"We have received news from the School District. One of the dragons has escaped from the seal in the Dragon Valley." Finn announced to everyone sitting around the table in the meeting room that was filled with tension, as if she couldn't wait for this meeting to end so she could go slay that dragon.
After Raul had informed us, Riveria and I made our way straight to the meeting room where everyone from all our allied familias had gathered.
"Question!" Alise leaned forward, "Wasn't the School District the one that usually takes care of abnormalities like that?"
Instead of Finn, Asfi responded, "The School District is currently on the other side of the world, working with Poseidon familia. And their ship is also not in any condition to make that long a journey. The most they can do is come to Orario to get it repaired."
"So, it's up to us to solve this problem?" Kaguya questioned, "What's the level of this dragon?"
"High level-7 or potentially level-8," Finn answered, his chin resting on his joined hands as he observed everyone's reaction. The temperature in the room seemed to drop. Even the experienced fighters shifted uncomfortably. A Level-8 wasn't just dangerous—it was a walking catastrophe.
"Level-8?" Gareth's voice was sharp. "That's nothing to joke about, Finn."
"I'm not joking," Finn replied evenly.
Tiona whistled low. "A super strong dragon? That sounds amazing!"
"That sounds like a death wish," Tione corrected, shooting her sister a look. "We'd need our entire force for something like that."
"So, what's the plan?" Lydia pressed as Riveria presented more information.
"Any dragon that escapes the seal comes out injured... But it won't be long before it recovers its strength and starts to wreak havoc," she said, and Finn continued from there.
"Which is why we will be sending out an advance force to keep the dragon contained, while the rest of us come with more preparations," Finn explained." Finn presented the plan.
"But we are still in the process of receiving a formal request from the guild; without that, we can't leave the city, right?" Raul asked.
"That damn Royman," Loki groaned, slumping dramatically onto the table. "That old geezer moves slower than a drunk dwarf! Can't he process one measly emergency request?"
"Which means," Astraea said calmly, "we can only send those with special exemption permits. That significantly limits our options."
Hermes looked around the table. "My Familia and Astraea Familia have blanket permission to operate outside the city. Additionally, Riveria-san and Arin have individual permits due to their unique circumstances."
"That's not many people for a dragon of that level," Kaguya observed, her hand resting on her katana. "Six, maybe seven fighters?"
Finn nodded. "The advance team will consist of Riveria, Arin, Alise, Kaguya, Ryuu, and Asfi. Once the guild approves—"
The sound of a chair crashing against the wall cut him off.
Ais had stood so abruptly that her seat flew backward. "I want to go."
The room went quiet. Everyone turned to look at her. She stood there, breathing hard, her hand still raised from where she'd pushed the chair. The raw intensity in her golden eyes was almost frightening. This wasn't just determination. This was an obsession.
"Ais," Riveria began gently, "I understand how you feel, but—"
"I can fight," Ais insisted, her golden eyes blazing with intensity. "I'm Level-5. I'm strong enough."
"Ais, calm down. This is not the time to be stubborn." Riveria tried to calm her, but with no result. Ais resolve hardened, as immovable as the dungeon itself.
"Ais, it's not a question of whether we can allow it. Without special permission, you can't leave Orario," Astraea explained quietly, as if trying to soothe a child.
Ais froze... then her eyes widened, a sharp spark igniting. "There is a way…" Her gaze fixed on me. "Arin told me he can take another person with him as his helper."
Oh no.
Every single person in that room turned to stare at me. I could feel the weight of their gazes like physical pressure.
"Is that true, Arin?" Riveria's voice was dangerously sweet. Her jade eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made me want to sink into my chair.
"I... may have mentioned something like that," I admitted weakly.
"May have?" Bete scoffed. "Either you did, or you didn't, hero boy."
"I definitely told her that!" I confessed, unable to meet anyone's eyes.
Riveria's eye twitched. Alise looked delighted. Kaguya smirked like she'd just witnessed someone walk into their own trap.
"Then I can go!" Ais declared, her expression brightening immediately. "As Arin's assistant."
"No, you can't." I unfortunately had to dash her hopes. Hearing my words, the light in her eyes dimmed. She looked at me like I'd just betrayed her.
"Please." Those puppy-dog eyes won't work on— damn it, don't look at me like that! I decided to close my eyes to save myself from the temptation.
"Arin!" Yes, Riveria, you don't have to say it, I am not going to take her.
"Can I go?" Ais asked again, and I shook my head.
"Arin!" Geez, Riveria, I'd told you I wouldn't take her. You are such a worrywart.
"Arin," Ais said again.
I shook my head.
"Thank you, Arin!" Her expression transformed from desperate to radiant in an instant. It was like watching the sun break through storm clouds.
