I saw soldiers screaming as they ran about. One of them was rolling on the ground trying to put out the flames.
The scene was more horrific than I had imagined, so I turned my head to look away. Fortunately, before I couldn’t bear their cries and ran down the mountain, the soldiers flung themselves over the cliff.
“Huh. What a waste of perfectly good timber.”
Still unaccustomed to controlling fire, I’d set the nearby trees alight as well.
A dragon’s breath never went out until it burned its target to ash. It wouldn’t cease until the wood was completely consumed. There was nothing I could do about it.
I clicked my tongue and turned to head back down the mountain—but a sudden dizziness stopped me. My legs gave out and I sank to the ground with a thud, coughing.
A mouthful of blood gushed out, followed by a sudden nosebleed.
“Was that much power too much…?”
Even though I still had the Dragon Heart, the rest of my body was human. It seemed pushing that strength was beyond my limits. Next time, I’d have to use a little less.
I wiped the blood from my mouth with my sleeve, when I noticed Soldier 4 trembling on the ground.
“Ah… ah….”
His face was deathly pale, his eyes wide as saucers. He couldn’t even scream properly, drool escaping his slack mouth.
“What’s your name?”
“…P-please don’t kill me! I—I’ll do anything to stay alive!”
Braden flung himself face-down on the ground, crying out. He clasped his hands in front of his head and rubbed them together desperately.
No one had threatened to kill him; I found his reaction puzzling.
“I asked for your name.”
Braden’s face went even paler. His whole body shook visibly.
“I-I’m Braden.”
“Braden, if you promise never to speak of what happened today, I’ll let you live.”
“Y-yes, I promise…!”
Watching terrified Braden, I couldn’t help thinking of the Hero’s party. They wouldn’t give up their lives so easily, but now that they’d learned the crown prince’s cowardly plan, I couldn’t just look away.
“You know where the prison holding the Hero’s party is?”
“H-how? Y-yes. I know where it is.”
I had no intention of helping Kyle or the others escape—only of giving them a warning.
I’d let them know that Prince Reynold had set this trap, so they’d give up hunting the Black Flame Dragon and flee instead.
“Lead the way.”
“Y-yes, sir!”
By the time Braden and I rode back into the imperial city, the dawn mist had just begun to lift. The palace lay silent, though a few soldiers and servants patrolled the grounds.
Few would recognize me, but if I were seen by the crown prince, I was done for. I headed for the least populated parts of the city.
“They won’t hold the trial this early in the morning, will they?”
I murmured anxiously, and Braden, overhearing, replied.
“From what I’ve heard, the trial is set for around three in the afternoon.”
We still had time.
Braden stuck close to the walls as he led me deeper into the palace grounds until we came to a familiar tower.
“But how will you get inside the prison? The guards are posted there….”
He pointed at the soldiers stationed at the tower’s entrance. I hadn’t thought that far ahead.
I couldn’t exactly breathe fire and announce myself as a dragon.
“What can we do….”
I scratched my head and studied the guards. Only two stood outside, but I knew there’d be many more within.
“If they can’t recognize your face, why not don armor? I know where they keep spare sets.”
I turned to Braden in surprise at his unexpectedly clever idea. He was more helpful than I’d given him credit for.
“Smart. Let’s go.”
He seemed embarrassed by my praise but led the way.
We arrived at a large gray building and a modest training yard.
“This is the Imperial Guard barracks. Follow me and I’ll show you the spare armor.”
Braden’s enthusiasm surprised me as he guided me toward a storeroom.
Inside, I borrowed a suit of armor that no one claimed. It smelled horribly of sweat, but I had no choice.
“If you tell them you’re going on an internal patrol of the prison tower, they’ll let you through. No one wants to deal with the stench inside.”
“Good idea.”
I nodded in admiration. Though I’d spared him, I hadn’t expected such loyalty in return.
“Well… this is as far as I can help.”
Braden said cautiously, his voice muffled by the helmet. I wasn’t going to detain him further.
“Thank you. I won’t forget this.”
“Oh, don’t mention it. I’ll keep what I saw a secret. Actually….”
He fiddled with his hands and gave me an awkward smile.
“They deserved to die for what they did. It’s not the first time I’ve seen them behave like that. I never had the courage to tell anyone, until now.”
Though his motives weren’t purely noble, knowing someone felt justice had been done eased my own conscience.
“I don’t know what to say, but I hope it works out. Goodbye.”
Braden bowed and left the storeroom. I adjusted my helmet and stepped out quietly.
As the tower guards at the prison entrance said they were going on an internal patrol, they let me pass without question.
I climbed the worn, dark stairs, holding a lantern. Though the prison was gloomy, its layout was simple, and I soon reached a silent cell barred with iron.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
I tapped the bars and whispered. Kyle jumped up from his corner.
“Rishian? What—why are you in armor?”
His voice bright with relief, Kyle stared at my appearance, bewildered.
“Shh. This is a secret entry. Be quiet.”
I warned him, lest a passing guard notice. Kyle fell silent and pressed close to the bars.
“What happened? I thought you’d deserted us forever.”
“That’s not important. Prince Reynold doesn’t intend to release you. The verdict is already decided. Tomorrow, you’ll be found guilty and executed.”
“Elonen?” Gerard gasped, then covered his mouth.
“If that’s true, why hold a trial at all?”
“For show. The prince will manipulate the outcome to guarantee a guilty verdict. The emperor will believe him without question….”
I told them all I knew. With this warning, perhaps they’d find a way to save themselves.
“But why did you spare me?”
Gerard asked sharply. It was frustrating to be suspected after I’d come to help.
“I wasn’t spared—I was ordered killed.”
“By Reynold?”
Kyle’s voice rose. We both turned toward the stairs, but no one overheard us.
“Why would he want you dead?”
“I guess because I know his secret. They were taking me to the northern woods when they started fighting among themselves, and I managed to escape.”
I’d crafted the lie carefully. I’d grown adept at deception.
“Anyway, the prince plans to lead the hunt against the Black Flame Dragon himself, using your legendary weapons and gear. That might have been his goal from the start.”
My words stirred the party.
“What now, Kyle? Your father and brother will kill us all.”
Gerard was first to bristle. Even Elonen sided with him, leaving Kyle to press his palm to his brow.
“So what do you suggest? That we run? If we flee, it’s an admission we aided the dragon’s escape.”
Kyle sighed and covered his face with both hands.
“If you want to believe that, be my guest.”
Gerard spat back bitterly. I shared his sentiment—no need to help people who believed lies.
But Kyle was their leader. Their fates were tied to his.
And, from the Black Flame Dragon’s perspective, it would be best if Kyle quietly stayed locked away.
“In that case, I’ll be on my way.”
With that, I turned to leave. I’d done what I could for them.
“Wait, Rishian—”