“It’s not fair,” Lirany muttered, carefully sidestepping something unpleasant that looked like the stomach remains of some unfortunate creature. “Why do you have to pay tribute to that beast? This is slavery!”

               The day was bright, perfect for a visit to the port. Meanwhile, rumors about the human girl—capable of destroying any yokai with nothing more than a snap of her fingers—had spread like wildfire throughout the city. The prohibition against approaching her had turned into a challenge for many yokai, especially those who had once tasted human flesh or simply wanted to witness her power firsthand. Unfortunately for them, their curiosity remained a mere fantasy—Ayun never let her out of his sight.

               The presence of the Guild was also stirring dangerous speculation. If even the Tower’s authority had taken an interest in her, then she was certainly no ordinary creature. Her powers, whispered about in hushed voices across the city, were crafting a dark reputation around her—one Ayun did not dispute, as it served as an added layer of protection beyond his own. Most yokai avoided provoking him, fearing his retaliation and ensuring their own peaceful existence. The air of mystery surrounding him placed him in a higher, untouchable class in their eyes.

               He stepped over the filth in the middle of the road out of reflex, his tail narrowly avoiding it.

               “Every night, we give up a portion of our energy to the dragon—just to keep him here,” Ayun said casually. “Tharym got lucky that he made his lair in this place. His sheer presence keeps other yokai at bay. In thirty years, only one sea serpent dared to attack the city—and it was destroyed instantly. This tribute was exactly what we needed… until you showed up.”

               She lowered her gaze, her cheeks flushing slightly.

               “Does the Guild know about what happened yesterday?” she asked, a note of unease in her voice.

               “No. If we told the Tower, they’d want to know why the dragon didn’t feed on your life energy. That would mean complicated tests. I figured it was best to wait… and let you rest.”

               Neither of them wanted to breathe in the heavy stench of fish, which had soaked into the gravel of Tharym’s streets, so they took a parallel path along the airship port, leading toward the ocean. Ayun could already taste the salt in the air.

               “And… the other yokai? The one with horns?” Lirany hesitated.

               “Hachyro? What about him?”

               “He attacked you!” she burst out, indignant. “Shouldn’t the Tower know about this?”

               Ayun let out a loud, unrestrained laugh, drawing curious glances from passersby.

               “Lirany, where do you think I’d be if I complained about every beast in this port that’s threatened me since the day I set foot here?” Ayun said, looking at her with a mix of pride and amusement. “I learned to handle things on my own.”

               “But… what if he comes back?”

               Hachyro had terrified her more than any creature she had ever encountered, and the worry in her voice was unmistakable.

               “You helped both of us last night, so I doubt he’ll try to hunt you again,” Ayun reassured her. “Despite how he looks, he’s not a yokai. He’s part of the arsian people, an ancient race…”

               His voice trailed off. The words had come naturally, as if he had always known them, though Hachyro had never once spoken of his origins. Lirany, lost in her own thoughts, didn’t notice the way Ayun’s gaze drifted for a moment.

               “He could corner you again,” she murmured, still uneasy.

               “Oh, he definitely will,” Ayun replied, utterly nonchalant. “But he won’t dare kill me. Not yet, at least.”

               Seeing that she was about to bombard him with questions, he raised a hand, stopping her.

               “Don’t ask me for more details. Telling you would put you in danger—and worse, it might provoke him to turn against you. We’ll talk about it another time… somewhere safer.”

               He hadn’t forgotten his promise to train her, but he still hadn’t figured out the best way to start. Yet, Lirany had already proven she was taking it seriously. If the sight of blood had once unsettled her, now she no longer looked away from the brawls that were a common sight in Tharym. She watched each yokai who threw themselves into battle, studying their fights intently, analyzing them with growing fascination.

               “Those two are going to tear each other apart,” Ayun remarked, nodding toward a pair of creatures savagely clawing at each other on the docks.

               When one of the yokai’s blood mixed with the dirt, spraying from a deep wound, Lirany flinched slightly but didn’t avert her gaze. She bit her lip, watching the fight unfold. Ayun glanced at her briefly before slipping in a challenge.

