Chapter 38
Night had fully fallen. The roar of battle had long since faded, yet its aftertaste still lingered heavily within the great war tent of the Dracoserpens.
Seated in a ring around the fire at its center were Andri, Drake, Yuki, Kiba, Tien, Master Ko, Theodoros, and Isakios. Before long, all eight gazes settled naturally upon one man.
Antonius, presiding over the gathering, finally broke the silence.
“On the morrow, we shall dispatch word of victory to the capital.”
His eyes moved slowly around the circle.
“Before that, however, I would humbly ask that we first settle the particulars of the report to be laid before the royal court.”
Theodoros bowed his head quietly. He spread a prepared parchment across the table, adjusted the tip of his reed pen, and dipped it lightly into the ink.
Though a military officer by trade, he handled the work of a court scribe with flawless ease as well. Watching him with her chin propped lazily upon her palm, Yuki found herself once again thinking what an absurdly capable man he was.
The reed pen began to scratch softly across the parchment.
“The remnants of Magira sowed fear of the Dracoserpens and the Dracotyrannus among Lord Basileios Lysoklion of Glyros and Lord Leonidas Konispharon of Dustvalea, thereby driving both men into rebellion. Though the Strategoi Knights attempted mediation, their efforts were rejected.”
Master Ko narrowed his eyes.
“Hm. Thus far, there is no falsehood in thy account. Continue.”
Antonius inclined his head slightly.
“The remnants of Magira proclaimed themselves foes of the Dracotyrannus. Yet in truth, they had already cast their lot in with the calamity after its return from the seal. Their aim was vengeance against Imresia. Amid the confusion of battle, the Dracotyrannus descended upon the field, and both the Royal Guard and the Strategoi Knights were driven into dire straits. Perceiving this danger, Her Majesty Yuki, Empress of Tatsuno, graciously came to our aid with one thousand Dracoserpens under her command.”
Yuki awkwardly raised one hand.
“Uh… make sure you put in an apology for the whole crossing-the-border thing too, alright?”
A faint smile touched Antonius’s face.
“Then perhaps we ought to state that we had anticipated the threat, and had formally petitioned Tatsuno for aid in advance.”
“Yeah, let’s go with that.”
Theodoros’s pen rasped dryly across the parchment.
After a brief pause, Antonius turned toward the great dragons seated opposite him.
“This time, under the command of Her Majesty Yuki, the principal distinction in the battle against the Dracotyrannus shall be accorded to Lord Drake of the ‘Dracoserpens.’”
“…I see now,” Kiba murmured with a slow nod.
“Hold a moment,” Drake interrupted, plainly bewildered. “Why should matters be twisted so? Would it not suffice to report plainly that the Dracotyrannus Drake was struck down by the Dracoserpens and Andronikos?”
Theodoros’s pen halted at once. Andri held his breath.
“Lord Drake,” Antonius replied patiently, “with deepest respect, such a version of events would bring benefit neither unto Imresia nor unto the people of Tatsuno.”
He spoke carefully, as though explaining the matter step by step.
“Among mankind, it is customary for the victor in war to demand reparations from the defeated—or else impose punishment upon them. I take no pleasure in speaking so bluntly, yet… should Your Lordship formally stand as the defeated, may I inquire whether Your Lordship possesses reserves sufficient to meet such reparations?”
“….”
Drake fell silent.
Beside him, Yuki immediately folded over laughing.
“No way—he totally got you there.”
Master Ko shot her a withering stare.
“Thou art the Empress of Tatsuno. Conduct thyself with at least a shred of dignity.”
That only made Yuki laugh harder.
“Rather than pursue such a course,” Antonius continued calmly, “I believe it would be far wiser to make use of this occasion in a manner that benefits all three parties alike: Imresia, Tatsuno… and Your Lordship no less.”
“…Mine own benefit?” Drake asked slowly.
Antonius gave Theodoros a small glance. Theodoros nodded and resumed writing.
“Lord Drake. Together with Her Majesty Yuki, you led one thousand Dracoserpens to the aid of the Royal Guard, the Strategoi Knights, and indeed Imresia herself. Thus, we would be greatly honored to receive you in the royal capital as one of the great heroes of this war.”
Drake could only stare at Theodoros helplessly as the man continued writing without the slightest hesitation.
“This war is a rare opportunity,” Kiba observed quietly. “As a nation, we would be fools not to make full use of it.”
Yuki frowned slightly.
“Alright, but like… use it how?”
Master Ko answered her.
“We shall leave behind a tale of humans and Dracoserpens standing together to prevent the world’s ruin.”
His voice remained calm, yet iron lay beneath it.
“But mark me well. Once such words are inscribed into history… there shall be no undoing them.”
“I am fully aware,” Antonius answered without hesitation.
This was the rewriting of history itself. Should the truth ever come to light, Antonius could well be condemned for falsifying the historical record.
Andri watched the exchange anxiously from the sidelines. Drake, meanwhile, still wore a deeply unconvinced expression.
Tien rested her chin against the back of her hand as she looked toward Drake.
“You still haven’t given up on freeing the others sealed away with you, right?”
Caught off guard, Drake hesitated briefly before giving a slow nod.
No one present showed the slightest surprise.
“Then honestly? You should just roll with this for now,” Tien said. “If you insist on staying the kind of disaster that only wants destruction, then obviously we’re not interested. But if humans and Dracoserpens actually start living together… and if they see you living happily among them…”
Her golden eyes softened slightly.
“…maybe it’ll change how they think. Assuming they really are your kin.”
The Dracoserpens were creatures overflowing with affection and compassion, especially toward the young. Their entire race lavished almost excessive love upon its children.
Surely, that nature must once have existed among the Dracotyrannus as well.
Why immortal beings who had lived for hundreds of millions of years had fallen into such profound despair, even Drake himself could not fully understand. Yet perhaps the reason those Dracotyrannus had poured every ounce of strength into freeing the youngest among them from the seal was not hatred or ambition—but love.
A desperate wish for Drake’s happiness.
Drake’s eyes widened slightly as he met the gazes surrounding him.
Isakios nodded in agreement before speaking.
“This is, naturally, no more than hopeful conjecture. None among us can truly know the hearts of the dragons who yet remain within the seal. Such truths belong to them alone.”
Straightening his back, the old general addressed Drake carefully.
“If that be so… then ought we not devote ourselves to what may yet be accomplished before the appointed day arrives?”
“….”
Drake gave no reply.
For a long moment, Drake said nothing.
Irina had shown him a future in which many peoples would mingle together and flourish as one. Believing in that future, he had entrusted his scales unto her.
And now, the Dracling born from that hope sat at his side, looking at him with the unmistakable warmth of kin.
Antonius gave a slow, solemn nod.
One war had come to its end.
And on that night, the first lines of the next age began to be written.
