The Brand
Two months later.
"Leon, are you ready?"
"Yes, I think we can head out now."
Our family set off for Iris's mansion.
Today, of all days, was a special one.
"Leon, did you prepare the gift for your girlfriend?"
"She's not my girlfriend, Dad. She's my childhood friend."
"The way I see it, she's a little more than a childhood friend."
It was Iris's birthday.
"So anyway, what kind of gift are you giving her?"
"It's a secret."
"You can't even tell your own father?"
"No matter that you're my father, I can't tell you."
"Aww, you stingy little brat."
Watching the exchange, my mother chuckled softly.
"Leon, could you tell your dear mother?"
"I'm sorry, Mother."
"Oh my, so it's a secret from your mother too?"
"Yes."
"Hmm... the way you're talking, it must be something quite impressive."
"I couldn't say. That's for Iris to judge."
"Heheh, someone's nervous, aren't they?"
"N-No, I'm not!"
My heart, however, refused to lie.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Calm down, heart. Calm down!
I steadied my trembling chest and looked down at the bag I'd brought along.
I hope she likes it.
Lost in that thought as I walked, I found we had already arrived. A lavish white mansion spread out before us.
I've been here so many times, and it still never feels normal.
When we reached the front of the mansion, we knocked on the door.
"Hey, Rex! We're here!"
A moment later, the door swung open and Rex greeted us.
"Welcome, Bale."
"Whoa, dressed to the nines this time, huh?"
"Naturally. It's my daughter's birthday."
"Now that you mention it, so it is."
Our family followed Rex inside.
How long had we walked? When we reached the living room, we sank into the sofa laid out before us.
"You've really gone all out this time."
"I told you, it's my daughter's birthday. It can't be some ordinary affair."
"Honestly, your daughter-obsessed streak never gets old no matter how many times I see it."
Rex turned his head toward me.
"Aren't you a son-obsessed fool yourself?"
"I'm better than you."
"I don't think so."
"I think so."
Before the childish bickering could escalate, my mother spoke up.
"Both of you, that's enough. What are you doing in front of the children?"
"......"
"......Ahem."
At a single word from my mother, my father and Rex fell silent. Then they both turned to look at me.
"By the way, do you know what your son prepared for my daughter?"
"He says it's a secret."
"A secret, is it? Now you've got me curious too."
I answered him.
"My gift is for Iris and Iris alone. Even you, sir, can't hear what it is."
Rex threw his head back and laughed heartily.
"Hahahaha! It seems my daughter has made herself a fine friend!"
Then he turned his gaze back to me.
"That's right. If it's a gift meant only for my daughter, then absolutely no one else may know of it. Am I clear?"
"Thank you, sir."
"No need for thanks. If anything, I should be the one thanking you. You're the only person who's ever cared for my daughter this much."
A question occurred to me at his words.
"Come to think of it, sir, there's something I've been wondering about."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"I've been thinking about it for a while now — am I really Iris's only friend?"
At my question, his expression hardened in an instant. He stayed quiet for a long moment before finally speaking.
"Leon, you've heard this before, but we White Dragons are immune to one another's cold — while for every other living thing, it means death."
"I know. Isn't that why Iris went into the labyrinth to get her pendant?"
"Right. Thanks to that pendant, my daughter's cold is kept under control. But it's nothing more than a stopgap measure."
"A stopgap measure?"
"Yes. No matter how well the pendant regulates her cold, it has its limits. And what do you suppose happens when she pushes past that limit?"
"......"
"You can imagine, can't you? That's why we White Dragons live out here in this remote forest. Meeting your father was pure chance."
"......I see. So you lived in a place like this... to avoid bringing harm to others."
"Yes. We're still searching for a way to solve the problem even now, but there's been no progress."
Rex rubbed his forehead as he went on.
"The only reason I can sit here and talk with your family like this is because I've cast a cold-resistance spell over this mansion."
"A spell?"
"Yes. You saw it yourself — my daughter freezing that black beast."
"So that was magic."
"Magic is essential to dragons. Without it, what you'd be looking at right now wouldn't be a man — it'd be a dragon."
That answer gave rise to another question.
"Sir, are there other dragons besides you?"
"Of course. There are countless others."
"Then those dragons are affected by the cold too."
"They are. Though the nobler the bloodline, the less it affects them."
"Bloodline?"
"In simple terms — a hierarchy."
"A hierarchy?"
"Every dragon belongs to one. The Drake, the Sacred Dragon, the True Dragon, the Ancient Dragon — and at the very top, the Dragon King."
"Then where does Iris fall?"
