Chapter 1: The White Dragon of Dragonia

There was a small, clicking noise. Or maybe he had just imagined it.

One way or the other, Bleu didn't care. So he didn't even turn to check what it was.

Besides the sounds in the wind, he had his voice inside his own head. There was no reason to use it out loud. Because he had no one to talk to.

He was the last survivor of the Sacred Dragons, no one else of his tribe remained. He was very well used to being alone.

All he wanted was some peace and quiet, and time had given him more than he asked for. A quiet life of indulging in books. It was a tranquility that most people had trouble to associate with a wild dragon.

For some time now, Bleu had been entertaining himself with pen and paper. As if trying to draw feelings he could not put into words. Eventually, he grew tired of it and returned the pen to its inkwell.

He had always kept the habit of writing on his diaries, though he took breaks from it at times. So long had him been writing them that the volumes filled a couple of his shelves. But lately, there had been many days like this one, where there was nothing to write about. How long had this gone on for? It shouldn't be that hard to remember.

To relax his back after sitting on the stool for so long, he stretched his long neck, turning it all the way to his back. To his surprise, he saw a girl, looking upside down due to his position.

"Bleu."

Breaking the silence as she called his name, the human girl wrapped her slender arms around his neck.

Bleu just barely avoided to fall off the stool like a klutz, and was grateful for that small blessing. With his strong neck he pulled the girl up as he fixed his posture, and then turned around on the stool.

"It's you, Karin." A name he was very used to saying. "When did you come in?"

The tall girl, who reached up to Bleu's shoulders, looked up at him brightly. The hunter clothes were a good fit for her strong and graceful body. To come to Dragonia, she certainly had to cross fields and the forest. Bleu gently picked out the dead leaves entangled in her hair with the tips of his claws.

Sacred Dragons were big, but not gigantic. Unlike other inferior dragons, they walked on two legs. When it came to height, a human's head usually reached up to the base of their wings.

"Don't surprise me like that," said Bleu. "Geez. You haven't dropped this habit of hugging me either," he complained a bit, not wanting to be treated like a kid forever.

"Oh, it's your fault for not noticing even as I entered the room. I can't picture you having been once in that Shining Force," she replied with a slight pout.

Shining Force, the army of light that once saved the whole continent of Rune. Bleu had been a member of it, but it was merely a title of the past to him. Hearing the name made the tip of his nose itch. Besides, he didn't expect Karin to bring it up.

She pulled away from him while stroking his neck, and turned away. Her light brown hair, tied up in a single ponytail, made a swift arc with the motion. Inside the quiver on her back, over her leather clothes, a bunch of arrows clacked in disarray.

"Oh, right. I shot down a copper pheasant on the way here. We can make a great stew for dinner with it."

Linking her arms behind her back, she gave a glance over her shoulder, suddenly making a cute face. Then she ran away without waiting for Bleu to reply.

"A stew, does that mean you want to stay over again?"

Bleu made a dejected face just from thinking of the time and work it would take to prepare the meal. It would be night by the time they finished, wouldn't it?

"You don't want me to go back alone to Rudo at midnight, do you? Besides, there's plenty of rooms so you don't have an excuse," she answered, already out of sight.

Good grief. In his head, Bleu waved a white flag.

Karin came to visit once a month, from the village of Rudo in the west. The very picture of liveliness, this human girl was someone Bleu couldn't go against. His power was far superior, yet when it came to words he had yet to win even once.

As a kid, he had grown up among Karin and the other children of Rudo. Daughter of the village chief, Karin was, then and now, Bleu's only friend. Childhood friends, if you could apply the expression for a human girl and a dragon child.

When the demon army assaulted Dragonia, Karin again was the only one to come after the Shining Force and help him. She worried more about him than the danger she could face. That's why Bleu joined the Shining Force to protect her.

Even once he returned after the end of the war, with her fearless nature, Karin continued to be like a big sister in his life, in both age and spirit.

The changes she would bring into his life showed him that time never stands still. Any moment with her was noisy, hectic, and full of energy. Bleu liked all these sides of her.

He let out a deep breath that wasn't quite a laugh nor a sigh.

Closing the diary he had been working on, he got up from the stool quietly.

Eventually, their late dinner was ready.

They ate face to face with each other as usual, the bowl of stew on the dinner table between them.

"Krin comes back tomorrow."

Karin brought up the topic suddenly, looking up to meet Bleu's face.

"Really? Krin, that walking encyclopedia?" Bleu asked back, jerking his head up from the glass of wine he had been drinking. With the harsh movement, the wine in the glass spilled onto the table and his jaw.

"Hey, watch it. You've always had such terrible manners."

Karin got up from her chair, and wiped Bleu's mouth with a cloth.

"Stop it, we're not kids anymore, isn't this embarrassing?"

While clearly ashamed and displeased, Bleu stood perfectly still. Perhaps that was more of a reflex than a habit.

"Nobody's watching. Besides, I used to do this always back when you were a baby."

