At the front lines of the underground caves, inside the command tent.
Earls, barons, lords, and several provincial governors were continuously discussing the gains from the battlefield over the past two days.
Russell stood with several young knights. They were either second sons of noble families or sons of lords—the second sons had to contribute to their families and therefore had to go to war, while the sons of lords likewise needed battlefield merit.
It was a small circle.
Without question, Russell was one of the few at the center of this circle, faintly receiving flattery from the others.
"Have any of you seen a dragon?" a lord's son asked excitedly in a low voice.
"I have." The speaker was Kunspe Sunflower, the Swan Baron's second grandson. His older brother had not come; he had gone to war alongside his father and grandfather. "But the dragon was still asleep at the time."
"Weren't you afraid when you saw the dragon?"
"What was there to fear? We knights are all apostles of dragons. Dragons wouldn't harm us!" Kunspe said arrogantly. He was fairly handsome, but his long, narrow brows gave him a somewhat sinister air.
"Lord Russell, have you seen a dragon?" the lord's son could not help asking again.
Russell answered calmly, "No."
"Neither have I."
"Yes, I know."
Kunspe cast the lord's son a sidelong glance. "What are you getting so excited about? You'll see the dragon soon enough."
Another lord's son laughed softly. "If I can fight shoulder to shoulder with a dragon, my life will have been worth it!"
"Dragon's Gaze, Dragon's Gaze. My mother talks about Dragon's Gaze every day. Now, I'll finally receive a dragon's gaze."
"Oh, please. The dragon won't even spare you a glance."
"Maybe none of us will get even a glance.