There wasn’t a cloud in the sky as early summer sunlight showered down upon the forest of giant trees. Around the perennially frozen lake, however, it was always winter, and the lands were painted in the very colors of that season. The frosty air that blew from the lake’s surface made it all too clear to Shiori that this place would never truly be cultivated.
It was amidst this eternal winter that the body of the giant dragon was beginning to freeze over.
“It’s a pity it has to be like this,” said Alec, “but in terms of preserving the beast, this really is the only way.”
He touched a fleck of frost on the dragon’s cheek, a slight grimace creasing his features. There was no way to transport such a huge body all the way to the Royal Institute of Bioengineering, and so a temporary facility would be erected here by the lake until the dragon’s body had been properly analyzed. Only then would the body be given a burial, and properly laid to rest.
“But I’m glad too,” he continued. “I hope its sleep is one of pleasant dreams.”
“Yes. Though that said, the dragon clearly didn’t like being alone. Maybe it would like some company. When everything is finished here, let’s bring some flowers and pay our respects.”
“Good idea. We can bring all the others and make a day of it.”
The two halves of the scale in their palms glittered as if responding to their idea.
There was no longer anything left for Shiori or Alec to do on the battlefield, and so they opted to leave with the medics, the injured, and the reinforcements when they arrived shortly.
“You’ll spend the night at the main camp,” said a knight. “Rest your bodies for a night, then make the slow trip home tomorrow.”
The adrenaline and the joy of victory had faded from the adventurers’ bodies, and such was their exhaustion that, for some, even walking took considerable effort. For Shiori—and many others too—just the thought of the long journey back to Tris left them with a far distant look in their eyes. The knights’ generosity in this regard was something they were all beyond grateful for.
Shiori did not remember very much of the carriage ride back to the main camp. She sank deep into the swampy depths of slumber, and awoke covered in a blanket, staring up at a tent ceiling. Someone must have carried her from the carriage and to the adventurers’ tent. Someone had also taken off her cold-weather gear and folded it neatly by her side.
“Finally awake, huh?” said Alec.
“Yes. I think I overslept.”
“Don’t be surprised. We were quite literally fighting for our lives out there.”
Alec had been awake for some time before Shiori, and had taken to cleaning his sword to pass the time. He’d cleaned off the dirt, grime, and dragon blood, and polished it to a shine—it was hard to believe that not so long ago he’d been fighting a dragon with it. When Shiori said as much, Alec shook his head.
“It’s got a lot of chips and scratches on it now,” he said. “I’m going to have to take it to Solveig again.”
The woman was a famed swordsmith and a well-known hero in the neighborhood, but even she’d be surprised to hear that they’d gone toe to toe with a dragon. The thought of her shocked expression made Shiori giggle. She took her cold-weather gear in hand to inspect it and suddenly gasped.
“It’s so dirty,” she exclaimed. “And it’s all torn too.”
Her erve foure cloak was covered in dirt and blood, frayed in places, and torn around the sleeves and hem.
“Hmm...” she murmured. “I’m going to have to take this to a specialist, I think.”
“I’m quite certain I’m going to have to buy all new gear,” said Alec. “I don’t think there’s any way to mend all the burns.”
“That’s a good point. So I guess we’re going shopping when we get home, then?”
“That we are.”
There wouldn’t be much in the way of a winter lineup during the early summer months, but both adventurers nonetheless wanted to have cold-weather gear at hand in case the situation called for it.
“Where are the others?” Shiori asked. “Rurii and Vio aren’t here.”
It was quiet in the tent, and besides her and Alec, there were only a few others in the tent. Daniel was asleep nearby.
“Little Elin, your grandpa won...” they heard him mutter.
“They’re outside playing,” Alec said. “Nadia is with Clemens. She might not be back tonight. Shall we visit them?”
“Yes, let’s.”
“The others have gone to the bath, I think.”
“The bath? There’s a bath?” asked Shiori.
