Chapter 55: The Traitor
After the meeting ended, Ruri quietly left without telling Jad or Arwen. She knew exactly what the Grand Council Hall looked like. She also knew where humans gathered and where Dragon Spawns stayed.
Unlike humans, Dragon Spawns did not care much for socializing. They never needed to flatter anyone to gain power. They were strong on their own, and their pride as dragons would not allow it.
Ruri walked up to the second floor. As she climbed the spiral staircase, she saw twelve doors arranged in a circle. The Twelve Dragons of Serdes Continent. There were both evil dragons and guardian dragons. And among them was Godwin.
Ruri looked up at the door marked with Silverwind’s crest.
“……”
The sharp horns. The sleek, powerful body. A figure of undeniable strength and bravery. Even though Silverwind had passed away over a hundred years ago, the image was still clear in her mind. That memory made her heart weak.
The loyal maid of Valdrova Castle. The sharp and honest maid who always spoke the truth—she was no longer here. Now, Ruri was just a girl holding her aching heart.
Creak—
The heavy door opened slowly with a long noise. Inside was a long hallway guarded by warriors. They were Silverwind’s warriors. The soldiers, who had been talking, suddenly stopped and turned their eyes toward Ruri. The room became silent and tense.
“Who are you, kid?”
One of the warriors stepped forward, eyeing Ruri with suspicion.
“You smell like someone who carries Silverwind’s blood, but I’ve never seen you before. Are you a spy?”
“……”
“If someone talks to you, you should answer. Or do you want me to play rough with you?”
“Stop.”
A deep voice interrupted the growing tension. It was the man sitting with a staff in his hand—the leader of the warriors.
“Don’t worry, Captain! I wouldn’t kill someone in Blancaros’s territory.”
“You should be glad this is Blancaros’s land. If we were outside, you wouldn’t even have bones left.”
“What? You think I can’t handle this little girl?”
“You can handle a little girl.” The captain’s eyes turned to Ruri.
“But I don’t think you can win against the leader of the First Assault Unit.”
“…The leader of the First Assault Unit?”
The arrogant soldier suddenly froze. His face filled with fear.
“No way… You’re saying this is… Blade Wind Ruri?”
He turned to look at Ruri again, disbelief in his eyes. He had never seen her face before, but he had heard her name. Anyone who was also a Silver Dragon Spawn had heard of her.
The man stepped back. His outstretched hand trembled.
Ruri walked past him toward the leader holding the staff. Their eyes met. They had known each other for a long time.
“It’s been a while, Percival.”
“It has, Ruri. Former leader of the First Assault Unit… No, I should say ‘retired’ leader. Or actually, even that isn’t right.”
Percival’s voice turned cold.
“The right word for you… is ‘traitor.’”
Traitor. The word pierced Ruri’s heart like a blade. But she had expected this.
“So, why are you here?”
“I want to meet Lord Goz.”
“Then you wasted your time. Leave.”
“I need to speak with him.”
Bang!
Percival slammed his staff onto the ground.
“You must have forgotten many things over the past two hundred years, Ruri Silverwind. Since when do Silverwind’s warriors talk instead of fight?”
“……”
Silverwind’s warriors were born to battle. They had fought demons and frost giants beyond the ice walls. Words meant nothing to them. Only actions did.
“I understand.”
Ruri gave a short bow and turned to leave.
“Wait.”
Percival stopped her. She paused mid-step.
“Go in.”
“?”
“The Lord has allowed it.”
Ruri could hardly believe it. But soon, she knew it was true. The door that she thought would never open for her… slowly opened. She stepped forward. The pressure inside was heavier than before. The sharp stares of the warriors felt like spears piercing her. But she kept walking.
At the end of the hall was a throne, like a king’s audience chamber. A massive man, as large as a bear, sat there. He was different from the guards at the entrance. He wore a luxurious fur cloak and gold rings. His exposed skin was covered in magical tattoos from sacred rituals. Everything about him was familiar.
This was Goz Silverwind.
‘No… something is different.’
Ruri could feel it. This was not the same Goz from before. Among Dragon Spawns, there were ranks, but no one had absolute power over another. Yet, the pressure Ruri felt now was absolute. Her instincts whispered the truth.
