The glare of the small drakonian could have melted steel as she jabbed a clawed finger at me. Despite her diminutive stature, her presence was anything but small. Her wings flexed as if preparing to pounce.

  “What did you just call me?” she snapped, her voice sharp as a blade. “A kid?!”

  I crossed my arms, refusing to back down. “Well, yeah. You look like one. What else should I call someone barely taller than me?”

  Her mouth dropped open, and a low growl rumbled in her throat. “Excuse me?! I am taller than you, you insignificant dwarf! And you’re calling me a kid when you look like you just learned how to tie your boots yesterday? Even if I looked like a kid, I’m already forty years old!”

  “Hah, imagine being forty and arguing about heights with a 10 years old kid, you should be embarrassed!” I shot back.

  “Argh,

  Sylas’s hands shot to her mouth, trying to smother a laugh, while Kael muttered under his breath, “He’s really doing it. He’s going to get us all roasted.”

  “Listen, gremlin—” I started, but Veyra’s eyes flared with fury.

  “Gremlin?!” she shrieked, her tail lashing behind her. “You insufferable, hairless worm! I’ll show you who’s a gremlin!”

  Without warning, she lunged at me. Before I could react, her head smashed into mine with a resounding crack.

  “Ah!” I stumbled back, clutching my forehead. “What the hell was that for?”

  “For being a brat!” she yelled, her wings flaring.

  “You’re the brat!” I shot back. “Forty years old and still throwing tantrums? Pathetic!”

  “I’m not throwing a tantrum! You—argh!” She lunged again, and this time, I caught her by the shoulders, trying to push her away.

  What followed was nothing short of a ridiculous wrestling match. Her claws scraped at my arms as I tried to pin her, and her tail whipped around, smacking my shins.

  “Are we seriously watching this right now?” Kael asked, his voice deadpan.

  “It’s like two kids fighting over the last piece of candy,” Sylas added, though she was clearly entertained.

  “I’ll admit,” Kaldor muttered, “it’s impressive he hasn’t been incinerated yet.”

  “ENOUGH!” Daryn’s voice boomed, silencing the room. His claws raked against his podium, and the sound sent shivers down my spine. “Veyra, remember your station!”

  Zeyra smirked from her seat, leaning on one elbow. “Yes, Fire God. Perhaps it’s time to remind them who you are.”

  At the mention of her title, Veyra froze. She huffed, shoving me backward before flapping her wings and flying back to her seat with exaggerated dignity. “I was just teaching him some manners.”

  I stumbled upright, brushing off my tunic. “Sure didn’t feel godly.”

  Veyra shot me a withering glare but didn’t respond.

  Sylas leaned closer, whispering, “You’ve got a death wish, you know that?”

  The title echoed in my mind: Fire God. Myreidon’s words rang in my ears: “You should not be engaged in conflicts with gods, or else it would be really hard to have a long,g lovely life.”

  Noticing our nervous expressions, Veyra smirked. “Aw, scared now? What happened to all that bravado, little humans and... whatever you are?” She gestured toward Kaldor.

  Kaldor crossed his arms, his face neutral as always. “If I wasn’t trying to avoid starting an incident, I’d show you.”

  “Big words, bear-boy,” Veyra teased.

  “Not scared,” I muttered, glancing away. “Just... cautious.”

  “Cautious, huh?” She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. “Good. Stay that way.”

  Before I could retort, a sharp hammer strike cut through the air.

  “Order!” The clerk reporter’s voice rang out, authoritative and sharp. His golden eyes glimmered as he unrolled a scroll and cleared his throat. “The court will now convene.”

  All murmurs ceased as the room settled.

  “The charges brought against the accused,” the reporter began, “include trespassing into Drakonian territory, the kidnapping of a young Drakonian citizen, reckless endangerment, and…” He paused, his lip twitching in disbelief. “...attempted dragon taming.”

  “Dragon taming?” Kaldor’s deep voice cut through the silence. “Who even wrote this nonsense?”

  “That’s a complete lie!” Sylas burst out. “We didn’t—”

  I raised a hand to stop her, addressing the clerk instead. “Where did these reports come from?”