My eyes snapped open in confusion. "What? No, I shook my head. That means no!"
"You nodded!" several people said simultaneously.
"You moved your head up and down, you fool!" Riveria pinched the bridge of her nose. "That's a nod!"
"No, I definitely shook my head side to side!" I protested, demonstrating. "This is side to side! That's no!"
"Looked like up and down to me," Tiona chimed in helpfully.
"Definitely vertical motion," Hermes agreed, barely suppressing a grin.
"You all need your eyes checked!" I shouted.
Ais face had fallen again, the brief spark of hope extinguished. "So... you won't take me?"
"Sorry, Ais, but I really can't." I stood firm with my decision, as I knew she wasn't being rational right now.
"When do we leave?" Ryuu asked, trying to change the subject.
"You will take your leave tomorrow morning," Finn announced. "Ganesha Familia has agreed to lend us their wyvern mounts, so travel time should be significantly reduced. Now, if no one has any questions, we will end the meeting here."
And so, Everyone dispersed to prepare for departure.
____________________________________________________________________________
The next morning arrived too quickly. I thought, looking at the rising sun while trying to ignore those green eyes staring into my soul.
"...You said you were not going to bring her along," Riveria stated, her jade eyes piercing through both me and Ais, who was trying to hide behind me.
Everyone had gathered outside Orario's main gate. Several wyverns stood ready near the wall, while adventurers from our allied familias had come to wish us luck. But right now, all of them were staring at us.
"I'll take full responsibility for her safety," I said before I could stop myself. Riveria's glare intensified, but I pressed on. "If something goes wrong, it's on me."
"That's a heavy burden to shoulder, lad," Gareth said seriously. "You sure about this?"
No. Absolutely not. This was probably the worst idea ever.
"Yes," I replied despite my doubts.
"Though I gave her one condition," I added quickly, holding up a finger. "She follows my orders. All of them. No running off, no reckless charges, no ignoring strategy. Does she want to come? Then she's my responsibility, which means she does what I say."
She nodded eagerly. "Yes, I will listen to everything you say, Arin."
I looked at Riveria, expecting fury. Instead, she just looked tired. "You're a fool," she said flatly.
"I know."
"You're going to give me grey hairs."
"Probably."
"And if she gets hurt because of this, I'm holding you personally responsible."
"I accept those terms."
Finn cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention back to business. "Well then, it seems our advance team now includes Riveria, Arin, Ais, Alise, Kaguya, Ryuu, and Asfi. That's seven, a decent number for a containment operation."
He said as Ais headed to meet with the others. Once she was gone, Riveria approached, her arms crossed. "You realize what you just committed to, right?"
"Babysitting the strongest—and most reckless—Level-5 in Orario while fighting a dragon?" I offered weakly.
"More like keeping her alive when her single-minded focus on dragons overrides her survival instincts," Riveria corrected.
"I'll watch over her," I promised. "I won't let anything happen to her."
Riveria studied me for a long moment. "Why are you doing it, Arin?" she said, "You clearly know how she gets around dragons, I don't want to think that you have made this decision on a whim."
I hesitated but decided to answer honestly. "I personally think it might be a good opportunity to train her mental fortitude," I said, looking at Ais, who was staring daggers at the poor wyvern, probably because it vaguely resembled a dragon. The creature, to its credit, seemed to sense the danger and kept trying to edge away. Ryuu and the others tried to calm her down.
Riveria was quiet for a long moment, studying first me, then Ais in the distance. "That's... actually not a terrible reason, not the worst kind at least," she admitted finally. "But it's still dangerous. If her obsession takes over—"
"Then I'll pull her back," I promised. "Did you forget I have the strength of a level-7? There is no one who can truly hurt me." Except you girls, I muttered internally. "Shouldn't you be worrying about yourself? You don't even have your staff with you."
"Ah, yes, that's true, but this one is not so bad." Riveria showed the new, or rather, the spare staff she had; it was made of pure wood with three crystals embedded on the upper part of the staff. "Lenoa was kind enough to lend it to me."
"I guess that's better than nothing," I said. Even with my half-baked knowledge on magical staffs, I could tell it was nowhere near as good as her other one. "Anyways, I have a favour to ask."
"A favour?"
"Yes, can you sit with Ais during the trip? It seems like if no one is looking, she might cut the poor wyvern down."
"Oh yes, I can see that. Don't worry, I will keep an eye on her," said Riveria as she walked towards Ais and the others.
I didn't know if my decision... was good or bad. I wanted to believe she would be fine, but all things considered. I knew this expedition was going to change all our lives for better or for worse… that remains to be seen.