When he was just a newborn, Bleu's mother could not produce milk, so the people of Rudo fed him cow and goat milk in her place. Karin insisted that she had done it a bunch of times. Bleu didn't believe her, because she was only three years old back then. She must have been making it up. Whenever he contested it, she would start giving a bunch of details on how things were back then. Since he had no memories to compare, it was always his loss.

Not putting up with that, he tried to get back on topic. "So, about Krin coming back."

"Right, right, that."

Karin sat back on her chair.

"I heard that she went to Manarina to study magic. But she's finally coming back then."

Bleu let his mind wander to memories of Karin's younger sister. While Karin was the amazon running through hills and fields with a bow in hands, Krin was the opposite, a bookworm. The sisters were a perfect split of introvert and extrovert.

Krin was the one who looked for accurate accounts of the Manual within old books. Her knowledge had been praised even by Advisor Nova of Guardiana. Currently, she knew more about the Manual than Bleu himself. After all, he hadn't had any chance to see it, as it had been sealed within a shrine until Darksol stole it.

"Of course, you're coming with me to welcome her back."

Bleu wanted to say she was springing this on him too suddenly, but she had her hands clasped together, and her lips stretched a bit.

"Right..." he answered, a bit hesitant. He had no problem with seeing Krin. However, to do that he'd have to leave for Rudo Village.

"Krin actually asked for you to come. She said she has something important she wants to tell you directly."

"Ah, and what is that?"

"She said that in a letter brought by a carrier pigeon from Uranbatol, and nothing else. Seems to be something she wants to say face to face. Honestly, does that girl have no faith in her own sister?"

Karin sulked, and Bleu laughed as he tried to cheer her up.

"It's Krin, she might have been worried that the letter could get in other people's hands. Which means it must be something really important. Guess I have no choice..."

"No choice?" Karin's reply sounded just a little bit angry.

"No, no, I'm also happy to come along," he added, laughing like a fool. His words were only half true.

Thus, Bleu left the land of Dragonia for the first time in years. It was the start of a new journey.

*

Rudo Village was a small port, established by people who revered the Sacred Dragons of Dragonia. Despite being small, it was regularly visited by ships from Port Uranbatol in West Rune and the island kingdom of Waral at the center of the continent, acting as the northern entrance to East Rune.

It was already noon when Bleu and Karin arrived at the village. Karin's legs were used to run around the land hunting, and she showed no sign of exhaustion for walking all the way from Dragonia.

Marron came to greet the two at the gate. In the war, ten years ago, he had been the boy who raised a barricade of stones to protect the village, proud of his great strength. Now he had grown into a robust man.

"Lady Karin, Sir Bleu, Krin's ship should be arriving just now. I'll accompany you."

Leaving the gatekeeping to other guards, Marron began guiding them to the harbor. There was a particular reason he wanted to be there to welcome Krin. Karin knew that, and raised a hand to hide her smile.

"Lead the way," she replied, with the dignity of a village leader. To those around her age, she was the hero who brought all children together to resist the demon army. It was the same for Bleu, having been part of the Shining Force, independently of how much he wanted it or not.

The three walked towards the ocean, weaving their way through lines of houses surrounded by a tall fence that blocked out the sea breeze.

The people who passed by would immediately stop when they saw the three, bowing deeply. There were also children who would blatantly hide behind their own mothers. Marron's chest would noticeably puff up with pride at all those people.

Karin took a discreet glance at Bleu. While he looked calm, he seemed to be holding back some discomfort, or at least it looked that way to her.

A long time ago, the people of Rudo Village worshiped and supported the Sacred Dragons of Dragonia. The reason Bleu had managed to live alone all those years after losing his parents, until he met the Shining Force, was thanks to the help of the people of Rudo, starting from Karin.

And that was the problem. Being thanked by those people was one thing, but there should be no reason for them to be in awe of him. No matter how it had once been with the first Sacred Dragons, Bleu had been equals with Karin and the other children of Rudo. He wished it could have continued like that.

But as time went by, those children grew up, becoming adults who served the Sacred Dragons. They had changed, and perhaps Bleu had changed as well. The only ones who didn't change their attitude towards him were the sisters, Karin and Krin.

To shake off those stares bending toward him, Bleu hurried up to the harbor.

The smell of salt became stronger.

They could see the pier now. A ship then stopped by it.

The gangway was lowered, and people began disembarking.

At the end of a big group of people, a lone girl got down to the pier. She wore a long mantle, and after putting a heavy looking luggage bag down with a thud, waved a hand at them. Her round glasses threatened to slide off her small nose, so she fixed them casually with her right middle finger.

"Krin!" Karin called out for the sister she hadn't seen in so long.

Using her hands to comb her short maroon hair, which looked terribly messy, Krin waited for the embrace of her sister.

"Hey, Krin the walking library, welcome back." Bleu greeted the eccentric girl with an affectionate nickname.

"Good to see you again, Bleu," she replied, getting out of her sister's hug to embrace Bleu's neck. Bleu hid a bitter smile, they sure were sisters.

"Welcome home, Krin," Marron greeted her, as if not wanting to be overlooked.

"Hi, Marron."

"What, I just get a word?" He grumbled a bit, "do you know how much I wanted to see you again?"

