Chapter 177: The Empty Clearing

Adam straightened, wincing slightly as his still-healing body protested the movement. He turned to Orion, placing a hand over his heart—the same gesture of sincerity he’d used before.

"We should go. Thank you—for everything. The healing, the answers, the..." He glanced down at where the dragon mark now rested beneath his bandages. "The trust."

Orion inclined his head, golden eyes thoughtful. "There is no need to rush. Your wounds have not fully regenerated. Another day of rest would—"

"No." Adam’s voice was firm, though not unkind. "We can’t wait. Every hour we delay, something could happen to them." He met Orion’s gaze. "I appreciate your concern. But I can’t rest while my companions is in danger."

Orion studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "I understand. Then go with my blessing." He paused, then added, "And perhaps take the rabbit-deer with you. You will need sustenance for your journey."

Ignis perked up immediately, her earlier pout forgotten. "Oh! The antler bunnies!" She scrambled back into the room they’d woken in and emerged moments later clutching a bundle wrapped in leaves—the carcass of the creature she’d been so proud of hunting. She thrust it toward Orion with both hands, her expression earnest.

"Here! For you! Since you let me hunt and gave me potions and stuff." She paused, then added, "It’s the biggest one I caught. I saved it special."

Orion accepted the bundle with a faint smile—the warmest expression they’d seen from him yet. "I will cook it later." He looked at them both. "Be careful on your journey. Though nothing dangerous lurks near my territory, you must remain vigilant once you leave its borders."

Adam nodded. "We will. Thank you for the advice." He hesitated, then added, "One more thing—I’d like to confirm Luddict’s appearance. Any distinctive features? Something that would help us recognize him?"

Orion’s smile widened slightly—a knowing, almost amused expression. "You will find him when you need to. Trust that."

Before Adam could press for more, Orion raised his hand. The world twisted.

In the space between heartbeats, the garden vanished. The ancient tree, the terraced plants, the peaceful green—all replaced by familiar rock and shadow.

Adam blinked, orienting himself. They stood in the exact clearing where Orion had first attacked them—the crater marks still visible, the shattered trees still bearing witness to their desperate battle.

Ignis spun in a circle, her flames flickering with indignation. "Hey! What the heck, old man?! He just kicked us out!"

Adam’s lips pressed into a thin line. ’He deliberately didn’t give me details about Luddict...’ His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. ’Is this another test? Or does he simply want to make sure we don’t complete his task too easily?’

Ignis grabbed his arm, already tugging him toward the sky. "Whatever! Let’s just go, Adam! The faster we find Lilith and the others, the faster we can deal with creepy letter man!"

Adam let himself be pulled, a determined smile crossing his features. "Right. Let’s move."

Adam tried to unfurl his wings, but the bandages around his torso pulled taut, and a sharp wince escaped him. His regeneration was working, but not fast enough—the wounds Orion had inflicted were deep, and they resisted healing in ways that frustrated his body’s natural recovery.

Ignis noticed immediately. Her hand shot out, gripping his arm before he could try again.

"Stop that!" She puffed up her chest, her eyes gleaming with a pride that bordered on comical. "Ride on me, Adam! I’m a true dragon now—I can carry you easily!"

Adam looked at her—at the fierce, earnest expression, at the way she practically vibrated with eagerness to prove herself. Despite everything, a smile tugged at his lips. He let out a long, resigned sigh.

"Fine. But I’m navigating, so don’t get us lost."

Ignis’s face lit up like a sunrise. She stepped back, and her transformation began.

It was different from before—smoother, more controlled. Her flames didn’t erupt wildly; they flowed over her form like water, reshaping, redefining. When it finished, a magnificent dragon stood before him. Her scales were a deep crimson, edged with gold that caught the light like molten metal. Her horns swept back gracefully from her brow, and her eyes—those same fierce, loving eyes—fixed on Adam with unmistakable affection.

Adam let out a low whistle. "Magnificent."

[System Notification]

[Ignis (Blazeheart Drake) has evolved!]

[New Form: Blazeheart Dragon (Young Adult)]

[Bloodline Purity: Increased significantly]

[New Traits Unlocked: Solar Aura, Regal Presence]

Ignis preened under his gaze, her tail swishing with satisfaction. Then she lowered herself, presenting her back for him to mount.

Adam climbed up carefully, settling between the ridges of her shoulders. The scales were warm beneath him, comfortable in a way that felt almost like home.

