Dragons Cry, Destined to Fly: Side Story — Eyes That Watch, Wings Yet Unfurled
心を開かない若き小隊長アンドリを見守り続ける副官テオドロス。主アントニウスの行く道を信じて背を追う彼らの様子を、龍達もまた見ているのだった。
The barracks of the Royal Guard were rarely quiet.
Whether it was deep into the night or just before dawn, soldiers coming off duty mingled with those preparing to begin it. Somewhere, men argued over cards. Elsewhere, others complained loudly about the quality of the day's meals.
Today, however, carried a different atmosphere.
It was the twentieth anniversary of King Alexios Imresius's coronation. Every unit of the Royal Guard had been assigned special security duties, and an undercurrent of tension ran throughout the capital.
Yet among the men of the First Unit of the Royal Guard Heavy Infantry, the mood was unusually subdued.
The source of their concern sat alone at the far end of the dining hall.
Captain Andri Chaire.
The young captain stared silently into a cup of tea that had long since gone cold.
No one approached him.
To be fair, no one ever did.
Though he commanded the unit, Andri was also its youngest member. He kept everyone at arm's length, and no one had ever managed to bridge that distance. Ash-brown scales marked his skin, and he towered over nearly every man in the room. Few could forget what happened when he transformed. Andri hated all of it. Everyone knew that much.
So the men of the First Unit kept their distance.
"The captain always looks rough, but this morning? Damn."
Tigo lowered his voice.
"Think the captain got dumped by a woman?"
Ari snorted.
"Nah. More likely he lost every coin he owns at the gambling tables."
Several men glanced at one another.
Then someone muttered,
"Sounds like the pair of you."
Both men turned at once.
"Shut your damn mouth."
The reply came in perfect unison.
Theodoros let the conversation continue for a few moments before rising from his seat, tray in hand.
That alone was enough.
The whispers died instantly.
The men straightened as though they had just been caught by the Lord Commander himself.
Theodoros offered them a pleasant smile.
His eyes, however, were considerably less friendly.
"Well?" he asked. "Have you reached any useful conclusions regarding the captain's personal affairs?"
No one answered.
"Good."
His smile never wavered.
"Finish your meals. We move out shortly."
Tigo scratched the back of his neck.
"With respect, sir, something definitely happened."
Several others nodded.
Theodoros suppressed a sigh.
That much was true.
The captain was an unusual man. Quiet. Reserved. Far too willing to shoulder every burden himself.
Yet he was also the center of the unit.
When something troubled Andri, everyone noticed.
"Then worry quietly."
The men blinked and exchanged glances.
Theodoros chose not to elaborate.
Instead, he continued.
"Whatever concerns the captain may have, he will carry out his duty.”
His gaze swept across the room.
"So will the rest of us."
The men straightened immediately.
"The capital is already overflowing with foreign dignitaries, merchants, nobles, and enough drunken fools to keep the Royal Guard occupied for a month."
Several men snorted under their breath.
"So let us be prepared to extend every courtesy our guests are likely to require."
"Sir!"
The reply came as one.
Satisfied, Theodoros nodded.
The matter was settled.
The soldiers quickly finished their meals and filed out of the hall.
Only then did Theodoros look toward the far end of the room.
Andri had finally risen from his seat. He was returning his untouched tea to the collection counter when he noticed Theodoros approaching.
Earlier that morning, Antonius had informed Theodoros of the incident.
Unfortunate or not, duty remained duty.
Theodoros stepped up beside him.
"Captain. The First Unit has already moved to its assigned position."
Andri nodded.
"So should we."
His expression remained as grim as before.
Normally he wasn't particularly expressive, but today was something else entirely.
Theodoros exhaled quietly.
"Captain."
"...What?"
"Pull yourself together before the men see you."
Andri looked up.
Theodoros met his gaze directly.
"Your mood is showing."
Silence lingered between them.
Andri offered no response.
Theodoros continued anyway.
"Tigo is convinced you've been jilted."
Andri frowned.
"Ari, meanwhile, believes you've somehow managed to lose your entire fortune gambling."
A brief pause.
Then Theodoros folded his arms.
"I would advise recovering your composure before either theory gains further credibility."
For a moment, Andri simply stared at him.
Then Theodoros added,
"At present, some may conclude that both are true."
Then, to Theodoros's relief, the captain's shoulders shook slightly.
"...Understood."
His voice sounded lighter than before.
Good.
When he stood before the First Unit, he needed to be their captain.
At that moment, pale morning light spilled through the dining hall windows.
The last traces of night retreated as dawn crept across the eastern sky.
It was going to be a long day.
Theodoros glanced outside before turning back to his captain.
"Shall we, sir?"
Andri nodded.
The two men left the dining hall side by side.
Behind them, the first light of dawn stretched their shadows across the floor.
