Six riders travel the northern road toward Tyrin. Rain has never stopped falling for the past day, accompanied by howling wind and flashes of lightning which brighten the clouds above. It's so dark that one would think it's nighttime. It's almost impossible to tell what time of day it is. Not a single ray of sunlight can pierce the thick, dark clouds. The ground is muddy and full of loose stones, tiring out the Zamorian warhorses and making their stride unsteady.

At the head of the group is Asher. His head is wrapped in cloth in such a way so as to keep his eyes open in the heavy rain. Visibility is very poor. If an ambush were waiting ahead, there is no way to spot it in time. There was no sign of any enemy pursuers and the chance of ambushes is quite low. Even so, he won't let his guard down until they reach the city walls.

Every member of the team is present, including Rigel. After their clash with the Athenite mercenary group, all of Bloodmoon split up and retreated toward to Tyrin, traveling by separate paths to make their movements harder to track. Wounded members were treated by healers before departure. The dead would normally be reduced to ash with magic, but the heavy rain prevented this so they were simply buried.

Rigel is at the back of the group, along with Gamo who sees him struggle to remain seated in his saddle. Despite the confident airs he put on when facing the warrior Siegleif, Rigel's wounds were quite severe. Bleeding was stopped and external wounds closed thanks to self-healing and the alchemic potion he drank, but internal wounds take considerably more time, especially broken bones. He could use a stronger potion to fix the rest of the damage, but he only has one of those remaining. Until he obtains the rare materials needed to make more, he can't afford to waste it on a wound that isn't life-threatening.

"Should we slow down!?" Gamo asks after seeing Rigel struggle to remain in the saddle.

"I'll be better once we reach the city!" he responds, his voice almost drowned out by the storm.

"We're almost there! Won't be much longer!"

The truth is that most of Rigel's troubles come not from his wounds, but from the elements themselves. He is used to riding a horse by now, but not in a storm like this. The horse's stride is unsteady and the wind threatens to knock him off balance. Sitting straight is too painful, so he leans forward and clings to the horse's neck just like his comrades.

I used to like the rain... he remembers.

As the rivers and streams overflowed, a lot of farmland is flooded by the ongoing storm. Earlier they had passed by a village which was slowly being swept away by flood water. If the rain keeps pouring, there will be nothing left of it. Fortunately for the villagers, they had been evacuated previously by order of Count Faustina during the arrival of the Zamorian forces. This timing was simple coincidence, but it happened to save many lives from the storm.

Something is following us.

Rigel's body shivers as though he were startled. He slowly turns his head, gazing into the hazy darkness behind him. There is nothing there. He can see only the muddy road and his mana senses aren't reacting to anything.

Confused, he looks at the others riding alongside him. Asher, Inaya, Qasim, Mikel and Gamo, all of their heads are aimed forward. Nobody seems to have noticed anything. In the first place, it's absurd to think that anyone could follow them in these terrible conditions while staying undetected. Visibility is poor and the falling rain interferes with mana, limiting the range of a mage's senses. Basic logic says there's no chance someone could follow them at this speed, all while remaining outside the range of his senses.

Am I imagining things? Could've sworn there was something...

He looks back one more time while straining his eyes. Again, nothing unusual is seen. The only ones on this road are the five people with him. There can't be anything else. His senses must be playing tricks on him due to exhaustion.

"What's wrong?" Gamo asks him, having noticed Rigel's behavior.

"It's nothing..."

He returns to his previous posture, clinging to the horse's neck. Gamo smiles with an amused look. There are many high-strung people in Bloodmoon's ranks, so Rigel's anxiety isn't anything out of the ordinary. Being wary of your surroundings even when there's no sign of threats is good. Unexpected things happen frequently during missions like this one.

He must've sensed a small animal on the roadside, Gamo thinks to himself.

<><><><><><><><><><>

The group reaches the city of Tyrin without trouble. As they ride in along the northern road, just before the gates, Rigel sees some changes had taken place. A number of trenches had been dug all the way around the northern part of the city limits, a defensive measure for any upcoming battle.