Krin side-eyed him for a quick moment. "Before that, hurry up and get my luggage," she replied, half an order. Complaining that she hadn't changed a bit, he reached out for her bag. As he looked down to it, he met eyes with the creature behind Krin. He froze.

"It's fine, Cerby. He's just carrying the luggage."

Upon hearing Krin's voice, the two-headed dog, Cerberus, turned away all four of its eyes from Marron. With a single bark, it ran to its master, tail wagging. Marron let out a breath as the tension passed.

"There's a lot I want to talk about with you, Karin, Marron. And Bleu... Let's go home already."

Krin took Karin and Bleu's hands on hers, and led them. Marron and Cerberus followed behind them.

As they tried to leave the harbor, suddenly the people around got agitated.

Bleu turned around, and saw another ship. It was still at sea, slowly approaching the harbor. But even from that distance he could that the bow was broken, and the mast torn in half. It certainly wasn't approaching intentionally, just being dragged by the tide.

As if hearing something, Cerberus suddenly ran in the shipwreck's direction, and began barking furiously. Looking closely, a group of flying creatures were flying in circles around the ship.

"Sea Bats. They're scavenger creatures. That means there's something in that ship, maybe someone..." Krin was observing the creatures from a binocular, that she must had taken from her bag at some point.

"We have to confirm that," Bleu murmured, and spread his wings. Karin, who stood behind him, had her view completely blocked by them. He looked three times bigger like that. It was an imposing sight to anyone around.

With great strength from his muscles, his wings beat against the air. With some flaps, he took to the clear skies at once. Cutting through the air, he rose even higher, and glided in the direction of the shipwreck.

Upon the white dragon's approach, the Sea Bats scattered away from the ship like scared little spiders.

Bleu spun above the ship quickly, then landed gently on the deck.

"We should go as well. Prepare a boat," Karin ordered.

Marron hopped into a small boat and prepared the oars. The sisters boarded as well, and he began to row immediately with great might.

The three hurried after Bleu and the shipwreck.

By the time they arrived, there was no bat in sight. Naturally, a Sea Bat would never face a Sacred Dragon. You could call them wise for running away on instinct.

Waiting for them at the deck, Bleu flew once again to bring them aboard.

Inspecting their surroundings, they found that the damage on the ship was worse than it looked from afar. Even a storm or a battle shouldn't be able to cause so much destruction. There were marks all around, that looked as if a giant hand had struck it down, or ripped parts from it.

Heading to the inside of the ship through a crack, they found it just as wrecked as the outside. The damage was so big, it was fascinating that the ship managed to remain afloat.

There was no sign of passengers anywhere. Perhaps they had fallen off the ship through the cracks. Or dragged out by something.

"It's more like a ghost ship than a shipwreck," Krin said, and Bleu nodded slightly at her words.

Just as they thought of leaving, Marron shouted, pointing at a big crack on the floor. The others strained their eyes, attempting to see inside with the dim light that passed through it. A girl lied down there in the depths of the ship, half of her body submerged in the water.

"Marron, please."

At Karin's command, Marron headed down there.

He placed a hand on the girl's chest to check her vitals. Fortunately, her heartbeat was strong. Perhaps she had fallen there by luck and escaped the danger, albeit losing consciousness. Marron picked her up with ease due to his strength. Her long hair was wet with the sea water accumulated in the ship's bottom, and it dripped loudly.

"Sir Bleu, please hold her."

As Bleu took the girl from Marron's hands and carried her to above the floor, he couldn't help a vague, uneasy presentiment coming over him. His movements became stiff for a moment, and Karin laid eyes upon the girl in his arms.

The black haired girl remained still, her chest going up and down weakly.

*

They took the girl to Karin's house, and by the time she woke up, the sun had already set. Because of that, Bleu lost the chance to return to Dragonia, and had to stay over as well. Besides, the sisters didn't have any intention of letting him go easily from the start.

When the girl woke up, she got up until she was sitting on the bed, and was very shocked when she first laid eyes on Bleu. Karin thought there was no reason for such surprise, and introduced herself and Bleu to her.

Naturally, that was a normal reaction for someone seeing a Sacred Dragon for the first time. Most people did not live regularly next to them as the people of Rudo did.

Karin had grown way too used to dragons — to Bleu.

"So, I was drifting at sea, and you have rescued me," the girl spoke as if trying to reassure herself. She had a clear voice that matched well with her defined facial features. "I am a battle priest at the service of the God Volcanon. My name is Camallia," she introduced herself with grace. "I came from the distant continent of Parmecia in the north, crossing the ocean to meet the Sacred Dragon tribe."

"To meet me?" Bleu replied.

Karin, and Krin, who had just come running from her archive room upon being called by Marron, both looked up at Bleu with surprise and confusion.

"Parmecia… Volcanon… I never heard these names before."

Krin casually adjusted her glasses.

"Please wait a moment, I have a letter from the Volcanon Temple here…"

Camallia reached out for her clothes placed on a nearby stool. Karin and the others had dried them out. As she turned to grab them, exposing to everyone her white back covered by her long black hair, the mattress covering her slipped, leaving her large chest bare.

