The army steadily drew closer to their base, weary steps carrying them onward as warriors longed to reunite with their families. However, the journey was heavy with sorrow. Many from both divisions had perished, and the grief carved sullen expressions across their faces. No one could truly read what they were thinking.
Although the battle had been won, the victory brought little comfort. For many, it had been their first taste of war ever, and for others since joining Sand-Scale force.
The sight of countless deaths still weighed upon them, their minds lingering on the huge number they had been when they left compared to how few now remained. That realization struck them with bitter clarity.
The moment they entered Vetmi Region. The field seemed to darken, though the sky above remained clear. It was never like this before. The sudden change unsettled the army, halting their advance as they scanned their surroundings.
A shadow was slowly cast over them, stretching unnaturally, as if some colossal presence had set its veil upon them. Bewilderment spread among the warriors, thinking what could be so massive that its shadow alone engulfed both division?
Instinctively, they looked upward, shock rippling through them as they saw an enormous bird descending forcefully, stirring the air. None among them had ever seen such a bird.
The knowledgeable few among them grimaced, instantly recognizing the beast, their expressions sinking as disbelief overtook them. This was no ordinary bird. Only grade-5 territories and above, and a handful of top grade-4 ones, possessed the right to ride such beasts.
Its sudden presence could mean their force had drawn the attention of a terrifying expert. However, such figures dwelled far away, and encountering one was even rarer than touching the horn of a unicorn.
Kamil and Salza instantly dismounted from their horses; their eyes fixed upon the horizon. What they saw made their blood run cold—a humongous dragon was descending slowly, its vast form blotting out the sky. It was unbelievably large, like a flying mountain.
Warriors instinctively stepped back, their hands tightening on their weapons, preparing to engage. None of them dared to believe that the rider of such a beast could be friendly. The army slowly began to brace themselves for what was to come.
Both commanders held their breath, their minds were racing, working to devise a viable course of action. They understood all too well that those from high-grade territories were immensely powerful, and were often flamboyant, prone to looking down upon the inhabitants of low-grade territories.
Their mere presence here would be considered a blessing to the entire region. If they were to reveal themselves publicly in any city nearby, no doubt the people would greet them with extravagant bouquets, and reverence.
The massive dragon descended, its monstrous figure stepping on the ground, making it tremble lightly, Dust rose as a figure dismounted, leaping gently onto the soil.
It was a silver-haired young lady, her piercing eyes gleaming like molten silver. Each step she took was delicate, her eyes moving from one warrior to the next.
However, contrary to how it first appeared, the warriors were relieved once they recognized her. She was well known across the region and was respected not only for her rank within the Settlers Army but for her remarkable strength.
Both commanders exhaled, their tension easing as they realized who stood before them. The suffocating atmosphere began to lift.
Stories about her had long circulated, though none had ever mentioned her in possession of a dragon. Still, it was not entirely surprising given her background. For her, owning such a beast was no more difficult than acquiring an ordinary mount.
The dragon snorted, its domineering presence spreading, as though expecting the warriors to kneel. It had seen others fall to their knees several times the moment their eyes met its colossal form, only for them to realize later how improper it was.
Among the crowd, Blood's eyes glowed like red stars. He recognized her instantly—the troublesome girl who had nearly ruined his life. A chill ran through him as another thought surfaced.
Blood remembered the notification from the book, warning that someone had attempted to break the contract. That person must have been her, since he hadn't used that function except only on her, so there was no mistaking it.
It only made his heart tightened though. Could she be here for that reason? Blood prayed it was only his imagination.
The Blood Book had already punished her attempt, delivering backlash in the process. He could only hope this encounter was unrelated, though the thought occurred to him, leaving him tense and uneasy.
Kate soon drew close, her silvery eyes scanning the crowd without pause. She paid no heed to the warriors or the commanders—her focus was fixated on Blood, standing just behind them. Anger seemed to be stirring within her as memories resurfaced of how that guy had tricked her. Though she still lacked certainty of the matter.
Blood had claimed he merely stumbled upon the contract while seeking a way home, and with his weak strength, he surely hadn't understood the contract's true ability. Yet Kate was nonetheless furious at having been ensnared in the contract's sinister terms. To be caught in such a trap was humiliation enough, and the thought that he might have deceived her only deepened her anger.
Her gaze swept across the gathered warriors until it locked upon Blood. But before she could advance, her eyes met Salza's. She immediately recognized the man as her expression soften with ease.
In her fit of rage, she had disregarded all others and had nearly forgotten that one of the commanders was Blood's father. If there was anyone she respected in the entire region, it was none other than Salza.
She held a deep impression of the man and had long looked forward to meeting him. Never had she imagined their paths would cross here, when her thoughts were consumed by Blood. Although she could have easily requested an audience at the manor as none would dare refuse her, but she deemed it unnecessary.
"Commander." Kate greeted with a light smile, her expression easing a bit.
Salza was taken aback. He had never met the young lady before, and her politeness came as a great surprise. "Young Miss Kate, it is a pleasure to meet you. Your might has spread throughout the region but seeing you in person is an entirely different feeling." He returned her smile with a nod.
"You are too polite, Commander. I have long wished to meet you myself. It is truly an honor." she replied clearly, her words ringing out for all to hear, raising a few eyebrows among the warriors.
They hadn't expected the young lady to share such familiarity with their commander. They had heard of Kate, a rising talent from a nearby region, known for her remarkable strength. But seeing her exchange warm words with their commander unsettled their expectations.
No one was more shocked than Kamil. He stared at his rival, Salza, as though the man had just scored a decisive victory over him. The warriors might not have understood the significance, but Kamil did. He knew Kate's true identity, making the astonishment on his face refuse to fade.
"Why are you here, Young Miss?" Salza asked, voicing the question that was in every mind—including Kamil's, who leaned forward eagerly to catch her answer. "You rarely move with that friend of yours, except when great trouble arises. I hope we haven't offended you."
Although many people didn't know she possessed a dragon, some did—and Salza was among them.