Zack's eyes shot wide open.
Down below, Silva had entered the scene—and without hesitation, she had leapt onto the rampaging young dragon.
"She's insane…" Zack muttered in disbelief.
The princess clung desperately to the beast's back, attempting to subdue it with nothing but sheer will. Her movements were uncoordinated, reckless, and clearly driven by raw emotion, not strategy. Her noble poise had vanished, replaced by blind determination.
But more importantly—what she was doing was dangerous.
Dragons did not allow anyone but their chosen rider to mount them. Even bonded pairs required trust and time. To the dragon, Silva's act was akin to an insult. Predictably, it thrashed and bucked, threatening to throw her off at any moment.
Zack gritted his teeth. "Is she an idiot? What is Princess Silva even thinking?!"
"It's probably her pride," Roderika said calmly behind him. "Her ambition to outshine you."
"Me?" he asked, clearly baffled.
"From what I've observed… Her Highness is a perfectionist to the core. She cannot stand the idea of someone outclassing her in any field. And you—Zack, the so-called boy who can ride any dragon—are her greatest rival in her mind. She's trying to surpass you."
"Just for that…?"
"To her, it's not 'just' anything," Roderika replied, her voice soft but firm.
"Tch… if that's the case, then I'm going to help her!"
"There's no need."
Roderika's voice cracked like a whip. Zack froze.
"You may have raw talent, but do you have the skill and precision to calm the dragon and protect Her Highness at the same time? Are you absolutely certain you won't let her get hurt?"
Zack faltered, biting his lip. He wanted to say yes. But in truth, he wasn't sure.
"So what should we do…?"
"Didn't I tell you already?" Roderika stepped toward the open window. "Who do you think is the president of the Roshar Student Council?"
And with that, she leapt onto the windowsill. Her crimson hair, like wildfire, danced in the wind.
"Wait—Roderika-san?! What are you—?"
"I'll handle this," she said without hesitation, then vanished as she launched herself into the open air.
"Roderika!"
Zack rushed to the window, just in time to see her falling gracefully.
"Answer my summon… Lainn!"
Space twisted below her—reality itself bending—and with a flash, her majestic dragon, Lainn, emerged from the rift.
Roderika landed effortlessly atop her partner's back, her posture regal, her gaze steeled.
"In my name, Roderika Randall, present me the Ark you forged!"
Lainn let out a deep, thunderous roar, his wings spreading wide as light engulfed Roderika's figure.
Her school uniform shimmered and dissolved in the radiance, melting away as if made of mist. For a fleeting second—bathed in the golden light—her bare form was revealed.
Zack's breath caught in his throat.
She was utterly divine. Her silhouette, both powerful and sensual, exuded the elegance of a queen and the allure of a goddess. Her skin glistened like polished porcelain under the light, curves accentuated by the magic flowing over her.
But before his heart could fully process the vision, a brilliant armor materialized—gilded, glowing, majestic. It wrapped around her body like a lover's embrace, forming an Ark: the sacred armor born from the bond between dragon and rider.
She now looked less like a student and more like a mythic warrior descended from legend.
"That's… the Ark…" Zack whispered, awe overtaking his senses.
He had only ever heard rumors of it—of this mystical power granted to those who earned absolute loyalty from their dragon. The moment a Dragonborn received an Ark, they were elevated to the title of Ark-Dragonborn.
With a powerful beat of his wings, Lainn soared into the sky, shaking the very air with his ascent.
The gust that followed nearly knocked Zack off his feet. He held tight to the windowsill as a scream echoed from below—
"Kyaaa!"
Princess Silva was hurtling through the air, tossed off the dragon's back like a discarded rag doll.
"Princess!" Zack shouted, leaning dangerously out the window.
In a blur, Lainn dove.
To Zack's eyes, it was almost teleportation. One moment Silva was falling, and in the next, she was cradled in Roderika's arms.
"Zack! She's in your care now!"
"Huh—?!"
Without waiting for a reply, Roderika spun in midair and hurled Silva through the open window.
"Uwaaa!"
Zack staggered back as Silva tumbled into his arms. He caught her instinctively—his grip tightening to protect her delicate frame.
