We arrived at the castle, hearts pounding—but thank the gods, everything was intact. Yet, one thing unsettled me deeply: Ravel was still unconscious. I knelt beside him, gently brushing his feverish forehead. His skin burned like embers.

  I turned to Kyle, my voice cracking. “Will he be alright? I understand the world needs him… but to me, he is the world. He’s the only person I truly care about.”

  Kyle exhaled, his expression grave. “You already care for him, that much is clear. But what awaits him now… it’s not just danger—it’s death. And you’re not strong enough to stop it.”

  I opened my mouth to protest, but something shifted—Ravel stirred. His eyelids fluttered open, slowly. Both Kyle and I rushed forward.

  “Are you alright?” we asked in unison.

  Ravel nodded, then whispered, “What happened today… was it real? Or just a dream?”

  We told him everything. From Erwin Alther’s appearance to the soul-carrying technique… to the fight that nearly broke the sky itself. Ravel listened in silence.

  When we finished, Kyle’s voice dropped. “There’s something you need to know. I wasn’t supposed to tell you this, but… Ravel could die during the awakening of the Heavenly Flame Dragon.”

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  My blood ran cold. “My brother is not a sacrificial lamb! First, you used his body to store something even you couldn’t control. Then you sealed his cultivation, let him be mocked as the ‘useless second prince.’ And now you’ll risk his life as a tool to defeat Queen Riva? You may win this war—but he’ll lose everything!”

  As my fury spilled out, a warm hand rested on my shoulder. Ravel stood beside me now, gaze calm, unwavering.

  “If I must die to prove I’m not useless,” he said softly, “then so be it. At least I’ll be remembered for something.”

  "But this is suicide,” I shot back.

  “There’s a difference,” he replied, “between something you might do… and something you must.”

  Kyle interrupted, his voice tight. “Go get Rihanna. We’re leaving.”

  “What? Now? Ravel’s in no condition—”

  “We don’t have a choice,” Kyle said. “Every second we wait is a second closer to failure.”

  Soon after, a soldier entered. “Your horses are ready, Your Highness.”

  We mounted and rode out. By sunrise, we stood before the majestic palace of Queen Hai Ri. Words failed me—the sheer scale of it, the golden towers, the heat radiating from the stone like a living breath. It shimmered brighter than the sun, towering a hundred times over Valoria’s royal halls.

  Inside, Kyle told us to rest after our long journey. I tried, but sleep wouldn't come. My mind spun with questions—about the awakening, the risks, the cost.

  A few hours later, a servant informed me, “Young Master Kyle requests your presence.”

  When I arrived, Ravel and Kyle were already waiting. Kyle looked uneasy.

  “I haven’t heard from my master in days,” he said.

  He turned to Ravel. “How are you feeling now?”

  “Useful,” Ravel answered with a faint smirk.

  Then Kyle stiffened. “I can feel her soul power... it’s nearby.”

  We didn’t waste a second.

  We raced toward the source of the energy, following Kyle until we reached a cave cloaked in glowing mist. That’s when I felt it—spirit energy, wild but tightly controlled. Then, she appeared.

  A woman stood at the cave’s center, dressed in flowing gold, her long hair shimmering like fire, her body wrapped in living flame. She didn’t face us, but her presence was undeniable. It was as if the sun itself had descended to Earth.

  Kyle bowed instantly.

  Queen Hai Ri… the Dragon Queen.