Chapter 6: A New Opportunity

Airelina Frembell

The clock struck midnight, and I found myself sitting on my comfortable bed. I couldn't help but stare at the black ribbon that I always wear on my head. As I sat there, lost in thought, memories of my past came flooding back to me. I reminisced about the journey that my friend Amphy and I had taken together. We had come a long way since we first met, and now, he was on the verge of being promoted from Dragon Knight 3rd class to 2nd class. I couldn't contain my excitement as I thought about the upcoming assignment with Duchess Carousel that would propel him to the next level. The mere thought of it made me jump with joy.

I couldn't help but think about the possibilities that would come if Amphy was promoted to the first class of Dragon Knights. With this new rank, he would have the ability to support the Duchess's bill, which would bring us one step closer to achieving Arcadia's ultimate goal of freeing all the dragonoids. It seemed like a distant dream, but I couldn't help but feel hopeful as I thought about what it would mean for our cause. If Amphy achieved this promotion, it would not only be a personal accomplishment but a triumph for all of us who had been fighting for this cause. It was a thought that filled me with excitement and motivation, knowing that our efforts were leading us towards a better future.

A sudden knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I got up to answer it and as I opened the door, I was surprised to see the young duchess standing before me.

"Duchess Carousel…"

"Corasell…" She said, her eyebrows twitching. "I'm sorry for barging in, but we have to talk."

"I'm all ears! Totally!" I answered energetically.

I gestured towards a small stool in the room and led the young duchess to it. She sat down, but it was clear that the stool was uncomfortable for her. Despite this, she remained composed and focused on her purpose for coming to see me. As I watched her, I couldn't help but feel a sense of protectiveness towards her. She was still so young, but she had taken on a great responsibility as the leader of our cause. I made a mental note to ensure her safety and well-being at all times, knowing that she was the heart of our mission to free all the dragonoids.

"It's about Arcadia. I'm pretty sure that you know that I negotiated with Sir Estoff about funding your group for the exchange of my security. It's no matter at all to me since we're all fighting for the same cause, albeit not the same procedures. I prefer peaceful actions but you guys prefer a blood revolution. The question is, where is he going to put the money? Arcadia has been inactive for almost three years."

"Sir Estoff is using those money for recruiting young soldiers and Dragon Knights for our cause. He also targets small companies that support the bill. But most of the money spent is used for buying information from government personnel. He's really smart, totally!"

"Recruiting Dragon Knights is getting hard, I suppose." She cooled herself using her golden fan she's always holding. "The only dragon knight in your group aside from Sir Estoff is Amphere."

"T-That's true…but I think Amphy is good enough to do the entire job, totally…"

"It seems like you're really supportive of Amphere. I see where the ninety-seven percent compatibility rate is coming from."

The compatibility between dragonoids and dragon knights was a crucial aspect of our mission. To measure this, we used special heartbeat reading devices. The compatibility rate was determined by how closely the heartbeat waves of the dragonoid and dragon knight matched. The higher the rate, the more identical the waves, and the more powerful the Vesryn Pulse could be.

"They said that a compatibility of above ninety-five percent means that a dragonoid has an emotional attachment to his knight."

As soon as I heard those words, a sudden reaction took over me. I coughed and felt my face flush with warmth. My heartbeat quadrupled in speed, and I struggled to compose myself. The words had taken me by surprise, and I was embarrassed by my reaction.

I tried to hide my blushing face, hoping that the young duchess hadn't noticed. But it was clear that my sudden outburst had caught her attention. I felt self-conscious and vulnerable, unsure of what to say next.

"…N-No! Not at all! Totally!" I shrugged. "T-That must be a lie!"

"Oh? I've read it from a lot of books. But if it's a lie, it is maybe a lie, I suppose." The duchess glared at me with sarcasm.

The thought of Amphy brought a smile to my face. He was a kind and gentle soul, with a quiet and aristocratic demeanor that could sometimes make him seem distant. But I knew that beneath that reserved exterior lay a brave and selfless heart.

I thought back to the day, three years ago, when Amphy had saved me from danger. Even though he knew he was powerless to stop the threat, he had still risked his life to protect me. That act of courage had cemented my admiration for him and left a lasting impression on my heart.

As I reminisced about Amphy, I couldn't help but feel my heart skip a beat. His brown eyes, adorable face, and shaggy black hair had a magnetic quality that drew me in. Whenever I thought of him, my heart pounded with excitement and anticipation.

"...Is it obvious? Like, totally!?" I held my cheeks which is already pinkish red in color. I really think I have to admit this early.

"It's not that hard to read a dragonoid's heart because I was gifted with that power. But you're damned knight is so friggin silent that it bores me to learn a lot from him. I guess you're attracted with his mysterious invisible charm that I can't even comprehend."

What is this duchess talking about? She blushed when my Amphy carried him on his shoulders! I'm almost jealous about it!