               “Want me to join them?”

               Truthfully, he was wondering if this would be a good chance to test his own limits. But before he could say anything more, Lirany grabbed his arm, convinced he was about to throw himself into the fray.

               “No! No… I won’t be able to do anything if you leave!”

               “There are plenty of yokai around for you to drain energy from—you’d recover your sight in no time,” he pointed out.

               “And what if… what if they die?”

               So she was still afraid that her gift might kill a creature too weak to withstand her power. And if she ever tried it on a yokai unwilling to share their energy… Until she learned control, he had no intention of letting her experiment on others and put herself at risk. With a sigh, he dropped the conversation.

               "Let’s go," he said curtly. "The air smells strange today. I don’t want to linger here too long."

               His main role was to ensure her safety, as Hrassin had ordered. But the port master sometimes gave him other minor tasks—like delivering reports to the captain of the Wraith, one of the skyships that had docked that morning. So, with four rolled-up scrolls in his arms, Ayun headed for the endless stairs leading to the skyport, Lirany following close behind, well aware of the reward awaiting her at the top.

               Unfortunately, the view from the docks was nothing like before. A sudden gust of wind greeted them as soon as they stepped onto the wet planks, tousling their hair and making their clothes billow. There was no sign of the Wraith or any other vessel. The reason loomed ominously in the distance.

               The sea, usually calm, was now churned by massive waves—but the real threat came from above. Heavy, dark clouds rolled toward the port, promising a devastating storm. Ayun cursed silently. Because of the terrain, he hadn’t noticed the warning signs from below—otherwise, he never would have risked coming up in this weather.

               “I’ve heard the sound of rain before, but I’ve never actually seen it!” Lirany confessed, raising her voice to be heard over the howling wind.

               "This isn’t something you’d want to see! The sooner we find the captain, the better."

               The ship had probably taken shelter in one of the skyport’s tunnels, and searching them all would take ages.

               "The captain’s probably off getting drunk in some bar—you won’t find him here," a voice cut in from behind.

               Hrassin approached with measured steps, the same sly expression on his face as always. His reptilian eyes lingered on Lirany for a moment, making her tense instinctively, before shifting to Ayun. Though Ayun had reacted instantly when Hachyro appeared, now he no longer shielded the girl so openly. The only sign of his unease was the slight way his ears lowered, betraying a tension barely noticeable.

               "So? What do you think of Tharym?" Hrassin asked Lirany.

               "Uh… interesting," she muttered, struggling to find a better word. "I still have a lot to learn. Not all yokai are like Ayun."

               "That’s because a kitsune without demonic blood isn’t exactly a yokai. He’s more like—"

               "Hrassin!"

               At first, they both thought Ayun had intervened to stop Hrassin from revealing something important, but in truth, he wasn’t paying attention to their conversation at all. A deep unease settled over him as he stared at the approaching storm. The sight of those menacing clouds sent a chill down his spine, an unnatural dread creeping into his bones. Tharym had endured many storms before, always at the mercy of nature’s whims, yet this… this was different. It was something else entirely. Every instinct in him screamed a single command: get away.

               Hrassin lifted his gaze to the churning clouds devouring the ocean as they advanced relentlessly toward the city.

               "Take the girl to her room, then head to the underground levels and summon the port warden!" he ordered, his voice sharp with authority. "Once you’ve warned him, get to the battlements. Send me any Guild members you come across. Go!"

               Ayun grabbed Lirany’s hand and led her back toward the endless staircase, spiraling skyward like a twisting serpent. She let out a startled whimper, her heartbeat quickening, fearing that their frantic descent would send her tumbling. Yet every time her foot slipped, every time she faltered, he was there, steady and unyielding, refusing to let her slow down.

               The wind had risen into a howling force, ripping dust from the streets as the city’s inhabitants abandoned their daily routines in a frenzied rush. Some darted into buildings for shelter, while guards in gleaming armor marched toward the port’s walls, their steps firm with unspoken urgency. Even the very air felt heavy with warning, as if Tharym itself was whispering a silent, undeniable message: danger was coming.

