The sky opened up above them again like an endless ocean, vast and clear, with the white of the clouds forming an uneven carpet beneath Scarlett’s colossal body. She flew high enough that the world below was merely a suggestion of shapes and colors, distant, irrelevant before the tranquil immensity that surrounded them. The rhythm of her wings was constant, steady, supporting not only her own weight but also that of the three who rested on her back, settled more naturally now, as if this kind of journey had already become part of their routine.

The wind up there was colder, but also cleaner.

Quieter.

After the previous night, after the festival, after everything that had happened—

There was a strange balance there.

Not perfect.

But stable.

Ouroboros sat closer to the center, her legs bent, one hand resting on Scarlett’s scales while the other absentmindedly held the small lantern she still carried. Her fingers no longer moved with that constant restlessness—sometimes she still twirled the object between her fingers, but it was more of a light, almost thoughtful gesture than a necessity.

Tiamat was a little further back, sitting sideways, one arm resting on her raised knee, her gaze fixed on the horizon, always attentive, always analyzing, even when she said nothing.

Strax flew alongside Scarlett, as usual, keeping pace with ease, his white body cutting through the air with almost relaxed precision. He didn’t seem tired—in fact, he seemed more... comfortable in that state, as if the flight were a natural extension of himself.

He was the one who broke the silence.

"When we reach the capital..." he began, his deep voice carried by the wind, but still perfectly audible to the others, "we’ll probably go straight to the palace."

Scarlett tilted her head slightly, indicating that she was listening, though she didn’t take her attention away from the flight.

Tiamat glanced sideways.

Ouroboros looked up.

Strax continued.

"We have the invitation letter," he said matter-of-factly. "It’s the most logical route. At least that way we guarantee a place to spend the night without any hassle."

He paused briefly, adjusting his position slightly in the air before continuing.

"And honestly... I’d rather not spend any more money on lodging."

There was a slight hint of dry humor there.

"We’ve already used half the funds just because we decided to stop in a few towns along the way."

Tiamat made a small sound through her nose, almost a suppressed laugh.

"’Decided’ is an interesting way of saying you couldn’t resist street food in three different places," she commented, with a slight arch of an eyebrow.

Strax didn’t bother to deny it.

"Strategic priorities," he replied.

Scarlett let out a low laugh, the sound vibrating slightly through her draconic body.

"Of course. Food is essential for... important decisions," she added.

Ouroboros looked at Strax for a moment, and a small smile appeared, subtle but real.

"You really have no control when it comes to that," she murmured.

"I do have control," he replied immediately. "I choose not to use it."

Tiamat rolled her eyes.

"Impressive."

Despite the light tone, the conversation wasn’t completely lost.

There was a point there.

And Tiamat returned to it.

She tilted her head slightly, observing Strax more closely now.

"All right," she said, her more serious tone returning naturally. "Going to the palace makes sense."

She crossed her arms.

"But do you really think it’s going to be that simple?"

Strax looked at her.

"Yes."

Direct answer.

Without hesitation.

Tiamat narrowed her eyes slightly. "Yes...?" she repeated.

"We have a formal invitation," he explained, maintaining a calm tone. "We’re not arriving unannounced. And there’s no reason for immediate hostility."

He paused briefly.

"At least... not openly."

Scarlett tilted one wing slightly, adjusting its trajectory before speaking.

"You’re assuming they respect that kind of formality," she commented.

"I’m assuming they respect consequences," Strax corrected.

The silence that followed was brief.

But significant.

Ouroboros observed the two, absorbing the exchange.

Tiamat let out a soft sigh, running a hand through her hair.

"All right," she said. "But still..."

She looked directly at him.

"They’re not just going to attack us, are they?"

The question hung in the air.

It wasn’t fear.

But it was caution.

Strax held her gaze for a second.

Then he answered.

"If they attack... they’ll regret it."

Simple.

Cold.

No exaggeration.

No bravado.

Just... a fact.

Scarlett didn’t comment.

But her wings kept their rhythm.

Steadfast.

Tiamat nodded slowly, accepting the answer—not because it was comfortable, but because it was realistic.

Ouroboros remained silent for a few seconds after that.

Her fingers slid lightly over the surface of the lantern.

Thoughtful.

"Have you been there before?" she asked, looking at Strax.

He turned his head slightly toward her.

"In the capital?" he replied. "Not directly."

She frowned slightly.

"But you’ve dealt with this kind of people before." "Yes."

Without hesitation.

"And that’s never simple," she added.

Strax gave a small, wry smile.

"No," she agreed. "It never is."

He looked ahead.

At the horizon.

Where, far away—

Almost imperceptible—

Something was beginning to take shape.

Structures.

Lines.

The beginning of something bigger.

The capital was still far away.

But it was already making its presence clear.

"But it’s predictable," he continued. "And that already helps."

Tiamat tilted her head slightly.

"Politics," she murmured, with a slight hint of displeasure.

"Power," Strax corrected. "Politics is just the way they pretend to be civilized."

Scarlett let out a small laugh.

"That was surprisingly honest."

"I can be honest sometimes."

"Rarely."

"I disagree."

Ouroboros watched this in silence.

And, for a moment—

The tension eased again.

She took a deep breath, letting the air out slowly.

Her shoulders relaxed a little more.

