Chapter Summaries

Sordil led an assault on the bandit stockade, using Anna’s summoned Taros to smash open the gate. The soldiers pushed inside, and the stockade’s master, Heradi Sinshershetlie, challenged their highest-ranking officer to single combat as the price of surrender.

• Sordil ordered his troops to attack when the stockade guards changed shifts, and Radiance Aurora blinded the guards while arrows struck them from the grass.
• Anna summoned Taros, who smashed the gate with his axe, allowing the four squadrons to charge into the stockade.
• Taros departed, and Anna collapsed from exhaustion before sitting down to meditate and restore her magic power.
• The tall, thin bandit returned to the hall and warned Heradi Sinshershetlie that Royal Army troops had broken through the gate and were advancing.
• Sordil explained to his adjutant that he called for surrender to avoid losses, strengthen his regiment, and prevent the bandits from burning the hall.
• Heradi Sinshershetlie emerged from the stockade and challenged the highest-ranking officer to fight him, promising to surrender if he lost.

Sordil defeated Heradi and forced him and the bandits in the hall to surrender. After securing the stronghold, Sordil invited his soldiers to eat and promised to divide the valuables equally.

• Heradi faced Sordil’s army and challenged Sordil to a fight, hoping to save himself and his men.
• Sordil let Heradi attack his hardened defense for fifteen minutes without injury, then immobilized him and beat him until he could no longer speak.
• Anna told Sordil that Heradi had submitted, and Heradi desperately nodded in agreement.
• Sordil ordered the bandits in the hall to surrender, and more than fifty of them filed out without resisting.
• Sordil sent his soldiers to enjoy the food and told them they would search the stronghold for valuables and divide everything equally.

Sordil celebrated the Bell Dragon Rider Regiment’s victory over Heradi’s bandits, distributed the spoils, and planned how to integrate the prisoners into his force. Meanwhile, Kaldiz flew toward Fostadu, where Hadessta identified the traitor Yeruzisi before the five great figures sensed something to the northwest.

• Sordil stopped the banquet before the prisoners could escape and ordered his soldiers to count and divide the captured wealth.
• Sordil awarded his troops money and jewels, then ordered Kurelle to make Heradi captain of a new Fifth Company and divide the prisoners among the units.
• Sordil studied the magical materials from Mildian and looked for his next target.
• Kaldiz hurried toward Fostadu while worrying about the queen’s insistence that Sordil sign Dorafnov’s alliance treaty.
• Hadessta told Diphiya and the others that Yeruzisi, who had arrived with refugees, was the traitor and was under guard.
• Hadessta and the other four great figures stood and stared toward the northwest.

Kaldiz returned from negotiations with Donagunov to summon Sordil, while Heradi recovered from a minor training injury and reflected on his new life in the cavalry. Sordil learned that Queen Irene had made his personal signature a condition of the peace treaty.

• Diphiya sensed Kaldiz approaching Fostadu, and Wattster warned Hadessta and Diphiya to keep him from entering because a traitor remained inside.
• Heradi injured his foot when his shield fell during training, received medical care, and concluded that surrendering to Sordil had saved him from the fate of other bandit leaders.
• Sordil sensed that someone was summoning him with his token, left camp in dragon form, and flew to meet Diphiya and Kaldiz.
• Kaldiz teased Diphiya for repeatedly asking when Sordil would arrive, and she bonked both men on the head before they apologized.
• Kaldiz told Sordil that Donagunov's negotiations had gone smoothly until Queen Irene demanded that Sordil sign the peace pact in person.

Sordil, Diphiya, and Kaldiz set out for the Kingdom of Donagunov to sign an alliance treaty, but Diphiya accidentally punched Sordil and Kaldiz out of the sky. Igneel found the unconscious Sordil and carried him away, while Diphiya and Kaldiz searched for him.

• Diphiya beat Sordil after Kaldiz claimed that Sordil had asked whether Queen Irene was pretty, then the group prepared to travel to the Kingdom of Donagunov.
• King Belmod praised Oddek for rebuilding the Bell Dragon Rider Regiment and asked the chancellor to help Duke Gould and Diphiya grow closer.
• Diphiya's punches sent Sordil and Kaldiz flying through the sky and crashing near Igneel.
• Igneel found the unconscious Sordil, lifted him, and flew toward a distant mountain peak.
• Diphiya and Kaldiz searched for Sordil, and Diphiya silenced Kaldiz's complaints with her Freeze Laser.

