Kai took another shot and slammed the tiny glass down onto the tiki bar with a satisfied grin. “Ahh! That warms you right up.”

  “Yes, sire. Along with… being on a beach,” Vix muttered, his tone flat but his posture screaming discomfort. He stood rigidly next to the stool beside him, shoulders hunched, arms pressed tight to his sides, legs pulled close as if the hot sand might suddenly get him.

  Kai was dressed for the occasion in a full sleek surf suit, already damp with saltwater, looking like he could dive into the waves again at any moment. Vix, on the other hand, wore a plain black short-sleeve swim shirt tucked against his frame and a pair of blue shorts patterned with cartoonish white and gray sharks — a boyish print that looked even more out of place on his stern, brooding face.

  “Please get me a Headless Horseman for my partner!” Kai called cheerfully to the bartender, motioning at Vix with a wide grin.

  “I don’t drink,” Vix said sharply, rubbing his arm like the mere suggestion embarrassed him. His crimson eyes darted between the bar’s bamboo beams and the rowdy tourists crowding around, the noise of laughter and clinking glasses making him visibly itch.

  “Hola, se?or, ?ordenó los jinetes sin cabeza?”

  A perfectly curved woman stepped up to Vix, her red hibiscus tucked elegantly in her flowing black hair. Sunlight caught on her radiantly tanned skin, and the red-and-white bikini she wore made her look like she had stepped right out of a travel brochure — legs long, toned, and made for the occasion.

  “What?!” Vix snapped, his eyes widening as though she had just spoken an incantation meant to kill him.

  “?Tu bebida?” she said again, eyes widening revealing her big brown eyes as she patiently slid the glass toward him.

  “You got the right guy!” Kai cut in cheerfully before Vix could protest, leaning over to snatch the drink. “Thanks so much, se?orita!” He winked, then immediately shoved the glass into Vix’s reluctant hands.

  “Sire… I don’t drink alcohol,” Vix muttered through gritted teeth, holding the cocktail like it was a live grenade.

  “Pft! At least hold it! You’ll fit in better. And also…” Kai pulled a sleek pair of sunglasses out of nowhere and plopped them right onto Vix’s face. “That should help too.”

  Vix let out a long, doomed sigh.

  “Sire? You told me to go on a walk. How in the hell did we end up in Clearwater, Florida?!”

  “Well… you walked through a portal and—”

  “No! I get that! Just—” Vix groaned, rubbing his temples beneath the borrowed shades.

  “Hey… se?or… um… Nepton?” The woman from the bar leaned closer, her accent rolling like silk. Bystanders around them were already gawking, a couple of guys slack-jawed as if the beach had turned into a runway. “Can I… have your autograph?”

  “How did she—” Vix cut himself short, shooting a glare at Kai. His liege only whistled innocently, sipping his drink while gazing at the horizon like a tourist without a care.

  “How many of those have you had, sire…” Vix muttered.

  “Not enough.”

  “Bullshit.”

  Kai suddenly perked up, pointing past Vix with his drink. “I think the server is calling you! Just like… the waves are calling me. See ya!”

  Before Vix could object, Kai blurred from the bar in a flash of golden motion, surfboard tucked under one arm. To everyone else, it looked like he’d just jogged off grinning. But Vix could follow the truth: his sovereign had bolted straight for the water at impossible speed, white-and-yellow board glittering in the sun.

  “?Commander!” the woman squealed, her accent thick and playful.

  Vix nearly jumped out of his skin as her arms suddenly latched onto one of his. His elbow was pressed awkwardly into her cleavage as she bounced excitedly, dragging him away from the bar.

  “W-Wait, what are you—!”

  Before he could protest, she whisked him behind the counter, through a swinging kitchen door, past baffled cooks, and into a side room that looked nothing like an employee space.

  Vix froze. The lights were dim. A red bed sat smack in the center like a warning sign, bamboo walls lined with tiki masks, and in the corner—a single rocking chair.

  Before he could move, she pushed him onto the chair with surprising strength.

  “What the—" Vix muttered under his breath, gripping the armrests so tightly his knuckles turned pale. The chair creaked as he rocked back and forth, trying to regulate his pulse like a man in the middle of battle meditation.