  The reporter adjusted his spectacles. “They were submitted by various members of the local settlement.”

  “So, unverified hearsay?” I pressed, earning a sharp look from him.

  Daryn’s voice thundered from above. “Enough! The evidence presented is sufficient for a verdict.”

  Veyra grinned, leaning forward. “I say five years in the dragon caves. Seems fair to me.”

  “You would,” I muttered under my breath.

  Zeyra’s voice was calm, almost bored. “I remain undecided. Perhaps we should hear them out a bit longer.”

  “That’s absurd!” Daryn growled. “The punishment is clear. This court does not need frivolous delays.”

  “Order!” the clerk slammed his gavel to the block.” With 2 out of 3 judges’ votes, I announced these criminals here of 5 years in Upper Drag-”

  My mind raced. If we didn’t do something, this kangaroo court would sentence us to a fate worse than death. What could possibly have happened to us under the dragon caves? We got eaten alive, or tortured every day? “Wait! What about witnesses?” I asked suddenly.

  The room stilled. Veyra tilted her head, intrigued. “Witnesses?”

  “Yes,” I said, stepping forward. “In human courts, witnesses provide firsthand accounts to ensure fairness.”

  “This is nonsense!” Daryn roared. “He is saying this to insult our traditions! Is it right, judge Zeyra, judge Veyra?” He screamed, looking at the other judges, expecting agreement.

  “I think it’s fascinating,” Zeyra mused. “What witnesses would you call?”

  “Leif and Vaelrik,” I said without hesitation.

  Veyra’s grin widened. “The kid and the grumpy warrior? This just got interesting.”

  Daryn’s eyes blazed with fury. “This is preposterous! I demand their sentence be increased to life imprisonment!”

  “Enough,” Zeyra said sharply. She looked at Veyra. “Your vote?”

  Veyra shrugged, her grin turning sly. “I vote for the witnesses. Let’s hear what they have to say.”

  The reporter struck his hammer again. “The witnesses shall be summoned.”

  As he activated a glowing device, I caught Daryn muttering under his breath.

  Sylas leaned closer, whispering, “That was brilliant, Duke. Where’d you learn that?”

  I smirked. “Just something I read in a story.” It was just a bunch of detective books in my previous life.

  Ten tense minutes passed before the grand doors creaked open. All heads turned as Leif and Vaelrik entered, their expressions a mix of determination and unease. It was time to see if this gamble would pay off.

  The grand doors swung open, and all eyes turned as Vaelrik and Leif entered. Their steps were slow, calculated, but their faces betrayed nothing—cold, stoic masks that gave away no emotion. My stomach churned as I watched them. They knew why I had called them.

  But something was wrong.

  Vaelrik’s calm appearance cracked the moment his gaze locked onto mine. He rushed forward, gripping my arm with a strength that made me wince. “We need to talk. Now.”

  He didn’t wait for an answer, dragging me to a quiet corner of the massive chamber. The grand murmurs of the crowd faded as I found myself alone with him.

  Vaelrik’s composure was shattered. His face twisted with fear, his hands trembling as he gripped my shoulders. “I know we just got along a few minutes earlier,r but.. but you’ve doomed us, boy!” he hissed, his voice panicked.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “What are you talking about?” I asked, my brows furrowing.

  “This... this witness show or whatever it is of yours!” His voice cracked. “Do you even understand what you’ve done? Do you think they’ll listen to us? The omnipotent judges and the FIRE GOD? Do I need to repeat it? The Fire God! They’ll twist our words, brand us as traitors, and then we’re all dead! Dead, you hear me?

  “Vaelrik, calm down—”

  “Calm down?!” he shouted, his voice breaking. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the floor, slamming his fists against the stone. “Oh mighty Dragon Gods, forgive me for my foolishness! Kyla, my love... I’ll never see you again! Tyrin and Veydris, my brave comrade, I’ll join you in the afterlife!”

  I stared at him, frozen, as his cries echoed in the room. My gaze flicked to Leif.

  Leif was no better. He was clinging to Mira and Sylas, his small frame trembling as tears streamed down his cheeks. “I-I just wanna go home!” he sobbed. “The pressure here is too scary! I want my mama!”

