Early the next morning, Leon and Rossweise finished their final preparations. Before their departure, they slipped into their daughters' bedroom for one last, quiet look.
Leon gently pushed the door open to reveal the three sisters, still deep in peaceful slumber.
Noah lay on her back, her expression serene. Muen was curled tightly against her older sister's side, and Aurora, in her sleep, had somehow ended up gently gnawing on the tip of Muen's silvery tail. It was a chaotic yet strangely harmonious tangle of limbs and tranquility.
Leon moved silently to the bedside. He carefully pried Muen's small tail from Aurora's mouth, laying it gently aside.
Aurora murmured indistinctly, and finding her hands empty, instinctively reached out and wrapped her small arms around Leon's wrist instead.
Leon froze, a wave of profound tenderness washing over him, a soft smile gracing his lips.
He carefully loosened her grip, tucking her arms back under the warm blanket, then softly stroked her plump, peaceful cheek. This little ball of endless energy was so quiet and still when she slept.
Turning, he saw Rossweise gently trying to adjust Muen's sleeping posture, attempting to move her limbs so she wasn't completely smothering her older sister.
Yet, even in the depths of sleep, Muen's "sister complex" held strong. Like a determined kitten placing its paw on a prized possession, she immediately clung back to Noah the moment Rossweise let go.
In the end, Rossweise could only chuckle softly and give her daughter's nose an affectionate tweak.
"You little thing, when will you ever learn to let go of your sister?"
"Mmh... big sis... smells nice..." Muen mumbled incoherently, nuzzling even closer into the crook of Noah's neck.
Leon and Rossweise retreated to the doorway, sharing one long, final look at their sleeping daughters.
"Let's go," Leon murmured, his voice low. "The faster we finish this, the sooner we can return to them."
Rossweise's gaze lingered for another heartbeat before she gave a firm nod. "Alright."
With one last glance, they quietly pulled the door shut, the soft click echoing in the silent hallway.
Minutes later, a magnificent silver dragon launched from the courtyard of the Silver Dragon Temple, its powerful wings beating against the dawn sky as it carried them toward their destiny.
Unbeknownst to them, from the balcony attached to the sisters' room, a small figure stood watching. Her silver hair stirred in the morning breeze as her eyes, sharp and perceptive, followed the silver silhouette until it vanished completely over the horizon.
.
.
.
By dusk, they had reached the dense, familiar woods that bordered the Empire's outer walls.
Rossweise dispelled the cloaking magic that had shielded their flight, and the two of them dropped down, concealing themselves among the thick branches of a towering tree.
Leon knew this terrain intimately. These very woods had been the primary training ground for live combat exercises during his time at the Dragon Slayer Academy.
He knew the Empire's patrol routes by heart—some of the posts and schedules were ones he had established himself. Guiding Rossweise through this unseen network would be simple.
Crouched on a sturdy branch, Leon peered through the foliage toward the distant, imposing wall entrance.
"With all the recent military engagements, they've thinned out the patrols in this sector," he observed, a note of tactical assessment in his voice.
"That works to our advantage for slipping through," Rossweise replied.
"So, what is the plan?" she asked, turning to him.
"The standard method. We wait for a merchant caravan to pass through the gate and sneak in by hiding beneath one of their wagons."
It was an old, almost classic trick, but it worked precisely because it was so simple. No matter how many years passed, the Empire's gate guards rarely bothered to check under the carriages.
Rossweise raised a skeptical eyebrow, though she wasn't truly surprised. "Unorthodox. Yet, coming from you, it feels perfectly fitting."
They settled in to wait for a suitable caravan.
Unfortunately, luck was not on their side. As the night deepened, not a single trade caravan had approached the gate.
Leon scratched his head in frustration. "What's going on? Did every merchant in the land decide to boycott the Empire at once?"
"There are many factors that influence trade—seasonal changes, population movements, the frequency of warfare..." Rossweise explained calmly. "As you said, the Empire has been militarily active. They likely have fewer resources to dedicate to processing and protecting foreign trade caravans."
Leon looked at her, impressed. "You never taught me these things about economics and logistics."
Rossweise allowed a sly smirk. "I was afraid you would use the knowledge to start a secret slush fund."
"..."
He couldn't even deny it. Managing "private savings" was a universal challenge for married men.
In truth, it wasn't that Rossweise was unwilling to teach him; the sheer volume of knowledge accumulated over her fifty-year reign was simply immense. She had to introduce concepts gradually, or she risked overloading his "battle-hardened brain."