With impeccable timing, Krin raised an arm. Her mantle flapped wide open, covering all of Marron's head.

Marron raised his voice in protest, but by the time he got the cloth off him, Karin had given Camallia her clothes, and she had fixed her posture as well.

Karin had a glance at Bleu, wondering how he took that. He seemed more interested in what Camallia had to say than on the girl herself, being from a different species as they were, and intently awaited her next words. Karin sighed in relief without thinking, and was weirded out by her own reaction.

"It is a shame, but it seems that the letter is missing," Camallia sighed in disappointment after searching her own clothes. "Now, all I can do is ask you to believe in what I have to say."

She fixed her gaze on Bleu, bending over to plead at him, "please, lend the Manual you protect to me. And, save the noble Sacred Dragons."

Her earnest plea struck Bleu deeply.

"The Manual!? Why do you need it? Also, what do you mean about saving the Sacred Dragons? They're extinct. I'm definitely the last one that remains. It's too late to do anything for them."

Karin took another side glance at him after those words. And her gaze lowered much as she understood his feelings.

Camallia looked puzzled. "How strange… Who made you believe you are the last one? Though, it might come to that in the end." She begged him once more, "please, save the Sacred Dragons of Parmecia."

"You mean that there are Sacred Dragons other than Bleu, living in this place called Parmecia. And they are looking for help…"

Camallia nodded at Krin. Unable to hide his shock, Bleu took a step forward. Karin gently placed her hand on him for support. Perhaps it was at this very moment that a certain fear first took root in her heart.

"Can you explain more? Are there really Sacred Dragons like me still out there?"

"Very well. I will share with you the vision I saw."

Camallia took Bleu's hand in hers. He held tight. The red jewel on the circlet she wore began to glow with faint light.

With his eyes closed, Bleu saw in his mind the fleeting image of a silver dragon. Many dragons stood behind them, wearing armor. They looked at Bleu with blue eyes clear as jewels. At the same time, Bleu heard grave words.

'O brethren from a distant land. I am the Silver Dragon who leads the Sacred Dragons of the mountain of fire. We are now at war with the devils. But due to this fighting, we have lost the Manual we were meant to protect. With that, our Flames of Life have weakened, and the Power of the Earth continues to grow abnormally. As it stands, we will be destroyed, and the unrestrained Power of the Earth will unleash a disaster once more. O brethren that we haven't yet met, we seek your aid. To protect everything that lives in this land, lend us your power -the power of your Manual. We have faith that you will come for us, and we'll bide our time as we continue to fight the demons. O brethren…'

The words cut out at the same time as the dragon's image faded away from Bleu's mind.

"This is…"

Following Bleu's question, Camallia began to explain, "at the southernmost point of the Parmecia continent, there is a peninsula known as the Fire Dragon's Tail. A Sacred Dragon tribe lives there, hidden. I was granted the divine vision you just saw by God Volcanon. And we were ordered in secret to come to this land, far in the south. To find the Sacred Dragons that live here, and borrow their Manual of Secrets to Parmecia. Lending it to the dragons of Fire Dragon's Tail, we could save them. However, during our journey, our ship was attacked by monsters… Now, only I have been rescued."

Others of his race were still alive. Bleu was incredibly happy at those words. The Sacred Dragons were not yet extinct. His heart was renewed with great love and pride for his race.

However, that quickly turned to sadness.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have the Manual. I can't help them."

Camallia asked why. Bleu told her the whole tale of the battle against Dark Dragon, the Legacy of the Gods. When he mentioned the name of Darksol, her face became frozen with surprise.

"Darksol is the name of one of the Demon Kings, along with Zeon and Lucifer. Though I cannot say if you've faced the real one or merely some impostor. So you say the Manual was lost because of that man."

"It's terrible, but…"

As Bleu answered, Camallia placed a finger on the circlet on her head. The ruby in its center began to glow with faint light. Krin could feel that the jewel was magical.

"The Manual is not lost. It should be… Yes, it should be to the west of here. You are lying."

"Bleu isn't lying. The Manual disappeared with Darksol," Karin retorted before Bleu could. But the priestess' beautiful face didn't stop piercing Bleu with its gaze for even a moment.

"So, that jewel's magic can pinpoint the Manual's location."

Camallia furrowed her eyebrows slightly as she heard Krin say that, but nodded.

"It's as you say, the Manual of Secrets is not lost." In the tense atmosphere, everyone turned to Krin at her surprising words. "It's at Manarina. I came back to tell Bleu about that."

To Karin, her sister's voice sounded hollow and ominous.

"Is that really true, Krin?" Bleu asked as he approached her. Obviously, he had been the one most impacted by her words.

"The Manual had been very well hidden at Darksol's castle. With the chaos after the war with Runefaust, it was stolen by thieves of an eastern continent. But Hanzou and Musashi, trusted allies of Queen Anri of Guardiana, managed to retrieve it safely after many years."

Bleu smiled a bit, upon hearing the unexpected names of old allies.

