Dragon Lover

As the sun rose, the group set off once again on their journey. The weather was dreary, a grey sky with a slight drizzle setting the mood. For some reason, the tension among the knights was thick, mirroring the overcast skies. No words were exchanged beyond a few grunts and nods, and the atmosphere felt heavier than usual.

As they continued along the trail, a dense fog began to form, restricting their visibility to just a few feet ahead. Ray wanted to ask where they were, but no one seemed in the mood for conversation. The knights remained on high alert, their hands resting on their weapons, their eyes scanning the path ahead.

"Why is there no life here? And what's with this fog?" Ray finally asked, breaking the silence.

"We received a request on our way to the village, telling us to investigate," Wilfred answered. "One of the residents claimed to have seen a shadow beast nearby."

"This fog is strange," Bernardo muttered, his grip tightening on his axe.

"It's most likely nothing," Delbert scoffed. "Most of the time, it turns out to be just a regular-tier beast."

Gary shifted uncomfortably, his expression uneasy. The encounter with the wolf beast in the Black Forest had clearly left a mark on him. Ray could tell the idea of facing a shadow beast terrified him. It was understandable—Gary had been powerless against the wolf before. Imagining something even more dangerous must have been daunting.

Wilfred, noticing the worry on Gary's face, offered a few words of reassurance. "Don't worry, boys. You have three of the strongest knights in the kingdom here to protect you."

As they pressed forward, Ray activated his Dragon Eyes. The fog was thick, making it difficult to determine if they were still on the correct path. With this ability, he would be able to detect any approaching creatures before they struck.

The trail was eerily quiet. Not only had they not encountered a shadow beast, but there were no signs of regular animals either. The absence of life sent a chill down Ray's spine.

As the fog began to clear ahead, a silhouette emerged. It was a woman, clad in green from head to toe, a bow slung across her back. Her brown hair framed a face that seemed to be in her mid-twenties. As soon as she spotted them through the fog, she approached quickly and bowed to the knights.

"My name is Ann Woodlock. I'm an adventurer from the Goneless Guild. Are you the knights who responded to our request?"

Wilfred guided his horse forward. "Yes, we are here regarding the sighting of a shadow beast in this area. Has the fog always been this thick?"

"It started two weeks ago. Many adventurers escorting merchants through the fog have been attacked, and some never returned. We've already lost four of our guild members."

Delbert turned to Bernardo, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't we just come through the fog unharmed?"

"Perhaps the beast senses our presence," Bernardo replied grimly.

Wilfred continued speaking with Ann, agreeing to stay in the town for one night to assess the situation. Ann insisted they stay longer to deal with the problem, but Wilfred refused, citing a lack of time. However, he promised to post a special A-Class quest to slay the beast residing in the fog, personally offering a bounty for it. Ann accepted his terms and led them to the nearest inn.

Upon entering the inn, Ray was struck by the sight before him. His eyes widened in amazement—everywhere he looked, the room was filled with items related to dragons. Paintings, ornaments, and statues adorned every corner.

As he took in the surroundings, Ann approached him. "It's pretty amazing, isn't it? The owner is well known for being obsessed with dragons."

Ray turned to her. "Are dragons real?" He knew the answer, of course, but he was curious about how much humans actually knew.

Before Ann could respond, the innkeeper emerged from behind the bar. "Of course, they're real," the man declared.

Walking toward Ray, the innkeeper continued, "My great-great-grandfather was saved by one. Ever since then, our family has dedicated itself to documenting everything related to dragons."

Delbert scoffed from the corner of the room. "A mere myth. Who would believe such a tale?"

Ray smirked. "So, do you not believe in the Red Dragon Sen, then?"

Delbert crossed his arms. "A story meant to scare children. The most anyone has ever seen is a giant wyvern, nothing more than exaggerated folklore."

Oh, how Ray wished he could prove him wrong. If he were still a dragon, he would have haunted Delbert just to see the look on his face.

"I see the boy is a fan of dragons," the innkeeper said, smiling. "Let me tell you the full tale. You see, they say that the Red Dragon Sen was an evil beast that destroyed everything in sight, but some say the opposite. There are those who believe the dragon was actually protecting us."

Ray feigned curiosity. "How so?"

"From all the stories I've gathered, there's a theory. When dragons ruled the land, the shadow beasts did not exist. Now that the shadow beasts are here, dragons have become nothing more than myths. Perhaps the dragons were protecting us from an even greater danger."

After the conversation, the knights paid for their rooms, and the group settled in for the night. But sleep did not come easily to Ray. The innkeeper's words echoed in his mind. While he knew that not all of it was true, some of it made sense. Back in his time, there truly had been no shadow beasts. Dragons had been the strongest beings on the continent. Humans had only managed to defeat them through sheer numbers.

But this plague… it was different. It spread too quickly. It infected humans too easily. Dragons had possessed a number of abilities, including immunity to all status effects. If dragons had still been around, would they have been immune to the shadow plague as well? Had someone planned this all along? Could humans have been mere pawns in a much greater scheme?

His thoughts swirled in endless possibilities. Eventually, he forced himself to close his eyes and drift into a restless sleep.