Diphiya and Kaldiz tracked Sordil to the mountain where Igneel had brought him for Grandiere to heal. Igneel's joking story about Sordil escaping an arranged marriage seemed to come true when Diphiya and Kaldiz arrived, leaving Igneel mistaken for Sordil's lover.

• Diphiya found Sordil's fresh landing crater and recognized the mountain where he had been headed, then flew there with Kaldiz to retrieve him.
• Igneel brought the unconscious Sordil to Grandiere, who recognized him and began healing his injuries.
• Igneel told Metalicana, Vyseria, and Scylladrum a fabricated story that Sordil was a runaway bride fleeing an arranged marriage.
• Diphiya and Kaldiz arrived at the mountaintop and confronted Sordil, while Igneel feared they were his pursuers.
• Kaldiz recognized that Diphiya had visited the mountain with Sordil before, and the dragons mistook Igneel for someone who had seduced him.

Diphiya and the others misread Igneel’s attempt to explain himself, while Sordil woke and praised Grandiere’s beauty in front of Diphiya. Sordil realized the danger he was in and prepared to make one last attempt to save himself.

• Metalicana and the others watched Kaldiz and Grandiere, while Diphiya decided to wait for the unconscious Sordil to wake before judging what had happened.
• Igneel tried to explain that he had not abducted Sordil, but Diphiya cut him off and insisted everyone already knew the truth.
• Grandiere revived Sordil, who followed her fragrance and praised it without realizing she was beside him.
• Sordil called Grandiere more beautiful than Diphiya, making Grandiere blush and leaving Diphiya furious.
• Sordil spotted Diphiya and the others, understood his predicament, and resolved to try to save himself.

Sordil talked his way out of trouble with Diphiya and Grandiere, then faced Igneel’s questions about his identity and his earlier collision with him. The chapter ended with Igneel and the others learning that Grandiere had known Sordil was a dragon all along.

• Sordil pretended he had just woken from a dream and pinched Grandiere’s cheek, prompting her to flee into her cave.
• Sordil flattered Diphiya and blamed Kaldiz and the others for making her doubt her beauty.
• Sordil compared Diphiya to red maple leaves and Grandiere to golden ginkgo leaves, easing Diphiya’s anger and making Grandiere blush.
• Igneel confronted Sordil about claiming to be human and crashing into him while flying.
• Sordil said Grandiere had always known he was a dragon, leaving Igneel and the others staring at her cave in disbelief.

Sordil explained that he had taken the detour to the Dil'dixiu Mountain Range so Grandiere could heal his injuries before they met Queen Irene, then treated the dragons to a feast. Four or five days later, Sordil, Diphiya, and Kaldiz arrived at Donagunov's capital, where Diphiya marveled at the city shared by humans and dragons.

• Grandiere admitted he had known Sordil's identity, and Igneel accepted the truth after seeing Sordil use Transformation Magic.
• Sordil revealed that Kaldiz's prank had left him injured, prompting the detour so Grandiere could heal him before their meeting with Queen Irene.
• Kaldiz accepted blame for the misunderstanding and offered to treat everyone, but Sordil produced food and wine for the group instead.
• Sordil enlarged the human-sized food and tableware with magic, and he and the dragons held a feast in the Dil'dixiu Mountain Range.
• Glaide resented the dragons and endured orders from his allies while quietly waiting for a chance to regain his standing.
• Sordil, Diphiya, and Kaldiz reached Donagunov's capital, where Diphiya reacted with wonder at the city where humans and dragons coexisted.

Sordil and Diphiya toured the capital of Donagunov with Kaldiz before meeting Queen Irene. Meanwhile, Belmod learned that Great Dragons had arrived in Donagunov and planned to place Oddek and the Bell Dragon Rider Regiment in Fostadu as spies; the chapter ended as Sordil and Diphiya entered Irene’s hall.

• Kaldiz escorted Sordil and Diphiya into Donagunov’s capital, where they began a tour after telling the city guard they would visit Queen Irene the next day.
• The chancellor told Belmod that a Black Great Dragon had returned to Donagunov with two Great Dragons, and Belmod suspected they were connected to Fostadu.
• Belmod asked about Oddek’s Bell Dragon Rider Regiment and revealed that he wanted Oddek and the regiment to become spies in Fostadu.
• Kaldiz reported to Irene that he had brought Prince Sordil, and Irene prepared to sign an alliance treaty.
• Kaldiz entered Irene’s hall with Sordil and Diphiya, leaving Irene uncertain which of the two Great Dragons she should greet first.

