The rain finally stopped on the seventh night.
For the first time in days, the skies above the Southern Territories cleared slowly beneath drifting silver clouds while moonlight illuminated the southern capital in pale ancient light. The cold winds softened across the city streets while countless lanterns continued glowing throughout the enormous trade districts still overflowing with activity even this late into the night.
Because history had officially changed.
The treaty between the Aurelia Empire and the Dragon Realm—
Had been signed.
Inside the grand assembly hall of the Southern Council Headquarters, the atmosphere still carried remnants of overwhelming tension despite the negotiations finally ending. Massive obsidian tables remained covered with countless completed documents while magical seals glowed faintly across finalized treaty scrolls resting beneath silver flame lanterns.
Human officials stood alongside draconic diplomats calmly now.
Not perfectly comfortable.
Not fully trusting.
But no longer hostile.
And considering the history between both civilizations—
That alone felt miraculous.
At the center of the hall, the final treaty document rested beneath layered magical protection.
The Treaty of Southern Wildness Cooperation.
Trade.
Tourism.
Diplomatic exchange.
Mutual territorial respect.
Wildness stabilization.
Military non-aggression.
Cross-realm commerce.
For the first time in recorded history—
Humans and dragons formally acknowledged coexistence.
Several southern nobles still looked slightly dazed.
Perhaps because even now—
Many struggled believing this was real.
Meanwhile—
The imperial diplomats from the capital wore expressions filled with restrained suffering.
Because despite all their authority—
The Southern Council remained the primary negotiator recognized by the Dragon Realm.
And unfortunately—
Nothing could change that anymore.
The dragons trusted the south.
Not the imperial palace.
At least not yet.
The treaty signing itself had been enormous.
Royal magic circles illuminated the assembly hall while countless witnesses observed from elevated galleries above. Official scribes recorded every clause while magical contracts confirmed authenticity through mana resonance.
Even Velor personally signed the treaty in his full royal authority.
The Crimson Dragon King wore magnificent black ceremonial robes lined with crimson dragon embroidery while ancient royal sigils glowed faintly across the fabric. His signature alone radiated overwhelming draconic pressure across the magical contract.
Afterward—
The representatives of the Southern Council signed as well.
Duke Altair.
Duke Kael.
Duchess Seraphine.
And finally—
Herald.
Or rather—
Kel.
Though none inside the hall besides the dragons knew the truth behind that identity.
Once the final signature settled—
The magical treaty circles activated completely.
Silver light spread across the chamber.
And history changed quietly.
Afterward—
The work immediately began.
Trade routes opened rapidly throughout the Southern Wildness.
Special diplomatic checkpoints were constructed.
Translation teams formed.
Military patrol systems established.
Merchant caravans reorganized.
And perhaps most shocking of all—
Permanent diplomatic residences were approved.
Several draconic diplomats decided to remain within the Aurelia Empire long-term to oversee emergency situations and future negotiations directly.
At the same time—
Several human diplomats, merchants, scholars, and southern nobles volunteered to reside temporarily within the Dragon Realm itself.
Officially—
To oversee treaty implementation.
Unofficially—
Most simply wanted to witness the Dragon Realm personally.
The entire empire had become obsessed with dragons.
And once the treaty became public—
The next impossible decision followed naturally.
Tourism between realms opened officially.
Limited at first.
Heavily regulated.
But still—
Open.
The announcement alone nearly shattered the empire politically.
Nobles from every region immediately started competing for travel permits into the Dragon Realm.
Merchant guilds nearly collapsed fighting over early trade rights.
Several scholars fainted from excitement after hearing ancient dragon libraries might become partially accessible through diplomatic agreements.
Even ordinary civilians began gathering near southern trade hubs hoping to glimpse dragons personally.
Fear still existed.
Of course it did.
But now—
Curiosity had begun overpowering hatred.
And that alone marked the beginning of a completely new era.
Tonight—
The draconic delegation prepared to return home.
Outside the Southern Council Headquarters, massive dragons rested beneath moonlit skies while cold winds drifted through the southern capital quietly. Countless guards remained stationed throughout the area while distant city lights glowed warmly beneath the peaceful night.
Near the elevated southern balcony overlooking the capital—
Kel stood silently alone.
Or at least—
Almost alone.
His black cloak moved softly beneath the midnight winds while dark eyes observed the sleeping city below calmly.
Somewhere behind him—
Footsteps approached quietly.
Two familiar presences.
Velor.
And Vistara.
The crimson-haired Dragon King approached wearing simpler traveling robes tonight instead of royal ceremonial attire. Beside him, Vistara walked gracefully beneath silver moonlight while her crimson diplomatic dress shimmered faintly beneath the winds.
