The room settled.

Teacups clicked softly as Lyra and Evethra placed the trays down.

Alenia slipped into her seat, smoothing out her somewhat messy hair with the practiced grace of someone used to juggling seventy problems at once.

Selene sat poised, hands folded.

Lyratheia—calm, regal, and curious—took another gentle sip of tea.

Druvarn sat on the sofa, staring blankly into space like a man recovering from a spiritual injury, while Rue patted his head and Rina offered him a grape.

He accepted the grape with the solemn gravity of a warrior receiving his final blessing.

Kael leaned back in his chair, one leg crossed over the other, draconic eyes half-lidded, unreadable, and effortlessly elegant.

"Alright," he finally said, voice smooth. "Now that everyone who should be here is here—and everyone who shouldn't be panicking is still panicking…"

He gave Druvarn a pointed look.

Druvarn curled up into a tiny ball of shame.

"…let's begin."

Selene nodded approvingly.

Lyratheia set her cup down. "Very well. I assume there is a reason you summoned me, Kael."

Kael smiled lightly. "Yes. I wanted to offer you something."

The dryad's brow arched in quiet intrigue as Kael continued.

"A place in this city. Before anyone else."

A ripple of confusion passed through the room—except for Selene, who already knew, and Alenia, who was waiting for this cue.

Lyratheia blinked once. "…Before anyone else? Why such urgency?"

Kael's grin widened. "Because soon, people will be begging to be part of this city."

Druvarn, mid-sulking, paused. "…We're that good?"

Rue whispered, "We really are."

Rina nodded, proud for once.

Lyratheia, however, narrowed her eyes slightly. "And why exactly do you think that?"

Kael lifted a hand to answer, but Alenia stepped forward smoothly.

"It will be revealed when the time comes," she said with an official tone that didn't quite hide her excitement. "The plan was crafted after considering many variables."

Kael glanced at her, amused. "Oh? It was?"

Alenia shot him a gentle "don't ruin this for me" glare. After all, it was her mind that had come up with a lot of things, and it was her idea to turn this village into a city.

Though, of course, it was all for Kael.

Now, clearing her throat, she explained, "We intend to turn the Rugarda Great Forest into a nation of its own—not one with a human empire system, but with the demihuman system. One leader city, and the rest as supporting cities under it."

Lyratheia hummed thoughtfully. "The demihuman empire had tribes, and you plan to make cities."

Alenia nodded. "Exactly. But better. Fairer. Balanced. Each city will have autonomy, but the lead city will be this one. Under Lord Kael."

Kael pointed at himself lazily. "That's me."

"Obviously," Lyratheia murmured, amused.

Druvarn puffed up. "And I'd be the Commander of—"

"No," Kael said instantly.

Druvarn sagged. "I wasn't finished yet…"

"You didn't need to be."

Rina giggled softly.

Rue whispered, "He'd lead us into a berry orchard."

Druvarn gasped. "I AM A FEARSOME EARTH BEAR—"

"No stealing berries counts as fearsome," Kael said dryly.

Druvarn grumbled.

Lyratheia leaned back in her seat, returning to the main matter. "So… this city would be the heart of this new nation. And you want me to join it rather than remain a subservient city later."

"Yes," Kael said without hesitation.

"Why?"

Lyratheia asked genuinely. "Could I not stay where I am and join as a supportive city?"

Kael shook his head.

"Having strong people in one place strengthens that place. And I want you here—not as a subordinate city somewhere far away. But here, where you can defend this place in my absence."

Her brows lifted just a little.

"And," Kael added, "I've heard you're a good healer. So that's a plus."

Lyratheia's lips curved. "Mm. I am."

Then she said something that quieted the room.

"These conditions are good for you, Kael. But I don't yet understand what they offer me."

Silence fell.

Rue blinked.

Rina tilted her head.

Druvarn looked between everyone, as if expecting someone else to answer.

It was then that Lyra, who had been growing stronger and slowly gaining more and more confidence, spoke.

"…Isn't it natural," she said, gesturing to Lyratheia, "for the weak to follow—" she turned toward Kael "—the strong?"

Druvarn sputtered on his tea.

Selene turned her face away to hide her smile.

Lyratheia hummed. "True. It is natural. But that process alone doesn't earn loyalty."

Her eyes slid toward Kael.

"All it does is bind me here. And I assume that isn't what you want…" She paused, eyebrow lifting. "…right?"

Kael tapped his chin thoughtfully.

"I thought life itself was the biggest commodity," he mused. "And that you'd follow me just because I'm strong enough to kill you if I wanted to."

Druvarn choked again.

Rina patted his back politely.

"But," Kael continued, "it seems that's not enough."

He leaned forward slightly, eyes sharp but expression casual.

"So tell me, Lyratheia. What do you want?"

Everyone in the room turned toward her.

Kael added, "Name one wish—one thing you want. If it's something I can do, I'll grant it."

Druvarn whispered, "He's bargaining with wishes now…? Why wasn't I offered something like that…?"

