Kongol sat with his legs crossed near the summit of the low mountain that formed the core of the island. He had left early that morning to make the trek, and now he was able to see miles of ocean sprawled out before the horizon. Behind him, Fueno stepped down toward the sea, but before him lay a wild expanse of jungle that part of him wanted to charge into. To discover what beasts might live there was an intriguing idea, but in the end, he'd decided to stay where he was.

For the past two hours, his mind had been focusing on the stones resting beneath him, the rock that made up the mountain. He could sense it, stretching out in all directions to reach even under the ocean, and every minute, his mind had reached farther.

As much as he had enjoyed their journey across the sea, he looked forward to the days when he would be able to meditate like this every evening before he slept. Never before had the earth felt so present. Even now, he could feel it shifting, sharing its life force with the creatures and plants that lived on it. Even the ocean contributed to the earth's energy, the waves sloshing about bits of sand or breaking apart the rocky cliffs that jutted out here and there.

The transition of energy was constant and in all directions. Back and forth, back and forth it flowed, tying the land to the ocean and the ocean to the land. And though he could sense the flow of energy, he found that it was only things made of earth – stone and sand – that offered their energy to him. The rest was merely there for his appreciation.

At this moment, Kongol felt more connected to the earth than ever. Despite his culture's elevation of nature, he had never been able to sense it before. Maybe this was the connection he needed to be able to perform the magic that Rose so desperately desired of him.

He wondered if he'd been stronger, he would have been able to save her and Dart.

After wiping a tear, he shook his head and glanced around him. Then he reached out and picked up a small stone before eyeing it closely. It was black, almost as black as Rose's hair, and sharp ridges were exposed where it had broken off the mountain. As he watched it, he felt that he could sense its origin. It had come from deep within the earth, perhaps miles below where he now sat. He opened his hand and urged the rock to move. To his delight, it did.

Lifting the rock into the air, Kongol grinned and stood next to it. The stone wavered for a moment, and Kongol frowned before flicking out a hand to steady it. Then he watched as it moved slowly in a circle around him. Once it hovered level with his eyes, he sacrificed a fragment of focus and mentally lifted another stone from the ground. With a grin, he found that he could maneuver both stones together, and he swung them in a circle around his chest.

He continued like this, retrieving stone after stone, each no larger than his fist, and he began dancing with them on the mountain. He lifted them high above his head and then had them form a ring around his waist. He shaped them into a circle and then laid them across his arms in a decorative fashion.

What would his brother say if he could see him now?

Pleased, Kongol sat once more, using magic to stack the stones into a pile on his left. After a moment, he turned his attention back to the mountain.

He could feel it. Layers upon layers of rock built up over time… overlaying a core of… something else. There was not solid rock beneath it, although it was something that called to him like stone. And yet, it was fluid like water. Was it… liquid rock?

He had never heard of such a phenomenon, but now he found a strong desire to find out more about it. What would it take to bore into the earth and find this peculiar substance? The energy it contained was enormous, reminding him a little of the burning coal on the Queen Fury.

Suddenly, his stomach rumbled, and his eyes snapped open. The sun was now high overhead, and he grinned as he was reminded of old giganto sayings that his father would say around dinner time.

"'To eat is to sustain,'" he quoted aloud as he stood. "'Let us break here so that we may continue on the morrow.'"

And with that, he began the long march back to the city.

"All I'm saying," repeated Dart, "is that you didn't have to be listening at the door."

"And all I'm saying," said Meru, "is that maybe you should go ahead and kiss her!"

"No! The time isn't right for that! I've said that, like, four times already! Can't you just apologize so we can move on?"

"Apologize? You're the one who needs to apologize!"

"For what?" cried Dart desperately as they neared the bottom of the stairs.

"For making me wait this long to see you two get together!"

"I'm sorry, but we've been trying to deal with actual problems!"

"Do I need to separate you two?" called Haschel from their table in the lobby of the Flapping Pelican.

"Yes!" replied Dart as he sat with a huff.

