Walking down the road, Marvell and Angel followed the winding trail. Marvell silently enjoyed the view ahead, while the three dragon heads on his tail opened their mouths, inhaling the fresh air. Behind him, Angel rode her horse, gripping her staff, lost in thought. She gazed at the vast blue-lit sky before lowering her head, her eyes settling on Marvell’s tail. The dragon heads continued to open their mouths, and curiosity stirred within her.

  "I was wondering..." Angel leaned slightly to the side, trying to get a better look at Marvell, who remained silent as he walked. "Once we reach the city I mentioned, what is your... plan? On capturing my... friends?"

  Marvell didn’t respond. His gaze remained fixed ahead, as if he hadn’t heard her.

  Angel furrowed her brows. "Marv?" she called, her voice tinged with curiosity.

  Before she could say anything more, the middle dragon head abruptly turned back, facing her. Angel’s breath hitched in surprise.

  "I have a lot of plans, so don’t worry about it," the dragon spoke—Marvell’s voice coming directly from its mouth.

  Angel stared, wide-eyed. "What the... Am I talking to Marvell right now?"

  The dragon head let out a small huff. "Surprised? Of course, it’s me. I don’t like talking without facing the person I’m speaking to—it feels... disrespectful."

  Angel remained silent, still processing what had just happened. Marvell, using the dragon head, continued, "You don’t have to worry about things like this. Besides, the dragon I’m using right now has temporarily replaced my head and is controlling my entire body. My real head is also open at the moment."

  Angel instinctively lifted her gaze. Sure enough, Marvell’s real head was also open-mouthed, a faint smile stretched across his lips. His golden eyes shifted toward her.

  "Believe it or not, we do this because the air is fresh. It’s a habit of ours. But if it makes you uncomfortable, we can stop."

  Angel quickly shook her head. "No, it doesn’t bother me at all. You’re free to do what you want."

  Marvell’s dragon head smiled as well, his voice carrying a note of amusement. "Thanks for understanding. You should get some sleep. The journey to the city is long and... honestly, boring from here on out."

  Angel frowned. The past flickered in her mind, and her grip on the reins tightened slightly.

  "No. I’m already traumatized by what you did three or four days ago. If this is one of your tricks, I’m not falling for it."

  Marvell blinked in confusion. His real head tilted slightly, his gaze shifting upward as he tried to recall what she meant. Then, realization dawned on him.

  "Ah... right." He let out a small sigh. "Sorry about that. But what else was I supposed to do? If I hadn’t done that, you wouldn’t be here now." His voice softened, regret flickering in his eyes. He lowered his head slightly, looking at the horse before continuing. "But trust me on this one. Besides..." He hesitated for a moment before finally admitting, "I already made a contract with you. And it would cost me... my life."

  He lifted his gaze again, looking at her—almost like a guilty puppy.

  Angel sighed, shaking her head. "I can’t deny that you saved us all... but let me feel tired in peace. My eyes are already getting heavy."

  Marvell didn’t respond. His dragon head simply turned back forward, its mouth still wide open.

  Angel, on the other hand, reached into a bag strapped to the horse and pulled out a cloth. She draped it over the horse’s neck before resting her head against it. What can I do to stay awake? she wondered.

  But no answer came to mind. Eventually, without realizing it, her thoughts faded, and she drifted off to sleep.

  Marvell, noticing this, let out a small breath. His real head finally closed its mouth, and he rolled his shoulders, a soft cracking sound breaking the silence.

  "Haaahhh... That feels much better."

  And with that, he continued his steady journey forward.

  Angel woke up, her eyes stinging slightly from the brightness. She blinked several times, rubbing them gently before her vision cleared. What lay before her stole her breath—a city of unparalleled beauty, its architecture standing tall and majestic. The structures gleamed under the golden light, an awe-inspiring sight.

  One of Marvell’s dragon heads noticed her awakening and quickly pulled his hair to notify him.

  "Ow!" Marvell winced, rubbing the sore spot before turning around. He saw Angel staring in amazement at the city and smirked slightly.

  "Finally awake. How does it feel to be back in the world of the living?" he teased.

  Angel, still entranced by the city, barely glanced at him. "Yeah..." she murmured absently.