Tyrin has been peaceful for a long time and its defenses are underwhelming. The stone wall that surrounds it can repel bandits or barbarian raiders, but an army of 10000 is a different matter. They will have cannons, catapults and earth magic as well. With these, destroying a simple stone wall is child's play. If Tyrin is to survive until reinforcements arrive, they need every bit of defense they can muster.

"Let's go, let's go! The enemy could be here tomorrow!" someone shouts.

Even with the rain pouring hard, there are still soldiers working hard on the trench and setting up wooden spikes on along with it. Mages assist them by hardening the earth with magic so that the rain doesn't completely ruin their work. On the positive side, the city is on higher terrain than its immediate surroundings, so they need not worry about flooding.

The team crosses the trench using a small wooden ramp. Asher privately speaks with the guards at the city gate. Rigel wonders if they might be rejected since Asher handed his special badge from Count Faustina over to Selene before they left. This worry proves to be meaningless, as they are allowed through after only a brief exchange of words.

I wonder what the Captain said to them. Do they have a secret pass phrase?

Inside the safety of the walls, everyone can finally calm down and let go of their worries for a night. They dismount and leave the tired warhorses at the stables to be fed and cared for. Just like before, each member is allowed to spend their free time however they please until they are summoned again, within reason of course. As special guests of the Count, they must avoid breaking any laws if the relationship is to remain amicable.

"I'll be returning to the inn I stayed at before" Rigel tells Asher.

"By tomorrow evening we should have new orders from the King. We will probably have a meeting. If not tomorrow then the morning after" the captain reminds him.

"Understood. Summon me as necessary."

As Rigel is about to leave, Asher smiles wryly. "You look like a mess. Make sure to wash up before you see that beautiful fiancé of yours."

"... My what?"

Some coughing is heard from Gamo as he walks away, pretending he didn't hear anything.

<><><><><><><><><><><>

At Coppereye inn, Rigel receives some unfortunate news.

"I'm sorry sir, there are no rooms remaining. The remaining two were filled the day you left" the innkeeper informs him.

It must've been Selene and her friend. Since Nashira is here too, she probably recommended this place.

"I'll find another place then."

There are several other inns in Tyrin, so he leaves Coppereye and begins checking the rest one by one. He quickly discovers there are no rooms left anywhere.

"Even all the reserved rooms are filled?"

"Many people have sought the safety of our town because of the war. All of the inns are certainly full by now."

"I see..."

Rigel leaves the building dejected, slapping himself on the forehead for not anticipating this problem. Focused on training and his mission, he neglected to consider that he might not have a dry place to rest once he came back. He has slept under the open sky many times before, but the ongoing storm makes that prospect rather difficult.

While walking through the city, he sees a significant number of people loitering on the streets. Most are villagers who fled their homes and are taking refuge inside the city walls. They hide from the rain under any roof edges they can find, but there aren't enough for everyone. Those without a roof are forced to cover up as best they can and huddle together, praying for sunlight to return.

It's hard to believe the nobles allowed so many people into the town. Normally they would be left to fend for themselves outside the walls. Count Faustina might be a more soft-hearted person than I thought. Still...

There are too many people. A situation like this cannot be sustained for long. Like all towns and cities, Tyrin depends on food produced by the surrounding farmlands. Without anyone to tend the fields there will be a famine, so the villagers must return to their homes before long. Rigel knows little about managing a city but even he knows something this basic.

The only saving grace is that King Hamal will soon arrive with a large military force. Assuming he protects Tyrin like captain Asher thought, the enemy will not have the option of surrounding the city and waiting for starvation to begin. However, even if the enemy is repelled, that doesn't mean the food crisis is over. Flooding can destroy food storage and whatever is left of this year's crops. Depending on how much was lost, many people may not survive the winter. It may be kinder to have them fight and die than to slowly starve in the coming months.

There might be a food riot soon. Will I be forced to watch another mass execution?