"You've been back for all of five minutes and you're already fighting with the other children." Haschel shook his head in disapproval. "I'm going to have to talk to your parents about your behavior."

Dart rolled his eyes as Albert chuckled and Meru plopped into a seat.

"What took you so long?" asked Rose, and Dart caught a special meaning in her eye.

"Not any confessions of love, I can tell you that!" inserted Meru.

"Oh, my gods," moaned Dart, burying his blushing face in his hands.

"Were you listening in?" asked Haschel incredulously.

Meru looked down. "Only a little bit."

"She was there the whole time!" accused Dart.

"And where is Shana?" asked Albert.

"She said she was going to change," said Dart through his hands.

"She said she was going to take a bath," corrected Meru, nudging Dart with her elbow.

"What exactly happened up there?" smirked Haschel.

Dart sighed.

"Eventually, everyone here will know about it anyway," Rose pointed out. "You might as well tell us."

He looked around sourly. Meru fought laughter, and Haschel waited with an expectant smirk. Albert smiled his kind but intrigued smile, and Rose watched him with a curious eye.

Dart sighed again as he prepared to tell the story. But then the inn door swung open.

"Kongol!" he shouted, leaping to his feet.

The lumbering giant took a moment to process what he saw, but once he realized that his eyes had not deceived him, Kongol grinned and marched forward, sending shockwaves through the floor. Then he knelt and encapsulated Dart in a hug so tight that he couldn't breathe, and several joints in his back popped. At long last, Kongol released him and turned his attention toward Rose, who received similar treatment before Kongol finally stood back and grinned at them.

"I knew you would not die," he said.

"We couldn't leave you hanging like that," replied Dart.

"My friends," grinned Kongol, placing his hands on their shoulders.

Rose patted his forearm before retaking her seat as Dart did the same.

"Perfect timing, buddy!" said Haschel as Kongol sat on the floor. His head was almost at the same level as theirs. "Dart was about to tell us a story."

"Of how you survived?" asked Kongol.

"Nothing so trivial," inserted Albert. "Although I do hope that tale will be next."

"He talked to Shana," said Meru, drawing out the name.

Dart rolled his eyes again. But there, for just a moment, he thought he saw the corner of Rose's mouth turned up. Was she… laughing?

He refocused on her, but all traces of the smile had vanished. She'd turned her gaze on the table and was now tracing the grain of the wood with her fingernail.

And so, Dart recounted his conversation with Shana to his audience of five, embarrassed as he was. He knew that Rose was right; eventually, everyone would know anyway. Meru had heard the entire thing, having turned around to listen the second that Dart had closed the door, but she was remarkably courteous and never interrupted his retelling.

That is, until he was nearing its conclusion. As he explained his complaints of Shana, Meru suddenly popped her head up straight and exclaimed.

"My fruit!" she cried.

Everyone turned to her in surprise, and Dart mourned the loss of the serious atmosphere he had incurred at the table.

Meru smiled awkwardly.

"I dropped a bag of fruit in the market," she explained. "I'm just… gonna go get it…"

Head hanging low, she stood and walked off toward the door, casting regretful glances behind her.

Chuckles ran around the table, and attention turned back to Dart.

"I just told her that I felt alone," he continued, feeling awkward once again. "And then she hugged me."

"That's it?" asked Haschel.

"Yes, what else did you expect?"

Haschel scoffed and shook his head.

"It is a beautiful thing to be understood," said Kongol. "I'm glad you could have this conversation."

"Indeed, I believe that you have a place to go from here," agreed Albert.

"Oh, shoot," muttered Haschel, eyes focused at the top of the stairs. "Everybody act normal. Shana's here."

Dart glanced back and saw her there, beginning her trek into the lobby. She had bathed, and her hair was still damp, though she had braided it and it now draped over her left shoulder. Her clothes were clean and fresh, though casual. Although nothing had really changed, her approach felt different. No longer was there a solid barrier standing between her and Dart, but rather open air and kindness. The possibility of a future now stood at the forefront of Dart's mind, and somehow, she appeared even more beautiful than any other day over the past six months. She kept her eyes on the stairs, although Dart suspected that she knew that he was watching her.