A commotion soon broke out.
Until moments ago, cheers had been drifting from the direction of the arena. The first to notice that those cheers had somehow turned into screams was Theodoros.
He looked up.
Then—
"First Unit!"
A messenger came sprinting toward them, breathless.
One look at his face was enough for everyone to realize something was terribly wrong.
"A Steedraptor has gone berserk in the arena! His Majesty the King and His Highness the Crown Prince are in danger! The First Unit is ordered to deploy immediately!"
Andri froze for an instant.
A terrible premonition tightened around his chest.
Theodoros struck him lightly between the shoulders.
"Captain. Those are the orders of the Lord Commander. We must move."
Andri closed his eyes for only a moment.
There was no running from this.
"First Unit. Move out."
The First Unit broke into a run as one.
But—
What awaited them upon reaching the arena far exceeded anything they had imagined.
A massive Steedraptor was rampaging through the grounds.
The spectator stands had descended into chaos.
As soldiers desperately ushered civilians toward safety, King Alexios could be seen on the ground, having been thrown from his seat.
And before him stood Antonius.
Sword drawn, the Crown Prince stood protectively between his father and the beast.
Then—
The Steedraptor's talons came crashing down.
"Your Highness!"
Too late.
Everyone thought so.
Yet a figure lunged between them.
Andri.
The enormous claws struck him.
Andri met them with his greatsword.
The talons slid past the blade and dug into his shoulder. Yet the young captain's massive, scale-covered frame stood as immovable as a stone wall.
He did not budge.
But neither could he subdue the beast.
The Steedraptor's strength was monstrous.
He could hold it back.
No more.
"Ropes!"
Theodoros bellowed.
"Get the lassos on it!"
The soldiers of the First Unit charged forward.
Heavy horse-catching ropes flew through the air one after another.
"Son of a bitch! How's it this damn strong?!"
"Think it'll taste like chicken?!"
"We oughta roast the thing whole!"
"Ari! Save me a leg, damn it!"
Shouts and laughter mingled amid the chaos.
The closer they came to death, the more they talked.
That was the First Unit.
Then the Steedraptor suddenly beat its wings.
A soldier was hurled away. His body flew through the air.
But before he could hit the ground, Andri moved.
The speed was unbelievable.His enormous frame exploded forward with impossible quickness.
He caught the falling soldier in midair.Sliding several paces across the dirt, he absorbed the impact.
"My apologies, Captain!"
"Save it!"
Andri barked.
"Get back to work!"
"Sir!"
The soldier immediately rushed back into the fight.
This could not continue.
Watching the battle unfold, Antonius considered the situation in silence.
The Steedraptor could not be killed.
Yet the King had to be protected.
Then his gaze drifted toward the royal box.
The Empress and her retinue.
Not one of them appeared concerned.
They watched as though observing a performance.
And suddenly Antonius understood.
(I see.)
This was a test. The disturbance itself was irrelevant.
The one they wished to see—
Was Andri.
Antonius beckoned Theodoros closer.
"Theodoros. I order Andri to transform. Have the unit support him."
His deputy's eyes widened.
"Your Highness. That will only create greater panic."
"That's exactly what they want."
A faint smile touched Antonius's lips.
"Then let's give them the show they came to see."
"...His Majesty may punish you for this."
"Hah."
Antonius scoffed.
"My father? Punish me?"
He shrugged.
"Then so be it."
Then he added,
"You, meanwhile, make certain you play your part well."
"Understood."
Amid the chaos, lord and deputy exchanged only those few words before returning to their stations.
Theodoros approached Tigo and the others, who were straining against the ropes.
"The Lord Commander will order the captain to transform."
Tigo's eyes nearly bulged from his head.
"Not this again!"
"If the captain succeeds in pinning it down, your squad will move in immediately and support him."
Ari grimaced.
"If this goes wrong, save me a spot in the grave!"
Theodoros did not answer.
Instead, he looked toward the royal box.
The Empress and her retinue watched the battle with obvious interest.
What exactly were they seeking from Andri?
Perhaps Antonius could already see the script behind this entire spectacle.
(So even we are pieces on His Highness's board.)
It changes nothing.
That was why he had offered his sword.
Theodoros's faith had never wavered.
Where Antonius walked, he would follow.
And he knew Andri felt the same.
“Captain Chaire! Bring the raptor to heel!”
Antonius's voice rang across the arena.
Andri turned. Panic flashed across his face.
Yet he obeyed. He tore off and discarded his equipment.
And then—
His body swelled grotesquely. Bones groaned. Muscles bulged and tore as they expanded.
Skin stretched, warped, and reshaped itself, rapidly losing any resemblance to human form.
A roar split the air.
A colossal reptilian silhouette rose onto two legs.
The crowd's screams erupted all at once.
"A dragon!"