Memories of the town called Delfoi still linger in Rigel's thoughts. At that time, he nearly attacked a noble out of anger when he ordered the execution of hundreds of peasants whose only crime was being desperate for food. Rigel's reckless act was stopped by Asher, but what if it happens again?

No, I'll put this idea out of my head. A mage must not lose control of his emotions. I was lucky until now, but if it keeps happening then innocent people could die because of me. My focus should be on the Council traitors who stabbed my father in the back. Asher was right.

Waves of cold wind hit Rigel's body. Parts of his cloak and mage robe were torn during the mission. He prevents hypothermia by applying some skilful fire magic to the exposed area, warming his body without causing burns. He looks around town, pondering where to go next.

Now that I think of it, the inns might've refused me because of the way I look right now. I need a good bath with soap. At least I remembered to bring a few silver coins with me.

With that in mind, he first goes to buy some clothes and then heads to the local bath house. They were still open despite the storm outside. The bath house had a higher demand for services than usual. People of all kinds wandered into the building with their clothes soaked by the rain, hoping to warm up and dry off. A savvy merchant also had the foresight to set up shop right outside to sell umbrellas and water-resistant coverings. It wasn't just poor peasants who took refuge inside Tyrin's walls, there is a high number of merchants and travellers as well, so there is an abundance of customers.

As Rigel cleans himself off and relaxes his muscles with a warm bath, the evening comes to an end. Just as he is buying one of the rain covers sold outside, a peculiar feeling washes over him like a wave. A mana pulse blankets the whole city in an instant. It gives a warm and pleasant sensation. Most people, including mages, wouldn't notice it because of how well it blends with the ambient mana, but Rigel recognizes it immediately and heads toward the source.

There is only one person I know of who can use this spell.

His senses lead him to the second largest civilian building in the whole city, a rather luxurious inn called Rose and Crown. Made out of stone and oak, it's a sturdy building with a roof wide enough to cover carriages at the entrance. Like this the nobility and wealthy merchants can step out of their carriages and into the building while hidden from the rain.

Did she change the inn where she was staying at? Maybe something happened while I was away.

Rigel tried to visit the Rose and Crown earlier but was refused by guards at the door because of his ragged appearance. However, now that he took a bath and changed clothes, the guards look at him differently.

"Alright, you can enter. Don't cause trouble or I'll toss you out into the mud" one of the men says and opens the door for him.

Rigel steps into the lobby. On the right he sees the front desk where a female receptionist looks at him with suspicious eyes. On the left is an entrance to the dining hall where guests are enjoying their evening meals while listening to bards hired by the inn. The whole interior is adorned with carved wood and ornaments appropriate for a first-class inn. Despite the storm raging outside, there is hardly any noise here. The atmosphere is certainly pleasant. He immediately moves past the front desk and toward the stairs, guided by the aura he feels from the floor above.

A wide corridor extends in front of him, going from one end of the building to the other with many rooms on each side. He advances down the corridor almost to the far end where he arrives face to face with the one who called him here, Nashira.

"Welcome back."

She greets him kindly as always. Rigel's heart feels lighter just from being near her. After the last few days he experienced, seeing Nashira again is like a breath of fresh air. Her aura is gentle and soothing, a pure existence unlike any other.

He hesitates. Before he can reply to her greeting, she opens a door to the side with a silvery key that was sitting in the lock.

"Please, come in."

Rigel does as asked and enters first, with her following behind. The room is clean and elegant, as expected of a first-class inn. He thought he would see Nashira's belongings scattered around, but there's only a bed and some furniture belonging to the inn. The room seems to be unoccupied. His confusion is cleared up by Nashira's next words.

"This room is yours. I will be staying at Coppereye inn along with miss Selene."

"You mean you rented this room for me? I'm thankful, but you didn't need to go to such lengths. A regular inn would've been fine."

"A prince shouldn't be staying at a cheap inn— is what Selene said. She insisted that we obtain a lodging befitting of your status."