  Sylas patted his head awkwardly, shooting me a helpless look, while Mira hugged him tightly. “It’s okay,” Mira said softly, but even her voice wavered.

  My chest tightened. Had I made the wrong call?

  A deep, mocking laugh broke through my thoughts. I turned to see Daryn, his teeth bared in a cruel grin. “Pathetic,” he sneered. “Look at these cowards! And you call them witnesses? They can barely hold themselves together!”

  “Daryn,” Veyra said with a brief shake of her head, letting out a disappointed sigh, “I was expecting a fun show, not... this.”

  Zeyra said nothing, her icy gaze fixed on the scene, her expression unreadable.

  Daryn smirked, addressing the other judges. “This charade has gone on long enough. Their fear speaks volumes about their guilt! I propose we end this farce now. Sentence them all to life imprisonment—they are clearly accomplices!”

  The crowd murmured in agreement, the air thick with tension.

  I clenched my fists, my mind racing. No. This wasn’t over. I refused to let it end like this.

  “Everyone,” I called out, stepping forward. My voice was firm, unshaken. “Regroup. Now.”

  Sylas, Mira, Kaldor, and even Leif turned to me. Their faces were pale, their nerves frayed, but they obeyed. Vaelrik, still on the floor, hesitated before reluctantly pulling himself to his feet.

  “We stick to the plan,” I said, my gaze sweeping over them. “I know it looks bad, but we didn’t come this far to give up now. Trust me.”

  Mira nodded hesitantly. “We trust you, Duke.”

  Sylas gave me a small grin. “You’ve gotten us through worse, right?”

  Kaldor placed a reassuring hand on Leif’s shoulder. “We’re with you.”

  Leif sniffled, his small voice breaking. “O-okay... but I don’t wanna die.”

  “You won’t,” I promised, turning back to the court. “Let’s finish this.”

  The case resumed, and Vaelrik was called to testify first. He stepped forward, his expression grim but determined.

  “What did you see?” the clerk asked.

  Vaelrik took a deep breath. “It’s true that these... outsiders entered our territory without invitation. But it wasn’t out of malice. They were escorting Leif back to safety after he wandered into our lands.”

  The room murmured, but Daryn’s expression remained unimpressed.

  Next, Leif was called. He shuffled forward, his small frame trembling under the weight of countless stares. “I... I got lost,” he began, his voice quivering. “I was scared and hungry, and they found me. They saved me. They’re... they’re good people.”

  The crowd’s murmurs grew louder, but Daryn’s voice cut through them like a blade. “Good people?” he scoffed. “Their story is full of holes! Why were they in the forest to begin with? Why didn’t they alert the local authorities? They claim to be saviors, but their actions speak otherwise!”

  The tension in the room was suffocating. My friends looked ready to crumble under the weight of Daryn’s accusations.

  I stepped forward. “With all due respect, Daryn, your accusations are baseless.”

  He sneered at me. “Oh? And what do you know, boy?”

  “I know that you’re twisting the truth,” I said, my voice steady. “You accuse us of negligence, but you fail to mention the lack of Drakonian patrols in the area. Leif could have died because no one was there to protect him. Is that not your responsibility as a leader?”

  The room fell silent. Daryn’s face darkened, his claws digging into the armrests of his chair.

  “You dare—”

  “I dare to speak the truth,” I interrupted. “You claim we’re a threat, but all we did was help a lost child. Can you honestly say we deserve to be punished for that?”

  The crowd erupted in murmurs. Even Zeyra leaned forward, her icy demeanor replaced with intrigue.

  Daryn opened his mouth to retort but faltered. For the first time, he had no response. His face twisted in frustration, and with a furious roar, he spread his wings and burst through the ceiling window, disappearing into the sky.

  The final hammer strike echoed through the chamber.

  “The accused are hereby declared innocent,” the clerk announced.

  The room erupted in cheers. And it's all thanks to those stupid hours of non-stop detective movies.

