Russell lightly touched the green leaf mark on the back of his hand and saw the Free Ancient Dragon Saiban transform into a wisp of wind that wrapped around him.
In an instant, light and shadow shifted, and he appeared in the Starlight Grand Duchy, atop the ruined Starlight Volcano.
There was no sound, not the slightest ripple.
The wisp of wind around him transformed back into the adorable form of an Elf Dragon. "Wherever there is wind, I can go."
Just as the Free Ancient Dragon had been born in silence, it transported Russell in the same silent manner. There was no grand, earth-shaking spectacle, nor did it alert anyone other than Russell.
Freedom was not noisy; the collective was naturally unified.
"This feeling is incredible, Saiban. Now I believe you truly are an Ancient Dragon!" Russell praised. "You, Ice Cream, Dalimu—three Ancient Dragons, plus me. Even if the Eternal Seven Elders attacked, I'd be confident of defeating them!"
Riding Sacred Unicorn Polly and bringing Saiban with him, he swiftly flew toward the foot of Starlight Volcano, where over a hundred thousand Starlight Remnants were farming.
Their lives had returned to the way they had been before the volcano went dormant.
Quiet and peaceful.
"Ah, His Majesty Russell!" Russell's arrival immediately drew cries of surprise from the Starlight Remnants, who promptly knelt and bowed.
"Please rise." Russell raised a hand in a gesture of support, then instructed the remnants' steward to gather everyone. "I once said that as long as you hold hope in your hearts, hope will surely exist and arrive."
He pointed at Saiban beside him. "And now is the moment hope arrives!"
All the Starlight Remnants held their breath.
They did not know Saiban's identity, but merely seeing Saiban's breathtaking form told them that this tiny