Rue poked him. "Shh!"

Lyratheia rested her chin on her hand, eyes glinting with amusement, curiosity, and something thoughtful.

"Well…" She smiled slowly. "…that is an interesting offer."

Lyratheia tapped her long, delicate finger against her teacup—once, twice—before finally speaking.

"There is something I want," she murmured.

Her voice was soft, but those six words instantly tightened the air in the room.

Kael leaned back with interest, Selene's golden eyes sharpened, Alenia straightened as if expecting a political request, Lyra braced for a logistical nightmare, and Druvarn—mid-sip—froze like a statue.

Evethra, on the other hand, stood behind Kael, waiting for him to finish his tea so she could pour more.

Rue and Rina looked between everyone, pretending to be confused but captivated.

Lyratheia lifted her gaze, meeting Kael's eyes steadily.

"Can my request," she asked, "be the death of someone?"

The room stilled so completely that even the steam from the tea paused out of politeness.

Kael blinked once.

Then twice.

"…Define someone," he said calmly, though his draconic eyes gleamed with something sharp. "I don't kill for free. I need details—what kind of person they are, how they treat others, what they've done, and why you want them dead."

Lyratheia smiled—not gently, but in the way someone smiles when they finally get permission to remove a thorn they've endured for far too long.

"He is a beast," she said, voice low. "Not a noble one. Not a civilized one. A tyrant of the Rugarda depths. He forces the scattered beast to serve him—using power, fear, and corruption. He believes himself the ruler of the forest."

Druvarn's head snapped up.

"Oh no," he whispered. "Not him."

Kael's eyes flicked sideways. "You know him?"

Druvarn swallowed loudly. "Yes. The guy's a—how do I put this politely—an absolute bastard. He once came to 'tame' me."

He used air quotes with miserable emphasis. "Said I'd make a good pet for his collection."

Rue gasped. "A pet?!"

Rina clutched Druvarn's arm protectively.

Druvarn nodded solemnly. "He even put a collar on me."

Kael blinked. "…You wore a collar?"

"That's not the point," Druvarn hissed. "He left because something 'urgent' came up, or I'd still be ordering berries under threat of death."

Kael rubbed his chin, amusement creeping in. "You? Obeying someone willingly? Incredible."

"Not by choice!"

Lyratheia continued, cutting through the bickering with a calm but dangerous edge.

"He has tormented many. Broken many. Forced many into servitude." Her expression darkened—fierce, ancient, and wounded. "I want him gone."

Kael sat forward slightly, eyes narrowing. There was no humor there now—only curiosity, calculation, and something colder.

"And you want me to kill him."

"No," Lyratheia corrected, raising a finger. "I want you to defeat him. You will have to anyway if you are building a nation here. He would never allow another power to rise within the Rugarda."

Her golden eyes glowed with a quiet, simmering fury.

"But the last strike," she said softly, "is mine."

Evethra, who had been silent until now, lowered her teacup with serene elegance.

"A personal vendetta," she murmured. "Understandable."

Lyra frowned, curious. "Is he truly that dangerous?"

"Yes," Lyratheia and Druvarn said at the same time.

Druvarn added dramatically, "Back then when we fought, I couldn't do anything against him. Though, it was mostly because his abilities were annoying."

Rue's eyes widened. "You were defeated?!"

Rina tugged Rue's sleeve. "S-Scary…"

Kael exhaled slowly through his nose, as if considering the weight of the request.

Then—

He shrugged.

"I don't mind killing tyrants," he said simply. "I'm sure he'd scream nicely when he realizes that I'm not impressed."

Evethra hid a smile behind her hand.

"But," Kael added, turning his golden gaze back to Lyratheia, "if I'm going to fight someone strong, I'd like to know exactly what I'm up against. What is he? Species, rank, abilities?"

Lyratheia answered without hesitation.

"He is a Dire Sovereign Beast. An S-rank Chimera, born from corrupted bloodlines. Intelligent. Cunning. Cruel."

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"S-Rank? That's quite a good power level."

"It is," Lyratheia confirmed. "And he grows stronger with every creature he consumes."

Druvarn shuddered.

"I once saw him eat a salamander," he whispered like someone telling a ghost story. "A whole salamander. Bones and all. He didn't even season it."

Kael grimaced. "Savage."

Druvarn nodded vigorously. "Barbaric."

Kael waved a hand lazily.

"Alright. I'll consider killing him. But only if, when the time comes…" He tilted his head toward her, eyes gleaming in a dragon's playful challenge. "…you tell me why the last strike matters so much."

Lyratheia's lips curved in a slow, melancholic smile.

"Oh, Kael," she whispered. "When the time comes, you won't need to ask."

The room fell quiet.

Not heavy.

Not grim.

But like the calm breath before a storm.

Kael leaned back again, crossing his legs and taking a sip of tea.

"Well," he said lightly, "that's one hell of a wish."

Druvarn exhaled. "Can I wish for something too?"

"No," Kael said instantly.

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