"Wow, she really did take a bath," remarked Haschel.

"Something I could stand to do," muttered Rose, making a face as she ran a few strands of her ocean-steeped hair between her fingers.

"I'll say," chuckled Haschel.

Rose rolled her eyes.

"Hey, guys," said Shana as she neared the table. When she saw Rose, her eyes lit up, and she rushed over to hug her. "Rose!" she exclaimed before sitting next to her and beaming. "I'm so glad you're okay."

She met Dart's gaze and smiled before adding, "Both of you."

Despite the focused gaze of Albert, Rose, and Haschel, Dart couldn't help the giddy grin that came over him.

"How did you all make it back?" prodded Haschel. "A man and a woman, traveling alone on an island… Sounds like a riveting tale." He plopped his chin in his hand and glanced back and forth between Dart and Rose.

And so, they told the tale of their return. Despite Dart's considering it to be an uneventful trip, the entire group remained entirely absorbed in the story until its completion. It was not until the end that Dart revealed their discovery of the dragon.

"A dragon?" cried Meru, who had returned a few minutes into the tale. "I don't want to fight a dragon!"

"We might not have to," offered Dart.

"Perhaps the dragoon would be willing to join us," added Albert.

"In any event," redirected Dart, "we should at least check it out before we leave."

Everyone nodded.

"Commodore Puler suggested that the repairs to the Queen Fury will be complete tomorrow," said the king. "We can do some investigating and then decide whether we request more time here before we leave."

"Can we make it to Mille Seseau with the ship as it is?"

"It is likely that we will have to return to Donau first. The Queen Fury can likely make it to Mille Seseau, but there is no guarantee it could make the week-long journey back without proper repair. The ship was made in Donau; only there can the best materials be found to fix it."

Dart sighed. He had expected as much, but he wasn't happy to hear it.

"So how do we find a dragon without just sailing around the bay until we can feel it?" asked Haschel.

"Why don't we just ask around?" said Meru. "If anyone's seen it, it'll be the talk of the town." Leaning back in her chair, she snatched an apple from the bag she had set on the table and took a loud bite.

"Not a bad idea," muttered Dart.

"Shall we?" asked Albert as he stood.

"Not until I've had something to eat," protested Dart, snatching a pear from Meru's stash. "And a bath."

"You do smell kind of like seaweed," said Meru, her mouth full of apple.

"And there you have it. Can't traipse around a port town smelling like seaweed." Dart smirked and took a bite.

Evening was threatening its arrival before the group was finally able to make their way into the city. They split into groups of the girls and the boys, although Kongol offered to stay at the inn. By his own admission, he attracted an odd attention that would inhibit the success of their fact-finding mission, and the others reluctantly agreed to let him remain behind. Then they split up, and the men's group began asking any who would listen about whether they had seen or heard anything odd lately.

Their questions began this vague, but eventually, Dart, Haschel, and Albert felt a need to be more direct. Their questions shifted toward asking if anyone had sighted any beasts in the ocean or if there had been any newsworthy incidents across the Suncrest Islands lately. To their dismay, they found nothing.

That evening, they arrived back at the inn with nothing to show. As they entered, their four other companions awaited them at their table.

"Find anything?" asked Rose.

"No," replied Dart sourly as the men took a seat. "You?"

"Actually, we did," smiled Shana.

"The mayor of a town on the east island is here looking for help from the people of Fueno," finished Meru.

"Were they attacked by a dragon?" asked Haschel.

"No, nothing that dramatic," said Shana. "But they're having trouble finding enough fish to sustain their village. They were making do, but with winter coming, they're worried about being able to make it through the colder months. They've been growing crops, but time is limited for that, and even their boars are growing scarcer. One disappeared just the other day."

Dart exchanged a look with Rose, who was watching him with an amused expression.

"They raise boars?" he asked, lips pursed.

"I guess," shrugged Shana.

"Interesting."

"You think the dragon is causing the lack of fish?" interjected Albert.