  The server leaned on the doorframe, giggling, her leg lifted behind her as if posing for some pin-up ad.

  “Es un honor, se?or… not every day I meet the commander of the Grand Army… and —so much more handsome than the pictures!”

  “Sp-speaking only, r-right? Just—just talking! That’s what you mean?” Vix sputtered, face turning crimson.

  “?Hablar? Claro, we can talk…” She prowled closer, lowering her voice to a purr. “Pero—maybe more, sí?”

  Vix’s eyes widened like a trapped animal. He clutched the rocking chair even tighter, rocking faster, his whole body stiff as a board.

  “N-No! Absolutely not! I-I have… regulations! Codes of conduct! I-I don’t even know your !”

  She giggled, covering her mouth. “Name? Oh, cari?o, you can call me whatever you like.” She leaned so close her breath tickled his ear. “Commander.”

  Vix flinched so hard the rocking chair slammed back and nearly tipped over. He yelped, arms flailing as he caught himself.

  The woman laughed musically. “Tan cute… like a ni?o!”

  “Like a ?!” Vix barked, his voice breaking as the rocking chair rattled so violently it thudded against the floorboards. The tiki masks on the wall shook like they were laughing at him.

  “Hey… relax,” the woman soothed, her sultry tone softening just enough to make his skin crawl with nerves. She gently pried one of his death-gripped hands from the armrest, cradling it between both of hers. Slowly, her finger traced around his knuckles, a warm spiral that made his whole body twitch like a broken wand.

  Vix turned beet red, ears practically glowing. His breathing hitched as she lifted his hand, raising it dangerously close to her chest. He gulped so loud it echoed in the tiny room.

  “…W-what happened to that autograph?” he squeaked, his voice three octaves higher than usual.

  Her lips curved into a mischievous grin. “I want , if you don’t mind.”

  “T-two?” His rocking chair creaked faster, creak-creak-creak, like it might launch him into orbit.

  “One…” She leaned closer, her breath hot against his cheek. “…on my .”

  Vix’s soul nearly left his body. “W-WHAT?!?!”

  “And the other…” she whispered, pausing just long enough for the tension to nearly snap. “…inside.”

  Vix froze, jaw unhinged, heart about to explode. “I-I-I—INSIDE WHAT?!?”

  She leaned even closer, lips ghosting over his ear. Her breath was hot, cheeks brushing his skin as if only their peach fuzz had permission to touch.

  “Can you close your eyes for me…?” she whispered, voice breaking into something breathless, hungry. “I’ll be gentle…”

  Then—nibble.

  Vix’s entire body convulsed. “HOLY SHIT!!!” he roared, exploding upward from the rocking chair.

  The woman yelped as he bolted, nearly toppling her back into the tiki wall. She blinked in shock—by the time her lashes lifted, Vix was already a blur of black and blue shark-pattern shorts tearing across the sand.

  Outside, a of displaced air followed as he cleared a hundred meters in the span of a heartbeat. He collapsed to his knees in the wet sand, hands on his thighs, panting like a man who had just survived a dragon’s maw.

  “What… the… hell was that?!” Vix gasped, eyes wide, chest heaving.

  Suddenly, his communicator buzzed sharply at his hip. Vix startled, fumbling before answering.

  He glanced around—Kai was still far out, surfing like a lunatic, riding a massive wave shoulder-to-shoulder with another man while shouting in delight. Safe. Distracted.

  Vix sprinted off toward a different beachside restaurant, ducking behind its stucco wall and adjusting his sunglasses like they were suddenly vital camouflage. He pressed the communicator close and whispered.

  “Milo! Thank god you called. I think the Majestry has legitimately lo—”

  “Commander. Or—uh—Mister… Nepton, sir, man,” Milo stammered.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “It’s okay. Call me commander. I’ve been reinstated.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. What do you need?” Vix hissed, still checking over his shoulder.

  “I need to arrange a meeting with the Grand Majestry. Have you seen him?”

  Vix risked a peek. Kai was still out in the waves, throwing his arms up, surfing backwards now like some sort of showman.

  “…I can do that,” Vix said quietly. “Is everything alright?”

  “Have you seen my reports?” Milo asked.

