Takahiro
The morning sun spilled golden light across the Division 4 base, bathing the stone walls and open fields in warmth. A gentle breeze carried the scent of wildflowers and dew-drenched grass, whispering promises of adventure.
We stood at the edge of the courtyard, weapons strapped to our backs, boots planted firmly in the soft earth. Kenji stood beside me, eyes glued to the sky, his excitement radiating like heat from a forge.
Minutes passed. The sky remained still.
"You guys see anything yet?" Kenji asked, voice twitching with impatience.
I shook my head, but a faint sound tickled my senses—distant, rhythmic, like wings beating against the wind.
Kenji tilted his head, eyes narrowing. "Yeah. Still far, but they're coming."
Yushiro remained silent, eyes locked on the horizon.
Then, the sky broke.
Four massive forms surged over the treetops, their wings slicing the clouds. A thunderous roar shattered the silence, shaking the earth beneath our feet. Wind tore through the field as they descended, their enormous bodies casting long shadows.
Dragons.
Their scales gleamed in the sunlight—crimson, gold, slate, and obsidian. Their wings folded with slow, deliberate grace as they landed, talons sinking into the soil.
Truth sat atop the red dragon, calm and commanding. He looked down at us with a smirk.
"The red one's Scarlet. She's got a bit of a temper, so don't piss her off. You ready to fly?"
"YES!" Kenji exploded, fists clenched, eyes blazing.
◆ ◇ ◆
The wind screamed past as we soared through the sky.
I gripped Blade tightly from behind, my arms around her waist as our dragon surged upward. The world blurred beneath us—forests becoming rivers of green, mountains distant memories.
"Hey. Not so tight," Blade said, her voice flat.
"Right. Sorry."
When the dragon sped up a bit, my grip on her waist tightened again.
To our left, Kenji was riding with Truth, arms thrown wide like a child on a festival ride.
"WOOOOOO!!! DRAGONSSS!!"
I couldn't tell if he was exhilarated or insane.
Yushiro rode behind Marko on Marko's dragon, his form steady, unmoving. His eyes scanned the ground below with unsettling focus.
"Team 8, form up!" Truth's voice cut through the gale.
The dragons adjusted mid-flight, slipping into a perfect V-formation. Blade's dragon brought up the rear, wings stretching wide to match the rhythm of the others.
I leaned closer to her. "Where are we heading?"
"The border."
We banked left, and that's when I saw it.
A wall of mist stretched from horizon to heaven. It shimmered faintly, shifting like it breathed.
The border.
The air turned colder. My Division uniform, though thick, did little to fight off the creeping chill.
"We're scanning the perimeter," Blade said. "Stay sharp."
The dragons slowed as we approached the veil. The mist pulsed with a strange, humming energy, as though watching us.
It felt… alive.
◆ ◇ ◆
By the time we returned, the sun was painting the sky in hues of fire and violet. The dragons landed with thunderous grace in the open field beside the base.
I dismounted with a groan, muscles sore.
"That was rough," Truth muttered, cracking his neck.
Kenji was practically vibrating. "THAT WAS AWESOME!!"
Yushiro approached Marko's dragon, fingers brushing against its black scales.
The dragon froze.
Not a flinch. Not a blink.
Its golden eyes locked on Yushiro. Not with aggression. With caution.
Marko tilted his head. "Are you guys the only ones patrolling?"
"Nah," he replied. "Remember that guy who greeted you yesterday?"
Kenji's face twisted. "The one who attacked us?"
Marko smirked. "Yeah. He left last night to rejoin his unit."
I frowned. "How many of us are there in total?"
"Thirty-four," he said, shrugging.
I blinked. "Is that... a lot?"
A quiet laugh echoed.
Blade.
She was already walking toward the base, not even looking back.
"Did I say something funny?" I called.
"No," she replied. "Never mind."
Kenji clapped a hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, Taka. Let's go EAT!"
He turned to Yushiro, still standing beside the dragon. "Oi! Stop bullying the poor thing. Let's move!"
I looked again. The dragon was unnaturally still, its breath shallow. Yushiro turned, smiling gently.
The dragon let out a low, deep exhale and launched into the air, vanishing into the darkening sky.
Kenji was already sprinting toward the base. "COME ONNN! MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!!"
I sighed and followed.
But I glanced at Yushiro one last time.
He lingered.
Eyes on the horizon.
Then he turned.
And the quiet followed him.