Shana nodded. "And if the boars ever wander near the ocean, who's to say the dragon isn't snatching them there?"

"They let the boars roam free?" asked Dart.

"Why are you so interested in the boars?" demanded Meru.

Dart glanced at Rose again, but she was avoiding his gaze this time. "No reason," he muttered.

"Where is this mayor?" asked Albert.

"Staying with the mayor of Fueno," replied Meru. "In the upper district."

"How did you all even get to have a conversation with him?"

"Her," corrected Shana. "She sent her son to buy food in the market. He was very kind to speak to us."

"He liked her," said Meru pointedly, grinning widely.

"No, he didn't!" protested Shana, as if this point had been made before. "He was just being nice!"

Dart frowned. Shana loved to see the best in people, and she had been oblivious to men's advances before. He would have placed a high bet to wager that one of the boys he'd grown up with was still entranced with her.

"How old is this guy?" asked Dart, and Haschel turned away from the table, hiding his face with his hand and stifling a laugh.

"He's—" began Shana.

"Shana's age," finished Meru, smirking at Dart.

"He's younger than me," said Shana, shaking her head.

"Not by much," added Rose with a raised brow.

"We should go visit tomorrow," redirected Albert, giving Meru a stern look. "Then we can discuss the details with the mayor herself and see if this is a lead we should be following."

"Would they even let us into the mayor's house?" asked Dart.

"Dart, we have a king with us," said Haschel flatly.

"And we're kind of on a mission from another king," added Meru.

"Oh… Right."

The next morning, after a hearty and joyous breakfast where Shana actually sat next to Dart, the group of seven made their way to the mayor's house, following Shana's direction. Upon arrival, she stepped up and knocked on the door of the two-story house. It reminded Dart a little of Lavitz's home, although the stones here were dark gray and red instead of tan. Only a few moments after Shana had knocked, the door opened, revealing an older gentleman with graying hair and surprisingly informal clothing.

"Hello," he said in surprise. "How may I help you?"

"My name is Shana, and we ran into Pete yesterday in the markets. He said we could come and speak to his mother about a problem she's having."

The man's face turned confused, and he glanced at each of them.

"Let me just go find him, then."

The door closed, and they waited.

"Cheerful guy," mumbled Haschel.

The door opened a few minutes later, this time to a young man with hair bleached blonde from his time in the sun. His sleeveless shirt showed toned muscles on his arms and shoulders, and Dart frowned. When the boy's eyes met Shana, they lit up with a grin, and Dart crossed his arms.

"You made it!" he said, and then his eyes scanned the rest of the crowd, eyes lingering on Kongol. "And who are your friends?"

"You already met Meru and Rose," said Shana, stepping aside to introduce them all.

Meru smiled before elbowing Dart, and he smacked her arm in return.

One by one, Shana introduced them to Pete, son of the mayor of Lidiera, and they each shook his hand. Dart was sure to offer a firm handshake. Even though Shana omitted Albert's regal status, it was still only a couple minutes later when they were let into the house, although the steward seemed uncomfortable with the idea. Despite his silent protestations, they all stepped into the great foyer. It wasn't as spacious as Dart expected, but it was inviting just the same. Kongol, however, was forced to bow his head slightly to keep from bumping against the ceiling.

"I'm sorry about that," Pete muttered to Kongol. "Maybe we could…" He stopped whatever thought and shook his head suddenly. "Why are you so tall?" he asked brazenly.

"Mr. Pete," said the steward. "Perhaps we could refrain from asking people why they are so tall. Or short… or pale."

Pete chuckled awkwardly and glanced between Kongol and Shana.

"Sorry," he muttered.

"I don't mind," assured Kongol. "I am tall because I'm a giganto."

"I thought they were all extinct!"

"Cleary, they are not," inserted the steward with a stern tone.

"Sorry," repeated Pete. Then he leaned closer to Shana.

Meru hit Dart's arm, and he hit her back.

"I'm not used to places as fancy as this," mumbled Pete. Shana smiled politely, and Pete then spoke for all to hear. "I'll just go get my mom, and then she'll talk to you. I told her about you last night."