               The streets, filled with disoriented yokai, had become a maze of confusion. Fortunately, Ayun knew every turn, every shortcut that could save them. Moving swiftly, he wove his way toward the central building, slipping inside with the determination of a hunter. He made straight for the stairs, pulling Lirany behind him, fully aware of the exhaustion etched on her face. But safety came first—rest could wait.

               Once they reached her room, Ayun gently pushed her inside, allowing himself a brief moment to catch his breath. His heart pounded, every inhale a struggle.

               "Don’t... leave!" Lirany’s voice trembled. "The underground... it’s dangerous..."

               Her words faded into her uneven gasps.

               "I have to do this," he sighed, resolute. "Stay here, no matter what happens!"

               Lirany sank onto a chair, struggling to steady her breathing, her gaze locked onto him as he turned to leave. Just as his fingers brushed the door handle, a sharp, mocking voice cut through the air like a whip:

               "You’re not going anywhere, Ayun!"

               He spun around with a low growl, instincts flaring. His eyes locked onto his enemy.

               Hachyro stood perched on the balcony railing, blades glinting ominously as they swayed at his sides. Lirany jolted, retreating behind Ayun as if burned, but the arsian didn’t spare her a glance.

               "It’s our duty to protect the city!" Ayun declared, his voice laced with hostility.

               "Before you bare your fangs at me, get over here!" Hachyro snapped, his tone slicing through the air like a blade.

Even as Lirany clutched his wrist, Ayun gently pulled away and stepped toward the balcony. It was clear the arsian wasn’t looking to resume their fight in the underground. Instead of tensing for battle, he was looking past his shoulder—toward the city—urging Ayun to see something.

               When he joined him, Ayun’s breath hitched. A deafening roar shook Tharym to its very core. A colossal golden dragon soared overhead, its radiant form bathing the city below in an ethereal glow. Had the sun dared to show itself, the beast’s sheer size could have eclipsed it entirely.

               The port’s inhabitants stood frozen in place, their gazes locked onto the creature with awe and reverence. The dragon’s elegant, sinuous movements were mesmerizing—it was their protector, their guardian. It had returned to watch over the land it had long called its lair. No matter what trials fate had in store, no force could breach the city with such an ally standing watch.

               Throwing its head back, the golden dragon unleashed a roar that defied the storm-choked sky. Then, with an indescribable power, it began beating its massive wings, the sound rivaling thunder itself as the very air trembled beneath its might.

               But instead of facing the approaching tempest, it turned toward the mountains—fleeing, soaring away from the oncoming deluge of fury.

               "It’s… leaving us?" Lirany murmured.

               She had joined them, her gaze locked onto the glowing form of the yokai as it shrank smaller and smaller, until all that remained was a tiny glimmer in the vast sky.

               Ayun didn’t answer. Impossible. The dragon had to be planning something—perhaps summoning others like itself to defend the city. There was no way it would abandon them. It would return. It had to return. Swallowing hard, he lifted his eyes to the heavens.

               Above Tharym, the storm clouds thickened, devouring the last remnants of daylight far too soon. The guards rushed toward the walls, but the dragon’s sudden arrival and departure had cost them precious time. Some still gazed hopefully toward the mountains, but their protector was nowhere to be seen.

               Then—silence. Heavy. Unnatural. For a single breath, the world seemed to hold still. And then, a shadow landed upon the battlements.

               It resembled a bat, but its four powerful limbs, webbed together, made it monstrous in scale—nearly the size of a horse. Its elongated skull, eerily reminiscent of a bird of prey, bore a hooked nose, and its massive crimson eyes gleamed with an unnatural, chilling intelligence. Its entire body shimmered like pearl, iridescent even in the dim light. As it leaped toward the city, its vast wings kept it aloft, and behind it came the others—hundreds of them, swarming with an overwhelming, terrifying force.

               Lirany’s breath hitched.

               “They’re… they’re coming straight for us,” she whispered, eyes wide with a mix of horror and fascination.

               Her voice snapped Ayun out of his hypnotic trance, pulling him away from the horrifying spectacle unfolding before him.

               “Inside!” he shouted, panic sharp in his tone. “NOW!”