The portal opened just outside of Rudon. Yuuta had decided to steer clear of that town it felt like nothing but bad news. After checking the map one last time they set off towards the mountain they needed to climb.

"So this dragon made its home in a cave on the other side of this mountain?" He asked just making sure before they climbed the mountain for no reason.

"That's what they told me it's been spotted frequently flying over it so that was their best guess." Her explanation didn't inspire confidence but it was all they had to go on.

"I hope so I'm not a mountain climber let's just fly over it." He said grabbing her hand before she had a chance to answer. Taking off they flew through the sky at breakneck pace.Despite flying it still took 10 minutes to make it up to the mountain and over the side.

Hovering above the mountain range he released his mana trying to find the dragon's presence." Do you see anything I can't sense anything?"

"Nope I can barely see through the fog and snow I'll leave it up to you."

"Gildi you could be a little more help you know." He said teasingly. She pretended to act offended and narrowed her eyes like she was trying harder to find the entrance.

"It's not on this mountain I can't find anything did they spot the dragon anywhere else?" He asked.

"Once again nope it always flies over the mountain after it eats so there's only two options either the dragon is out hunting or it's farther into the mountain range." Neither of those sounded fun and then something hit him. If they went any farther into the mountains they would be in dragon territory.

"You forgot about option 3 Gildi how much farther into the mountains do you have to go before you hit the dragon's territory?" He asked a little pissed off.

"Umm... not far maybe 20 km why?"

"Think about it the king wants me dead right what better way than to get me to venture into dragon land literally filled with the deadliest beasts on the planet."

"That's doesn't make sense if that was the case why would the guild get involved?" She asked making a good point.

"You felt how off Rudon was it wouldn't surprise if the king had someone pay off a couple of villagers to make fake reports. It isn't hard to make it look like a dragon burned down a farm. Even the guild employee felt off he could have been bribed them to, apparently that Desmir jr is no rose either he probably orchestrated the whole thing. This all feels off now that I think about ." He felt stupid for getting played so easily.

"So then what do we do, it doesn't matter if the reports are fake or not the king won't just let this go right?" That was also true if they came back empty handed who knows what would happen not to mention Emery's plans to worry about if the king caught wind he would have all the proof to execute him.

"Well, I guess we could venture further in and see if we can catch a straggler on the outskirts and kill it. Even if we catch the king in his lie he will just deny it. Let's wait here for a couple of hours just make sure the dragon isn't feeding if nothing happens we will travel further in." It wasn't much of a plan but it was better than nothing.

"I politely refuse there's no way I'm going farther in what makes you think you can kill a dragon in the first place I know you're strong but I've seen dragons there no joke. You might get lucky and kill one while it's alone but if you draw attention while your fighting we're going to get surrounded." Gildi was speaking so fast her words started to merge together her anxiety was through the roof.

"Fair enough you don't have to come if you don't want to I'll open a gate and drop you off at the castle." He opened the gate and motioned it for her to go through.

"That's not what I meant I refuse for you to go to it's literally you walking into your own death. Not to mention Ria would kill me herself if I had to explain why I came back without you. Ohh yea I just left your fiancé the love of your life alone to fight a group of dragons that will probably kill him no big deal." By this point Gildi was pulling Yuuta towards the gate he opened he wasn’t budging but she was trying none the less.

"Haha, Ria would definitely blow a gasket if she heard that. So just make up a lie I have to go and do this but you signed up for one dragon, not the whole clan. It's fine I don't blame you." With that Yuuta grabbed her wrist and pried it off his hand grabbing her waist he picked her up.

"Hyaaa what are you doing let me go!!" Her face went bright red as she wiggled trying to get free.

"I will in a second I forgot to ask what do I need to bring back for proof of subjugation?" He almost forgot to ask that important question.

"What?! let me go already and I'll tell you!!..." she crossed her arms and pouted like she was a kid throwing a tantrum. After about a full minute of silence, he still didn't let go of her and looked directly in her eyes. “Fine just quit staring at me like that it's making me feel weird! You have to bring back a dragon tooth they are super expensive and are hard as hell to break off."

