As the royal family bids farewell to the traveling duo outside the castle gates, heartfelt hugs are exchanged, and the Queen's final plea for their safety hangs in the air. 

Mira conjures a magical cloud for the prince to sit on, providing protection from the elements and a shield against potential attacks. 

The prince, fascinated by the magic, looks around in awe as they begin their journey west, towards the Fire Dragon's domain, Cirreck.

Mira explains to the prince that their journey will take about two days, with their destination being the Sklavito volcano region, the westernmost point on the continent. 

She apologizes for the necessity of spending the night outside, but the prince reassures her, expressing his enjoyment of the outdoors. 

This unusual trait for a prince reminds Mira of her brother, who had a similar adventurous spirit.

A memory surfaces of her brother exploring the forbidden parts of the forest, coming home covered in wounds from a run-in with a small demonic bird's nest. 

Mira's mother scolded him while healing his injuries, and Mira chuckled in remembrance of her brother's antics. 

As the sun begins to set, the duo settles in an alcove of trees with a winding river nestled nearby. Dividing up the necessary chores to set up camp, Mira uses magic to create a tent with a protective barrier while the prince gathers twigs and leaves to start a fire.

As he does that, Mira goes hunting with her magic bow, returning with rabbits for their stew. They settle on smooth rocks and enjoy their meal, the fire crackling in the peaceful evening.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the land, Mira and Prince Cedric prepared for bed.

They bid each other goodnight, drifting off to sleep peacefully.

The next morning, they awoke refreshed, ready to continue their journey. They cleansed themselves individually in the cool waters of a pool by a roaring waterfall, the mist enveloping them like a gentle embrace.

Once they were both dry and the prince was comfortably situated on his cloud transportation, the duo set off westward, their destination looming ever closer on the horizon.

As they traveled, Prince Cedric turned to Mira, curiosity glinting in his eyes.

"What are dragons like?" he asked. "I've never had the pleasure of meeting one."

Mira smiled softly, her gaze drifting to the sky. "Dragons are majestic creatures," she began. "They rarely leave their domains, as it is their duty to protect the fairy clans. They are fierce and noble, with a wisdom that comes from centuries of existence."

The prince nodded, absorbing her words. "Then why was there no dragon to protect your clan on that fateful day?" he whispered, mostly inquiring to himself.

Mira's expression grew somber, her voice barely a whisper. "Our dragon, Kiran the Thunder Dragon, ignored his duty. He is the only one of his kind now, and his heart was broken at the expense of the very fairies he was meant to protect. He saw no need to protect us, as we didn't protect his mate, Nova."

Thus began the telling of the tale of the Thunder Dragon Clan.