"My daughter carries my blood — strictly speaking, the blood of an Ancient Dragon — but she's still young. I'd say she's around a True Dragon for now."
"Whoa."
"Heheh. Now you finally understand just how remarkable my daughter is."
"Then is there only one Dragon King?"
"Not at all. Each dragon lineage has one Dragon King. My own father is one as well."
"What's his name?"
Rex answered a beat late.
"Arkelnion Arvel."
At those words alone, a shiver ran through my whole body.
I only heard the name!
My hand began to tremble, little by little.
"Do you feel it? That fear creeping through your entire body?"
"Sir, what is this?"
"Such is the name of a Dragon King. Merely hearing it is enough to knock an ordinary person unconscious."
"But I'm still awake?"
"That's because I'm intercepting the pressure before it reaches you."
"Is that so? Then why don't you intercept some of the pressure aimed at my wife, too?"
I turned to look at my father and mother.
Both of them were shaking.
A lot.
"Oh dear. My apologies."
A faint blue light shimmered around Rex's body.
"There. You should be fine now."
"Phew. Now I feel like I can breathe again."
My father glared at Rex.
"Warn us next time before you say it."
"Blame your own son. I didn't want to say the name either."
I changed the subject.
"By the way, sir — where is Iris right now?"
"My wife is upstairs helping her pick out a dress. Could you wait just a little longer?"
"Of course."
"Feel free to look forward to it. One look, and you'll never get her out of your head again."
"Really? Can I really look forward to it?"
I kept glancing toward the room where Iris was, hoping she'd come out soon. I stared for what felt like ages — until at last, the door opened.
And out stepped Iris, with her mother beside her.
The moment she spotted me, she came toddling over, small, hesitant steps carrying her to where I stood.
I took in the sight of her with both eyes.
True to her title as a White Dragon, she wore a dress of purest white, adorned with countless blue crystals and a brooch shaped like a snowflake.
I could only stare at her, dumbstruck.
"What do you think, Leon?"
"......"
"Leon?"
"......"
"Do you... not like it?"
"...I said—"
"Hm?"
"—you look absolutely amazing! I always thought you were pretty, but right now you're even prettier!"
At my words, Iris's face flushed scarlet in an instant.
"Wh-What are you saying, you idiot!"
Overcome with embarrassment, she threw a punch straight at me.
"Gwahk!"
The blow caught me square in the face and sent me sprawling backward.
"Ah — Leon, are you okay?"
"Y-Yeah. I'm fine."
I took her outstretched hand and got to my feet.
Hm?
Just then, a faint light flickered to life on the ring finger of my right hand — and vanished.
What was that just now?
I examined my finger closely, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Hmph... that's strange.
"Hey, Leon. That hurt pretty bad, huh?"
At my father's words, I decided to focus on what was in front of me.
"It didn't hurt that much."
"Honestly, think before you speak for once."
"Shouldn't you worry about your son first?"
"I always figured you were right no matter what we argued."
"Is that really what my father should be saying?"
"Then watch your mouth."
"Ugh. Fine, I'll do that from now on."
"Anyway — don't you have something to give your 'childhood friend'?"
Right. The whole reason I'd come here.
I pulled two things out of my bag. One was a small box. The other was a doll that, for some reason, looked an awful lot like me.
I handed over the doll first.
"This... this is?"
"It's the doll you were holding back then, when you came to our house — along with your pendant."
"Why do you have it...?"
"I didn't know to return it to you back then. I figured it'd be better to have it mended and give it to you now, so I asked my mother for help."
"Ah......"
"But, Iris — this doll, could it be that I'm—"
In that instant, the doll vanished from my hand. I looked around to find it — and there it was, clutched in Iris's hands.
"Don't get the wrong idea."
"What?"
"This doll does not look like you."
"But if you look closely, anyone can see—"
"It doesn't."
Her cold eyes turned toward me.
"...Right. If you say it's not me, then it's not."
"Thanks for understanding."
"Now for the next one."
I held out the small box to her.
"What is it?"
"Open it and see."
At my answer, Iris lifted the lid.
It was a tiny bracelet, braided from strands of blue thread.
"This bracelet..."
"It was a real labor of love, making that one. Carving the snowflake pattern into the wooden beads was the hardest part by far."
"......"
"Do you... not like it?"
I spoke, my heart in my throat. She stared at the bracelet for a long, long moment.
"Iris?"
"...Thank you."
"Iris?!"
I was startled — because tears were streaming down her cheeks.
"Iris, are you okay?"
"Don't worry. These are happy tears, that's all."
"Really?"
"Mm. It's the best gift I've ever gotten in my life. Thank you so much, Leon."