  Marvell chuckled. "Well, I suppose it’s time for us to start looking for what we came here for."

  At his words, Angel snapped back to reality. Her mission returned to the forefront of her mind, and she quickly glanced down at her arm. Reaching into her backpack, she pulled out a small mirror and examined her reflection. What she saw made her eyes widen.

  The person staring back at her wasn’t her. Different face, different hair, different eyes—everything about her appearance had changed. The disguise Marvell had placed on her was flawless. Her haiir now purple, with eyes glowing yellow bright, and long hair.

  "I... I look completely different. And... new," she whispered in shock, running a hand through her altered hair. She turned to Marvell, astonishment in her voice. "No wonder they call you the best."

  Marvell, clearly pleased with the compliment, smiled. "Awh, it’s nothing special. Just a basic spell I learned a long time ago."

  His three dragon heads stared at Angel, fascinated by her transformed look. Marvell, sensing their curiosity behind him, turned his attention back to her.

  "Let’s take a look around and see what we can find," he said calmly. "If we find one of your friends, then it’s a jackpot. If we don’t, we get nothing." He paused, then looked over his shoulder at her. "So, what do you prefer? Should we split up or search together?"

  Angel tilted her head slightly, deep in thought. Her gaze drifted to the sky as she weighed the options. After a few moments, she finally answered.

  "We split," she decided. "Like you said in the meeting—the faster we do this, the faster we reach our goal." she said with serious face

  Marvell nodded in agreement. He stopped walking and raised his hand. From his palm, a shard of ice formed, glowing faintly in the light.

  "Take this with you," he said, stepping toward Angel.

  She took it from his hand, inspecting the smooth, cold surface. Before she could ask, Marvell spoke again.

  "Just break the ice if you find them."

  Angel looked up at him, but before she could respond—he was gone.

  Her eyes widened as she glanced around, searching for any sign of him. There was nothing. No trace of where he had gone, no sound of footsteps—just the city stretching out before her.

  Where did he go? she wondered, slightly unsettled.

  Realizing he had already moved ahead, she exhaled softly and dismounted from her horse. Taking the reins in hand, she began walking through the city, leading the horse forward. Though her gaze wandered over the breathtaking scenery, her mind remained focused on her mission.

  Walking down the street, Angel silently led her horse by the reins. Her gaze swept across the bustling city, searching for any sign of her friends or something of interest along the road. Despite the golden splendor surrounding her, her mind was elsewhere.

  She raised her arm, her eyes lingering on the spot where the contract with Marvell had been sealed. Her hand looked normal—untouched, unchanged. But she knew that Marvell’s arm, the one he had used to shake on their deal, remained marked by the contract.

  As she continued walking, something about Marvell surfaced in her thoughts, a memory that refused to fade.

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  Marvell was fast asleep in a wheeled chair made of ice, being pulled by a horse. A glass-like visor of unmelting ice covered his eyes, dimly reflecting the surrounding light. Meanwhile, in the front, Drake and Angel walked side by side, deep in conversation.

  “Then don’t trust him,” Drake said bluntly.

  Angel blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected response.

  Drake continued, his voice steady. “Trusting him or not—that’s for you to decide, not me. He might seem like someone who’s always hiding something behind that smile, but believe me, my new friend…” His gaze flickered back toward Marvell, who remained asleep, oblivious to his dragon tail mischievously using ink to draw a mustache on his face.

  “When he’s serious, his intentions are pure. You’ll know it when you see it—his eyes turn hollow, like an empty shell. Creepy, almost demonic.” Drake paused for a moment before adding, “But if you ask me… I think it reminds him of when he lost his brother.”

  A heavy silence followed.

  Angel, sensing the weight of the moment, spoke softly. “It’s alright. You don’t have to tell us if it’s too painful.”

  Drake shook his head. “No. If you really want to understand Marvell, it’s better that you know.”

  He exhaled slowly, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. “His little brother… he was full of energy. We all loved him. Until the accident.”

  Angel’s expression hardened as she listened.

  Drake continued, his tone quieter now. “Marvell had a plan. But when things didn’t go the way he expected, everything fell apart. His brother made a sacrifice… it ended the Demon General but left Marvell wounded for life.”