"But, while Guardiana was recovering from the war, they weren't sure they would be able to properly guard the Manual. Queen Anri took advice from Advisor Nova and Head Wizard Tao, and sought help from the leader of the mages in Manarina, the Great Wizard Otrant. Accepting the Manual from her, the Great Wizard determined that the mages of Manarina would use all their strength to seal it once more in the temple of Dragonia. The Great Wizard is calling Bleu to Manarina to discuss that."

"Sealing it, that's preposterous," Camallia cut her in a challenging tone.

"It is not, it should be sealed," Krin rejected her head on. "The Manual of Secrets contains knowledge for good and for evil. Black and white. Any power it can unleash, it can also erase. Any evil thing it can seal, it can also resurrect. Depending on who has their hands on it, it can save the world, or destroy it."

"That's why it is necessary to save the Sacred Dragons. If they, the protectors of the gods' secret places, are lost, the unguarded Power of the Earth will be free for evil hands to take over it."

"What is this 'Power of the Earth'?" Krin asked back, an immediate reaction to a term she hadn't learned of yet.

"I am not allowed to speak of its true nature whenever I please," Camallia held back.

"How prudent. So, who can guarantee it will be used only to rescue the dragons?" Krin asked back.

"I can," Camallia proposed with pride and confidence, but Krin wouldn't be satisfied with that alone.

"We know nothing of you, that's no guarantee."

Krin wanted stronger arguments than necessary. At times like this, it was clear that she wasn't one to give in easily.

As their discussion became more heated than it should, Karin and Marron stepped between them, trying to calm things down a bit.

"Can't we just copy the parts of the Manual you need?" Bleu interrupted, attempting to smooth things out, "and then seal it later, so that it can't be used for evil."

He looked at Krin for her opinion.

"It won't work. The Manual is not something that can be transcribed. From how Great Wizard Otrant has described it, it's not something that can be read by people. Sealing it is the only option."

"Do you mean the Sacred Dragons should be abandoned?" Camallia accused.

"Abandoning one tribe is better than letting another evil resurrect…"

Karin slapped a hand on Krin's mouth. From the surprising strength of her grip, Krin painfully understood what her sister meant. She had said things she shouldn't. Her eyes narrowing as if about to cry, she looked up at Bleu's face right beside her. He seemed to be desperately attempting to keep his feelings from showing on the outside.

"White dragon, what are your thoughts on the matter?" Camallia asked him. "The Manual of Secrets is something entrusted to the Sacred Dragons. What could be wrong about using it for their sake. No, more than that, you have a responsibility to save your own people. It is a duty of yours from birth."

"Don't decide that for him," Karin spat back at her, revolted by how Camallia pressured him. Her feelings were clearly written in her face.

Bleu refrained from answering immediately. Or more accurately, he couldn't. After all, what was the correct way to answer as a Sacred Dragon?

After some time, he replied, "anyway, let's go meet with the Great Wizard Otrant. If something can be dangerous to two continents, we shouldn't be deciding anything about it on our own. Besides, the Manual we need is in Manarina, so there's nothing we can do until we get there. Since we'll be meeting a bunch of mages, we might get some wise advice from them. Camallia, let's head there as soon as your wounds heal."

Deciding only on the departure, Bleu delayed his final decision.

*

They only boarded a ship three days later.

It wasn't because Camallia took time to recover. Fortunately, it took her only a day to be able to walk on her own. Perhaps because she had undergone harsh training as a battle priest. Her gorgeous body had no flaw or weakness.

The issue was not the people, but the ships.

The monsters who apparently attacked Camallia's ship had stayed in the waters. Many small fishing boats were attacked and lost. The island country of Waral had sent an official warning to both Uranbatol and Rudo, urging them to be careful.

Because of that, no sailor was moving an inch away from the harbor. None of them could stand the thought of their precious ship getting destroyed, especially after seeing the last shipwreck. Of course they had lost their nerve at that sight.

However, Karin's father, the leader of Rudo Village, had given them a real lifeline. Levering his position, he got the captain of the ship that brought Krin back to action. What they agreed upon was to sail southwest through the bay, and then head to the town of Rindo. That way, they would circumvent the dangerous region.

Bleu, Camallia, Krin and Karin boarded the ship. Marron insisted to the very end that he would come along, but he couldn't find anyone he trusted to do his gatekeeping duties in his place. Until the day they departed, he kept telling Cerberus to protect her master well.

The ship set sail safely, and took the sea route to Rindo's harbor. Should everything go well, they would arrive in a few days.

There was a rowing boat up in the deck, covered with a grey cloth. Karin was sat on its edge, entertaining herself by kicking her feet in the air, swaying dangerously. Bleu warned her a billion times that if she fell and got knocked out, no one would find her there until they reached land. She replied that she wouldn't mess up like that.

“It’s my first time going to West Rune. Could it be, that it’s the same for you too?” She asked Bleu as she puffed her chest, taking in the breeze.

“Yeah, it's a first for me too. That's why I'm a little bit scared.”

“Oh c'mon. With your wings, you could cross between the lands any time you wanted. Aah, I wish I had some of that.”