"Thanks, and sorry this is going to hurt a little." With a firm push, she flew into his gate with a short yelp quickly disappearing.

***

Rolling through the gate Gildi crashed into a couch stopping her momentum. With a groan, she rubbed her head and stood up. She was in a meeting room they had been in a couple of days ago. "Goddammit, that stupid jack ass how could he just throw me away like that! When he gets back he's getting a staff to the balls!!!!"

Guards came rushing in to find a pissed off elf thrashing the room. She calmed down once she noticed the visitors.

"Lady Gildi please calm down Prince Ronin has come to visit we don’t need cause for trouble!” The guard yelled and whispered at the same time. Gildi’s stomach dropped at the mention of the prince she was the last person she wanted to see. They had grown together both being taught by Avenci, during that time Ronin started to obsess over the elven girl it was not a fun experience for her. If Avenci didn’t have as much sway as she did Gildi would be married to the creep right now.

“Where is he?” She asked with a sour face.

“He is meeting with Emery, lady Milly, and lady Ria.” After getting directions to the room they were in she b-lined to the conference room arriving at a group of 20 guards on each side of the door. Giving a knock she opened the door to an unkind sight. Emery and Milly were on one couch while Ria and Ronin where on the other. Ria was noticeably uncomfortable. Her smile lit up seeing Gildi thinking Yuuta had come home to save her from this situation.

“Gildi!” Ronin shot up with a big creepy smile running over to her.

“Hi Prince Ronin,” she said with a frown giving a small bow.

“I’ve missed you I heard you were here with some no-name punk turned noble so I have come to rescue you.” He said like he was proud of himself. That comment earned him a dirty look from everybody in the room. Ria was considering stabbing him for what he said but she quickly got her emotions under control.

“Umm Gildi is Yuuta with you?” Ria asked hopeful that he would put an end to this.

“I’m sorry but no, the jackass threw me into a gate and left on his own to fight the dragon.” Ria instantly went full depressed mode while Ronin smiled.

“Who cares about that low born scum I’ve come to meet with Lord Emery, not some mutt lover.” He walked towards Ria and went to grab for cat ear which she nimbly avoided hiding behind Emery.

Nobody could say or do anything without potentially starting a war only one thing was certain though once Yuuta found out this prince was as good as dead. Gildi was visibly disgusted she grabbed Ria’s hand as well as Milly’s escorting them out of the room.

“I’ll come visit you later my love.” Ronin said to Gildi as she walked out the door. Terra quickly followed behind the group with Rena not far behind as well she was appointed as Milly’s personal maid. They walked quickly to Ria’s room and all hunkered down together.

“Are you ok Ria?” Milly and Gildi asked at the same time. Tears were filling her eyes as she balled her fists up. She was squeezing hard enough to draw blood. Milly and Rena both ran and hugged Ria tightly which made her visibly relax and hug the two girls back. “It’s ok Ria once big bro gets back he’ll kick that stupid jerk back to the capital,” Milly said with a smile. Making all of them laugh because she wasn’t wrong.

*****

Yuuta had been flying for more than 10 minutes when he reached an opening in the mountains. He stopped instantly feeling an immense pressure he had never felt before. It didn’t take him long to find out what it was. Two dragons were sleeping on perches above the path between the mountains.They were bigger than he imagined at least 8 meters long with tails covered in spikes. They were both pitch black with snake-like heads.

(Well I could just kill one of them and make a run for it) he thought to himself. It wasn’t his best plan but he thought it could work a quick blow to the head rip it’s tooth out and use a gate to escape. ( let’s go for it.) he mentally pumped himself up for his sneak attack.

No matter how much he forced himself to commit for some reason the closer he got the worse he felt about his plan. They looked so peaceful and majestic sleeping there’s no way he could kill it. He was now hovering directly over the dragon looking down at it. (They must feel safe here I mean who would get this close to the land of dragons. Ohh yea me I’m that stupid. ) Yuuta examined the dragon on the right side of the path it looked almost cute it made a low rumble with each exhale almost a purr. He smiled a little wanting to pet its head.