Nodding awkwardly, he shuffled out of the room and down a hallway.

After several more glances around the room, the steward took his leave.

"See?" whispered Meru to Dart as soon as he was out of the room. "He likes her. And he's her age."

"Will you stop?" he whispered back in agitation. "He's way younger than her."

"Do you have eyes?"

"Do you have manners?"

"That boy is definitely at least eighteen."

"Why do I even care about this?"

"Because he likes Shana!"

"So? He can like whoever he wants."

"You wouldn't say that if she liked him back."

"She can like whoever she wants."

"Would you shut up!" whispered Haschel loudly.

Meru crossed her arms and pouted while Dart rolled his eyes.

"I think we should talk about how our boy Pete thinks this place is fancy," said Haschel. "Imagine if he knew that Albert was a king." He chuckled. "Poor kid would probably fall apart."

"And that is precisely why I do not wish to tell them," said Albert. "It would not be worth the discomfort it would cause. Besides, I am a man just like any other."

"I think we all know that isn't true," muttered Haschel.

Before Albert could respond, voices could be heard down the hall, and Pete emerged with two people in tow. Both wore decorative jewelry, but they were otherwise plainly dressed. The woman's dress had a tall slit up to her thigh, and her blouse was a striking white. Her hair was short, but she had long, feathered earrings dangling down to her exposed collarbone. She offered a charming smile when she saw the dragoons and immediately looked to Pete for introductions.

The man wore a simple white tunic and trousers, but his hair was long and braided. His visage was more gruff, but he grinned nonetheless at the guests within his home.

"Greetings, everyone," said Pete, bowing this time. "Allow me to introduce my mother, Linde, mayor of Lidiera, and David, mayor of Fueno." The two mayors bowed in turn. "These are the people I mentioned last night."

"I hear you are offering to help us with our fishing problem," smiled Linde as she shook their hands in turn.

"That is our hope," nodded Albert.

"That is kind of you," added David. "Although I must say that I'm skeptical. Let's take a seat in the dining room, where I believe we can all fit." He eyed Kongol, as if he didn't believe his own words.

As it turned out, the ceiling was lower in the dining room, and Kongol ended up having to squeeze through the doorway and lean dramatically forward so that he could sit with them. Everyone took a seat – Kongol on the floor – and the steward appeared, offering drinks to each of the guests. A few asked for water and one for tea, but after the steward left, the mayor of Fueno turned his attention to them.

"So, the travelers from Tiberoa…" began David. "Why has something like our food problem caught your attention? You must be on a mission of great importance for a ship like the Queen Fury to bring you into harbor."

"True, but we believe there is a chance that our purpose and your problem could be connected," explained Albert. "We must investigate further before we simply move on."

"We are not even sure what your purpose is," said Linde. "How could they be connected?"

Albert glanced around the table, making prolonged eye contact with Dart, searching for permission to share. Dart nodded, and Albert returned the gesture before speaking again.

"Ultimately, we have business in Mille Seseau. But we believe there may be a dragon living in Illisa Bay."

"What?" exclaimed Pete.

"No one has seen a dragon for thousands of years!" protested Linde. "They are extinct!"

"Not anymore," said Dart, shaking his head. "We met one in Serdio."

"Two," corrected Haschel.

"And you think a dragon is… what? Eating all the fish in the bay?" asked Linde.

"What makes you think there's a dragon at all?" asked Pete. "How do you know it's not just a really hungry shark?"

"Sharks alone could not eat so many fish," replied Linde. "I have wondered if some poison has entered the waters to affect them like this."

David nodded. "Even our city has had difficulty catching as much as is normal for the season. Animals seem afraid to be near the waters."

"Dragons eat a lot," offered Rose. "If it's confined to the bay, it would make sense that it's eating up the local fauna. Especially with winter coming."

"But why a dragon? Why not some other creature?" insisted Pete.

Haschel, Dart, and Albert exchanged glances.

"We have our reasons," offered Dart. To his surprise, that seemed to suffice.