  “I haven’t had the chance yet,” Vix admitted. “I’m aware of the basics — the nature of the attack, the damage incurred, and… some egg being involved.”

  “Well, here’s the continuation on that egg. There were multiple. More than seven hundred separate experiments. All… regrettably unsuccessful.”

  “Unsuccess—” Vix straightened, lowering his voice. “You’re telling me the lab was attempting to revive an extinct creature? And not just one?”

  “There’s no clear information. Nearly all surviving files have been heavily redacted. General Haas has managed to salvage fragments, but the picture is still incomplete. I’ve sent you the updated report he compiled. It’s commendable work… but there’s one critical doubt that needs to be cleared up before we proceed further. I believe your presence will be vital in that conversation.”

  Vix’s jaw tightened. “…I don’t understand the purpose. What’s the point of reviving dragons at all? We already have the surviving species, all endangered, all under watch. Why not focus resources on preserving ? On stabilizing their population?”

  Milo’s voice dropped. “The creatures they were attempting to engineer weren’t ordinary dragons. They were rated using the card scale.”

  Vix froze. “…What?”

  “We believe the intention was to create weapons.”

  Vix clenched the communicator, his pulse spiking. “That’s not just reckless. That’s catastrophic. Do you realize what kind of destabilization that could cause?” He exhaled hard through his nose, gaze fixed on the horizon. “…If you need me present, then come now. I’m in Clearwater, Florida.”

  “I thought you were still in New York?”

  “Change of plans. Just get here.”

  “I’ll arrange the EMV and set course immediately. Two hours, commander.”

  “You have thirty minutes,” Vix said, his voice like stone. “Get here as soon as possible.”

  “…Understood.” Milo’s line clicked dead.

  Vix sighed, tilting his head back to the sky. The Florida sun beat down on him, warm but not comforting. A drift of clouds slid across the blue, and one in particular caught his eye—shaped vaguely like the cream-colored dress he’d bought for Rin when she’d first started at Kormadyne. She had smiled so wide that day. The memory cut deeper than he expected.

  he thought, shoulders heavy.

  He grimaced, the echo of his own voice replaying in his mind—sharp, angry, too much like his father’s. He hated himself for it. Missions, reports, Kai’s relentless pushing—it all blurred together, but Rin’s tearful face hadn’t left him. She was a girl who wanted to be normal, who needed someone to be there when she fell apart. And instead of that, he had shouted her down.

  “Who was that?”

  Vix flinched. He turned to find Kai standing a few feet away, arms crossed, a sly smile curling at his lips—but his narrowed eyes gleamed with suspicion.

  “Er—uh… it was… the… Latina…?” Vix stammered, fumbling for the nearest excuse.

  #

  The farm stretched endlessly beneath the golden winter sun. Rin was now in San Antonio Texas where it was far warmer than what New York had to offer. Wide, rolling fields sloped toward the horizon, lined with split-rail fences. Cows lazily grazed near the barn, their warm breath fogging in the chill, while chickens darted around Rin’s boots, pecking at stray bits of feed. She laughed when one particularly bold sheep nosed at her side, nearly knocking her into the hay.

  Steve stood nearby, leaning against the fence with his sleeves rolled up, watching her with a smile that seemed carved from patience itself. “Gentle,” he called out. “Always gentle. They can feel what’s in you, Rin. If your heart’s racing, they’ll spook. If you’re calm, they’ll trust you.”

  “I’m trying…” Rin muttered, holding out her small hands toward the cow she’d been feeding. The animal licked the palm of her hand with a rough tongue, and she yelped before giggling.

  For a while, it almost felt like she could pretend this was normal — She thought a life like this strictly belonged to other kids, but this? This was her life. Her reality. Her perfect dream come true. Tending to the animals, playing in the fields, with a parent, a father by her side. But reality clawed at the edges. Her smile faltered.

  “…Dad,” she whispered, lowering her gaze. “I don’t think I’ll ever be good at magic. Every time I try, it’s wrong. Or it breaks. Or it comes out… different. Everyone else gets Fire Wave. I… I get Fire Bolts. And even when I want to do it right, it feels like I’m broken.”

