[Realm: Álfheimr]

[Location: Outskirts]

The forest had swallowed them once more.

Alexander trudged along, arms crossed and voice breaking the silence first.

"Not that I don't mind getting out of that place so fast," he muttered, glancing back toward the distant outline of the Retorta Guild's outpost, its banners vanishing behind a curtain of trees, "but was there really a point in cutting that meeting short? Felt like we ran out before anything could even happen."

Tamamo-no-Mae, perched lightly on Dante's shoulder, shifted. "When you've lived as long as I have," she began, "you begin to see through the small performances mortals put on. Their ambitions, their little lies, their feigned sincerity — they all repeat in cycles. That man was no different." Her eyes toward Ivan, whose expression was still uncertain. "Your title alone, boy, painted a target on your back. His greed flared the moment he learned you were a prince, no doubt. Whatever he would've asked in exchange for his aid… would not have come cheap."

Ivan's shoulders sank slightly. "Even so," he murmured, voice tight, "we should've at least tried to negotiate more. Those people — the townsfolk — how long do you think they can last without the mines?"

Tamamo's ears twitched, her gaze softening just a fraction. "Who can say? Perhaps a season. Perhaps less." Then, with a sigh she added, "But it's clear that negotiations will not be the method to resolve this. And still, we waste precious time on such a small matter."

"Small matter?" Ivan repeated, frowning deeply. His voice rose just slightly, frustration cracking through. "Their livelihoods depend on that mine, Tamamo. That isn't small — not to them."

She tilted her head. "True," she admitted quietly, "but compared to the much broader picture…" Her words faded, swallowed by the wind.

"The hell would this 'broader picture' even be?" Alexander asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

"The dragons," Dante said simply. Both men turned toward him. "Ivan," he continued, "you've seen what they're capable of. You don't need me to tell you the scale of destruction they can bring."

Ivan's eyes dropped. His jaw tensed. The memories came back like a wound reopening — fire spreading through stone halls, the screams of their guards, the thunder of wings that blotted out the sun. "Yes…" he said softly. "They nearly tore Velikorya apart. I'd call it a miracle the kingdom still stands — but…"

"But what?" Tamamo pressed gently.

"Albion was the white dragon," Ivan began, voice distant, "and Ddraig the red. Both could speak, though their voices weren't meant for normal ears — it was like thunder and earthquakes trying to speak. Albion fought with such precision, restraint even. But Ddraig…" He hesitated, eyes narrowing. "Ddraig was... destructive. It didn't care what it destroyed. Cities, forests, armies — everything burned. He was the one who broke Velikorya." He closed his eyes for a moment, recalling the other dragon — the glimmering white form weaving through the smoke, wings slicing the air with elegance no beast should possess. "Albion moved fluidly. Even when it fought, it never struck where it didn't need to. It was… graceful."

"So one was just causing chaos," Tamamo murmured, "and the other restrained itself" Her tails curled behind her. "Could it be that only one of them truly drives the calamity?"

"Unlikely," Dante said. "Both are named in prophecy — if they continue to clash unchecked, the entire realm will be undone. Their conflict feeds the calamity."

"Wait," Alexander cut in, blinking. "Backup a second. 'Destruction of the realm'? You mean, like… total annihilation? You can't be serious."

Tamamo's gaze was steady. "He is."

Ivan swallowed, voice small. "You're… joking. Right?"

"No." Dante's reply came without hesitation. "If we fail, the calamities will consume everything. What you saw in Velikorya was only the beginning — the second calamity."

"Second!?" Alexander nearly stumbled. "You're telling me there's another one already happening somewhere else!?"

"The first began in a neighboring realm," Dante confirmed. "It's already no doubt spreading. But there are capable individuals there — strong enough to stand against it, perhaps end it. We can only hope."

"Neighboring realm?" Alexander repeated. "What the hell does that even—"

Tamamo's tails twitched in irritation. "We don't have time to explain every little detail," she said sharply. "What matters is this: a calamity looms over your world. And that's without counting the disturbances in the leylines lately. So…" She smiled faintly, though there was no warmth in it. "We use force."

"Force?" Ivan echoed uncertainly.

"Yes," she said simply. "We'll just wipe out that outpost."

Alexander froze. "Wha—are you insane? You saw that place! They've got an entire armed division camped there. It's basically a fortress!"

Tamamo gave a small yawn. "Even if they had ten fortresses, it would make no difference. Not against me… or Dante."

Alexander blinked at her, incredulous. "You're just a fox. What could you possibly do against an army?"

Her ears flicked mischievously. "More than you could, stinky boy." She stuck out her tongue.

"I wash!" he shouted, indignant.

"Before we charge in," Dante interjected calmly, "I'd prefer to investigate the mines first."

"Huh? But why?" Ivan asked.

"The Retorta Guild isn't just a mere trade organization," Dante replied, his tone analytical. "They're too large and organized. To purchase a town, to build such a facility in the middle of nowhere — their interest can't just be profit. There's something in that cave they want."