"Then what are we to do?" asked Linde, her face full of worry. "Dragons are… things of legend. We have no ability to fight one off."

"I can take care of it for you," said Rose.

Everyone turned to her with a look of surprise, confusion, or amusement.

"What?" she shrugged.

"I think what Rose means to say," corrected Dart, trying not to laugh, "is that we can handle it for you. Together. We've already fought one dragon and won."

"And I wasn't even there for that one!" laughed Haschel.

"All we need is a place to start looking," urged Albert.

There was a pause as the mayors exchanged glances and considered the proposal.

"I suppose… it makes enough sense," said David finally. "Although even if you defeat the monster, there is no promise that the fish will repopulate enough before winter cools the ocean."

"We cannot promise such a thing," replied Albert. "But we can promise that if there is a beast devouring your food supply, we will dispose of it."

"And if there isn't?"

"We will do our best to solve the problem for you, no matter the cause."

"Very well," said Linde, shooting David a look. "As far as where to start… This problem began near my village, on the eastern island. Many fishermen believe that the fish began disappearing near the coral reefs to the north."

"Then we can start there," said Dart.

"When did the fish begin to disappear?" asked Albert.

Linde thought for a moment. "Several months ago, at least. It was a quick and sudden decline, as if the beast awoke from a slumber and immediately began feasting."

Albert nodded as he pondered.

"I guess…" started Pete. "I guess you'll all be leaving soon then?" He turned to Shana, and Meru kicked Dart under the table.

"Yeah, probably today or tomorrow," said Dart, a little too loudly. "And then after the dragon business is over, we'll leave again. Pretty soon. Maybe the next day."

"We don't get to relax at all?" asked Haschel.

"I don't think the Queen Fury is going to wait for us to take a vacation," he replied sourly.

"Pete," interrupted Linde. "Why don't we show them to the door? They need time to prepare for their journey."

"Yes, ma," he said sadly before standing and heading toward the foyer.

The others followed him out, and after goodbyes were said and Pete had ascertained the location of their lodgings – much to Dart's irritation – they left the house and made for the Flapping Pelican. Along the way, the group had a lively discussion about Pete's advances toward Shana until Dart finally managed to turn their aims toward scheduling their departure. At long last, just as they were parting ways to go to their rooms, they decided to leave that afternoon so that they could get the Queen Fury on its way as soon as possible.

And so, after lunch and in the heat of the day, they gathered in the lobby of the inn so that they might hunt down another creature of legend.

"Are we really about to go fight a dragon?" asked Meru sheepishly.

"What, are you scared?" asked Haschel with a smirk.

"There's no need to be," said Rose casually. "We've defeated a dragon before."

"We also might not have to fight it," reminded Dart as they stepped out onto the street. "Maybe the dragoon wants to join us."

"We don't have a good streak of that happening," said Haschel.

"I'm not scared," said Meru quietly, though her expression betrayed her.

"We will protect you," inserted Kongol, patting Meru on the head. She smiled up at him.

They turned down the steps and toward the docks.

"In truth," added Albert, "I am also somewhat nervous. I have never faced a dragon before, and I have only heard of the dark and sinister things that were accomplished by the dragon my uncle used in Serdio."

"It was a powerful beast," nodded Kongol. "Many of my people could have fallen to one like him."

"That doesn't make me feel any better," muttered Meru.

"Nor I," replied Albert.

Dart sighed. "Think of it this way," he said. "Rose, Lavitz, Shana, and I fought Feyrbrand and Greham and came out on top. And that was only two dragoons back then. Now we have six. I think we'll be fine."

"I did almost die from that battle," added Shana.

"I'm sorry?" interjected Meru.

"That was because of poison! We won't have to deal with that this time." Dart paused, then looked at Rose. "Will we?"

Rose shrugged. "All dragons have poison in their fangs. As long as we don't get bit, everything should be alright. But we also have Shana to heal us anyway, so—"

"Nothing to worry about!" laughed Haschel, clapping Meru on the back. "Just don't get bit."