  Veyra approached me, her expression a mix of amusement and grudging respect. “Not bad, kid. That was a fun show. Consider us even.” With that, she flew off, her wings scattering embers in her wake.

  Zeyra approached next, her cold gaze softening. “You’ve given us much to think about. Witnesses... perhaps this will become a new tradition in our courts.”

  I grinned. “If you ever need more ideas, I have plenty—just treat my team better next time.”

  She chuckled, a rare sound. “Duly noted.” With a nod, she and the clerk left, the latter offering a quiet congratulations as they flew away.

  As the sound of Zeyra's wings faded into the distance, I let out a heavy sigh of relief. The court ordeal was finally over. I glanced at my friends, expecting them to share the same relieved look. Instead, I was met with a sight that left me completely dumbfounded.

  Sylas was the first to drop to her knees, bowing so low her forehead nearly touched the ground. “Oh, mighty Duke! Savior of us mere mortals! Your brilliance knows no bounds!”

  Mira, not one to be outdone, followed suit. She clasped her hands dramatically, looking up at me as if I had descended from the heavens. “Truly, we are not worthy of your divine wisdom, Your Highness. Please, bless us with your eternal guidance.”

  Kael, who was usually reserved, smirked but didn’t hold back. He knelt alongside the others, giving me an exaggerated bow. “All hail Duke, the one who can even outsmart Drakonian gods! Clearly, we are in the presence of greatness.”

  Even Kaldor, the calmest of the group, joined in with a theatrical sigh, kneeling and pretending to wipe a tear from his eye. “It’s an honor to serve under someone so... majestic. Truly, you are a legend among men, Duke.”

  Why did I get a sign of deja vu… I remembered the actions of my most loyal employee, Jasper.

  Before I could even process what was happening, Lief joined in, sniffling. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve and knelt down, his voice trembling with mock reverence. “Thank you, Sir Duke! I wouldn’t have made it without you. You’re the hero I’ll tell mama about!”

  Vaelrik, though hesitant at first, eventually caved under their antics. He knelt too, though his expression was caught between amusement and embarrassment. “I suppose... I must also thank the ‘almighty Duke’ for his... divine intervention. Truly, we are blessed.”

  My jaw practically hit the floor. “Are you all serious right now?”

  Sylas looked up, her expression deadly serious despite the mischievous glint in her eyes. “Serious? This is devotion, Your Majesty. You’ve earned it.”

  I facepalmed, shaking my head. “If I had ever known this would happen, I should’ve just let Daryn win.”

  The group erupted into laughter, finally breaking their ridiculous poses. Even I couldn’t help but chuckle, though I still shot them all a mock glare. “You’re lucky I don’t hold grudges.”

  “You love us too much to do that,” Mira teased with a wink.

  “Don’t push your luck,” I retorted, though the smile on my face betrayed me.

  Outside the palace, the late afternoon sun bathed the courtyard in golden hues, casting long shadows over the stone ground. The moment we stepped out, two figures rushed toward us—Lief’s parents.

  "Lief!" his mother cried, dropping to her knees as she pulled him into a fierce embrace. Her hands trembled as they cupped his face, her eyes frantically scanning him for any injuries. Tears streaked down her cheeks. "Oh, my baby… my sweet boy… are you hurt? Did they—?"

  "I-I'm okay, Mom," Lief stammered, though his voice wavered. "Really. I'm okay now."

  His father, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a beard that looked like it had grown out of stress more than time, placed a firm hand on his son's shoulder. He swallowed hard, his voice thick with emotion. "You're safe…" He exhaled heavily, as if finally letting out a breath he'd been holding for days. "By the gods, we feared the worst."

  Lief clung to them, his small fingers twisting into his mother’s cloak as if afraid this moment would slip away.

  I took a step back, giving them space, but Gregor’s sharp eyes landed on me. He turned, his expression shifting from relief to gratitude.

  "You," he said, his voice hoarse. "You must be the ones who saved him."

  Lief wiped his eyes and turned to us. "Dad, Mom, these are the ones who helped me. If it wasn’t for them, I…" He hesitated, his lips pressing together before he finished in a whisper. "I wouldn't be here."

