Two days after the battle, Dart felt better than he ever had before. Shana and Lavitz marveled at his quick recovery, as they both expected him to be put out for up to a week. But Dart's wounds and headaches had disappeared almost overnight. According to Rose, this was due to his new nature as a dragoon; he now healed faster than normal.

Despite his vast amounts of free time, this was the only conversation Dart had the courage to bring to Rose since the battle. As there had been no more incidents with his dragoon spirit, he decided that he must be safe enough; he would wait until later to discover more. But he knew that if he were honest, he was really just avoiding her in a vain effort to return to a sense of normalcy. Not to mention, Rose was probably the most terrifying woman he had ever met.

As soon as Dart was able to be out and about, he promptly investigated the state of the small town now that the dust had cleared. He was alarmed at the widespread damage; many buildings suffered burns or more dangerous structural damage, and the meager wall had been torn down completely in several places. However, most disheartening was the number of casualties. Basil had lost over half the men that had been stationed in Hoax, and since the battle, many more had succumbed to complicated injuries. The bodies had been lined up in the streets as they were identified and catalogued so that their families might be notified.

Several times, as he made his way around the town, Dart had to fight back tears as he saw friends and brothers weeping in the streets.

Fortunately, many of the downtrodden soldiers seemed to be rejuvenated slightly when they saw him. It appeared that news of his spectacular defeat of Kongol had been widely spread among them, and they hailed him as a sort of hero. While Dart was glad to be able to lift their spirits, he still found himself spending more and more time inside and out of the public eye.

However, one place that he made sure to visit every day was the infirmary. He had been correct to suppose that there were more rooms than just the one in which he had recovered. At least two more rooms on the upper floor of the inn were filled with wounded, to whom Shana tended ceaselessly. He admired her staunch battle waged against the ill effects that plagued these soldiers, and he tried to remind her occasionally to take a rest so that she didn't overwork herself. At this, she always replied that the men needed rest and healing more than she ever had.

Over his many visits, Dart came to know several of the wounded soldiers. Many of them were from Bale, but a select few hailed from other parts of Serdio. One had even defected from Sandora several years ago; Dart was disturbed by his many tales of Emperor Doel's iron fist and cruel rule of the people. But the soldier that Dart visited most often was the same young man who had shown him and Shana around the first day they had arrived. He had received a grievous wound during the battle, and none were expecting him to make it more than a few more days. Lying unconscious, the young man fought day and night to cling to life.

The fourth day after the battle, while Dart was sitting beside him, he finally slipped away. Dart stood and watched while a couple men carried the body outside, to be added to the others until they could be buried outside the city the next day. As they left, Shana approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder, searching his face as she struggled to find the right words to say. To spare her the effort, or perhaps just to spare himself, Dart quickly left the room.

The next day, all the remaining soldiers and a great deal of the town's meager population met outside the city, to the west near the mountains' feet, to hold a great burial ceremony for all those lost in the battle. Dart and Shana were invited to stand at the head with Lavitz and Kaiser, both of whom gave a short speech commemorating the fallen soldiers. Struggling with his emotions, Dart stared fixedly at the ground for the length of the event.

As time passed, Dart grew restless as he waited to discover their next destination. Every time news came in, his spirits rose, only to find out that the Sandoras had evaded detection once again. At first, they only got reports of dragon sightings near the eastern mountains or further south; the Sandoras were hiding their troops adeptly from Basil spies. After each messenger arrived, Lavitz was called off to another meeting. And each time, Dart waited eagerly outside the meeting room for its end so that Lavitz could explain the situation.

While he strained to hear anything through the heavy wooden door, he was constantly distracted as soldier after soldier approached him, congratulating him for his defeat of Kongol and thanking him for saving them. He appreciated most of the sentiments, but they mostly frustrated him. Although he was glad to have helped, he didn't really feel like this grand hero that they had painted him to be, and he only wanted to know what was now expected of him. They thought that he was their savior, but he just felt lucky to be alive.

Eight days after the battle, Kaiser invited Dart to join their meetings, probably having realized the futility of trying to exclude him. Dart couldn't be happier at this change. Not only did he manage to avoid the throngs of his new fans, but he was also able to hear the news first-hand. However, his joy was soon stifled as he realized how little Basil really knew of Sandora's movements. Day by day, he grew more and more irritated at the monotony of life in Hoax. He began to feel that if he didn't get out of the town soon, he might suffocate.

A week later, something finally changed.

Dart spent the morning in solitude, restless but unwilling to interact with anyone. He had long ago grown tired of the town, longing to be in the wilderness once more. He had discovered several days prior that nobody ever went to the northwest corner of the town, where there was now a sizeable gap in the wall. This morning, he had awoken early and sat near this gap even as the sun rose, appreciating the beauty of the untouched land. As he had watched the mountains slowly reveal themselves, he had replayed the battle with Kongol for perhaps the thousandth time, trying to figure out the specifics and mulling over what to do next. A couple hours after dawn, he stopped by the mess tent and grabbed some food before heading back to the inn.