"What do you think I am?" Ignis’s voice rumbled through her chest, carrying to him naturally.

Adam patted her neck affectionately. "You’re a great dragon. Now eyes forward—we’ve got a long flight ahead."

"Heh. You know it."

Her wings snapped open—broad, powerful, catching the wind with practiced ease. One powerful downbeat, and they lifted from the clearing. Another, and they were climbing, the forest shrinking beneath them, the horizon expanding in all directions.

They soared above the canopy, leaving Orion’s territory behind. The sun was warm on Adam’s face, the wind cool against his skin. For a moment—just a moment—he let himself enjoy the sensation of flight without the pressure of survival.

Then Ignis spoke, her voice thoughtful in a way that was rare for her.

"Hey, Adam? Why didn’t you ask the old man about Elise’s curse?"

Adam blinked. The question hadn’t occurred to him—or rather, it had, and he’d pushed it aside. He considered his answer carefully.

"I’m not sure he would have known," he said finally. "Elise’s family has been dealing with that curse for generations. If there was an easy solution, they would have found it by now." He paused. "And even if Orion did know... we’d already asked so much. He healed us, gave us answers about Alice, set us a task." His voice softened. "We have to know our limits, Ignis. Gratitude only goes so far before it becomes entitlement."

Ignis was quiet for a moment, processing. Then, "But he helped because we’re dragons, right? Well, you’re not fully dragon, but close enough."

Adam’s lips quirked. "Probably. Dragons seem to have their own code."

"That old guy also said there’s something weird about your soul." Ignis’s voice was genuinely curious now. "What did he mean by that?"

Adam’s expression flickered. ’She doesn’t know. She’s never asked, and I’ve never told her.’ He took a breath, choosing his words carefully.

"It’s because my soul is... special. Different from most."

"Ohhh." Ignis accepted this with characteristic simplicity. "That’s why you’re so smart, Adam!"

Adam blinked, caught off guard by her casual acceptance. A warm, complicated feeling bloomed in his chest—gratitude mixed with guilt.

’Thank you, Ignis,’ he thought, ’for not pressing. For trusting me even when I can’t explain.’ His gaze drifted to the horizon, to the distant mountains that marked their path back to the gorge. ’I can’t tell you I’m from another world. I still don’t fully understand it myself. But Orion... he sensed it and didn’t ask. Didn’t pry. Was that respect? Or just disinterest?’

Adam’s gaze drifted over the forest canopy below, the endless green a blur beneath Ignis’s steady wingbeats. His mind churned with unanswered questions—about Orion, about the Oath on his chest, about the mysterious Luddict. He let out a slow breath.

’If I meet him again,’ he thought, ’I’ll ask about it then. For now, we have more urgent matters.’

"Adam!" Ignis’s voice cut through his reverie, sharp with sudden awareness. "I can feel Lilith! Our bond—it’s working again!"

Adam’s eyes widened. He reached inward, stretching his consciousness along the thread that connected him to Lilith. At first, there was nothing—just silence, the same emptiness that had greeted him since the teleportation. But then...

Faint. Distant. Like a whisper carried on wind too weak to reach him properly. But there.

’Lilith?’ He pushed the thought outward, focusing all his will on that fragile connection. ’Lilith, can you hear me?’

Silence. Then—

’Adam...?’

The voice was barely a breath, so faint he almost missed it. But it grew stronger with each passing second, gaining clarity, gaining volume, until—

’ADAM!! ADAM, WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW?!’

Adam winced, the mental shout reverberating through his skull. ’Lilith, calm down—your voice is echoing in my head—’

’I DON’T CARE ABOUT THAT! WHERE ARE YOU?! I’LL COME TO YOU!’

Adam took a steadying breath, forcing calm into his mental projection. ’Lilith. Listen to me. I’m fine. I’m with Ignis, and we’re flying back to you right now. Just wait with Elise and Seraphina. We’ll be there soon.’

A pause stretched across the mental link—long enough for Adam’s heart to stutter with dread. When Lilith’s voice returned, it was different. Flatter. Emptier. The absence of emotion somehow more terrifying than any scream.

’They’re not here.’

Adam’s blood ran cold. His grip on Ignis’s scales tightened involuntarily.

"What? What do you mean they’re not there? Are they... are they dead?"

’No.’ Lilith’s mental voice carried a weight that was almost worse than confirmation of death. ’Captured. The soldiers took them.’