If there was indeed a bath, and a way for her to get to it too, then Shiori was ready to beg. Alec chuckled at the hungry look in his lover’s eyes.
“You remember the class you held in the spring? Seems like they’ve mastered the spell.”
“Wow. I can’t wait to see it.”
“In which case, let’s head there together. We’ll soak in the bath for a little while, then go and see Clemens.”
They left the tent with towels, soap, and a change of clothes. Outside, they spotted the familiars at play, with Violid at the heart of things. Rurii waved hello with a feeler. The slime should have been as dirty as Shiori’s winter gear, but it looked as though someone had been kind enough to give it a wash, because it was practically sparkling under the sun. Violid had received a thorough brushing too. The familiars were all relaxed as they played, and Shiori suspected someone had fed them some snacks.
“A young knight fed all the familiars,” explained Kai, who was playing with the group. “They were curious about slimes and Fenrirs.”
Violid gave Kai a nudge with his nose: “Who are you calling a Fenrir?”
It seemed that the young knight, curious about the rare magical beasts, had prepared the necessary bribes to get a closer look.
“What about their duties?” Shiori asked.
“Apparently the guy flew out here as soon as his break started.”
“Oh...”
Alec looked a bit put off, but Rurii and Violid were clearly having a great time. The two familiars told them they’d be playing until dinner, and so Shiori and Alec gave them a wave, then weaved off through the tents in search of the bath. It wasn’t a great distance, but getting there wasn’t easy with all the people calling out to stop them on their way.
“Hey, it’s the hero of the day! I hope it’s not rude of me to ask, but would you shake my hand, sir?”
“Uh, sure.”
“Instructor Shiori! When you’ve got some time, I’d love to talk to you! And if possible, perhaps get a magic demonstration?”
“I-Instructor...?”
“Sir Alec! Can I have your signature?!”
“A signature? I don’t think you need to go that far...”
“Miss Shiori! I really want to eat your karaage again someday!”
“Where did that come from?!”
To many, Alec was a dragon slayer and Shiori a quiet starlet. To others, they were a pair—the hero and the holy woman who had saved a tragic dragon’s heart in its final moments. That was the picture that had come to form in the minds of the knight corps, and they were clamoring for handshakes. Among them were a few more troubling knights who were practically begging, but they were a trifle compared to the sheer number of fans hounding the adventurers.
“I know I said we needed to take some strides to strengthen our position in society, but I never meant for it to result in hero worship...” uttered Alec.
“And honestly, I don’t think I’ve done nearly enough to be put on such a pedestal...” added Shiori.
“No, you can rest easy on that one,” replied Alec. “You very much have.”
“Huh... Huh?” exclaimed Shiori.
The two adventurers were always rather modest, and the attention left them quite embarrassed. By the time they made it to the baths, they were mentally exhausted. In front of the baths stood Leo Nordman, talking to one of his knights. He greeted the two adventurers with a wry chuckle.
“Receiving a scale from the very dragon you fought... That’s a first in the kingdom, that’s for sure,” he said. “And saving its heart from the depths of darkness in its final moments? That is truly the work of heroes, if you ask me. You should accept the praise.”
Shiori and Alec both touched their chests, where each had half of the dragon scale, hidden behind the folds of their clothing. A gentle warmth seemed to pulse from the location.
“Providing people with hope and salvation, that’s a story of heroes all right,” Leo continued. “So don’t think about it too hard.”
The two adventurers had, in their actions, woven a tale of legend.
“I see. I guess if I think of it like that, maybe I can accept it,” said Alec.
“That’s the spirit. Now don’t let me keep you. Head on in. And, Miss Shiori, I’d love your thoughts when you’re done. If you think there’s something we could improve, by all means let me know.”
“Okay. Sounds good.”
The entrance was divided into two halves, beyond which the tent was further separated into two rooms: a changing room and the bath proper.
“Well, that’s the scale of the knight corps for you,” uttered Shiori to herself. “You could never do this in an ordinary tent.”