They landed in the classic princess carry position. Her body was limp, unconscious—but warm. His left hand, pressed beneath her thighs, was greeted by softness and elasticity that sent a jolt through his spine.
She smelled like wildflowers and wind. Her golden hair spilled over his arms, glowing like sunlight.
Zack's heart thundered in his chest.
Even now, even unconscious… she was beautiful.
Outside, a voice rose—strong, commanding, sacred.
"Appear… the certain-hit magic spear…"
Light gathered in Roderika's hand, condensing into a formidable shape. In a flash, an enormous spear materialized—an Ark Weapon, the signature of an Ark-Dragonborn.
Arks were more than just armor. Each Ark came with its own singular, devastating weapon—born from the unique bond between Par and rider.
"Vashi Rann!"
Roderika hurled the radiant spear downward.
It blazed through the air like divine judgment, striking the earth beside the berserk dragon.
The explosion was deafening—but precise. Had she missed by even a hair, the young dragon would've perished. But this was Roderika Randall—the girl who was called a prodigy since childhood.
The shockwave knocked the dragon out cold.
Silence fell. Then applause and cheers erupted from the grooms below.
Roderika, still atop her dragon in gleaming armor, hovered like a goddess surveying her domain.
Zack could only watch in stunned reverence—his arms still full of Silva, his heart still racing from the echoes of divine beauty.
.˳·˖✶𓆩𓁺𓆪✶˖·˳.༄
"Uuh…"
After some time had passed since Roderika subdued the young dragon, Silva finally stirred. Her eyelashes fluttered weakly as she regained consciousness, cradled gently in Zack's arms. Her body was still trembling, her skin warm and flushed from the adrenaline rush.
The moment her eyes opened and she realized who was holding her—
"Wha…! W-What do you think you're doing?!"
Her face ignited with a crimson blush, the heat rushing to her cheeks almost palpable.
Zack, visibly flustered, tightened his grip slightly to keep her steady. "Uwaa! Stop moving! I-I can't hold on if you—!"
Before he could finish, Silva writhed in embarrassment—and slipped.
"Ah—!"
She fell ungracefully to the floor with a thud, her skirt fluttering up in the air before landing in a disheveled heap. Zack's eyes instinctively darted away, but not before catching a flash of her long, smooth legs, and the teasing hint of her silky panties beneath her uniform.
"Urgh… What is wrong with you?!" she snapped, her voice shaky as she pushed herself up, her hair tousled and eyes shimmering with tears of frustration.
"I told you to stop moving! And more importantly—why the hell did you jump onto a berserk dragon like that?! You could've died if Roderika hadn't saved you!"
"You…!" Silva's voice cracked with emotion, her body trembling. "You don't understand… you don't even understand how it feels!"
As she shouted, hot tears spilled down her cheeks—glittering trails that betrayed her pride.
"…Princess Silva?" Zack's voice softened.
"Urgh…!" She turned away, one hand clenching over her chest as if to contain the storm of emotions. Then, without another word, she bolted from the room, her golden hair trailing behind her like a banner.
"Princess Silva, wait!" Zack called, but she was already gone.
He stood there, frozen—half in guilt, half in confusion.
"What… was that about…?" he murmured under his breath.
A gentle voice rose from behind him, calm and composed like moonlight on still water.
"Don't worry. It's my duty to look after the Princess."
Startled, Zack turned around.
There, sitting nonchalantly on the window frame, was Roderika.
She had already changed back into her school uniform—but it clung to her figure in a way that made it impossible not to notice just how little time had passed since her Ark had vanished.
Her skin still glowed faintly with residual magic, a sheen of sweat glistening at the base of her neck. The open collar of her shirt revealed a tantalizing glimpse of cleavage, as if the armor had burned away not just her clothing but a layer of restraint.
Her legs were crossed elegantly, skirt riding high, one heel dangling lazily off her foot. And her smile—that sly, confident smile—radiated absolute control.
It was the expression of a woman who had just dominated both battlefield and stage… and knew it.
"I'll handle Silva," she said with a wink. "After all, that girl can be a handful when her pride is wounded."
Zack's mouth went dry.
In that moment, Roderika didn't look like a student. She looked like a queen.