As dusk settled over Half Horn City, its soldiers and civilians toiled to repair the battered city walls. At that moment, a cloud of dust rose in the distance along the main road beyond the city gates.
Amid the swirling haze, a troop of cavalry thundered toward Half Horn City, their hooves pounding the earth. Clad in the standard armor of the Empire's local garrison, they charged through the gates without hesitation.
"I demand to see your highest-ranking officer!" the cavalry captain, a fifth-rank knight of the Empire, barked from atop his steed, his face stern.
Soon, Knight Spann, his body half-covered in bandages, was supported out to meet him.
The captain, still mounted, eyed Spann briefly before inclining his head slightly. "Honored Knight, I am Goron, deputy commander of the Second Cavalry Regiment under the direct authority of the Governor of Lille Province. By order of the Governor, as of this moment, a three-hundred-mile radius around Half Horn City is designated a military control zone. I am assuming supreme command here."
With that, Knight Goron tossed a sealed scroll toward Spann. "This bears the Governor's personal signature."
Spann's face betrayed surprise. "The Governor… is he nearby?"
"No, the Governor remains in the provincial capital," Goron replied, his expression darkening as he studied Spann's wounds. He sighed. "Knight, I must warn you—you've stirred a hornet's nest. The eldest son of Earl Raymond, Vice-Commander of the Imperial General Staff, was attacked and went missing under your watch. The Governor is appalled by your gross negligence. You'd best brace yourself for the consequences. This urgent decree was sent via the Magic Union's teleportation array to all units conducting spring maneuvers. By the Governor's command, all thirty thousand troops of Lille Province's garrison will halt their exercises and converge on Half Horn City to search for the young master of the Rowling family. And as for your report of a mage openly attacking a military camp…" Goron paused, his voice heavy. "You'd better prepare yourself. The Governor may summon you to the capital to testify before a tribunal. Your report could strain relations between the Imperial military and the Magic Union."
Spann's face turned ashen. He knew his military career was likely over. A mage had assaulted the camp he was tasked with guarding, and the Rowling heir had vanished. True, the blame could hardly fall entirely on him—a mere fourth-rank knight stood no chance against a powerful mage. But when disaster struck, someone had to bear the consequences, didn't they?
Saluting with effort, Spann straightened despite the pain shooting through his wounds, cold sweat beading on his brow. "Thank you for the warning, sir. I will obey every order from the Governor. I hereby relinquish command to you. As for the summons to the capital—when do I depart?"
"Now," Goron declared, his voice carrying across the gathered soldiers. "By the Governor's second decree: Knight Spann, deputy captain of Half Horn City's cavalry, is stripped of his rank for gross dereliction of duty. All officers of the city's garrison are demoted half a rank. You are expected to redeem your failures through merit! Knight Spann, you are to set out immediately. The Governor expects you in the capital by sunset tomorrow."
Noticing Spann's injuries, Goron softened slightly, lowering his voice. "Spann, I know the fault isn't entirely yours. Your wounds speak to your efforts. I'll report what I've seen and make it clear this matter exceeded your control."
"…Thank you," Spann murmured, shaking his head. "Still, I failed in my duty. Sir, Knight Robert of the Rowling family is at the garrison camp outside the city. You should meet with him. That's all."
As soldiers removed Spann's helmet and the insignia of an Imperial officer, Goron felt a pang of pity. Spann, Spann… do you realize the storm your report has unleashed?
On the surface, this was about the abduction of the Rowling heir by a female mage. But even a scion of the prestigious Rowling family wouldn't warrant halting spring maneuvers for thirty thousand troops just to search for him. The true issue lay deeper—a simmering conflict between the Imperial military and the Magic Union.
Mages, revered as a class above the law, had long enjoyed special privileges. But for one to brazenly attack an Imperial garrison? To the military, this was an unforgivable provocation, a direct challenge to the Empire's authority—bordering on treason.
In Lille Province's capital, the Governor's advisors were already at each other's throats. Once this report reached the Imperial General Staff, the repercussions would be seismic. The Empire's leaders had long grumbled about the Magic Union's exemptions from legal oversight, resenting the excessive privileges granted to mages. This incident could ignite tensions into open conflict.
Word had reached Goron before his departure: over a thousand garrison officers had signed a petition demanding the Governor compel the Magic Union to punish the attacker. But to try a mage—let alone a high-ranking one? That was unprecedented in the Empire's history.
As Spann, battered and broken, was loaded into a carriage bound for the capital—despite his wounds making such a journey grueling—Goron took charge of the city's defenses. He ordered repairs to the walls, damaged in the previous night's earthquake, to be hastened. Then, he rode to the garrison camp outside the city to meet Knight Robert.
Robert, too, bore wounds but pressed on with unyielding resolve. He'd spent the day scouring the surrounding area, his body exhausted but his spirit unbroken. His horse, however, had faltered, forcing him to return for a fresh mount.
Goron met with Robert, and after a brief exchange, Robert exhaled in relief upon learning that the garrison was mobilizing for a large-scale search.