"So, no caravan. What is our alternative plan?" she asked, steering them back on track.
"We wait for an opportunity to present itself," Leon stated, trying to sound more confident than he felt.
Rossweise saw right through him. "In other words, you do not have a better idea."
"...Look, the Empire isn't some backwater village you can just stroll into."
He had a point. For all its corruption, the Empire's border security was not so incompetent as to let intruders waltz in. Leon's previous successful infiltrations had involved a significant amount of luck, and his initial escape with Tiger and Rebecca had been a bloody, fighting retreat.
Now, without that luck, their only option was patience.
Leon sighed inwardly, hoping for a swift resolution. He turned to say something to Rossweise, only to find she was no longer beside him.
He glanced back and saw her standing upright on a larger part of the tree trunk, her sharp eyes scanning the surrounding forest as if searching for a specific landmark.
"What are you looking for?" he asked, curious.
"Oh, I was just wondering if that tree we were on five years ago is still here."
Leon's curiosity turned to wary suspicion. He moved to join her, gazing out over the sea of nearly identical towering trees.
"I do not see anything distinctive. They all look the same. You are just guessing."
"Am not. I will prove it to you."
With that, Rossweise extended her majestic silver wings and, grabbing Leon, lifted them both to a neighboring, particularly tall and ancient tree. They landed on its highest, thickest bough. Rossweise stomped her foot lightly on the branch, making it creak with a specific, familiar sound.
"Recognize that noise, Leon?" she asked, a triumphant smirk playing on her lips.
"We have a major battle ahead of us. Perhaps we should skip the stroll down 'unpleasant memory lane,'" he grumbled.
He paused, then asked, "And you never did explain how you can possibly recognize this specific tree."
"It is simple."
She took a step forward on the branch and pointed through a break in the canopy.
"This spot offers the clearest, most direct line of sight to the Empire's central plaza. I chose it deliberately back then, to ensure you had an perfect, unobstructed view."
"You certainly went to a lot of trouble, Your Majesty," Leon muttered, the old wound of humiliation prickling.
Just as they were about to descend back into their usual playful bickering, Leon suddenly stiffened. He signaled for Rossweise to be silent, pulling her down into a low crouch. His eyes were sharp and wary as he peered through the leaves toward the ground below.
"What is it?" Rossweise whispered.
"We are currently positioned directly on a Dragon Slayer patrol route."
Leon nodded grimly. "Remember, right after that... moment, we ran into a patrol team? Their squad leader even gave me a signal flare for emergencies."
Rossweise recalled the incident. This tree was indeed within a designated patrol sector.
"Let us return to our previous position. It is safer there," Leon suggested.
"Alright."
But as they prepared to move, the sound of approaching footsteps from below froze them in place. They crouched lower, barely breathing, ensuring not a single leaf rustled.
"So tired... When is this patrol shift finally over?"
"Almost done. Just two more kilometers to the checkpoint, and we are finished for the night."
"Another two kilometers? Working for the Empire is brutal. Double the work for half the pay it feels like."
Leon and Rossweise exchanged a silent glance. It was indeed a patrol unit. They needed to remain perfectly still.
"When will the Empire ever get off our backs? Did you have to do this kind of grunt work when you were in the Dragon Slayers, Walker?"
"I started on the front lines. But then some royal official's son wanted a shiny medal for a 'safe' tour, and I got reassigned to patrol duty to make room for him."
The man named Walker's tone was heavy with resignation and buried anger, though he didn't elaborate further.
"Pushed aside for royal vanity? Typical. Those nobles have no shame," a female soldier muttered in agreement. "Don't worry, Walker. When we finally tear down that dog of an emperor, nonsense like this will be a thing of the past."
"Let's just focus on finishing the route," Walker said, clearly not wanting to dwell on the topic.
"But we have been walking forever. Can't we request that another team handle the forward reconnaissance?"
"Our numbers are stretched thin, and everyone has their role. Just keep your eyes open and gather all the intelligence you can on the Empire's movements. Every bit helps for the day we bring that corrupt emperor down," Walker replied, his voice low and steady.
"Easy for you to say. But how much useful intelligence can we really gather on a perimeter patrol? Will I even live to see the emperor's downfall?"
"Rebecca said it is coming soon. And..." Walker's voice dropped to a near whisper, filled with a potent mix of hope and conviction. "...The man himself will be returning to lead it any day now."
Little did Walker know, the very man he spoke of with such faith was crouched directly above him, listening to every word.