  Drake lowered his head slightly. “Many of our friends died that day. Everyone grieved… except Marv.”

  Angel’s brows furrowed. “He… didn’t grieve?”

  Drake let out a faint chuckle, though there was no humor in it. “No. He laughed.”

  Angel’s eyes widened. “He… laughed?”

  “Yes. He laughed while crying,” Drake confirmed. “Maybe the wound in his heart still hurts when he looks at you. Maybe that’s why he chose to save you all.”

  His voice held a quiet sadness, but he remained composed. After a deep breath, he steadied himself, letting the emotions settle. “The past is the past, but the wounds it leaves behind never truly fade.”

  Angel listened intently as Drake turned his gaze skyward. “You don’t have to trust him. He’ll probably make choices that make you uncomfortable. But know this—”

  Drake met her eyes. “Once he makes a promise, he holds it in honor of his fallen brother.”

  A faint breeze passed through as he finished. “Because for him, doing what his brother would have wanted… is something he’ll do, no matter the cost.”

  Back to the Present

  Remembering Drake’s words, Angel remained silent, as if there was nothing left to question. Her thoughts swirled, but she kept them to herself.

  She glanced around and noticed a group of guards patrolling nearby. If I ask about the heroes without a good reason, they might get suspicious… What should I do?

  She stood still in the middle of the road, lost in thought. But within moments, an idea formed in her mind. Wasting no time, she stepped forward and approached the patrolling guards.

  “Uhm, excuse me, sir?” she asked, lowering her voice politely.

  The guards immediately noticed her, and one of them responded, “Yes? Is there anything we can help you with?” His tone carried a hint of curiosity.

  Seeing she had their attention, Angel asked, “Did the heroes sent by the king arrive in this city?”

  The guard furrowed his brow, clearly wondering about her request. “Hm… Heroes, you say? I’m sorry, miss, but what exactly do you want with them?”

  The three other guards remained silent, watching the exchange.

  Angel took a deep breath before responding, her voice laced with guilt and sadness. “Far away from here… my home village was burned down by powerful demons. I had no choice but to escape…”

  The guard’s expression shifted, sympathy evident in his eyes. Without hesitation, he answered, “My men and I aren’t sure if the heroes are here. We were only deployed this morning, but they might be at the castle. I heard the lord of this land is holding a party.”

  Another guard from the back spoke up, “If you can’t find the heroes in the city, there’s an adventurer’s guild not far from here. Just head straight past us and turn right. You’ll see a sign that says ‘Adventurer.’ They might be able to help you.”

  With her questions answered, Angel bowed slightly. “Thank you for your help. I’m sorry for bothering you.”

  One of the guards waved off her concern with a reassuring tone. “Don’t worry, miss. It’s our duty to help the citizens of this city, whether they’re from here or not.”

  Angel lifted her head, offering them a small smile. “I’ll be on my way, then. Thanks for everything.”

  Without wasting another moment, she turned and walked quickly down the road. Behind her, the guards resumed their patrol, content with having done their duty.

  Angel glanced back, but the guards were already out of sight. She let out a small sigh, slowing her pace to a normal walk.

  Now armed with new information, her thoughts raced. If there’s a chance my friends are attending this party… that means I need to find a way into the castle.

  Her gaze lifted toward the towering fortress at the heart of the city. The massive structure loomed over everything, an imposing presence that solidified her resolve.

  Should I… tell him about this? she wondered, uncertainty flickering across her face.

  She reached into her pocket, pulling out a small shard of ice—Marv’s signal. He had told her to break it if she needed to call him.

  For a brief moment, hesitation crept in. Memories of their first encounter surfaced, stirring emotions she wasn’t sure how to handle. She clenched her teeth and shook her head, forcing herself to push the past aside.

  No. There’s no time for that now.

  With renewed determination, she tightened her grip on the ice and raised her hand. Without a second thought, she hurled it to the ground. The shard shattered into countless fragments, scattering across the street.

  A few passersby glanced in her direction, momentarily curious about her actions, but soon lost interest and continued on their way.

  Angel stood firm, her expression unwavering. She had made her decision.