She stared at his wings, a bit envious.

“Don't be silly. Not like I can lend them to you if you asked. Besides, it's very hard to keep flying for that long. I won't say it's impossible but it's so absurd I don't feel like trying.”

Oh, but birds seem to do it just fine,” Karin narrowed her eyes at him, as if that meant dragons had to be capable as well.

“That's because they are lightweight. I'm bigger and heavier, so it's more trouble than you think.”

“Hehe, how much are you stuffing in that belly, I wonder.”

Karin said he should try it.

“Well, I guess today it will be a bunch of fish.”

Bleu smiled a bit, and Karin joined him. They tried to understand each other's feelings through those smiles.

Bleu had some regrets. He needed Krin and Camallia to come along. But he did not plan for Karin to come as well.

Of course, he objected to it. However, taking her as a representative of Rudo was one of the conditions the village chief had agreed to when it came to getting the ship, so Bleu could do nothing about it. Of course, it was also clear that Karin had convinced her father to help behind the scenes. By persuading or intimidating him, Bleu wasn't sure which.

Bleu questioned himself on why didn't he object more to her coming along. Starting from the fact that demons were attacking the Sacred Dragons and Camallia, this journey wasn't going to be without danger.

He didn't want to involve her, who was not a Sacred Dragon, in the problems surrounding the Manual. He was plagued by self-reprimanding thoughts on getting her wrapped up in this. He was a Sacred Dragon. And protecting the Manual was a Sacred Dragon's one and only duty. It was not something they could burden anyone else with.

With that, Bleu began to get determined to cross the great ocean and save his fellow brethren. Whether bringing the Manual with him or not, he could not let them die without doing anything.

But, perhaps that was a form of escape for him. To run away to others of his race. And once he got to them, would he ever come back? From a land of Sacred Dragons, back to where humans like Karin were...

Karin would never forgive him for that. Maybe crossing the ocean would be their parting of ways. So, he wished she hadn't come along. He didn't want to hear her protests.

Bleu wanted to set out without saying anything. But Karin wouldn't take that quietly.

Looking at her, he saw both her current smiling face, and her angry face from back when they were kids. Her once soft and plump face changed to a slender adult one. What else had time changed, and what did it leave untouched...?

Once a child scared of everything, how much had he grown up as well?

“Why did you come along?” Bleu decided to ask her.

“Because I won't let go of you,” Karin answered. “I've known you since I was a little girl. I can see through you, always. You're planning to leave me behind, and there's no way I'm accepting that. Things are different from ten years ago. I hate to stay behind waiting, that's why I became strong enough to follow you.”

Bleu was at a loss on how to respond to that.

“It's not like I wanted to leave you behind.”

Karin's face scrunched slightly, wondering how true that was.

“If I let you go like before, you don't know when you'll come back to Dragonia…”

“I'm no vagabond,” that's all Bleu said.

“But do you know how long it took for you to come back when you went with the Shining Force? It was way more than it should have been to just cross back to the north. So don't tell me you never thought of leaving.”

Bleu found the determination to join the Shining Force because he wanted to protect Karin, with all his heart. He thought he could bring peace to the world before the danger reached her.

At the time, he thought Karin had been happy to see him off. But maybe that was just what he wanted to think. He couldn't imagine how she had felt while waiting for him to return. This grown up Karin was not a girl content in just waiting around. She had become stronger of her own volition.

Having said everything she wanted to, Karin became quiet.

“Sir Bleu.”

Going around a pile of rope near the mast, Camallia approached the two. She still had her circlet with the red jewel and her long black hair, which seemed to be faintly tinged with blue, and wore a deep blue tunic, with a lustrous purple surcoat over it. The golden embroidery in it was likely Volcanon's insignia. She also wore long leather gloves and boots the color of cinnamon.

“Have I interrupted something?” She asked, looking at Karin. Karin smiled at her and said no.

“Seems you two have something to talk about, should I give you some space?”

As she said that, Karin hopped off the boat's edge. Her lace-up boots made a soft noise as she hit the deck. The unbound cloth covering it turned over with the wind, exposing the emptiness inside for a moment.

“Please do, if it's not a bother. I have something to discuss with the Sacred Dragon,” she politely dismissed Karin.

Karin herself had offered to leave, so she had no excuse to refuse. Against her will, she left.

“What you're going to say is something Karin shouldn't hear, I guess?”

“No, it is nothing like that. I just wish to speak with you, Sacred Dragon.”

Confirming with the corner of her eye that Karin was gone, Camallia began to speak.

“Just call me Bleu,” he said, frowning at how formal she was.

“There is something I wish to verify… Sacred Dragon — that is, Sir Bleu, I hear you are the youngest Sacred Dragon, born not long ago to your parents. Is that true?”

“Of course,” Bleu answered, and then asked back, “what's the problem with that?”

“It is not a problem, but it is the first time I see a descendant, a Sacred Dragon of a new generation. The Sacred Dragons of Parmecia are said to be immortals with no successors. I was, how should I say, very surprised at you being a special case.”

“That sounds very different from us. Though it's true that I am a bit of a strange thing.”