While Dart was eating his small breakfast in the meeting room, he was interrupted by an alarmed courier shouting news from the main entrance of town. He quickly made his way outside to hear.

"The Seventh Fort is under attack! The Seventh Fort is under attack!" Kaiser, Lavitz, Dart, and several other higher-ranking officers arrived near the gate, each of them concerned. Many other soldiers gathered near them to hear the news. The courier sat astride a powerful black horse, clearly trained for stamina for quick delivery missions. What worried Dart most of all was that the courier held no scroll or note with written news; he must have had to leave in quite a hurry.

Looking down at Kaiser and Lavitz, the man added breathlessly, "They're under attack by the dragon." His face showed nothing but pure terror.

"What?" slipped from Dart's mouth. Murmurs swept through the growing crowd, and Kaiser quickly ushered the courier toward the meeting room. He signaled to another soldier, who grabbed the reins of the horse immediately after the courier dismounted, and walked quickly into the inn, giving the rest of the soldiers a stern gaze, warning them to mind their ranks. Dart and Lavitz followed closely.

After they had all filed in, Kaiser turned calmly to the young man and asked, "What's the situation?" Although Dart knew that Kaiser must be tense and anxious, he could see no evidence of it.

The courier, however, showed it plainly. His body language showed intense anxiety, and he seemed on the verge of tears.

After glancing about the room, he said, "The dragon swept down from the mountains. Within minutes, it was upon us. The Tenth and Thirteenth Knighthoods are completely overwhelmed! They sent me out as soon as possible to call for reinforcements. I... I was lucky to get out alive." He looked down, tears welling in his eyes.

"Then we have to get out there," said Lavitz instantly, stepping forward. "Gather all the troops and let's go! The Seventh Fort is less than a day's ride from here!"

"You're a fool if you think mere humans can defeat a dragon." Dart jumped as Rose's voice drifted from the shadows. He was entirely unsure of how she came to be there, but when he looked over at her, she almost seemed to be a shadow herself. It was as if she blended into the darkness.

Lavitz also started when he heard Rose, but he immediately recovered, crying, "We can't just do nothing! Those men are dying out there! We have to try!" His urgency was evident.

Rose moved into the light, her face carrying heavy judgment. She said, "Do you think wasted deaths are honorable or something?"

Lavitz's jaw clenched, and his fists tightened, but he did not respond.

"No matter how many men you throw at that dragon," began Rose, "they will not be able to defeat it. Humans cannot defeat dragons. But lucky for you, you have something greater than humans on your side." Rose turned to face Dart. "You and I are different from them. I know you're reluctant to accept this, but you have a power that can defeat even a dragon. Together, you and I can save those men."

Dart's breaths grew heavy as he considered the possibility. It was true, he felt stronger than ever before in his life. The past few days, he had been filled with such vigor and energy. He remembered the ease with which he had defeated the giganto, and wondered if it could be possible to defeat a dragon with that power. Rose seemed confident in her own abilities, but he could not say the same for himself. Then the words of Shana came back to him: Having the power that you do and not using it to help others is too selfish.

Seeing his hesitation, Rose prodded, "Dart, you know that we're stronger. We have the capacity."

Keenly aware of the many eyes trained on him and waiting for an answer, Dart scrambled to make a decision. He closed his eyes and sighed, picturing Shana's face as they had spoken on the balcony in Bale.

"Okay," he said, opening his eyes. "I'll fight. I don't know what strength may be within me, but I am a dragoon now. I have no choice but to accept my fate."

"You're not going anywhere without me," said Lavitz quickly. "And I'm sure Shana will follow as well."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" questioned Kaiser.

"No," admitted Lavitz. "But I know that I could never live with myself if I stayed behind. My knighthood is gone, but I still have a duty to the people of Serdio, and I will see this done."

Kaiser gave a small smile at this answer before turning to Dart and Rose. "Thank you both for your willingness to help. I know that if anyone has the ability to save us from a dragon, it will be you two." He extended his hand, and they both shook it. "Good luck to all of you," he said before turning to Lavitz. "And Lavitz, my good friend. You are perhaps the most honorable man in the entire army of Basil. May I one day be half the man you are. Until we meet again." And with that he pulled Lavitz into a firm hug, followed by a salute.

Lavitz returned the salute with a grin, and said, "It's been an honor serving with you, sir."

"And you." Kaiser forced a small smile before announcing a dismissal of the meeting.

Turning to Lavitz, Dart saw a somber look on his face, and Lavitz nodded. They would leave as soon as possible. Dart returned the gesture before running upstairs to find Shana.

Reaching the next floor, he burst through the door on the right, and several heads turned to look at him. Shana was among them, and seeing his rushed nature, quickly made her way over to him.

"What's going on?" she whispered as she led them outside the room and shut the door.