  His mother turned to us, placing a hand over her chest as if steadying herself. "You risked yourselves for our child." She inhaled shakily before bowing slightly. "I am Elenna Thaloran, and this is my husband, Gregor."

  Gregor stepped forward and grasped my hand in both of his. His grip was strong, but I could feel the way his fingers trembled. "I owe you—no, we owe you—more than we could ever repay," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "You saved Lief when we could not." His throat bobbed as he swallowed. "We've already lost one of our children… we couldn't bear to lose another."

  Elenna let out a quiet, shuddering breath and pulled Lief even closer. "Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for bringing him back to us."

  A heavy silence followed, the weight of their grief and relief pressing against us all.

  “It’s nothing,” I said, shaking my head. “Lief has a strong bond with his brother. That’s what matters.”

  "Yeah, I… we couldn't just leave him," Mira spoke up, her voice soft but steady. "He needed help. That's all there was to it."

  Kael crossed his arms, looking away. "It wasn’t about rewards or recognition," he muttered. "It was just the right thing to do."

  Kaldor nodded. "A child should never be left alone in danger."

  Sylas exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "Honestly, we didn't do much. The real issue is…" She hesitated before meeting Gregor’s gaze. "Lief was looking for his brother."

  The air grew heavier. Gregor closed his eyes for a moment before nodding. "I know."

  Vaelrik, who had been standing quietly, finally stepped forward. He placed a firm, reassuring hand on Gregor’s shoulder.

  “Don’t lose hope,” Vaelrik said, his voice steady. “I swear to you, my soldiers and I will find your missing son. We will bring him home.”

  Gregor's shoulders tensed before he exhaled, some of the weight easing from his posture. He placed his own hand over Vaelrik’s in silent gratitude. "Thank you… We can only pray he’s still out there."

  Elenna shut her eyes, her lips trembling as she held Lief close.

  I shifted my gaze to the sky. The sun had nearly dipped below the horizon, casting deep purple and orange streaks across the clouds.

  "We should get going," I said, watching the fading light.

  Gregor looked like he wanted to say more, but instead, he nodded. "I won't forget this," he said firmly. "Not ever."

  As the family reunited, my friends turned to me.

  “We should get going,” I said, glancing at the fading sunlight.

  “Aw man, I was just getting hype of this place..” Sylas let out a sorrowful look, and then Mira.

  “We can’t stay here any longer, we need to follow the arranged route to maximize our time to get to-”

  And before I could finish the sentence, “Actually...” Kaldor began, his voice hesitant. “Can we stay a bit longer? I’d like to make more memories with all of you. I... won’t have this chance again when I’m home.”

  His words hit me harder than I expected. I hesitated, my gaze shifting between my friends. Kaldor rarely spoke up like this, and it wasn’t hard to see the meaning behind his words. Memories, it is true that they play an important role in people’s lives, but family is more important. But… it can’t be more precious than memories with your family.

  I sighed, finally relenting. “Fine. But where will we stay? Arkos doesn’t seem to have any adventures or guilds, so I doubt there will be any inns here.”

  Vaelrik stepped forward, a faint smile breaking through his earlier fear. “You can stay at my home. It’s the least I can do for everything you’ve done.”

  Sylas grinned, clapping Vaelrik on the back with more force than necessary. “Now that’s what I’m talking about! Finally, some Drakonian hospitality.”

  Mira crossed her arms, her expression softening. “Honestly, I don’t mind staying a bit longer. There’s something... fascinating about this place.” She looked around, her gaze lingering on the towering spires and glowing runes. “I’d like to see more of it while we can.”

  Kael, who had been silent for most of the walk, smirked faintly. “Not every day we get invited to a Drakonian’s house. Besides...” He shot me a teasing look. “You look like you could use some rest, ‘Your Highness.’”

  I rolled my eyes, though a small grin tugged at my lips. “You all just want an excuse to avoid walking back, don’t you?”

  “Caught me,” Sylas said with a laugh.

  “Let’s not waste any more time, then,” Mira added. “Lead the way, Vaelrik.”

  With laughter echoing among us, we followed Vaelrik toward his home, the tension of the court fading behind us.