They arrived at the docks, and they met several sailors with whom they could drop off their message about leaving. Haschel took several moments to speak with one of them off to the side, and Dart frowned when he saw Haschel peck her on the cheek before returning.

"What was that about?" he asked.

"What was what about?"

"That!"

"Nothing." Haschel shrugged.

"Has she… been in our room? Since we've been here?"

"That's none of your business," grinned Haschel.

Dart shook his head as they followed the road out of town.

"What am I even going to do in this battle?" cried Meru just as they were on the sandy road that had greeted Dart and Rose the day before. "I can't fight a dragon!"

"You don't have to," replied Shana.

"Yeah, just sit out and let us handle it," mumbled Dart.

"Sit out?" exclaimed Meru.

And so began a tirade of grief over being unable to assist the dragoons in what Meru described as "the battle of a lifetime." For several minutes, she went on, her loud words falling on weary ears, until finally everyone worked together to bring her mind to a place of mild ease. She agreed with them that she had insisted on accompanying them even after she knew that they were all dragoons, and in the end, she fell silent, thinking her thoughts to herself.

Once this feat had been accomplished, the group traveled in relative quiet. Occasionally, conversations were struck up, but they died just as quickly. Dart thought it interesting that despite the object of their search, no one seemed particularly ill at ease, save Meru. It seemed as if they were confident in their ability to overcome a dragon, and Dart was surprised to find the same confidence within himself despite the watery nature of their opponent. Should he be more worried? He wondered what types of magic abilities a sea dragon might have, and he found his way to Rose to ascertain her thoughts on the matter.

She assured him that dragons were no more intelligent than the one who directed them, and that the difficulty of the fight would be determined by the mysterious water dragoon.

"And what happens when you fight a dragoon that's your opposite element?" asked Dart, afraid of the answer.

"You will find yourself stronger and weaker than usual. You will be repelled by the blue sea dragoon's magic, but they will be repelled by yours, too. You have both a disadvantage and the upper hand."

"That's… interesting."

"Just stay close to Shana and you'll be okay."

Dart nodded, and he glanced over to the white silver dragoon who now walked before him, discussing something with Kongol. She was smiling, though squinting slightly at the harsh sunlight, but she also appeared rejuvenated to receive its rays.

"Do we just follow this road?" asked Haschel, trotting up from behind.

"That's what they said, anyway," replied Dart. "This road should lead us to Lidiera."

"Is this the way you came?"

Rose shook her head and pointed along the beach. "We followed the ocean west," she said. "This road has us going along the north side of the islands instead of the south."

"You know," began Haschel, eyeing Rose. "You're awfully talkative since you came back. In a better mood, I'd say. And so is Dart." He glanced between them. "Is there anything I need to know about?"

"What?" asked Dart.

"Is there anything I should know?" he repeated. He dropped his voice to a whisper. "Or maybe something Shana should know?"

"Are you serious?" scorned Dart while Rose said, "You can't be serious."

"Why is that something you would come up with?" asked Dart. "What is wrong with you?"

"You can't possibly believe I'm the only one who thought of that," said Haschel.

"Just because you're sleeping around doesn't mean everyone else is," accused Rose.

"Forgive me for taking an interest in your personal lives!" huffed Haschel before marching up to talk to Kongol.

An awkward silence fell over them, but Dart's eyes settled on Shana again. He couldn't help but wonder if she really had been worried about something like what Haschel had implied. Surely, she knew him better than to think so.

"She never suspected anything like that," assured Rose quietly. "We talked last night. She couldn't think about anything except you and your conversation."

He sighed. Shana laughed at something Haschel said, and Dart realized that it had been a long time since he'd seen her laugh.

"Do you think there's any hope for me?" he muttered.

Rose nodded. "Yesterday proves that there is."

Dart sighed again. Hope bloomed within him despite his protestations. Who knew what lay in store for them? They were off to face another danger, and none of them knew what new dangers might follow. And yet…

He considered what Rose had said about her old companions who had died. She had loved one of them, and now he was gone forever. What if such a fate awaited Dart or Shana? Was it worth it?