"So... we’ll get into the palace, deliver the letter, get a place to stay..." she said, organizing the plan aloud. "And then?"

Strax didn’t answer immediately.

He thought for a moment.

"Then... we’ll see what they want from us."

Tiamat let out a small sound of disapproval.

"This never ends well."

"No," he agreed. "But it’s inevitable."

Scarlett adjusted her altitude slightly, rising a little higher above the clouds before stabilizing again.

"The important thing," she said, "is that this time we’re prepared."

Ouroboros looked ahead again.

Toward the distant horizon.

Toward the place that was approaching.

Slowly.

But inevitably.

Her fingers lightly gripped the lantern.

Not with anxiety.

But with... focus.

"This time... I’ll be there too," she murmured.

Strax heard.

And, even without looking directly—

He smiled.

The flight continued.

Steady.

Directed.

And ahead—

The capital awaited.

The wind at high altitude was colder than before, thinner too, as if the sky itself were beginning to thin as they approached their final destination. Still, Scarlett’s flight remained steady, her red wings cutting a path above the clouds with almost flawless precision. Behind her, the three watched in growing silence—not for lack of conversation, but because the horizon was finally beginning to change.

And then—

The Capital appeared.

First as a distant silhouette. Then, like two.

The lower city stretched across the land like a living organism, wide, organized streets, light stone buildings reflecting the daylight that still lingered in the sky. Towers, markets, walls—everything imposing, everything pulsating with activity even at that distance. But that wasn’t what caught her eye.

It was what was above.

The upper city.

Suspended in the air like a fragment torn from the world and lifted to the heavens by forces that defied all common logic. Elegant structures, floating bridges, pillars of energy that seemed to support that colossus above the earth. Soft lights ran along its edges, like luminous veins keeping everything... alive.

Ouroboros was the first to react.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, not out of distrust, but out of analysis. This wasn’t just grandiose—it was strange on a deeper level.

"...this isn’t natural," she murmured.

Tiamat made a small sound through her nose, agreeing.

"None of this should be floating like this," she said. "But it is."

Strax watched silently, his eyes attentive, absorbing every detail with controlled calm.

"Ancient magic," he commented. "Or something close to it."

Scarlett said nothing.

But her flight slowed slightly.

Instinct.

Something there... wasn’t quite right.

And then—

It happened.

In the sky, a few meters ahead and slightly below them—

Space... distorted.

Not like an explosion.

Nor like a tear.

But like a presence that simply decided to exist there.

A figure.

A woman.

Long, purple hair, moving slightly even against the wind at altitude. Her posture was relaxed—almost casual—but there was something profoundly wrong in the way she occupied the space. As if the very air around them recognized... danger.

In her hands—

A sword.

Not just large.

But absurd.

Disproportionate to her own body, with a wide, heavy blade that seemed to carry more than just physical weight. There was something about that weapon. Something that wasn’t ordinary.

And her smile—

It was light.

Amused.

Almost... curious.

Her eyes slid directly to Scarlett.

Without hesitation.

Without a doubt.

"So you are them..."

Her voice didn’t need to be loud to reach her.

She simply... arrived.

As if the sound knew exactly where to go.

Strax narrowed his eyes immediately.

"...Careful—"

But it was too late.

The woman turned slightly, adjusting the sword’s grip with an absurd naturalness for something of that size, and then—

She smiled more.

"Let’s test this dragon slayer~"

And it disappeared.

Not with normal speed.

Not with visible movement.

It simply—

Vanished.

And reappeared.

Directly above Scarlett.

The blow came next.

Without warning.

Without preparation.

The sword descended with brutal force, cutting the air with a sound that wasn’t just impact—it was rupture. As if space itself were being torn open along with the attack.

Scarlett reacted purely on instinct.

Her wings twitched, her body spinning in the air in an immediate attempt to evade—

But it wasn’t enough.

The blade struck.

A dry impact.

Violent.

The sound echoed through the sky like a contained thunderclap.

Scarlett’s colossal body was hurled downwards, her wings losing momentum for a critical second as the surrounding air churned in a visible shockwave. "—GHK!"

The sound escaped her, low, restrained, but real.

Very real.

Ouroboros immediately clung to the scales, his body reacting before his mind fully processed what had happened.

"Tch—!"

Tiamat was already standing, her sharp gaze fixed on the spot where the woman had appeared, energy beginning to accumulate in her hands.

Strax—

He was no longer on Scarlett’s back.

At the instant of impact, he had leaped.

His body spun in the air, white scales emerging in fractions of a second as he partially assumed his draconic form, stabilizing himself in the air with a strong flapping of wings.

His eyes—

Fixed on her.

The woman stood still in the air.

Momentary.

As if the blow had been... just a test.

She rested her sword on her shoulder, tilting her head slightly as she watched Scarlett regain control of the flight below.

"...hm."

The sound came out thoughtfully.

"More resilient than I expected."

Strax hovered in the air between her and Scarlett now.

His presence had changed.

There was no more lightness.

There was no more casualness.

The pressure around him increased.

Dense.

Controlled.

Dangerous.

"You just made a very big mistake," he said, his voice low, firm, carrying a weight that hadn’t been there before.

The woman smiled.

But it wasn’t mockery.

It was... interest.

"Is it?" she replied, twirling the sword slightly in her hand before pointing it in his direction. "Because I think I just found something interesting."