"Furthermore," Robert added, "the Rowling family's private forces are likely assembling. By tomorrow afternoon at the latest, their light cavalry should enter Lille Province. This incident… it's spiraling."
"You mean the mage's attack on the camp?" Goron asked.
"Exactly," Robert nodded, a seasoned vassal of the Rowling family, privy to the undercurrents of power. "It's not just about the young master."
Goron glanced around, then lowered his voice. "I brought a thousand cavalry, with more troops gathering. I hold command over this three-hundred-mile radius, but I'll be frank—I'm not optimistic. The Governor's orders are clear: we must find Young Master Du Wei. Because…" He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "The Governor's private missive made it plain. The higher-ups won't dare break with the Magic Union outright—not yet. They'll use this to pressure them, maybe issue some stern letters, but it'll likely fizzle out. The military was attacked, yes, but no lives were lost, leaving room for de-escalation. However, the young noble is the linchpin. If—if I may speak bluntly—if anything happens to Young Master Du Wei, this won't end quietly."
Robert nodded, understanding dawning. If Du Wei met with misfortune… even if Earl Raymond reportedly cared little for his son, the Rowling family's honor would demand retribution. A centuries-old martial dynasty could not tolerate such an affront. If the Earl pressed the matter, his influence within the military could rally significant forces, potentially pitting the Empire's legions against the Magic Union in open conflict.
"What's the Magic Union's stance?" Robert asked.
Goron scoffed. "The Magic Union? Hmph. Their branch in Lille's capital claims they'll 'handle it internally.' That's it! An attack on Imperial troops—treasonous by any measure—and they brush it off with 'internal handling.' They've always shielded their own, acting as if the Empire can't survive without their mages."
Robert frowned, thinking. "Sir Goron, searching a three-hundred-mile radius may not suffice. That female mage's power was beyond anything we could counter. She's likely long gone by now. I suggest—"
"I know," Goron cut in. "The Governor's orders specify three hundred miles, but his private letter grants leeway to expand the search, even beyond Lille Province. He's coordinated with neighboring officials. And to the east lies the sea—the Governor has already requested naval support. With the Rowling family's deep ties to the navy, I'm confident we'll have their backing."
Robert gave a bitter smile. "I only hope Young Master Du Wei is safe…"
And how was Du Wei faring?
Not well. Far from it.
His boots were in tatters. The delicate lambskin footwear of a noble was ill-suited for trekking through a forest, and thorns had shredded his trouser cuffs. He leaned heavily on a sharpened stick, its point serving as both a crutch and a makeshift weapon.
Without the protection of a powerful mage—Vivian's magic having failed him—Du Wei, a mere teenage boy, moved cautiously, wary of lurking beasts. Staying near the dragon offered safety, but they couldn't huddle by its side forever. They needed food. They needed water.
After circling the island, Du Wei had mapped its terrain in his mind: endless groves of trees. His throat burned with thirst, but to his growing alarm, they'd found no trace of fresh water—no springs, no lakes, nothing.
With no other options, they pressed on. The island wasn't large, roughly circular and slightly flattened, its diameter spanning perhaps five miles by Du Wei's estimate. A small speck in the vast sea. Without water, their survival hung by a thread.
The dragon was no help now—no hope of flying away on its back. And Vivian, her magic gone, could barely manage a few seconds of flight before crashing. The sea surrounded them, an impassable barrier. They were trapped.
Without food or water, they wouldn't last two days.
Vivian trailed behind, her expression one of pitiful fear. Stripped of her magic and stranded on this alien isle, she was lost, her confidence shattered. Yet, oddly, following this young noble—who so often teased her—gave her a flicker of reassurance.
When Du Wei suggested scouting the island, Vivian insisted on joining him, despite the dragon's presence offering the safest refuge. No beast, surely, would dare approach a dragon.
But hours of walking had taken their toll. Vivian's feet ached, likely blistered, though she bit back her complaints, trailing Du Wei with furrowed brows.
Du Wei, though frustrated, noticed her distress. Such a trek was grueling for a delicate girl. "Let's rest," he sighed, checking the grass for snakes before helping her sit.
Vivian nearly wept with relief, the simple act of sitting a balm to her aching feet. Du Wei tore strips from his coat and handed them to her. "Here. Those boots are too stiff for long walks. Wrap these around your feet—it'll cushion them."
"Th-thank you," Vivian stammered, her cheeks flushing. "C-can we… g-get out of here?"
"Out…" Du Wei gave a wry smile, unwilling to crush her hopes further. "First, we find food and water. Then we'll figure out the rest."
He paused, his tone growing serious. "Here's what I've pieced together. The winds suggest it's spring in the Empire's eastern sea, meaning we're likely on an island off the southern coast, possibly near Lille Province. The plants here support that. But…" His expression turned grim. "There's something troubling."
"W-what?" Vivian asked.
"We've covered half the island," Du Wei said, his voice low. "And we haven't seen a single animal. No beasts, no snakes, not even a rat. This place feels… lifeless. And listen." He cupped a hand to his ear, his tone eerie. "In a forest this dense, there should be birdsong. But there's nothing. No creatures on the ground, no birds in the sky. It's unnatural."