Kaida's journey with Nullborn truly began two years ago.
She had joined them six months earlier, but back then, she barely interacted with anyone. She locked herself away in the training halls, speaking only occasionally with Blaze—and even then, only in clipped, functional exchanges.
Today, however, things were different.
They set off together on a long-term mission, far from Crimson Peak.
Blaze led the way down the rugged path spiraling from the mountain's summit. Kaida followed close behind, with Tafari and Rey trailing after.
When they reached the base of the cliffs, Blaze suddenly stopped.
Kaida blinked in confusion. Why did he stop? Where even are we going?
Before she could ask, a scuffle broke out behind her. Rey and Tafari—fighting again.
Rey had a habit of picking fights whenever he got bored. Tafari never minded since he treated brawls as just another form of training, you could say these two were a perfect match.
Being with them always stresses me out...
Finally, Blaze resumed walking. A few steps later, he spoke without looking back.
"It seems Basilisk has arrived. He'll take you to the destination. I'll meet you there."
Kaida opened her mouth—but before she could get a word out, Blaze vanished.
A second later, the sky cracked open. Clouds split apart, and a colossal shadow rolled across the land, blotting out the sun.
Rey and Tafari immediately stopped brawling, falling into a tense, expectant silence. They exchanged a brief glance—no words needed—then turned to face the sky.
Kaida stood frozen, staring upward, trying to comprehend what she was seeing.
"...Is that... a dragon?!"
The creature descended with a deafening roar, wings vast enough to eclipse half the landscape, its massive talons gouged trenches into the rock. The sheer force of its wings flattened the wind.
Kaida couldn't breathe. The world seemed to shrink, everything insignificant before this living mountain of scale and fury.
Rey on the other hand, didn't hesitate. He scrambled onto the beast's back without so much as a glance. Tafari followed, patting the dragon's neck with casual familiarity.
"What are you waiting for, Kaida? Get on!" Tafari called over his shoulder.
Kaida hesitated.
She had heard the legends, of course. She had listened to the songs and stories—the awe, the terror. But seeing a dragon up close was something else entirely.
For a moment, fear gripped her, but it didn't last. A strange, giddy excitement replaced it—like a little girl seeing a mythical creature come to life.
...This is real.
Heart pounding, she climbed onto the dragon's back.
With a mighty beat of its wings, the dragon launched into the skies. The ground fell away, the wind screamed past her ears.
Tafari chuckled and patted the dragon's scaled head, Rey curled up and promptly fell asleep, Kaida just sat there, still trying to make sense of everything.
If we're going to be stuck together for a while... might as well get some answers.
She shifted closer to Tafari.
"So," she said, raising her voice over the wind, "where exactly are we going? And why isn't Blaze with us?"
Tafari glanced at her, then grinned.
"Huh? He didn't tell you anything?"
"We haven't exactly had much time to talk..."
"Ha! Figures. Must be pretty damn confusing—getting dragged into this, a dragon swooping down outta nowhere."
He's reckless... but at least he's not an idiot, he can actually read the room.
Tafari continued, voice becoming more serious.
"Our destination's Mordrath. As for Blaze... well, he always prefers traveling alone, no idea how he moves, but somehow he always arrives first."
Makes sense. Blaze was like that—always shrouded in mystery. To think, I haven't actually seen him fight even once.
"Mordrath..." she echoed. "I've never heard of that place."
Tafari chuckled. "Not surprised, you lock yourself away too much. You probably know about the three main human kingdoms—Camelot, Valmyra, and Olympus, yeah?"
Kaida gave a faint, almost sheepish nod, feeling a little exposed.
"Of course. Crimson Peak, and even the village I used to live in, border Camelot."
"Right. Well... turns out a few months ago—right after you joined us—Camelot had itself a little incident."
Tafari leaned back, grinning like a storyteller about to share a juicy secret.
"King Arthur—you know, the miraculous boy who stabilized Camelot after the wars—well, his own son tried to overthrow him."
Kaida stiffened. "What?"
"Apparently, he led a revolution. A few higher-ups tried to take the throne. They didn't succeed—but he did manage to seize control of Camelot's northern territories. That whole region's lawless now. Open territory. They call it Mordrath."
Kaida felt a hollow ache twist inside her.
I've been so cut off from the world. So ignorant.
Ever since she met Daichi, she had hidden herself away—clinging to that small, precious piece of peace she'd found.
"In short," Tafari said, stretching his arms, "Camelot's been in chaos ever since."
Kaida frowned. "But then—why are we going to the northern territory? Don't tell me Blaze plans on going against Camelot..."
"How the hell should I know?" Tafari laughed. "Maybe we're helping Arthur. Maybe his son. Maybe we're just gonna enjoy the lawlessness and raise some hell. Doesn't matter, Whatever Blaze orders, we follow."
"Maybe you should shut up already," Rey's irritated voice cut in. "I'm trying to sleep, and you're ruining it with your damn nonsense!"
Tafari only laughed harder. "Sorry, sorry, dwarf. I'll be quiet."
"Dwarf?!" Rey shot up, bristling. "When this dragon lands, you're dead."
"Can't wait."
Kaida watched the familiar bickering without much interest.
She didn't see them as comrades, but somehow, even petty fights like these brought a strange, forgotten warmth into her chest, a fleeting peace.
Still, she hadn't forgotten why she was here.
This journey—this strength she sought—It was all for one reason.
Next time... when I return... I'll save my daughter.
***
Hours later, the dragon landed.
They descended into a desolate wasteland—ruined villages, shattered homes, corpses of towns that once thrived.
Kaida slid down first. Tafari followed. Rey finally woke and jumped down, yawning.
Standing a few meters ahead, Blaze waited for them.
When did he even get here...?
Blaze spoke immediately.
"Tafari, Rey. Search the surrounding villages, look for survivors, gather intel on Mordrath and Camelot's situation."
Before Kaida could blink, Tafari and Rey were gone.
"Kaida. With me."
She obeyed without a word, trailing behind him.
They walked in silence across the ruins—Through the skeletons of homes, the graveyards of forgotten dreams—until they reached a narrow cave hidden behind a collapsed house.
Blaze entered first.
Kaida followed, steps cautious.
Inside, the air was damp and heavy, at the center of the cavern, illuminated by a shaft of light—sat a figure.
A young woman, her back turned toward them. Short crimson-red hair spilled down to trembling shoulders, her bare back was exposed—And carved into it were horrors.
Twisting, vein-like ridges writhed just beneath her pale skin—almost as if something alive struggled to break free from inside her body, the texture was unnatural, organic, like roots growing under flesh.
The girl's posture was tense, haunted, vulnerable—and yet, dangerous. A terrible, unbearable wrongness hung over her like a stormcloud.
Kaida's heart thudded painfully in her chest.
What... what is this thing...?
Blaze's voice cut through the silence.
"Kaida," he said, calm and cold. "Have you ever heard about Nekarim?"