For several moments—
None of them spoke.
The atmosphere felt strangely peaceful tonight.
As though all three silently understood something important had ended.
And something much larger had begun.
Velor eventually stepped beside Kel quietly.
"…Everything succeeded."
Kel nodded calmly.
"For now."
The crimson-haired dragon king looked toward the southern capital below.
Countless lights flickered softly throughout the sleeping city.
Humans.
Completely unaware how close their world once stood to endless war.
Velor quietly exhaled.
"The treaty stabilized easier than expected."
Kel faintly smiled.
"That's because both sides wanted profit more than conflict."
Vistara softly folded her arms nearby.
"An unfortunate truth of civilization."
"A useful truth."
The silver-haired dragon woman quietly looked toward him afterward.
Then unexpectedly asked:
"So what now?"
Kel glanced sideways slightly.
Vistara continued calmly.
"Your plan succeeded."
Her crimson eyes reflected moonlight softly.
"The Dragon Realm and the Aurelia Empire are now connected through trade and tourism."
Another pause.
"The thing you wanted has been accomplished."
Silence drifted briefly between them afterward.
Then—
Kel quietly laughed.
A soft tired laugh carried away by the night wind.
"One of them."
Velor blinked slightly.
"One?"
Kel's dark eyes remained fixed toward the distant horizon.
"I still have many things left unfinished."
The atmosphere shifted subtly afterward.
Because those words carried weight.
Not ambition.
Something deeper.
As though the path Kel walked extended far beyond kingdoms and treaties.
Vistara quietly studied him afterward.
And for a brief moment—
She realized something unsettling.
Even now…
Even after changing two civilizations…
Kel still looked like someone only standing at the beginning of his journey.
Not the end.
Meanwhile—
Inside Kel's mind—
Sairen's voice echoed softly through their contract.
"You really changed the world again."
Kel calmly replied through telepathy.
"Only slightly."
The silver-haired spirit sounded amused.
"Most humans would consider uniting dragons and humans through diplomacy a historical miracle."
Kel internally shrugged.
"History changes constantly."
Sairen became quiet briefly afterward.
Then softly whispered:
"And yet you still keep walking."
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Kel's lips.
"Stopping sounds boring."
Inside the spiritual connection—
Sairen quietly laughed.
A gentle laugh.
Warmer than before.
Because unlike the isolated lonely spirit trapped endlessly within the Scarlet Lake…
She now had a home.
A realm.
Visitors.
Life.
And somehow—
That still felt unreal to her.
Meanwhile outside—
Velor suddenly spoke again.
"…Master."
Kel immediately glanced sideways.
The Dragon King quickly corrected himself awkwardly.
"…Right."
A faint embarrassed expression crossed his face briefly.
"You told me not to call you that here."
Kel nodded calmly.
"People know me by different names."
Velor quietly frowned afterward.
"That still feels strange."
Kel casually shrugged.
"It's useful."
The crimson-haired dragon king eventually sighed softly.
"…Then what should I call you?"
Kel's dark eyes reflected the southern city lights below.
"Call me what everyone else here does."
Velor hesitated briefly.
Then finally—
"…Herald."
The word sounded awkward coming from a dragon king.
Vistara nearly smiled slightly seeing that.
Kel simply nodded calmly.
"Better."
The cold night winds moved softly around them afterward.
Then eventually—
Velor stepped forward slightly.
"…Thank you."
The words were quiet.
But sincere.
Not as king.
Not as ruler.
Simply as Velor.
"For everything."
Kel remained silent briefly.
Then softly replied:
"Just don't destroy the realm while I'm gone."
Velor almost looked offended.
"I'm not incompetent."
Vistara immediately replied calmly:
"You nearly burned three negotiation rooms during week two."
"That was different."
"You threatened diplomats."
"They were annoying."
Kel quietly rubbed his forehead.
"…And this is why I'm worried."
For the first time in days—
Actual laughter escaped them.
Small.
Brief.
But genuine.
Eventually—
The atmosphere settled once more.
The dragons would leave soon.
The treaty era would begin.
And the world itself would slowly start changing afterward.
Kel finally turned away from the balcony.
"Good night."
The silver moonlight illuminated portions of his face softly beneath the dark winds.
"My friends."
The word itself slightly surprised both siblings.
Friends.
Not subordinates.
Not political allies.
Friends.
Kel's dark eyes calmly met theirs one final time tonight.
"Sleep well."
And then—
Without another word—
The man carrying countless names quietly walked back into the Southern Council Headquarters…
While behind him—
The Dragon King and the Crimson Princess silently watched his disappearing figure beneath the moonlit night.