Suddenly, he recalled something Lavitz had said, what now seemed like a lifetime ago… only a few days before he had been killed.

I know you're scared to lose people, but you can't just keep worrying about the future. Shana is here, now… and you need to start focusing on the present.

Dart considered his friendship with Lavitz. It had been so brief. And yet, the memory of that friendship was worth going through the pain of his death a thousand times over.

"Would you have done it all again?" asked Dart, eyes still fixed on Shana. "Even if you would still lose him in the end?"

For several steps, Rose was silent. Then, just as Dart was worried that she hadn't heard him, she responded.

"Yes."

Lloyd sighed heavily and drew a hand over his face. Then reaching down, he snatched his trousers and pulled them on.

"And what has you so worried?" asked Lenus from behind him as she redressed herself.

He took several steps forward to stand before the broken window, now free to let the ocean breeze into the room. There the sea lay, devoid of human turbulence and wingly pride. It merely existed, its ecosystems swirling together, its waves pushing onto land only to fall back to their place.

There was a certain beauty about it that he could not define, but merely admire. An innocence that he longed for and yet could not find in the world.

Not even within himself.

"It's nothing," he muttered.

"How long do we have to stay here?" complained Lenus. "I love the water, but I'm ready to get started on the next part of your plan." She sidled up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Whatever it is."

He frowned.

"Not talking today, are we?" she said sourly before pulling back from her embrace.

"I was thinking about leaving in a day or two," he said. "We can head north, and…" His voice trailed off.

Lenus stepped forward and leaned against the wall, eyeing him. "You don't have a plan, do you?"

"Not as much of one as I'd like."

"That's okay. We can wing it. That makes things more fun anyway."

"Like you 'winged' your departure from the Twin Castle?" said Lloyd.

All at once, Lenus's face wrenched in anger, and she began shouting at him.

"There was no other way to get away!"

"You tried to kill the king."

"Stabbing what's-his-name was a distraction! And besides, you know he has wingly blood in him. Descended from half-breeds. He deserved what he got."

"You acted as his daughter for months and you don't even know his name," sneered Lloyd.

"Why are you so cruel?" she asked wildly. "You weren't always this way!"

His lip twitched.

"I wasn't always being hunted by six dragoons," he replied coolly.

Lenus shook her head. "Don't you remember how it was back home?" she asked as her temper softened. "We were happy together. Then that Diaz came along and messed with your head."

"He showed me the way to the future."

"And where am I in this future?" She stepped forward until their faces were inches apart. "Have you made room for me yet?"

Lloyd sighed and turned to face the window once again.

"Does that mean no?"

"It means that I don't even know my place yet," snapped Lloyd. "I've been given so much… gifted so much, and I still don't know if I'm worthy."

"What are you talking about?"

With a huff, he shook his head.

"Tell me," said Lenus softly, touching his arm.

"Diaz gave me three dragoon spirits, and… not one of them chose me."

"Maybe you're destined for something greater than a dragoon spirit," shrugged Lenus. "You're smarter than anyone I know. You'll come up with a way to be worthy." She sat on the bed. "Diaz chose you for a reason."

"Perhaps…" muttered Lloyd as he continued to watch the sea. If Lenus was right, maybe he was to forge his own destiny. And yet, without some greater power, he understood that he would never be able to defeat six dragoons. He knew his next destination, the next target to acquire, but his mechanisms were yet hidden from him. His only hope of achieving his goals was to work quickly and without the knowledge of the dragoons.

He recalled suddenly the scene atop Hellena Prison. Sometimes, in moments like these, he could still feel the hot blood dripping onto his hand. He could still see the anger in the man's face dissipate as pain and shock took over.

While he had all but accused Lenus of dragging the dragoons after him, he knew that it was his own actions that had spurred them into the hunt. It was their anger and thirst for revenge that had driven them this far. And although he said none of it to Lenus, he was worried that their wrath would interrupt his plans past the point of recovery.

How many people would die in the end?

What would be the cost of his success?

Author Note: Linde's name was taken from H'aanit's companion in Octopath Traveler.