The jungle was cloaked in silence, its ancient trees standing as watchful sentinels under the dim canopy.
Only the soft crunch of footsteps broke the stillness—two sets, no more. Lucas and his new master, Alisha, moved like shadows through the underbrush. There was no sound of wind, no call of birds, no whisper of life—only the rhythmic, unending echo of their journey.
They had been walking for what felt like hours, maybe more. Time had lost meaning. The path twisted and turned, but Alisha never faltered. Lucas followed, his thoughts growing louder with every step.
The silence between them was thick—almost unnatural.
At last, his patience cracked.
"Master Alisha," he said, his voice cutting through the quiet like a blade,
"why are you so silent?"
Alisha didn't stop. Her voice came, calm as still water, but with an edge beneath.
"And what do you mean by that—'silent'?"
Lucas hesitated, suddenly unsure of himself.
"I-I didn't mean it like that. It's just… we've been walking together for so long, and you haven't said a single word."
Alisha turned her head slightly, just enough for Lucas to see one glowing eye glance back at him.
"Ah," she said.
"So that is what you meant." A small smile touched her lips—cool, knowing.
"You never asked me to speak. Why should I offer words uninvited?"
Lucas's mouth opened, then closed. His expression twisted—not in anger, but disbelief. It was written plainly on his face: he had not expected such a cold, cryptic response.
In that moment, he realized something chilling—Alisha might be his master, but she was also a dragon. And dragons did not speak unless they chose to.
Lucas lowered his voice, speaking with a newfound gentleness.
"Master Alisha… you're a dragon, right? That means… you must live for thousands of years. I've heard stories—legends—that dragons can survive for centuries, even millennia."
Alisha turned her head sharply, her eyes narrowing like twin blades of fire.
"Are you calling me old, Lucas?" she snapped, her voice laced with icy indignation.
"Do I look ancient to you?"
Lucas stumbled over his words, hands raised in panic.
"N-no! That's not what I meant! I just meant—uh—how old are you exactly?"
Alisha crossed her arms, the wind catching her silver cloak as it fluttered behind her like dragon wings.
"I'm still in the prime of my youth," she said coolly. "And for your information, it is never a man's place to ask a woman her age."
The rebuke struck Lucas like a slap. He bit his lip and fell silent, guilt gnawing at him.
But before the silence could stretch too long, Alisha glanced over her shoulder, her voice softening just a touch.
"I'm not that old," she said. "Merely four hundred years older than you."
Lucas blinked, then let out an involuntary chuckle.
Alisha whipped around, her eyes flashing with rage.
"What, exactly, do you find so amusing?"
Lucas couldn't help it—the idea tickled something inside him.
"It's just… you're calling yourself young even though you're four hundred years old."
In an instant, the air grew heavy. Alisha's pupils narrowed to slits, her voice a growl that rumbled like distant thunder.
"If one more word escapes your lips, I swear I will roast you on the spot and eat you without salt."
Lucas froze, his smile vanishing. Her eyes glowed like burning coals, and the menace in her expression sent a chill down his spine.
Without another word, he fell into step behind her, silently vowing never to ask a dragon her age again.
As they walked for a while in silence, Lucas glanced at the map in his hand and noticed a river route nearby. He looked up eagerly.
"Master Alisha," he said, "there's a river close by. Can we stop there for a little while?"
Alisha didn't respond with words—she simply nodded her head. That was enough. Lucas understood her silence as a yes.
Following the map closely, he led the way, eventually reaching the river. The moment Lucas laid eyes on it, he was captivated. The water sparkled under the sunlight, clear as crystal and peaceful in its flow.
He knelt beside the bank, cupped his hands, and took a sip. As the cool water touched his lips, he exclaimed,
"This water is so pure!"
Delighted, he pulled out a bottle from his bag and began filling it eagerly. Once it was full, he turned to Alisha, a big smile on his face.
"Master Alisha, look! You should drink some too!"
But just as Lucas turned, something enormous stirred in the water behind him.
Rising silently from the river was a monstrous creature—its massive form easily fifty times the size of a serpent, with shimmering blue scales and fangs like daggers. It looked almost clean and ethereal, but its size was terrifying enough to swallow fifty children like Lucas in one bite.
Alisha's eyes widened in alarm.
"Lucas!" she shouted. "Move! Now!"
Lucas didn't understand—until he heard a low growl and the sound of rushing water. The beast lunged.