Nashira has a slightly tense expression as if to say 'please accept, it would trouble me if you don't'. There's no reason to hesitate any longer. Rigel decides to accept. He makes a mental note to pay back the cost of the room at a later date. It wouldn't feel right for Selene and Nashira to make up for his mistake in forgetting to rent another room before he left Tyrin. Even if the other side doesn't expect anything in return, he will repay the favor.

"Then I shall take my leave. Sweet dreams, prince Rigel."

"Ah, wait Nashira. If you're going to call me a prince, then at least let me accompany you back to your inn. It would be shameful for a prince to allow a lady to walk the dark streets by herself."

He senses a small stirring in her aura, a sign of emotion. Is she happy or just bothered? he wonders.

"Please do."

<><><><><><><><><><>

As the sun rose on the next morning, the skies had finally cleared. It is a great relief, but there is much work to be done in the wake of the storm. Some of the townspeople are clearing debris from the streets, others are busy repairing damage to buildings.

Rigel is fully recovered as he leaves the Rose and Crown inn. All of the stress he accumulated during Bloodmoon's mission was now gone. He doesn't care for most of the luxuries sought after by nobility, but the healing power of a good meal and sleep on a soft, dry bed cannot be replaced.

He heads toward the local Magic Guild branch. Most soldiers would take this time to relax, eat, drink their fill and maybe frolic with women. Rigel is a young man, so he has some interest in that sort of thing, but now is not the time.

I am a mage. I won't let myself be controlled by primal desires. One ordeal is over but another battle awaits me tomorrow or the day after. I must prepare. I must stay focused.

On the way to the Guild building, he notices a large gathering in the town square. Smoke rises from a stone altar at the center of the crowd. It's coming from a burning animal carcass on top of the altar. A group of bearded, old priests dressed in white perform a chant while one of them sprinkles a powder-like substance over the fire, releasing a pleasant smell. Hundreds of people have their heads lowered in prayer. It is a traditional animal sacrifice, an offering to the gods. Rigel observes the familiar scene with a cold expression.

As always, a lot of people gather to pray after a natural disaster. They thank the gods for sparing them and they pray for safety in the uncertain future. Do the gods really care though? I'm not so sure. I think we humans are just toys for their amusement.

Rigel has never been particularly religious. He knows what the priests would say, that one must pray and make offerings regularly to receive the gods' protection. Can it really be that simple? Can a burnt animal and some smelling salts really please them? Do gods really interfere directly in human affairs?

If there is such a thing as divine intervention, Rigel has never seen it. Rather, he has seen the opposite. When disaster strikes, many people who are pious die like any animal, while the corrupt are spared from harm. When a war breaks out, the weak and kind perish while the strong and corrupt thrive. Where is the will of the gods in this chaos?

What nonsense. I will never rely on the whims of some god. My survival depends on my abilities and those of the people around me. I will create my own path, my own justice in this rotten world. The gods can watch with indifference like they always do.

He leaves the town square and begins the tasks he planned for the day. First on the list, he visits the local Magic Guild branch to check any books related to dragons in their library. After hearing what the warrior Siegleif said about a living dragon far in the North, there is no way Rigel could just ignore it. If there is any truth to the story, he must find out.

Books are valuable enough that no one is allowed to take them out of the library. Rigel spends two hours shuffling through the pages and taking notes on anything that looks promising. The books are filled with all kinds of information, but it's difficult to distinguish fact from myth. Stories of dragon sightings come from many places all over the world, including Amisos. None of them seem trustworthy.

The only reliable information comes from dragon bones found in the ground. The dragons were not a single species, there were several. More than a dozen complete dragon skeletons of varying sizes and shapes were discovered over time. The largest of these, from head to tail, is almost 40 meters long. Its rib cage alone could contain a large house. It's much larger than any land animal alive today. The skeletons also have wings, which means dragons could probably fly just like the legends say.

I'll ask Nashira about this today. Hopefully she can confirm or refute some of these hazy details about the dragon race. She might even know who that Siegleif fellow is.