Liquid did not betray Zack's expectations.
With a clean, fluid start, the dragon charged forward, his muscular body pressing against the wind as he tore across the academy's sports field. His silver-blue scales shimmered under the morning sun, glinting like polished armor. Right ahead, Lancelot led the charge—his powerful strides eating up the ground in elegant, almost arrogant confidence.
Cheers erupted from the stadium as they dashed past the outer gates and into the city district.
"Faster, Liquid! Let's burn past them all!"
Zack's voice rang with raw determination. Liquid roared in response, his draconic cry echoing off the cobbled walls of the city's streets as they hurtled down the avenue leading to St. Durkheir Square.
Vaestro Lancelot's speed was monstrous. Like a silver spear, he pierced through the ranks of slower riders with ease, his mane fluttering wildly. Liquid remained close behind, practically riding the Vaestro's wake, taking advantage of the draft to conserve energy while steadily climbing in rank.
But as they neared a narrow alley connecting to the square, Lancelot suddenly decelerated.
"...What?"
Zack's brows furrowed as he lifted his head. Up ahead, four riders were blocking the road—positioned side by side, shoulder to shoulder.
And Zack recognized them instantly.
"The same girls who insulted Silva before the race..."
The path ahead wound tightly, full of sharp turns and low arches. Navigating it would already be difficult—but with those girls acting as a blockade? Impossible.
Then it hit him.
They weren't trying to win. They were trying to sabotage.
They moved aside just enough whenever another rider approached—but not for Silva. Her rank was slowly slipping with every step, and now she rode just beside Zack.
If he stayed idle, Silva would be trapped at the bottom of the ranks.
"You girls have gone too far!" Zack shouted, his voice echoing off the stone walls.
Silva pulled alongside him on Lancelot, her white-gold hair fluttering behind her like a silk banner. She looked down at him from her higher seat, her blue eyes filled with disdain.
"...What they're doing doesn't break any rules," she said flatly. "It's ugly, yes, but legal."
"And you're fine with that?" Zack growled. "You're just going to let this happen without a fight?"
"I don't speak with enemies. Get lost, peasant!"
Zack smirked. "So proud and aloof. No wonder no one likes you."
"You—! You insufferable…!"
He didn't give her the satisfaction of a reply. Instead, he kicked Liquid forward and surged ahead.
As expected, the moment one of the girls saw him approach, she shifted slightly, allowing just enough space for him to pass.
Big mistake.
"You thought I'd just pass through quietly? Too bad!"
With a sharp flick of the reins, Zack commanded Liquid to veer sideways—hard. The dragon's body slammed dangerously close to the girls, throwing off their balance. Their orderly formation crumbled in an instant as panic erupted among them.
"Wh-What the hell!?"
"Hey! Stop!"
"You're insane—!"
In their scramble to avoid colliding, they steered too sharply. One girl shrieked as her dragon tumbled sideways, crashing into another. Screams and the thunder of claws against cobblestone filled the alley as the four girls lost control, scattering wildly to the roadside.
Zack cracked a wicked grin.
"I'm terribly sorry. This dragon's borrowed. He can be… disobedient."
That's when one of them recognized him.
"Wait—Zack Blake?!"
"It's the Number One Problem Child!"
"Ugh! Get away from me!"
"Kyaaaa!"
Their wails trailed behind as Zack cleared the bottleneck.
Behind him, Silva slipped through the chaos with ease, guiding Lancelot with practiced grace. Though her voice was stern as ever, her cheeks glowed pink.
"W-Who asked you to help!? Idiot!"
Despite her words, the softness in her gaze betrayed her gratitude.
⋆｡°✩₊ .:｡༄𓆩𓁺𓆪｡:. ₊✩°｡⋆
Beyond the city's edge, the path led north—straight into the depths of Ald Forest.
The air here was cooler, scented with moss and the distant trace of wildflowers. Sunlight filtered through the leaves in shimmering patterns, flickering across the path like dancing fireflies.
The moment they entered the forest, however, something changed.
"...Liquid?"
Zack frowned. Liquid, who had been galloping like a storm, suddenly began to slow. His breaths came in short, ragged bursts, his chest heaving.
Silva shot past without hesitation, quickly vanishing ahead.
Zack tugged the reins gently, bringing Liquid to a stop.
"...I pushed you too hard, didn't I?"
The dragon let out a low, apologetic grunt, lowering his head.
Zack dismounted slowly, his boots sinking into the soft earth. He approached Liquid, pressing a hand to his snout with regret.
"I'm sorry. I should've paced us better."
Behind him, the sound of pounding claws filled the air as other competitors surged past. Dust kicked up, filling the forest with a curtain of mist and thunder.
His chance was gone.
He wouldn't force Silva to take back her words. The challenge—his righteous stand—was over.
And yet…
"...Competing with the princess was more fun than I expected."
He couldn't help but laugh, quietly. Her sharp tongue, her cold eyes, her stubborn pride—it all stirred something wild in him.
Then—suddenly—he heard it.
A rustling.
Not from the race. Not from the wind.
A deliberate sound, hidden between the trees.
"—!"
Zack turned on instinct, eyes narrowing.
"...Who's there?"
It wasn't unusual for the academy's security patrols to linger near the forest during the race, but no one answered.
Whoever it was, they were watching him.
His body tensed, senses sharpened. Something was wrong.
"I'll be right back," he murmured to Liquid, giving his dragon a reassuring pat before stepping into the shadows of the forest, toward the source of the sound.