The Lord's Summons (5)
After receiving Balderic's letter from the Lord's Castle, Baekseol and I decided to depart the next evening.
But our plans were inevitably changed by an unexpected visitor.
Kieeeek—!
As I guided Lilia through her training, a sharp cry tore through the sky.
Baekseol and I looked up at the heavens simultaneously.
A massive shadow blotted out the sun.
Black scales gleamed ominously in the sunlight, and each flap of its enormous wings whipped a gale across the training grounds.
It was a dragon.
That's... Balderic's...
And atop its back sat the steward of the Lord's Castle, Kain, perched with perfect composure.
Dragon.
The creature often hailed as the ultimate being in any fantasy world—one that could reduce cities to ash with its breath, scales impervious to magic, an overwhelming presence ruling the skies.
In any world, dragons inspired terror and awe.
There was only one reason Kain could ride such a beast.
The dragon itself was Balderic's ability.
Boom—
The ground shuddered as the dragon landed.
Kain dismounted with graceful poise and offered a polite bow.
"It's been a while, Lord Astra. Lady Baekseol."
I approached him before Baekseol did, cutting straight to the point.
"I received the summons for the Tian Yi Hui. Why come in person?"
"My apologies. Lady Balderic commanded me to escort you directly. Unfortunately, I wasn't told the reason."
Has she figured out what I've been scheming?
A chill ran down my spine.
"Astra, does it matter? A dragon will get us there fast—no hassle."
At Baekseol's nonchalant words, I nodded outwardly.
Sending a dragon and Kain means something's up.
"Very well."
Hiding my unease, I turned to Lilia, who had followed us out.
"I'll be back soon. Keep training, Lilia."
Baekseol gave instructions to Marcus as well.
"Marcus, I'll be heading to the Lord's Castle after so long—take good care of Lilia until then."
"Of course, no need to worry."
Marcus bowed his head.
"Please, Lord Astra. Lady Baekseol."
Following Kain's guidance, we climbed atop the dragon.
The moment our feet touched its black scales, the beast unfurled its massive wings and shot into the sky.
Silence hung heavy as we soared above the clouds.
Then Kain spoke first.
"Lord Astra."
I turned to him.
"Was the position of Haven's captain... to your liking?"
It was a question that recalled our first meeting.
The day I pretended to be an absolute powerhouse indifferent to all. The promise he made as he drew me into Haven.
'It will be far more interesting than this.'
"No regrets."
A short, firm answer.
"I'm glad to hear it. Lady Balderic will be pleased."
* * *
The dragon's speed defied imagination.
It covered the distance from Frostheim to the Lord's Castle—one that would normally take at least a day—in a single flight.
As the beast touched down before the massive gates, Kain leaped off first.
"Lord Astra, you're to see Lady Balderic immediately upon arrival. I'll escort Lady Baekseol to her room."
Baekseol departed first with a waiting maid, and I followed Kain to Balderic's office.
"It's been a while here too."
I muttered as we walked the corridor adorned with ornate marble pillars and golden decorations.
We soon reached Balderic's office. Before Kain could knock, a voice came from within.
"Come in."
Kain opened the door, revealing a vast chamber.
Shelves reaching the ceiling, a grand chandelier, and at its center...
Haven's lord, Balderic, sat behind an enormous desk.
"Kain, leave us. Astra and I have business."
"Understood."
Kain withdrew quietly, and the door clicked shut, leaving a heavy silence in the office.
Balderic rose slowly and moved to the round table in the room's center, taking a seat.
"What have you been up to, Astra."
Her eyes fixed on me piercingly.
"Sit. We have much to discuss, just the two of us."
It was a command.
I walked over slowly and sat across from her.
A strange tension hung between us across the table.
Balderic spoke first.
"Is Haven's captaincy to your satisfaction?"
"It is."
"Good."
The brief exchange did little to reveal her true intent—it remained veiled.
She'd sent a dragon to summon me a day early; there had to be more to it.
I cut to the chase.
"You didn't call me here for small talk. Why summon me early with a dragon?"
"Hmm."
Balderic eyed me leisurely, as if peering into my soul.
Then she tossed it out casually.
"You're not hiding anything from me, are you?"
Thud—
My heart skipped a beat.
Does she know? Or is she just probing?
But I didn't flinch, firing back.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Is that so?"
The corner of Balderic's mouth curved up slightly.
That enigmatic smile sent another chill down my spine.
"Lunaria Empire contacted us to advance the continental conference."
She continued slowly.
"The official reason is some minor kingdom declaring war, but..."
Balderic leaned forward.
"To me, it looks like that old fox wants to see you. Especially with that 'congratulations to the new captain' at the end."
Old fox...
Probably only Balderic would dare call Cassius that on this continent.
Tap, tap.
The sound of her fingers drumming the table synced with my heartbeat.
"In centuries of life, I've never seen this. Cassius has never craved a single captain this badly."
Balderic leaned back, staring me down.
"That's why I'm asking, Astra. Are you really hiding nothing from me?"
I breathed a silent sigh of relief inwardly.
She hadn't uncovered my plot to advance the conference—just suspicious of my ties to Cassius.
It made sense, really.
I'd first appeared in Lunaria Empire Prison 3, amid their chimera experiments—an enigmatic figure ripe for suspicion as an imperial spy.
I let my lip curl in a slight smirk.
"Hiding something... I'm not in a position to report everything, am I?"
Balderic's gaze turned icy.
"This isn't a request—it's an order. If there's anything, spill it all."
"An order..."
I met her eyes for a moment, then shrugged.
"I have business in Darkteria. Seeing their king directly is the fastest way, so I lit the spark of war in a minor kingdom to force the continental conference early."
"That's all?"
"Yes."
Silence fell.
Balderic stared me down, weighing the truth.
"Was the Crimson Gorge incident your doing?"
"Not an 'incident.' Just tossed a small spark."
"A small spark?"
Balderic let out a scoffing laugh.
"That 'small spark' has the entire continent in uproar. Even Cassius is moving."
She leaned back, appraising me.
"Darkteria... What's there worth all this?"
"Personal business."
"Personal business that drags the continental conference into it?"
I shrugged again.
"For my goals, no means are off-limits. You're the same type, aren't you, Balderic?"
A dangerous smile spread across Balderic's lips.
"Interesting."
"And one correction."
I continued steadily.
"I didn't move Cassius. He was already in motion."
"Meaning?"
"Cassius planned to advance the conference regardless. Without me, he'd have lit the spark himself."
Balderic's eyes sharpened.
"Proof?"
"I have one of his moved subordinates in my custody."
Silence again.
Balderic stared intently, then her lips curved.
"Fine. You're dismissed."
I rose from my chair.
As I headed for the door, her voice pierced my back.
"But you know, Astra? I could choose not to take you."
My steps halted.
The continental conference was for kings and emperors only.
Even as Haven's captain, if the lord refused, I couldn't attend. If Balderic truly willed it, I'd be barred entirely.
I turned slowly to face her.
"But you won't."
"Why think that?"
"A woman as shrewd as you couldn't have heard my words and missed it."
I flashed a confident smile.
"This is the perfect opportunity, isn't it? Lunaria Empire sparking war between kingdoms just to hold the conference... The ideal pretext to seize their leash."
"Heh..."
Balderic's low chuckle began.
It grew, filling the room.
"Hahaha! Truly..."
She waved a hand.
"Fine, get out—for real this time."
As I reached the door, her voice burrowed into my back once more.
"Oh, and Astra."
"What?"
"Don't disappoint me at the continental conference. If it's boring... I might just kill you."
Her words blended playful tease with lethal intent.
"No worries. My preparations are perfect."