Two days ago in the Indus Valley…
In the open field of the Indus Valley, a white horse was heading toward the mountains, following alongside the river.
On the horse's back, Hera and Princess Louise sat. Hera controlled the horse while Princess Louise narrowed her eyes to see the beauty of the Indus Valley.
A group of different wild animals roam around in the open area. Hera runs her hand on the horse's neck and slows it down while staring toward the mountain.
"Slow now, Luna."
The mountain was half a kilometer away from them, and it seemed normal with that falling waterfall in the river and ice on its top.
As she did, the horse stopped and calmly stood on the left side of the river. Hera touches Louise's lap while staring toward the mountain.
"Hey, princess, get off…"
Princess Louise got off the horse, and afterward Hera got off the horse too while giving the bridle of the horse to Louise.
Louise seemed confused but didn't ask anything, just kept observing Hera. Hera moves forward a little and stands 2 meters away from Princess Louise.
"Hey Princess… did you see that…?"
Louise got confused and completely clueless, leaned in close to Hera, and asked quietly and gently.
"See what…?"
Hera's face raised with happiness as she was observing the mountain; her eyes glowed as she raised her left hand in the air.
"This is the Azure Dragon… see it in the waterfall of the mountain."
Louise's eyes got a little wider as she heard the word 'Dragon.' She moves her eyes toward the mountain and starts examining, but she doesn't find anything.
As she was about to look at Hera and ask her about it, she noticed something in the water. Between mountains in the center of falling water, it seems something is trying to get out.
Louise's eyes got completely still on the waterfall, and she felt a chill down to her spine. She calmed herself and took some deep breaths.
Soon after, she glanced at Hera and asked with curiosity.
"Is something in the mountain?"
Hera couldn't hide the grin that crept across her face, staring at Louise knowingly.
"This is dragon lord 'Azure Dragon,' one of Anastasia's creations."
She looked interested while telling this to Princess Louise. The flow of water got faster in the river, and the air got colder, almost freezing.
Louise didn't feel cold because of the warm cloth Waguri gave to her. Hera acts like normal in this freezing weather and stays calm.
"It's my first time seeing it, too. According to Anastasia Azure, living in the mountain's caves, it's a powerful bond that looks impossible for anyone to wield."
Louise put her left hand on her forehead and smiled while pulling the bridle of the horse toward her.
"Let's go… I want to meet this Anas—"
Before Louise could complete a roar, it came straight to her ears, making her still in her place and giving a chill to her whole existence.
Hera stared at the mountain and suddenly moved toward her horse. She grabbed the bridle of the horse from Louise's hand and set it on the horse.
"Louise… Sit quickly. Something isn't right…"
Hera moves her hand toward Louise for her to climb onto the horse's back. As Louise was about to hold the hand, another roar came from the mountain.
The roar causes all of them to freeze in one place; their consciousness is normal, but their physical bodies are frozen in one place.
What's happening? I… can't move… Hera's confusing thoughts cover her mind. She tried to move her eyes, but unfortunately, she was unable to move her eyes.
She narrowed her eyes around to examine what was happening. Her eyes moved toward the mountain in front of her, and she was empty of thoughts, and her yellow pupil stayed still.
The waterfall trembled—then tore apart. Birds scattered into the sky, crying as mist swallowed the valley. From the split water, a shape uncoiled—vast and glimmering. A dragon emerged.
Its body shimmered like green jade under moonlight, four claws tearing through the mist. Curved white horns crowned its head, long pale-green hair drifting like smoke.
Then its eyes opened—deep, blue, endless. The air grew still.
"Iris… I sense Iris…" The dragon lord spoke as it moved toward Hera and Louise. The mist moved with the dragon as it reached Louise and Hera.
Lady Iris…? But why her…? Hera was puzzled as she heard Iris's name from Azure Dragon.
The dragon lord moves its claw in the mist, and they all get unfrozen. The horse reared loudly after getting unfrozen and stood fearlessly in front of Hera to protect her.
Hera put her hand on the horse's neck and whispered with a smile.
"Thanks, Luna, but it's not your problem to take… Calm yourself."
The horse lowers its head to Hera's and closes its eyes while rubbing her hand gently on its head.
"Why are you saying the name of Lady Iris?"
Dragon looks at Hera afterward, moves its claws near the horse, and touches it gently.
"I sense Iris's presence from you two…"
The horse moved suddenly and stood beside Hera. Hera rubbed her hand on the horse to calm it down.
"I'm the granddaughter of Iris, and she…" Hera pointed toward Louise, who looked completely puzzled and out of her consciousness. "Is also…"
The dragon lord looks firmly toward Louise and speaks while the gentle breeze touches Louise's hair and makes it flow with it.
"You… scarlet witch of flower… You are a demigod… But in the human body…"
Dragon points its claw finger in the mist, and a shape forms a cloud and then collapses it in the mist again.
"Just like Iris… 103 years… has passed… since I last saw Iris…"
The dragon lord looks toward Hera and then takes out the collapsing cloud from the mist and points it toward Hera.
"But I sense my own in you, like I did in Iris."
The cloud of mist reached Hera and touched her; the moment it touched, it got absorbed by Hera's body.
Louise looked completely normal; she didn't shock at all anymore and just kept observing what was about to happen next.
The mist cloud caused Hera to be knocked down. As she was about to fall, Louise grabbed her.
Hera's eyes were getting closed while she was staring at the Azure dragon. Louise sat on the ground and put Hera's head on her lap.
Louise didn't worry at all; she just lay down and was looked after. The cold around them feels lower because of the Azure dragon.