Bleu laughed a bit at how she had struggled to say that. She added that she wouldn't word it like that.

“It took a long time until I was finally born. Maybe the Sacred Dragons of Parmecia just didn't have the same time yet.”

“You needed time, to be born?” Camallia asked. The feeling that such a thing wasn't all it took lurked deep in Bleu's heart as well. Why had he been the only one to be born? What kind of creatures were the Sacred Dragons, what kind of creature was he?

“Once we meet the great Sacred Dragons of Parmecia, perhaps the mystery of your birth will be unraveled as well, sir. There might be answers within the Manual as well. As of now, we can do nothing but hope.”

Having inquired what she wanted to, Camallia left.

She figured more time was needed until she could find the answer.

The eastern wind continued to carry the ship with no issues through the night.

“Yes. I couldn't believe it, but he is truly a second generation Sacred Dragon,” Camallia, alone in the deck, watched the reflection of the stars in the ocean, whispering low so that no one could hear.

“…Certainly, he might be able to fill the place of the lost warriors. That one is without a doubt, obsessing about number and power.”

Within the reflection of the stars in the waves, there were two notable lights shining. They were like eyes, one silver and one crimson, blinking in the water's surface.

“However, I feel something about that Sacred Dragon that has gone beyond the gods' expectations. Perhaps that one also cannot conceive of someone like him. We should keep him under our control somewhat.”

The stars blinked once more.

“…Understood. As you desire, our great leader. I will bring the Sacred Dragon to Parmecia, and to you, my lord…”

Camallia pressed hard on her head.

The lights of those stars in the ocean faded away and disappeared, as if their face had moved away from the surface.

She let out a heavy sigh, brushing away her dark hair as if trying to cool off her flushed cheeks.

The wind blew, caressing her neck as her hair fluttered.

Camallia rested her back on the ship's edge, bending to gaze at the stars above.

The night had just begun. The journey had just begun. Yes, everything would begin from here onward. And who knows what the ending would be.

She grinned widely, excited for what she also couldn't predict.

With the mountainous region of Bustoke visible to its right, the ship slowed down and calmly entered the harbor of Rindo.

Everyone saw it from the deck, the town looked painted in red by the setting sun. Houses big and small were crammed together in front of the walls that surrounded the town. Smoke from cooked dinners rose from every chimney, and the occasional passerby hurried through the streets.

They approached the pier.

A man sat there holding a fishing rod. As if recognizing Bleu from the deck, he got up and began waving his hands.

“Bleu!” He called.

“Someone you know?” Karin asked to Bleu, who was right next to her. He gave a halfhearted reply while inclining his head forward.

The only people he knew from Rindo were his old comrades in arms, Lyle and Guntz.

Even as they walked the gangway and got down to the pier, he still hadn't remembered who that was. The man on the other hand, sporting an ochre beard, looked at him cheerfully.

“Did you forget, it's me, Boken.”

Hearing the name, Bleu finally remembered. He was an adventurer Bleu had met only once, in the town of Prompt. He had been around all of Rune going after the Shining Force, and had written plenty of travel, cultural and war records.

“I get it, it's been many years. I'm no longer the young man who ran around the whole continent,” he laughed while stroking his beard.

Once Bleu's group mentioned that they had not yet decided where to spend the night, he pretty much dragged them to his house. He currently lived right next to the inventor Crock, who was Lyle and Guntz's teacher. Between the nostalgia trip and his helpfulness, Bleu grew comfortable around the friendly guy.

That night became kind of a party. Lyle came, and they talked fondly of the old days.

Sadly, Guntz was away, conducting research on the Pao Train.

“That Guntz, he works as an inventor on his own now. I still help Dr. Crock,” Lyle laughed as he told Bleu that.

Lyle was a centaur, having a horse lower body and a human upper half. Because that, he was the only one there who was the same height as Bleu. It was a relief for them that Boken's house had a high ceiling.

“Is everyone else doing well?”

“Yeah. Anri inherited the throne and rebuilt her country with everyone else from Guardiana, and Zylo still rules Bustoke well. Earnest rules Uranbatol now, and has been working hard with the other knights. The more adventurous ones, they should be under this same sky somewhere. Well, I'm sure they're doing great. You're pretty much one the only one who shut yourself away.”

Done with his loud rambling, Lyle poked Bleu's nose with his mug. Some foam got on it. He had a good laugh off that. While embarrassed, Bleu also laughed, wiping it off with the tip of his tongue.

“But say, what kind of journey are you on with all these young ladies?” Boken asked, and Lyle joined in.

“Yeah, right, why did you leave your old home this time? Anything interesting going on?”

Bleu was unsure on how to answer. He still wasn't clear on what he should do about the Manual. But opening up to someone like Lyle should be fine… He opened his mouth, but Camallia came in the conversation right then.

“We are on our way to Manarina right now. I am from a foreign land, so they are helping me. Miss Krin, who studies at Manarina, is guiding the way, while her sister, Lady Karin, and Sir Bleu came along to protect us.”

She looked at Bleu for approval, and he nodded. The sisters watched in silence, probably thinking there was no need to say anything else.

