The sun beat mercilessly down upon the old, abandoned house, standing alone in the middle of a sunflower field whose heads bowed under the excessive heat. Around it, gentle hills were dotted with sparse treetops, and beyond them, ripe apple clusters gleamed like small crimson lanterns. The parched earth cracked under the wind’s touch, and, five kilometers away on the horizon, the city of Neversand rose into view—crowned by the imposing White Castle, lofty emblem of the city of magic, stronghold of its most feared sorcerers, swordsmen, and warriors.
Neversand served as quarters for one of King Lepra’s armies, whose power was dangerously intertwined with that of King Falang. It was here that our group set foot for the first time, venturing into enemy territory in search of Mr. Kitty, the clues the Church of the Holy Faith guarded about Kugutsu Island, and, above all, King Kugutsu himself—objectives that lit our path like embers in the dark.
Back at the hut, its cracked walls flung open windowless frames to the air, and the old tilled soil had long since blown away to dust. Behind the house, a solitary grave bore a roughly hewn tombstone inscribed in trembling letters:
“John River — The Great Drunkard of Neversand, loving and gentle father.”
Beside the grave lay Kaien in slumber: a young, vigorous dragon with glazed scales, whose soft rumble mingled with the distant sounds of the plains. Roaming the steep hillside, a group of children peered at him with joyous discovery, thrilled by the rarity of a resting dragon.
Among them sat Soken—an observant boy, yet blind—perched on a stone, nibbling at apples. His gaze, hidden behind frail lids, was ever-present in the vivid descriptions his words wove. Beside him, Nina—her long hair the color of dawn’s sky—silently sang an enchantment with her steadfast, crystal-clear eyes.
“Hey, Nina,” Soken whispered, offering her the binoculars. “We’ve been watching him for a week. I want to get closer, but I’m afraid… come with me.”
Nina tilted her head uncertainly. “I don’t understand how you ‘see,’ Soken. You’re blind,” she said, amused and curious all at once.
Soken raised the binoculars. “Look here—he’s scratching his belly with his paw. Aaaah, he’s so… cute!”
Nina took the binoculars, and the two dissolved into gentle laughter, sharing the delight of uncovering a secret.
“All right! You’ve convinced me,” Nina murmured, smiling. “I want to go right now. But it’s weird, Soken: we’ve never seen anyone around here. Could the dragon be guarding something… or someone?”
He touched her forehead tenderly and, in a low voice, said, “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you. Hand in hand, we’ll cross the field of sunflowers and apples without Dragon noticing us.”
Nina looked into Soken’s eyes, found trust there, and smiled. “Then let’s go!”
Hand in hand, they slipped away upstream, moving stealthily toward the sleeping dragon, ready to uncover the mysteries hidden beneath his shimmering scales.
Laughter rang out across the sunflower field, where the golden petals swayed like silent guardians. Their illusion of anonymity was short-lived: Kaien’s ears perked up, catching every whisper. A soft sigh escaped his scaly lips, followed by suppressed chuckles.
“I adore children,” the dragon murmured, his raspy voice as gentle as the night wind. “Isabella used to scratch my belly while I slept; she cared for me with such affection… those were good times.”
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His tail swayed in contentment, sending a cloud of dust drifting toward the little spies. Soon, coughs sounded like warnings.
“Nina, stop coughing!” Soken hissed, gripping his friend’s shoulder. But her eyes welled up, her nose tickling in protest.
Before they could slip away in silence, a colossal shadow slid between the flowering stalks. A deep, firm voice filled the air, as resonant as distant thunder. When they looked up, they saw Kaien’s razor-sharp grin looming above them—a radiant arc of teeth that held their full attention.
“Would you like some water?” Kaien offered, tilting his head with practiced kindness. The gesture carried a human warmth, a vivid reminder of Yuzuki’s teachings on the art of treating strangers with goodwill.
Their astonishment turned to panic: both screamed and bolted, fear propelling each step.
“Helpppp!” Nina shouted, stumbling over the dry stalks. “He’s going to eat us! We’re just bones!”
Kaien frowned, maintaining the confused smile. Then a fierce wind roared through the field. Sunflowers and dust swirled in a whirlwind; Nina tumbled in a desperate roll, Soken right behind. Still clasping her hand, he raised his arms protectively, his body braced against the impetuous gale.
“I’m here, Nina,” Soken cried, his voice steady against the chaos. “I’ll protect you, and I swear he doesn’t mean to hurt us…”
Before he could finish, Kaien beat his wings with mighty strokes. The gust rose like a wall of air, scattering sunflowers and dust in every direction. In one swift motion, the black dragon scooped up Soken in his jaws, while with a single claw he enveloped Nina and, in a vertiginous surge, lifted them toward the sky—bearing them toward the sun and the clouds dissolving on the fiery horizon.
Kaien took flight, carrying Soken and Nina on his back. The clouds brushed the dragon’s scales like translucent cotton, and the sun spilled its molten gold across the horizon, bathing in the distance the silhouette of Neversand’s White Castle and King Falang’s thriving city.
Soken let out a yell that was swallowed by the sky: “My God! I’m alive!”
He spread his arms in a gesture of ecstasy, thrilling at his newfound freedom. Kaien returned a gentle smile, and the young boy, enraptured, scarcely noticed Isabella’s memories drifting through the dragon’s mind.
“I’ve made new friends, Isa…” Kaien thought, gazing at the endless blue before him.
Nina, curled into the warm curve of the dragon’s back, kept her eyes squeezed shut, her heart racing. A calm voice cut through her panic: “Do you trust me?” Soken whispered.
Nina stayed still for long seconds, trembling until she finally nodded. Slowly, she opened her eyes. The descending sunlight cast a golden veil across her face, accentuating the crystalline blue of her irises. Seeing Soken with arms outstretched, her heart burst with joy—and a tear slipped down to rest on Kaien’s scales. On impulse, she spread her arms alongside his and cried out, “I’m alive!”
Her shout echoed with the dragon’s soft roar. Moved by that jubilation, Kaien unleashed an enormous smile and bellowed, “We’re alive!”
Hours later, Kaien set them down on a verdant hill, from which the walls of Neversand were in sight. Here they would be close to their homes, yet still under their winged friend’s protection.
Soken stroked the dragon’s snout and exclaimed triumphantly, “We made a friend! I can’t believe it: we have a dragon to guard us!”
His laughter took on a mischievous edge, then melted into sweet, contagious joy.
“How absurd!” Nina chided with a smile. “He’s my dragon. I’m a princess of Neversand, and Kaien watches over me.”
They fantasized such as they walked through the city’s main gate. When they arrived, a melancholy silence enveloped them. Both felt the weight of parting drawing near.
Soken embraced Nina and planted a tender kiss on her cheek. “I hate this part…”
“Me too,” she murmured, sighing, her eyes misty.
He stepped back, watching her from afar as if wanting to guard her every step to the entry bridge.
Suddenly, a white-and-blue carriage appeared on the road, drawn by horses clad in silver armor. A man in formal dress and top hat guided it, flanked by soldiers with raised lances.
Nina waved hesitantly, then climbed into the carriage bound for the castle. Soken remained on the hill, heart heavy—yet aglow with hope: despite his blindness, he possessed something unique that made him special.
And seated on the grassy knoll, Soken smiled at the sky, confident that as long as Kaien flew overhead, no shadow would ever touch them.