wrong, Kiara? Do you have something else to say?" "Please take care of my friends in the human kingdom." "I will, but first, I must ensure you're safe." "The king of Cosset and his brother, along with the wizard Sirius and Barto, the fairy informant." Though she had never met him, Enora knew of Barto, as Ethan often spoke of him."If that's the case, your information has always been invaluable to us. We must ensure the safety of everyone you've mentioned." "Thank you, Mother." Enora embraced Kiara, her heart heavy. "Take care, my little girl. I'll see you soon." As Enora turned to leave, Kiara called out, "Mama! Wait!" "What is it?" Enora asked, turning back."How easy is it to reach the Xurt Desert?" "You described the place well enough that I believe I can create a portal to take us there." "Do you want me to help you create it?" "There's no need, but you can come and ensure it's done correctly." Kiara followed her mother to the training camp, where the soldiers were gathered. She noticed Ethan leading a squadron. "I thought you wouldn't want to leave the kingdom again." "Taking it to the battlefield doesn't seem like the best punishment," he replied."I suppose so." Enora began to create the portal, and Kiara fell silent, not wanting to distract her. When it was finished, Kiara was astonished; they should have been at the Vaizel mountains, but all that lay before them was a swirling cloud of darkness. Enora, noticing Kiara's reaction, said, "I believe this is the correct place." "Mother," Kiara said, her voice trembling, "let me go with you. Let me fight by your side." "No, I'm leaving to protect you. You must safeguard the kingdom and our people." Enora hugged her one last time. "Remember, if I fall, you will be the queen."