“Ooh, a foreign land, I see, I see. Where are you from then, miss?”

Boken sounded very interested in Camallia's homeland.

Camallia had a good tolerance for drinks, and told them a lot about Parmecia between many mugs of alcohol.

Time slowly went by, and Karin and Krin, who weren't very used to drinking, retreated to their bedroom early. Lyle also excused himself as he had work on the next day.

“So many books. Have you written all of these?” Camallia asked Boken, her cheeks rosy.

One could believe that Boken's walls were made of books. His shelves, which reached up to the ceiling, were crammed with them. To Bleu, who had been raised with a similar room, the place was oddly soothing. Maybe because of the alcohol, or because Boken and Camallia had amusing things to say, Bleu felt in peace like he hadn't been in a long time.

“Half are guides and reference materials. I read them, and thought of going out for adventure. I wanted to visit the lands that showed up in their stories. The rest of the books were written by me, based on my adventures. There are guides introducing the places I've been, and also collection of stories I've heard around. In the end, they're all a lump of my dreams,” Boken said as he showed them around the room by the light of the fireplace.

“Then, will you write of us in a book as well?”

“I hope to. You've told me a lot of curious stories that could fill shelves.”

Camallia laughed, “you are truly a strange man.”

She got up suddenly. Either because she stumbled, or because she wanted to, she swayed towards Boken. Taken aback, he helped her stand up. It seemed that the drinks had finally got to her.

“Maybe we should end the night here,” Bleu said, and Boken shakily agreed.

“Is it the end? Then, to the adventurer who will watch the world change from here on, here's a good night kiss…”

With an arm around Boken's neck and without asking, Camallia kissed him. She then closed her eyes, and quietly feel asleep.

Bleu gave a wry smile while taking her away from Boken. With a huff, he picked up the large girl. Boken looked a wee bit disappointed, visibly red in the face even with the beard.

Bleu left the room calmly, carrying Camallia with both arms. At the doorway, he turned back to Boken.

“I envy you, Boken. You weren't captive to you dreams, you made them come true.”

“That's because your dreams are your own. One day, I'm sure you'll write dreams of your own too. When that happens, please show them to me. That's a promise, alright?.”

Bleu smiled as proof of their promise, and turned back away from the room.

But, he had nothing to write yet. Both in the past and in the upcoming future, there was only one thing for Sacred Dragons to read, the Manual. That was the duty given to them, and thus also their dream.

Bleu secretly prayed for it to not be a nightmare at least.

*

“Karin, are you still awake? If you are, can you open up for me?” Bleu whispered in front of the door of the room the girls were staying at. His voice was as loud as it could be while still taking care to not wake Camallia up.

“What's the problem?”

Karin opened the door after a while, peeking her head outside. Wearing only her thin nightclothes, she took a look at Camallia hanging limp on Bleu's arms, and made a puzzled face.

“She blacked out from drinking, can you let me put her in bed?” Bleu asked, readjusting Camallia in his arms with another huff.

“I can carry her,” Karin answered, looking a little annoyed.

“No, you can't,” Bleu's lips quirked slightly. Camallia was not a regular priest, but one trained for combat. She was quite the robust woman. Besides, humans were heavier than they thought, as they hardly ever tried to carry one another.

“If you can manage, of course I can too. Hurry, give her to me.” Aggravated, Karin walked out of the room and extended her arms towards Bleu. Stirred by her voice, Camallia, still asleep, rolled over.

Her movement shifted the balance on Bleu's arms too suddenly and he stumbled, as if handing her over to Karin in a clumsy way.

Not ready for it, Karin couldn't handle Camallia's weight, falling backwards.

She made a pathetic noise, “…hnnnngggh…”

Karin massaged the back of her head, her previously droopy eyes now wide open. Maybe she had seen some stars, but that was just for her to know.

“You OK, Karin?” Bleu panicked at the turn of events. His arms were still occupied and slowed him down, as he used his long neck to look behind her head.

“It, it doesn't hurt, at all…” She faked, while small tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. Telling him to not worry that much, she pushed his head away.

“Hey, Karin, what are you doing?”

Krin had woken up to the sound of her sister's head hitting the wall.

“It's nothing,” Karin answered her half asleep sister, and then whispered to Bleu, “C'mon, bring her inside.”

Grumbling that she should have let him do this from the start, Bleu carried Camallia inside the room. Karin walked by his side.

“Oh, whatever.”

She bended over to quickly smooth over the mattress. Bleu place the unconscious Camallia down there.

“Finally. Well, I'm off to sleep too. Good night, Karin.”

Bleu breathed a sigh of relief, and went to the door.

“Good night, Bleu,” she replied as he closed the door.

“Hey, what's going on…” Krin mumbled, unable to see anything in focus without her glasses.

“It's nothing, hurry up and go back to sleep,” Karin answered, placing a hand on her forehead and pushing her down onto the bed. She then turned to Camallia over on the next bed. The girl breathed quietly, dead to the world.

“What's the matter?”

Karin slipped into bed with Krin, and pulled the blanket over to her head.