  Steve’s smile didn’t fade. He reached into his coat and pulled out his wand. Rin turned to face him and she noticed the wand as he kneeled before her showing her his wand. It was made from a darkened wood. It had a pure shimmering silver grip. Carved from black ashwood, sleek and unadorned except for the faint cracks running its length. At its core glowed a dark shimmer — familiar. Too familiar.

  Rin blinked. “That… feels like—”

  “Like yours. Isn’t it?” He said smiling at her unable to take his eyes off her face.

  Rin pulled out her wand. Immediately, the two wands vibrated slightly reacting before calming down.

  “Corrupted cores,” Steve said gently, holding the wand where the sunlight caught its fractured glow. “The same kind of core, the same… corruption, as they call it. But broken isn’t the word, Rin. Different doesn’t mean less. It means you have doors others can’t even open.”

  Her eyes widened, drinking in every word.

  He pressed the wand into her hands, letting her feel its strange weight. “You’re not meant to copy the others. You’re meant to them And for that…” His voice dropped, soft and deliberate, carrying an almost reverent note. “You need to understand and believe in yourself. You’re different, Rin. You mean more to the world than you know.”

  He led her out into the field, crouching with her in the grass, the warm air thick and damp around them. “Ever tried casting Ice Magic?”

  “Ice… magic??” Rin asked, clinging to his hand.

  “That’s right. It’s a deviation of Water. Some call it a fusion of Curse and Water, but I don’t believe that. No… it’s its own discipline.”

  “Then… how do you cast it?”

  Steve smiled faintly, tilting his head toward her. “What happens when you keep water moving?”

  Rin frowned, thinking hard. “…I… I don’t know?”

  “Water stays as it is while it moves—cool, light, adaptable. The trick isn’t to force a cold curse into it. That isn’t as elegant or efficient for your mana pool. The trick is to use the curse as a a catalyst. Once ignited, the water transforms and stabilizes into ice all on its own and you don’t need to imbue curse into it.” He raised his free hand, his gaze steady on her. “Watch carefully.”

  Steve lifted his wand, his left hand sharp and precise while Rin still clutched his right. A pulse of mana flickered—and suddenly, a massive icicle burst into existence midair. Two jagged tips gleamed at its ends, crystalline edges catching the fading light. With a subtle flick forward, the shard shot like an arrow across the field, whistling through the air. Then, with another downward sweep, it slammed into the ground, driving deep with a heavy

  The earth trembled beneath her knees. Rin’s breath caught in her throat, eyes wide with awe.

  “Want to give it a try?”

  “I… I don’t know…” Rin said warily, her gaze dropping to the ground.

  “Hey,” Steve said gently, kneeling down to her level. He placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling into her eyes. “You’re my daughter, aren’t you? Anything I can do, you can do better.”

  “Really…?”

  “Yes. Relax your heart. Remember how amazing it looked and felt. Then just do the same thing.” He rose back to his feet. “Start with your arm out, wand pointed at… that tree all the way over there.” He gestured toward a lone tree in the distance.

  Rin nodded and raised her wand, carefully aiming at the tree.

  “Don’t close your eyes. Look. You can’t walk with your eyes closed, right?”

  “Right…” She nodded firmly, keeping her gaze locked on the tree. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to imagine a bead of water. A slush of liquid shimmered into existence, swirling faintly in the air.

  “Uh… Dad? How do you… imagine… curse?”

  “It’s actually quite similar to neutral and divine magic,” Steve explained, standing close behind her, his watchful eyes on both her form and her focus. “Rather than shaping a specific spell, think about where you’re pulling from and where you’re pushing to. For your case—and I’m sorry to say this—but imagine something painful. Something that made you sad or cry. Draw from that, push it into the water, and make it cold.”

  “O-okay… it’s okay…” Rin said, trembling slightly. But to her shock, the water instantly shifted—turning colder, clearer, sharper.

  “That’s it. Colder, Rin. Spark it until it’s ice!”

  Rin nodded and tried again. This time, the water emitted a faint twinkling sound before bursting into a sudden freeze. Instead of forming a sharp spike like her father had made, it solidified into a rounded orb of ice.

  Rin flushed red, embarrassed by her misshapen result, but her father only laughed warmly.