Sordil, Diphiya, and Kaldiz met Queen Irene to begin negotiating an alliance treaty between Fostadu and her kingdom, while Sordil tried to charm Irene. Meanwhile, General Langu received a summons to return to the capital, and his adjutant Keith urged him to take extra soldiers for safety.

• Diphiya teased Sordil after catching him staring at Irene, and Kaldiz introduced Sordil and Diphiya as Fostadu’s treaty representatives.
• Sordil shrank to Irene’s height, greeted her with a kiss on the hand, and explained that he had learned human customs at Mildian Magic Academy.
• Sordil and Irene agreed to address each other by their names, then went to discuss the alliance treaty while Diphiya watched them angrily.
• At the Kingdom of Tsuyioru Xiu’s western border, General Langu ordered additional sentry posts and a reinforced watchtower.
• Keith delivered the king’s summons for Langu to return to the capital, and Langu agreed to bring extra soldiers as a precaution.

Sordil finalized an alliance treaty with Irene, then returned to Kaysir City to review the reorganized Bell Dragon Rider Regiment. A delayed royal decree ordered him back to Philiers within three days, leaving him to consider how to respond while Anna recognized the Lord Mayor’s role in withholding it.

• Irene approved the revised alliance treaty and arranged for the kingdom’s nobles to witness its signing the next day.
• Sordil reviewed the Bell Dragon Rider Regiment’s completed rosters and ordered Kurelle to oversee the troops’ training.
• Earl Kaysir presented Sordil with a royal decree, but Sordil intimidated him and ordered Heradi to demand money, wine, and livestock from the Lord Mayor’s residence.
• Sordil and Anna discovered that the King’s order required the regiment to return to Philiers by December 25, although the decree had been signed two weeks earlier.
• Anna realized Kaysir had delayed delivering the decree, and Sordil told her to deal with him while he considered the urgent order.

King Belmod arranged an engagement between Duke Gould and Diphiya for December 25th, while Sordil struggled with a recall order that threatened to keep him from reaching Philiers. Diphiya blamed Sordil for her unwanted engagement, and he advised her to keep her dragon identity secret as they considered how to handle it.

• Belmod asked Gould about his relationship with Diphiya, and the chancellor suggested an engagement instead of directly arranging their marriage.
• Gould reluctantly agreed, and Belmod set the engagement ceremony for December 25th and ordered the chancellor to organize it.
• Sordil worried that a recall order would prevent him from reaching Philiers before its deadline and attending the alliance ceremony.
• Diphiya confronted Sordil, blamed his plan for her engagement to Gould, and punched him when he appeared to laugh at her.
• Sordil advised Diphiya not to tell anyone that dragons could transform into humans, and she agreed to keep the secret for now.

Diphiya realized Grandiere had deduced Sordil’s identity, but Sordil escaped before she could confront him. The Kingdom of Donagunov and Fostadu signed an alliance, and Sordil and Diphiya departed for the Kingdom of Tsuyioru Xiu.

• Diphiya returned to find Sordil gone and resolved to settle things with him at the alliance signing.
• Irene announced that Donagunov would ally with Fostadu, whose representatives were Sordil, Diphiya, and Kaldiz.
• The Chancellor explained Fostadu’s migration from the Western Continent and its conflict with the Evil Dragons.
• Irene and Sordil signed the alliance treaty as the gathered nobles cheered.
• Sordil told Irene that he and Diphiya had to leave, and Irene embraced him before they departed.

Sordil and Diphiya rushed to carry out the King’s plans for the Duke’s engagement, while generals across Tsuyioru Xiu were summoned to Philiers for the ceremony. The chapter left Sordil racing to reunite with Anna and the King arranging for the Queen to resolve Diphiya’s objections to her gown.

• After Irene’s celebration, Sordil and Diphiya split up so Diphiya could return to Philiers while Sordil raced to Kaysir City to fetch Anna.
• Langu learned that the King had recalled him and other border generals for Duke Gould’s December 25th engagement ceremony, and ordered his troops to march faster.
• Anna and Sordil left Kaysir City without guards, and Anna asked Kurelle to teach the Lord Mayor a lesson on Teacher’s behalf.
• Generals from across Tsuyioru Xiu began traveling to Philiers, with the chapter noting that Sordil still had to complete his urgent journey in time.
• Belmod learned that Diphiya refused to try on her formal gown and assigned the Queen to handle the matter.