Tamamo hummed thoughtfully. "You might be right. Very well. You and I will handle the investigation."

"What about us?" Alexander asked before realizing he probably didn't want to know the answer.

Tamamo's eyes were immediately alight with amusement. "You two don't seem particularly useful in a fight."

"Huh!? How the hell would you know? You haven't even seen us fight!" Alexander protested.

"Experience," she said smoothly, "makes reading people easy." Her gaze slid to Ivan. "You're a Nil, aren't you? But your talk with the Legatus told me enough. You hesitated."

Ivan blinked. "I—"

"It's not a scolding," she said almost kindly. "But hesitation kills faster than a blade. So for now, keep your heads down and stay out of sight."

Alexander's fists clenched. "And we're just supposed to take orders from you now?"

"Poking the Retorta Guild with your current strength," Tamamo said evenly, "would be suicide. That Legatus alone would crush you, and if a Mortifer appeared…" Her eyes grew sharp. "You wouldn't even have time to scream."

The two fell silent.

"That's enough," Dante said quietly as he turned to Ivan and Alexander. "Still, your help won't be wasted. Any information you can gather about the outpost — the Legatus, the woman he serves — could prove useful. One way or another, this will end in conflict."

"But… it doesn't have to," Ivan murmured. His voice trembled slightly. "If it's just resources they want, I can give it to them. For the town's sake."

Tamamo's expression hardened, her tone sharp enough to slice through his resolve. "You may think that's noble," she said, "but it's foolish."

He blinked. "What?"

"Your kingdom still exists, doesn't it?" she continued. "Even if it's broken, even if it's barely holding on — it lives. But if you start handing pieces of it away, the Legatus will take everything. You'll end up a prince of nothing. There's a difference between being heroic… and being stupid. You still have people depending on you."

Ivan's lips parted, then shut again. His gaze dropped. He couldn't meet her eyes.

Tamamo sighed and turned away. "Let's move. The quicker this is done, the quicker we can deal with what truly matters."

Dante gave Ivan and Alexander one last look — hidden reassurance beneath his helmet — before a low sound rippled through the air. A sudden pulse of power distorted the wind around them, and in a burst of force that scattered leaves, both Dante and Tamamo vanished into the trees.

Alexander gave an irritated click of his tongue. "Tch. Who the hell does that fox think she is?" he muttered, his voice rougher than usual. His hand raked through his hair before dropping to his side, fists clenching. "She just struts around on that guy's shoulder like she owns the place, barking orders like we're her damn servants. Why the hell are we even listening to them?"

Ivan didn't answer at first. He stood still, shoulders slumped, his gaze fixed on the damp soil beneath his boots. The sound of Alexander's frustration seemed far away, muffled beneath his own thoughts.

"They… seem to know what they're doing," Ivan said quietly, after a long pause. "At least more than we do."

Alexander shot him a glance, half skeptical, half tired. Ivan didn't meet it. His eyes stayed on the ground — or maybe on something only he could see.

"Do you think she's right?" he asked after another beat, his voice hesitant.

"Right about what?" Alexander asked, though his tone softened just a fraction.

Ivan's lips parted slightly, but it took him a few moments before he spoke. "About me," he murmured. "About what she said — that I'm being stupid. Am I? By trying to negotiate instead of fighting? Am I just… putting everyone at risk because I want to believe there's another way?"

The question hung in the air for a moment.

Alexander exhaled through his nose, scratching the back of his neck. "Hell if I know," he said honestly. "Maybe. Maybe not. We might all be jumping the gun. But still… negotiation feels like the only sane option right now. If we go charging in like they want, it be suicide."

Ivan nodded faintly, his eyes distant. "Yeah. I agree." He drew in a slow breath, the words almost getting caught in his throat. "But Dante and Tamamo… they both spoke like it's already decided. Like fighting is just inevitable."

Alexander let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head. "Yeah, well, they're both crazy," he said, his tone masking unease. "What the hell are a fox and one guy supposed to do against an entire fortified outpost? Last I checked, armies don't just fall over because someone looks confident."

Ivan glanced sideways, a faint crease between his brows. "They seemed so sure."

"People who sound sure usually are the most delusional," Alexander muttered. "Still… I guess we don't have a choice but to trust them for now. Or at least act like we do." He crouched down, picking up a stick and running it through the dirt absentmindedly, tracing circles as he spoke. "Let's just do what we can. See what we can find out about that outpost, the guild, whatever they're after in those mines. Maybe we'll figure out something they missed. At least then, we'll have options instead of walking blind into a fight we can't win."

Ivan took a slow breath and nodded. "Yeah," he murmured, though his voice trembled faintly. "Yeah… you're right. Let's get moving," he said softly. "If they're risking themselves out there, we can't just stand here."

Alexander gave a small nod. "Guess so," he replied. He kicked the stick aside, the dirt scattering in uneven lines. "Let's hope that fox knows what she's doing… and that the guy she's sitting on isn't as reckless as he looks."

They started forward together.

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