I noticed a sudden shift in the duchess's demeanor. Her playful expression gave way to a more serious one, as if she were about to ask a question of great importance.

"Did he already know the Crimson Dragonfly?" she asked, her voice low and intense.

As the duchess spoke the name of the Crimson Dragonfly, my cheeks grew hot and my heart raced in my chest. It was a forbidden name, one that should never be spoken aloud.

I could feel my face losing its color as I tried to compose myself, but my heart continued to beat rapidly, betraying my fear. The Crimson Dragonfly was a subject that I had been warned never to speak of, especially not in the presence of my partner, Amphere.

I knew that I had to conceal the existence of the Crimson Dragonfly from Amphy at all costs. The consequences of even mentioning the name could be dire, and I couldn't risk putting our mission in jeopardy.

As I tried to steady my breathing and calm my nerves, I made a mental note to be extra cautious in the future. The Crimson Dragonfly was a dangerous subject, and I had to be careful not to let even a hint of it slip in front of Amphy.

With a determined look on my face, I turned back to the duchess, ready to continue with our conversation. But in the back of my mind, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered, knowing the danger that lurked in the mere mention of the Crimson Dragonfly.

"He doesn't. I knew that if he discovered everything about the Crimson Dragonfly, he will hate me. Totally." I glared at the duchess. "Out of respect, please don't tell anything to him. Once he knew, he would definitely quit Arcadia and the Dragon Knight Academy."

"Don't worry, no one will tell Amphere about it." She waved her hand with a forced smile. "I guess Amphere has the most important role in Arcadia. It will be troublesome if my allies lost their most important asset."

Relief flooded through me as the tension dissipated from the room. With a deep breath, I let out a sigh and felt my body relax.

"Thank you," I said, offering the duchess a grateful smile. I could feel the warmth of the smile spreading across my face, lifting the heaviness that had settled there.

As I looked into the duchess' eyes, I could see the understanding and empathy reflected in her gaze. It was as if she knew the weight of the burden that I carried, the fear that lurked just beneath the surface.

But despite the seriousness of our conversation, I knew that I couldn't let it weigh me down. With a small shake of my head, I banished the thoughts from my mind and focused on the present moment.

"One more thing…"

As the duchess reached into the pocket of her skirt, I couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity wash over me. What could she be holding in her hands?

With a small frown, she pulled out a single-page newspaper, holding it out towards me. The headline read "Pentagram Knight Found Dead," the words printed in bold, black letters that seemed to jump off the page.

My heart quickened as I took the newspaper from her hands, feeling a sense of unease settle in the pit of my stomach. As I read through the article, my eyes widened in shock.

"The authority has confirmed that a man with a white mask and a black cloak is the one responsible for the death of the Pentagram Knight," I read aloud, my voice barely above a whisper.

As I continued to read, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread settling in. The deceased Dragon Knight, Birdge Lorsighte, was a known supporter of the Dragonoid Rights Bill. It was an issue that had caused a great deal of controversy, with many people fiercely opposed to the idea of granting dragonoids the same rights as humans.

I looked up at the duchess, my eyes wide with concern. "Do you think this has anything to do with the bill?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

"The Black Phantom is after the ones who actively support the Dragonoid Rights Bill. That means even Sir Estoff is in danger of being assassinated."

"That Black Phantom is totally troublesome!" I clenched and pumped my fist. "I'm sure Amphy and I will beat his ass someday!"

"I really hope so. But there are new opportunities for us."

The duchess gracefully slipped her hand into the sleeve of her dress, pulling out a black brochure with a golden dragon sigil etched onto a diamond-shaped shield. The intricate design caught my eye as she handed it over to me. The title of the brochure, "The Dragon Knight Tournament," was written in bold letters on the front cover.

Curiosity piqued, I eagerly opened the brochure to find an invitation inside. The pages were filled with details about the tournament, including the fact that it is held only once every ten years, and that it was a privilege for the aspiring knights of the Dragon Knights Academy to participate.

The location of the tournament was stated as the floating city of Guardian's Haven, which was to be held two months before the debut of Princess Serenity Elkyria. As I read on, my eyes widened with excitement when I saw that the champion of the tournament would be granted the prestigious title of the Princess's Royal Knight.

A Princess's Royal Knight is the most prestigious military rank that exists in the empire, even higher than the generals. The Pentagram Knights, while esteemed, pale in comparison to the honor and authority that comes with being a Princess's Royal Knight. It is the ultimate dream of every Dragon Knight - to be chosen as the protector and champion of the beloved princess. Having this title is akin to having the military might of the entire empire at one's disposal, and is considered the pinnacle of one's career as a Dragon Knight.

"This is the easiest way to have the Dragonoid Rights Bill approved by the royal family. There will be no need for bloodlust for dragonoid's freedom anymore." The duchess said. "Sir Estoff said that we should have you and Amphere participate."