Then he did something stupid, something you should never do. As if the god of stupidness shined on Yuuta he saw an opening. The poor dragon yawned in its sleepy state and exposed its long ferocious teeth. Like a kid in a candy store, he couldn’t help himself. In a moment of pure unadulterated stupidness, he gripped the long fang that was exposed by its yawn and he pulled with all his might. With a sickening crunch and lots of blood Yuuta pulled the tooth clean from the root. He felt proud of himself for about .5 seconds.

To nobodies surprise the dragon roared in anger and instantly batted at Yuuta with its tail. With a clean hit, Yuuta was impaled in the stomach and sent flying crashing into the mountain. Both dragons now alerted jumped at Yuuta while his intestines were hanging out of his stomach. With all his might he forced himself out of the hole he created from the impact falling headfirst towards the ground. He focused as hard as he could and opened a gate on the ground hoping to fall into it.

The dragons both quickly followed up and opened there mouth breathing fire hitting Yuuta’s lower half. His left leg was burnt off instantly while his right was burned severely. The dragon missing a tooth went for the killing strike using its tail to hit the ground where he should have been.

**

Ria had finally settled down and sent everybody to there rooms for the day only Gildi stayed behind to explain why Yuuta had expelled her to the castle. Unfortunately, in the middle of the story, a gushy wet flop hit the ground next to the two women.

Laying on the ground not more than 5 feet from them was Yuuta’s mangled corpse. Ria instantly screamed a look of complete horror was on her face. Yuuta had lost his lower half while his stomach and chest was completely ripped apart it’s contents empty. Gildi was in shock she had no idea what to do until she heard the door start to open with her quick reflexes and thinking she forced it closed with wind magic before running to keep it closed. “Everything’s fine Ria just saw a spider leave us be!” She shouted frantically barley getting the words out as she locked the door. Ria’s stomach was in knots bile working it’s way up her throat as she rushed to his side trying to hold back her puke and tears she started calling to him.

“Oh my god Yuuta, Yuuta, can you hear me please be ok! Please come on say something.” The tears she was fighting back where now free and flowing as she draped her self over him. Gildi was casting healing magic but she knew it wouldn’t have any effect on wounds this bad.

Ria looked to Gildi with the most terrified and pleading face she had ever seen it almost broke her heart. “ Please you can’t leave me not now we just found each other!! You were supposed to meet my dad and brother come on wake up! I know they will love you, you would fit right in with them! So..so get up already you promised to take me.!!You have too they have to meet the love of my life the one who made my life worth living again who saved me from a life of despair!! You can’t go I can’t be here without you I can’t be a person without you please!!” Ria face was now covered in snot and tears as she buried her face into his torn up chest.

Her mind thinking of anything to do to help him. “Gildi do you have a knife?” She asked frantically. She nodded pulling her robes up to her thighs where she kept a small knife just Incase. Handing it to Ria without hesitation she dug the knife into her hand. Blood started pouring as she pushed it to his mouth. “What are you doing Ria? I don’t think that will help he doesn’t have a stomach or a heart. He doesn’t have anything.” Ignoring Her words she continued to let the blood drip down his throat.

“Mmm,” a low groan came from Yuuta. As if time was being rewinded the massive holes in his stomach and chest slowly started to close. If you looked close the blood was taking shape of a heart slowly stitching together. It was a truly an amazing sight Gildi was frozen watching in amazement before realizing she needed to help. Quickly moving to Yuuta’s other side and copying Ria slicing her hand open letting the blood flow into his mouth. 10 minutes passed then 20 his chest finally was fully closed and legs were regrown. Both the girls were light headed and exhausted both of them had lost a decent amount of blood before Gildi healed their hands.

“He has a heartbeat and is breathing but I think it will be a while before he wakes up,” Gildi explained to the worried Ria. Ria was busy cleaning off the blood on his body making sure he was fully healed. It made Gildi blush a little to see Yuuta naked but now wasn’t the time to be embarrassed. Ria finally exhaled seeing that he was in one piece followed by sobbing again all her pent up fear exploding out of her. Gildi was just as relieved that the big dolt didn’t get killed she went to grab his hand and a small smile reached her lips in his hand was a dragon tooth.