  “It’s alright! You did it, Rin! Next time, just shape the water first before freezing it.” He patted her back with pride.

  darker intent showing through his “teaching”:

  Rin lowered her wand, the ice orb dropping with a heavy thud before melting away into the grass.

  “Want to try again?”

  “Y-yes!” Rin said, clutching the wand with both hands. She raised it quickly, without waiting for her father’s guidance this time. Her gaze locked on the distant tree, she imagined water stretching thin, a rough line suspended in the air. With a soft grunt and eyes wide open, the shape hardened——into a sharp spear of ice.

  “Whoa… that’s a way better ice spear than your daddy, babe.”

  “Is it really?!” Rin asked, her face lighting up.

  “It sure is.” Steve ruffled her hair with a rough pat before breaking into a laugh. “Look at you! Now—here’s the trick. Imagine your wand as part of the shape. If your wand mirrors the form of the ice, you can control it. Then, picture yourself throwing the wand when you flick it, and the ice will travel that way. The speed? That comes from your emissive magic—you already know how to do that.”

  But before he could continue, Rin snapped her head forward and followed his words to the letter. She flicked her wand sharply, the ice spear surging forward. Steve’s eyes widened. The spear shot with such speed it into the tree, punching straight through the bark with a deafening .

  Steve stood frozen for a breath, a smile brightly lit on his face—proud.

  “How was that, Dad?”

  “That… was an amazing display.” He said.

  Rin was beaming with pride and energy but then she let out a sudden yelp as he grabbed her lifting her up into the air.

  “Now, all that ice magic training must be exhausitng. Who’s hungry for dinner? Now, I can’t cook all that well. So Mrs.Staffire’s stirfy leftovers is on the menu. Is that alright?”

  Rin giggled before hugging his neck tightly. “Yes! That’s okay!”

  “Alright! Let’s go inside!” He said laughing with her and carrying her into their home.

  Inside, the air was warm and filled with the faint spice of reheated stir-fry. Steve set Rin down at the wooden table, then rummaged through the icebox before returning with two plates. The food wasn’t fancy—shrimp, tomato, and onion stir-fry over rice—but Rin dug in eagerly, swinging her legs under the table as she ate.

  Steve watched her with a soft smile. “You know, Rin… what you did out there wasn’t just impressive. It was proof. You have control, instinct, and the will to push through. That’s rare.”

  Rin swallowed her bite, her eyes dropping shyly. “…I just did what you told me.”

  “That’s the thing,” Steve said, leaning forward, his tone low and deliberate. “Most people need years to grasp that kind of spellwork. But you? You picked it up in a day.”

  Rin’s cheeks burned red, and for a moment she stared at her plate, suddenly shy. But then she peeked up at him, a small hopeful smile tugging at her lips.

  “Is… the stir-fry still good?” Steve asked, squinting at it suspiciously with a smile.

  “It’s… not as good as it was when it was fresh,” Rin admitted honestly.

  “Ahh, figures. If only they made magic microwaves. Or if I knew how to perfectly reheat food with my wand,” he joked.

  Rin burst into laughter, her cheeks pink. “It’s alright! I still love it.”

  Steve groaned in mock defeat, shaking his head. “Sorry if I end up ordering food from outside more often than you’d like. But I’ll try to cook at home from time to time.”

  “I can learn too!” Rin piped up eagerly.

  “Really? Think we can cook together then?”

  “Yes! I’d love that!!!” Rin squealed, bouncing in her seat.

  “That’s the spirit,” Steve said warmly. He tapped the table lightly with his fingers before adding, “And you know what? If you want to learn more magic—like casting ice—I’ll teach you everything I know. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if you picked it up faster than anyone else.”

  “Of course! I want to learn everything! And—and—”

  “Shh,” he hushed gently, smiling. “Finish your food. Get some good sleep. And most importantly—enjoy your first winter break. You already make me proud, dear. Even if you couldn’t perform that spell, I’m just glad you’re here with me.”

  Rin’s eyes softened, her fork trembling slightly as she set it down. “…I… l-love you, Dad…” she whispered, blushing and rubbing her fingers together before hiding her face in her hands.

  Steve’s smile deepened, his voice low and tender. “I love you too, my beloved daughter.”