‘Silverwind’s… essence?’
After Silverwind’s death, Goz, the leader of the Silver Dragon Spawns, had absorbed its dragon essence.
‘But it’s unstable.’
Though he had taken it, it was not fully his. His body had not completely merged with Silverwind’s power. That’s why he was struggling just to stand.
“Valdrova.”
Goz finally spoke. There was no greeting.
“How is Valdrova?”
He swirled the whiskey in his glass.
Ruri nodded.
“She is well. She has driven out the monsters from the eastern lands and fights tirelessly to protect the continent.”
“I see. That must be thanks to your care.”
“…Yes.”
“Are you proud?”
“……”
Ruri could not answer right away.
Goz’s cold eyes locked onto her.
“Did I ask a difficult question?”
“No.”
“Then why don’t you answer?”
Ruri finally spoke, her voice breaking like a rope snapping under a storm.
“…Yes. It is something to be proud of.”
“I see.”
Crash!
The glass shattered in his hand. The atmosphere froze completely. Ruri felt her body stiffen under his gaze.
“So tell me, traitor… What face do you dare bring here?”
The whole room was against her. But Ruri still opened her mouth. She had come for this moment.
“I must ask… Do you still hate Kijg Valdrova?”
Goz’s eyes burned with rage.
“I understand why your master would say that. But in front of me, do not call her ‘king.’ You are a Silver Dragon Spawn. Your only master is Silverwind.”
“I am a Silver Dragon Spawn. But Valdrova is my master now.”
“Before she became your master, your true master was Silverwind. Do you remember who Silverwind was?”
“The ruler of mighty winds and steel.”
“Yes. He was the master of speed. The dragon no one could defeat.”
Goz’s voice shook with anger.
“But then….”
Ruri could feel it.
“But then—!”
He had never let go of his hatred.
“She tore out his throat! She sank her fangs into his neck and severed his veins! I saw it with my own eyes! I felt it in my heart!”
“……”
“You ask if I still hate her? My hatred still burns like a raging fire.”
Ruri shut her eyes tightly. His every word was heavy with emotion. Goz saw her pained expression and let out a cold breath.
“My heart still remembers his death like it was yesterday. But you… it seems you do not.”
“I saw it too. I felt it too.”
Ruri’s voice trembled.
“And the pain… is still fresh in my heart.”
Ruri also joined the Dragon Spawn War to kill the demons. And she witnessed Silverwind’s death. Since she was a Spawn, she felt her master’s death and mourned.
“I also resented my master.”
It was something she could not help. To Ruri, Silverwind was like a father. She could not help but hate Valdrova, who had led him to his death.
“But… I cannot hate her.”
“No, that’s not true.”
Goz denied her words.
“If you truly felt what we felt, you would have left her side.”
“……”
“You were only a little distance away, but you have been tainted by that woman. You have forgotten your origin.”
Goz picked up a new glass and poured whiskey again.
“Valdrova is still our enemy. As long as she exists on this Serdes Continent, our hatred will never end. This is the will of all Silverwind’s warriors.”
“I see…”
It was as she expected. She already knew it was a foolish dream.
“But… I will give you a chance.”
A chance.
Ruri lifted her head.
“What is it?”
For a moment, she had hope. Maybe she could ease even a little of their hatred toward Valdrova.
Goz reached out his hand to Ruri.
“Ruri Silverwind, return to your clan.”
Her hope was shattered.
“Return…? Are you telling me to leave King Valdrova’s side?”
“Now that there is a regent, you no longer have a reason to serve that woman.”
“……”
“You have completed all the missions given by Silverwind. Now, return to your clan and become a warrior again. Become Blade Wind Ruri once more. Take back your position as the leader of the Assault Unit. Defend our lands from the northern invaders. If you do, I will erase the shameful title of ‘traitor’ from you.”
That name stabbed her heart. But the pain was nothing compared to the responsibility she carried.
“I cannot…”
She was about to refuse. At that moment, Ruri’s body swayed.
“There is no refusal, Ruri Silverwind.”
The force from Goz’s body pressed down on her.