"The dragon finally came out of hiding," said Dart, struggling to keep his voice low. "It's attacking the Seventh Fort as we speak, and we're going to leave as soon as we can to help them." He kept his eyes trained on her, seeking out any kind of a reaction.

She looked thoughtful for a moment before saying, "Who's going?"

"Me, Lavitz, and Rose so far."

"And when do you leave?"

"As soon as we get our stuff together."

Shana watched the floor as thoughts ran through her mind. Tapping his fingers against his arm, Dart waited. Finally, she looked up.

"Do you need anything from me before you leave?" she asked.

"What?" he asked in return. The thought had never occurred to him that she might want to stay behind. He realized how much he would hate not having her with him; he had become so accustomed to her presence. "You're not coming with us?"

She threw up her hands and said, "Would I even be any help? Against a dragon?"

Dart stared for a moment, at a loss for words, before managing to put a sentence together. "Of course. We need you."

Her countenance softened, her frustration almost giving way to a smile. "Then I'll pack my things," she said simply. "Meet you downstairs."

Nodding, Dart felt relieved, and he turned and ran downstairs. The meeting room was now empty, and Dart took a moment in the silence, stopping at the base of the stairs. Slowly moving over to the table, he sat down at a chair, staring out the window, much like Rose had several days prior.

He could not believe what was happening. He had gotten roped into fighting a war somehow, and while he was proud to serve alongside Lavitz, he could not help but feel out of place. Part of him wanted to return to the simpler life of the past five years, living in the wilderness with no real threat but the local fauna. Closing his eyes, Dart tried to immerse himself in this moment of calm and silence. The muted sound of many footsteps outside drifted toward his ears. The loudest sound now was his own breath. He tried to capture that moment of peace in his memory, as he knew that it would not come again for some time.

Even as he sat unmoving, he had to fight for that tranquility. Thoughts of the dragon and the perilous journey ahead troubled his mind. Remembering his transformation during the battle of Hoax, he worried that he knew too little about his new power to be even the slightest bit effective against a creature like a dragon. Rose seemed so confident in her own abilities, and yet she was younger than he was. The thought frustrated him, and he wished desperately that he had sought her out in the days that had gone by so that he could have learned more about his abilities. Instead, he had avoided it, as if that would undo everything that had happened. He longed for a sense of stability and normalcy, and grieved to know that it would be far too long before he found it again.

Sighing heavily, he opened his eyes and stood, moving toward the door. He stepped outside, closing the door behind him, and observed the many soldiers running about. They all seemed to be in a great hurry, as if they had been ordered to leave Hoax as well. Having gotten to know a select few over the past several days, he now regretted leaving them behind and hoped that they fared well in the upcoming fights.

Just then, Shana emerged from the building behind him. She had changed into more travel-worthy clothes, and her bow was wrapped around her torso. Arrows sat in the quiver resting on her back. Her hair had been tied up higher than normal, out of her face, and she carried a bag draped over her shoulder, no doubt filled to the brim with medical supplies.

A wave of regret washed over Dart. Suddenly, he could not fathom why he would have asked her to accompany them. He would be leading her directly into harm's way, and he was not even sure that he would be able to protect her.

"I'm ready," she said. Dart thought he could see some worry behind her eyes.

"Shana," he said, straining to find the words that would keep her here... keep her safe. But he knew that it would be in vain. Not only would she protest until he conceded, but he also knew that asking her to stay behind now would only hurt her and make her feel unwanted. He could not bear to let that happen.

Four soldiers, each leading a horse, walked by them toward the town gate, and Dart gestured toward them.

"You can go load up while I grab the rest of my things," he said hurriedly. She nodded and headed that way while Dart made a run to the barracks. Finding his bed, he stuffed his clothing in his traveler's pack before putting on his armor and strapping his sword belt to his hip. He took his hunting knife and placed it on his right thigh and walked back to the village entrance, nodding to all the soldiers he passed.

As he approached the horses, he saw Shana stroking the mane of a brown mare that already carried her bag along with a couple others. He noted that each of the horses was similarly adorned, and he neared one, brown with a white stripe down its face. He recognized this horse as the one that had traveled with him from Bale, and suddenly realized that three of the four were familiar. The fourth horse was entirely black, save for rings of white near its hooves. It was most fitting, he thought, for Rose. Turning to his own steed, he attached his pack to the saddle.

Just then, Lavitz appeared, fully armored, with his lance firmly strapped to his back. Shortly after followed Rose. Soon enough, all four of them were mounted and ready to leave. Kaiser stood to the side as they surveyed the city one last time.

"We were honored to have you in our company," he said ceremoniously. "May good fortune go with you all. May you bring Sandora to justice."

Lavitz nodded and thanked Kaiser with equal pomp before urging his horse forward, leading them down the path. Dart set his eyes straight ahead as they rode through the gate of the tiny village. From deep within, he felt a great fear begin to rise. Glancing nervously at Shana, he prayed silently that the next week found them each safe and whole.