Before Lucas could react, it struck. In that split second, the creature was about to devour him—
But Alisha raised her hand.
"Fire Creation!" she commanded.
The air trembled.
Mana particles—shimmering, golden, ethereal—began to swirl around her, drawn like moths to flame. They clustered around her, pulsing with energy.
Then she shouted, "Hell's Fire Summoning!"
A blazing inferno erupted from her palm, surging forward like a tidal wave of flame. It slammed into the beast, piercing through water and scale alike.
With a deafening roar, the creature split apart midair, burning and crashing back into the river in a plume of steam and smoke.
Lucas stared, stunned, unable to speak. He could barely process what had just happened.
Alisha turned to him calmly. "Lucas, are you hurt?"
He didn't reply at first—still trapped in shock. Minutes passed before he could even blink. When he finally came to his senses, he looked at the half-burned remains of the creature and asked quietly,
"W-what… what kind of creature was that?"
Alisha stepped forward, her voice steady.
"You really don't know? That was a Water Serpent. They live deep in rivers and lakes, and wherever they dwell, the water becomes crystal clear."
Lucas looked back at the river, realization dawning.
"So… that's why the water was so clean…"
Alisha nodded. "Exactly."
Then Lucas turned to her, his curiosity now burning as brightly as her flames.
"But Master Alisha, that magic you used… what was that? It felt like you were commanding the mana itself… and the fire—the hellfire—it was incredible!"
His eyes sparkled, full of wonder and admiration. The expression on his face was unmistakable—he was completely enchanted by what he had just witnessed.
Alisha smiled slightly at his enthusiasm.
"What's the hurry?" she said. "I'll teach you… slowly."
At her words, something lit up in Lucas's eyes. It wasn't just excitement—it was the gleam of a dream long held. The look of a child who had always loved magic… who had always wanted to grow strong—not for glory, but simply to protect the people he cared about.
Soon, the two of them were back on the road, walking quietly through the fading light. As dusk settled into darkness, the stars began to appear above them like silent watchers in the night sky.
Eventually, Alisha spoke. "Lucas, get some rest. I'll keep watch tonight."
Lucas shook his head.
"No, Master. You should sleep. I haven't done anything all day. You're the one who fought that water serpent and saved me. Let me handle this."
Alisha glanced at him, her eyes softening for just a moment. But then, in her usual firm tone, she said,
"Just be quiet and go to sleep."
Lucas, understanding the finality in her voice, gave a small smile and lay down. Within minutes, he was fast asleep, his breathing calm and peaceful.
Time passed. Lucas remained in deep slumber, but Alisha stayed awake, her golden eyes scanning the darkness.
What am I even doing with this child? she wondered silently. Why am I wasting my time? Don't I have more important things to do?
But then… something came back to her. A memory. One she had buried long ago, one she could never forget. It flashed through her mind like a spark in dry grass. She shook her head slightly and whispered to herself,
"Forget it. Let it go."
Yet, as she turned her gaze toward Lucas—sleeping soundly, without fear or burden—something stirred in her heart.
This boy… for someone his age, to endure so much isn't easy, she thought. But just by looking at his face, I can tell—he's been through pain. Deep pain. And he's not just traveling to Emberfall City… there's more to his journey than he realizes.
Suddenly, Lucas mumbled something in his sleep. The words were too soft to understand, but Alisha tilted her head, curious.
He's dreaming, she realized.
There was something in his expression—so vulnerable, so open—that made her want to know what he was seeing behind those closed eyes. Quietly, she reached out and placed both hands gently on his forehead. Then she closed her own eyes and whispered a single word in her mind:
"Dream catcher."
Instantly, images began to form in her mind—hazy and fragmented at first, but slowly sharpening. She saw Lucas sitting peacefully at a table. Beside him was a girl—Luna. And sitting across from them, an elderly man… their grandpa. All three were laughing, eating together, their faces glowing with happiness. The scene was warm, almost too perfect—like a memory frozen in time.
But then… something shifted.
A pulse of red light appeared—faint at first, then growing. Alisha turned within the dream, her eyes narrowing. A crimson energy surged toward her, sudden and violent. Before she could react, it struck her—raw, hot, and overwhelming.
She gasped and broke the connection, her eyes flying open as she stumbled backward.
Breathing heavily, she whispered, "There's something… wrong with this child."
Her heart pounded.
"There's something inside him… something powerful. Stronger even than me."