  Now, all that was left was to wait for Marvell’s arrival.

  She waited. And waited.

  With each passing minute, her patience thinned.

  Angel’s eyes scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of him. Yet, Marvell was nowhere to be seen. A sigh escaped her lips as she shifted uncomfortably, the weight of standing in the middle of the street growing tiresome.

  Eventually, she made her way to the side of a nearby building, leaning her back against the wall. Maybe I should’ve expected this… she thought, closing her eyes briefly.

  Time dragged on.

  Minutes turned into hours.

  Frustration gnawed at her, but she forced herself to stay put. Where is he? she wondered, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. Despite her growing exhaustion, she refused to leave.

  Still, Marvell didn’t come.

  Meanwhile

  A few hours ago, inside the bustling Adventurer’s Guild, the air was filled with voices—some laughing, some deep in discussion, and others simply exchanging stories. Adventurers of various species, armed with weapons strapped to their backs or clutched in their hands, moved about the hall.

  Marvell stood in front of the quest board, his three draconic tails shifting slightly as he scanned the postings with a neutral expression. His eyes landed on a particular quest, and he muttered in confusion, "Hmph, I never expected this quest would remain on the board." He plucked the paper from the board and examined it.

  The quest was marked S+ Difficulty—an assignment to defeat Demon Lord Sirius, a being roaming the earth. The description detailed his dark skin and five glowing eyes—three yellow and two red. Marvell narrowed his eyes at the paper. "I better make a note about this. What do you guys think?" he asked, turning slightly to glance at his draconic tails.

  The middle head responded, its voice echoing in his mind, "Yeah, I agree."

  The left and right heads nodded in unison. Marvell smirked slightly at their agreement, then placed the quest back onto the board, taking a moment to stare at it.

  Suddenly, a voice caught his attention.

  One of the guards from earlier, the same one who had spoken with Angel, entered the guild and approached the receptionist with a concerned look. Marvell, intrigued, stepped closer, unable to hear clearly over the noise of the guild. Subtly, he cast a spell on his furry ears, enhancing his hearing.

  "There’s a girl—purple hair, glowing eyes, and wearing glasses—who told me her village was attacked by a demon army. Could you send at least one or two groups to investigate?" the guard requested, his tone steady and polite.

  Marvell froze.

  "Oh no, what now...?" he muttered under his breath.

  His tails also went silent, though their lack of facial expressions did little to hide their surprise.

  The receptionist, her expression serious, nodded. "A demon army, you say? That’s a tough mission. I’ll inform those available for deployment."

  The guard bowed slightly. "Thank you. I shall take my leave and return to my duties." He then turned and walked out of the guild.

  Marvell remained rooted in place, disbelief washing over him. No, no, no… it couldn’t be her. Why would she go to such lengths, lying about a demon attack? His mind raced, searching for possibilities.

  Should I ask the guard? No… they saw me with her earlier. That would be too suspicious.

  The left dragon head sighed through their mental link. "We… we have no choice."

  Marvell’s eyes widened slightly. "You couldn’t possibly mean—"

  The left head nodded. "Yes. What choice do we have?"

  A tense silence settled between them.

  The middle head tried to remain hopeful. "We’re going to be in so much trouble right now. Come on, guys, it might not be her." Convincing himself this wans't her friend doing

  The right head responded bluntly. "Yeah… sorry to disappoint you. There’s no other girl in this city with purple hair, glowing eyes, and glasses. We’re basically doomed." remain hopeless about the whole situation they are facing

  The middle head fell silent, unable to argue about it.

  Without another word, Marvell turned and walked toward the exit, his tails following in uncharacteristic quiet.

  Stepping outside, he gazed up at the sky, exhaling sharply.

  In his mind, a single thought echoed:

  "NNNOOOOOO........."

  Suddenly, a strange sensation struck him. His entire body tensed as an overwhelming feeling settled in his mind. His eyes dulled, turning into hollow emptiness as he processed the situation.

  "Nope," he muttered flatly.

  His voice, laced with exhaustion and annoyance but devoid of anger, carried an undeniable finality.

  "I am not gonna answer until I finish washing the problems you just created for me."

  His tails remained silent with dissapointed face.