“My blood now holds the authority of Silverwind. You know what it means for a Dragon Spawn to deny authority.”
Death. For a Dragon Spawn who disobeyed authority, only death awaited.
“There is no benefit in resisting my authority. So—”
Goz pointed his finger at the floor.
“Kneel before me and submit.”
His words were not a bluff.
Ruri, who had not even blinked before, was now sweating coldly. She felt like someone was choking her, like her heart was being crushed. If she refused, she would feel unbearable pain, as if tearing out her own heart. Even though Goz had only absorbed a small part of Silverwind’s essence, it was already this powerful.
‘I must not give in.’
Ruri desperately resisted. She clenched her apron tightly and forced strength into her trembling legs. That was all she could do. And yet, it was barely enough.
“You endure well.”
It was a genuine compliment. Any other Spawn would have already knelt.
“Yes, this is why Silverwind favored you.”
But Goz did not like her attitude. He did not want just obedience forced by power. He wanted complete submission.
“If it’s so hard for you to leave, shall I make the decision easier?”
Goz tilted his head.
“The regent must know your identity. But does that man know the real reason you ended up with her?”
“……!”
Ruri’s calm expression shattered. Her sweaty hands soaked her apron.
“Do you think he will still protect you after hearing the truth?”
Ferda Valdrova. He loved Valdrova. And he was ruthless toward anyone who threatened her.
‘If Lord Ferda finds out…’
What would Ferda do? Her determination, which had been holding against the pressure, began to crumble under doubt.
‘I…’
Fear overwhelmed her. She couldn’t even scream.
‘I… what should I do…?’
It felt like she was sinking into thick, dark mud. Silently, she screamed inside. Someone. Please, someone save me.
—
“It’s rude to enter like this, but—”
A familiar voice reached Ruri’s ears.
“What are you doing to my servant?”
＊ ＊ ＊
Ferda had been looking for Ruri. It wasn’t difficult to find her. She had gone to speak with Silverwind’s people. That meant she was beyond the door marked with Silverwind’s crest.
Standing before the door, Ferda thought.
‘Am I interfering unnecessarily?’
Ruri was Valdrova’s servant. But she also carried Silverwind’s blood. There was bound to be resentment toward Valdrova, but perhaps they held no grudge against Ruri herself. If that was the case, Ferda had no reason to interfere in their family matters.
And yet—
Even as he told himself that, it didn’t sit right. He recalled Goz Silverwind’s expression during the Grand Council meeting. And Erika’s warning echoed in his mind.
—
“The real enemy you should watch is Silverwind.”
Dragons were immortal. Once they bore a grudge, they never let it go. Silverwind was no different.
‘Was it a mistake?’
Even if Ruri had begged. Even if Valdrova had asked. Should he have refused to let her go? That thought wouldn’t leave his mind.
And so, he arrived at the Dragon Spawn’s resting area. What he saw was a door guarded by Silverwind’s soldiers. And the thick presence of dragon fear. This was clear. This was not unnecessary interference.
Ferda walked toward the source of the pressure.
“Are you the Regent of Valdrova?”
A Dragon Spawn with a staff slung over his shoulder—Percival—stood up and asked.
“Is Ruri here?”
“Answer my question first.”
“I asked if Ruri Silverwind is here.”
Percival did not step aside.
“Yes, she is.”
“Then move.”
“This is a family matter, Regent. You have no place in it.”
Family affairs should not be interfered with. Especially in dragon society, where it was sacred.
But Ferda did not care.
“If you want to stop me, you’ll have to break something.”
Ferda’s blue eyes stared directly at him.
“If you try, Blancaross will intervene. Can Silverwind’s warriors afford the disgrace of causing trouble?”
“……”
“If you’re confident, go ahead. I am ready to lose something.”
Percival stepped aside. With a glance, he signaled his subordinates to retreat completely.
Ferda opened the door. And he saw Ruri. She was kneeling before Goz. She was in pain.
At that moment, all distractions disappeared from Ferda’s mind. His vision sharpened, locking onto one thing. The fool playing king.
“It’s rude to enter in like this, but—”
Ferda let out the anger he had been holding in.
“What are you doing to my servant?”