Sordil used Space Magic to travel toward Anna while improving his control, and the Western Continent's dragon rulers discussed their next campaign. As Langu's army approached Philiers, he began telling his adjutant Keith how he had been rescued by the king and joined the army.

• Sordil repeatedly crossed spatial rifts, became more skilled at Space Magic, and checked Anna's location to stay on course.
• Selisliu reported to Goodpes that he had crushed resistance in the continent's north and asked to transfer the Koreita members out of his unit.
• Goodpes struck Selisliu for speaking against Glaide and ordered him to leave.
• Goodpes and the other dragons decided to consolidate their Western Continent forces for half a year before attacking the Eastern Continent.
• Langu told Keith that he had come from an eastern duchy, been captured as a mercenary, and been saved by the king before pleading to join the army.

Sordil and Anna reached the outskirts of Philiers after a journey that left Sordil exhausted, while General Langu returned to the capital after sixteen years away. The king summoned Langu and General Oddek to the palace before the engagement ceremony and said he would help them fulfill their wishes.

• Sordil asked Anna and Capri to confirm that the distant city was Philiers while he rested, and Capri verified it was less than fifty li away.
• Langu arrived at Philiers with more than a hundred soldiers and prepared them to enter the city after sixteen years on the western border.
• Sordil woke after an hour of meditation, confirmed Anna was safe, and learned that the city ahead was Philiers.
• Sordil transformed into a human and carried Anna toward Philiers aboard a Wind Boat.
• The chancellor told the king that Langu and Oddek had arrived and that all the summoned generals were back in the capital.
• The king ordered both generals summoned to the palace, saying he had matters to discuss and would help them fulfill their wishes.

Sordil reunited with Murellia and learned that she, Diphiya, and Mevajena had maintained his intelligence network in Philiers. Summoned to the palace, he met Langu Cordelia and resolved to keep Langu from harming Irene.

• Sordil arrived at the abandoned house, where Murellia and Anna welcomed him and teased each other.
• Murellia explained how Diphiya, Mevajena, and she had followed Sordil's plans to gather intelligence while keeping their base concealed.
• A knight summoned Sordil to the palace, where Belmod and the others were waiting.
• Sordil explained his delayed arrival, and Belmod ordered the Prime Minister to investigate Earl Kaysir.
• Sordil recognized Langu Cordelia and decided he would not let him ruin Irene's life.

The king and chancellor summoned Langu and Sordil to discuss the engagement between Duke Gould and Diphiya and the arrival of dragons from the Cuyis Tree Sea. After testing the generals’ reactions and receiving their pledges of loyalty, the chancellor proposed splitting the Western Border Army, with Langu sent to monitor the dragons and Oddek remaining on the western front.

• The chancellor told Langu and Sordil that Duke Gould would hold an engagement ceremony with Diphiya and that dragons from the Cuyis Tree Sea had sent representatives to the Kingdom of Donagunov.
• Langu and Sordil each realized the other possessed intelligence that challenged his assumptions, and both considered how to undermine the other’s plans.
• The chancellor revealed that the king had summoned them to discuss how to address the dragons and the Kingdom of Donagunov as threats.
• Langu and Sordil each knelt and pledged loyalty to the king, promising their armies would serve him.
• The chancellor proposed splitting the Western Border Army, leaving Oddek on the western front while Langu redeployed the rest near the Cuyis Tree Sea.

Langu’s transfer to the Western Border Army was complicated when Sordil backed the King and Chancellor’s plan and proposed leaving Langu’s senior officers behind. The King postponed the decision until after Gould’s engagement ceremony, where the guests waited for an important arrival.

• Langu warned that transferring him could weaken the Western Border’s defenses, but Sordil used the concern to argue that Langu’s senior officers should remain behind.
• The Chancellor supported Sordil, and Belmod ruled that Langu and Sordil would compete in the training grounds after Gould’s engagement ceremony to decide the senior officers’ fate.
• The palace attendants prepared for the ceremony while Gould told Sordil that the King and Chancellor had arranged his engagement to Diphiya.
• Sordil reassured Gould, and they traveled together to the royal palace, where the Chancellor escorted them into the banquet hall.
• The nobles congratulated Gould and met Sordil, but the Chancellor did not begin the ceremony because everyone was waiting for a more important guest.