She wiped away the falling tears as she spoke.
"I'll treasure it for the rest of my life."
"Really? Promise?"
I held out my pinky finger. She held out hers in return.
"Mm. I promise."
And she hooked her pinky around mine.
The parents, watching the whole scene, beamed with fond, knowing smiles.
After that, we celebrated Iris's birthday and stuffed ourselves with delicious food.
"Oof, I'm stuffed. Did I eat too much?"
"If you're full, want to come take a walk with me?"
"Sure, why not?"
"Then let's hurry and get outside."
Iris grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me out of the mansion. Outside, a deep darkness had already settled over everything.
We made our way to the great old tree where we always used to play. Then Iris spoke.
"Thank you so much for today, Leon."
"I should be thanking you. Meeting you is the best luck I've ever had."
"Hnn... don't say embarrassing things like that..."
"Oh hey, you're blushing."
"That's because of you!"
"Sorry, sorry."
"...Anyway, I'm going to keep this bracelet forever."
"'Forever' might be asking a lot, but... take good care of it, okay?"
I said it as I looked at the bracelet on her wrist.
Then it happened.
"Leon, can I ask you a favor?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"Could you show me your right hand?"
At those words, I froze for a beat.
"Why my right hand?"
"I just want to look at it."
"...Well, sure."
At her request, I held out my right hand. She studied it, and her eyes came to rest on my ring finger.
"It's come in nicely."
"What has?"
"Leon, there's something I never told you."
"What is it?"
"Do you remember? The day my father told you to leave me."
"I remember. Why?"
"Back then, you told me you had no intention of ever leaving my side."
"I... did, yeah."
Where is she going with this?
"When you said that, I was so, so happy. Those words — that you wouldn't give up on me — they meant everything to me. And so..."
She let out a slow breath, then continued.
"I did it."
"...?"
"I did it. The contract."
"Contract?"
"Mm. I cast a spell called Cryos Sigil."
"That's... what kind of spell is that?"
"It's simple. It lets you know where the person you've contracted with is at all times, and lets you teleport to them instantly if they're ever in danger."
"A spell like that exists?"
"It's a secret art passed down in my family. And it has one more function, too."
"What function?"
"Have you noticed a marking of some kind on the ring finger of your right hand?"
In that moment, I remembered — the scale-like pattern.
"I did. It looked like some kind of scale, I think."
"Right. A scale pattern."
"I kept wondering about it. It just appeared out of nowhere, glowed for a second, and disappeared."
"It's made so that no one else can see it."
"Ah, I see."
"Now don't be shocked when you hear this, Leon. The other power of this spell is..."
"......"
"It lets the contracted person cast the contractor's magic."
"Magic?"
"Mm. Though its power is much, much weaker."
This was a shock. Me — someone who had never cast a spell in his life — could use magic now.
"Then I could... just like you—"
"You can use frost magic."
"No way..."
"But like I said, it's not strong. Think of it as a watered-down version of the real thing."
"That's more than enough for me! I've always wanted to try real magic!"
"Great. Then whenever you have time, I'll teach you."
"Really?"
"Mm. I promise."
"Thank you so much, Iris!"
I pulled her into my arms.
"L-Leon!"
"Thank you. Truly."
I held her close for a long while before letting go.
"But — it's a secret from our parents. Especially yours and mine. Never tell them."
"I will."
"Good. Shall we head back, then?"
Taking Iris's hand, I returned to the mansion. We chatted a while longer, and then I headed home.
And as Iris watched Leon disappear into the distance, she whispered softly.
"I'm sorry, Leon. There's something I never told you."
She looked down at the pattern on the ring finger of her own right hand.
Cryos Sigil — the spell also known as the Sigil of Frost.
And then, she began to smile.
"The one under contract may wield the magic of the one who cast it. But..."
Her pupils began to narrow, slowly, into vertical slits.
"This spell has another name, too. The Brand of Frozen Binding."
Her voice dropped even lower.
"This brand binds the two together — when the contracted one dies, the one who cast the contract dies with them."
The corners of her mouth began to curl upward.
"And in exchange, the contracted one's lifespan becomes equal to the lifespan of the one who cast the contract."
She exhaled a long, sticky breath.
"Haaahhhh... Leon. You will never, ever escape me. You live when I live, and you die when I die. But don't worry. I will protect you — always. For. E. Ver."
Worth noting, for the record: a dragon's lifespan is, at minimum, over a thousand years.
"So then, Leon — see you tomorrow."
With that, she gazed for a long time at the horizon where Leon had vanished, before finally turning back toward the mansion.