After the lavish dinner, everyone returned to their rooms to rest.
However, Roxy and Elinalise did not return to their room.
The two stood side by side on the terrace outside the hall, leaning against the railing, silently gazing into the distance.
Night was slowly falling over the capital.
The distant lights stretched out like a galaxy, and the palace spires gleamed coldly in the moonlight.
The evening breeze swept across the terrace, ruffling Roxy's blue hair and making Elinalise's usually alluring eyes appear exceptionally serene.
They all seemed to have their own worries.
Rudeus noticed the unusual behavior of the two and went out onto the terrace.
"What's wrong?"
He glanced at the two of them.
"It's so late, aren't you resting yet?"
Elinalise remained silent for a moment, then gently shook her head.
" Rudeus, I've made up my mind."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it was unusually firm.
"Tomorrow, I will set off with the search team to the Begaritt Continent."
"But..."
Rudeus was about to speak when Roxy interrupted him.
We've made our decision.
Roxy gazed into the distance, her tone calm.
"Besides, our original goal was to find Zenith."
She turned around and looked at Rudeus.
"Even you are doing everything you can to save everyone, so what reason do we have to stay in the capital?"
"I will search and navigate the maze as I go."
"Besides, Elinalise will be traveling with me. You don't need to worry."
Rudeus did not answer immediately.
He certainly understood what Roxy meant.
Their purpose in coming to the King Dragon Kingdom was to use its power to search for the missing persons on the Begaritt Continent King Dragon Kingdom.
The search team has now been assembled, and the King Dragon Kingdom is willing to send troops to participate.
Their decision to travel together at this time was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
It's not because of the responsibility in his heart that he can't let go of.
At this moment, Elinalise also spoke up.
Zenith is my good friend.
Her gaze became unusually serious.
We've been on adventures together, we've faced life and death together.
"Now she's disappeared, while I'm stuck in the capital enjoying a peaceful life..."
She paused for a moment.
"From both a moral and logical standpoint, I should go."
One sentence silenced Rudeus completely.
He knew he had no reason to dissuade them.
Because every word they said was irrefutable.
Finally, Rudeus sighed softly.
"All right."
"Since you've made this decision after careful consideration, then go ahead."
"However, you must be careful."
"Rest assured."
Roxy revealed a faint smile.
We will come back alive.
Dusk was falling.
That night, no one brought up the topic again.
The next morning.
The city gates of the capital slowly opened.
Roxy and Elinalise set off with the search team from the King Dragon Kingdom, embarking on their journey to the Begaritt Continent.
They had only one goal on this trip --
Find those who are missing.
Even if danger lurks everywhere, even if unpredictable monsters lurk deep within the labyrinth, they will not easily stop their journey.
Meanwhile, the arrangements for Rudeus and his group had also been finalized.
Rujierd and Eris temporarily join the Black Dragon Knights.
Strictly speaking, however, neither of them actually held any important positions; they were more like special knights in name only.
Eris is occasionally invited to participate in training sessions, where she uses her amazing swordsmanship to provide practical combat guidance to the knights.
As for Rujierd, he led a small squad of knights on patrol outside the capital.
This arrangement is quite leisurely for them.
Rudeus, however, was given a real "job".
He teaches magic to a princess who is considered useless by the entire royal family and even the nobles of the capital.
Today is the day he met that princess for the first time.
Deep within the royal capital.
A maid led Rudeus through several secluded roads, finally stopping in front of a detached palace far from the main royal palace.
" Primordial God Impact, this is where the Eighteenth Princess resides."
After the maid finished speaking, she bowed her head in a gesture of respect.
"I'm leaving the rest to you."
Without pausing, she turned and left.
Rudeus stood there, looking at the palace before him, which could hardly be described as grand.
After a moment, he sighed softly.
This is hardly the palace where the princess resides!
The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, the stone steps were covered with moss, and the paint on the walls was peeling and mottled.
In the vast courtyard, there were no servants, no guards, and no nobles coming and going.
It was so quiet it was almost desolate.
This demonstrates just how dire the situation was for the eighteenth princess within the royal family.
Rudeus pushed open the palace doors.
"Squeak--"
An old, worn sound echoed in the empty courtyard.
Then, he saw that figure.
A lonely person.
She sat on a stone bench in the center of the courtyard, her hands resting quietly on her knees, her head tilted back, gazing at the sky above.
She has her signature light blue, voluminous curly hair, which sways gently in the breeze.
His pupils, the same color, were clear and indifferent.
Her delicate features were expressionless, her aloofness making her resemble a finely crafted doll forgotten in a corner.
She is Benedict Gingerdulago.
The eighteenth princess of the King Dragon Kingdom.
She was also seen as a "useless princess" by everyone.
But in Rudeus's view, what she truly lacked was perhaps never magical talent.
But he is someone who is willing to take a serious look at her.
Your Highness.
Rudeus took a few steps closer and spoke with a smile.
Good morning.
There was no response.
The girl leaned her head and looked at the sky, her gaze not even shifting slightly.
"I will be your magic teacher from now on."
Rudeus Greyrat.
"Starting today, I will teach you magic."
There has still been no response.
It was as if something more important than this world existed in that sky.
Rudeus was not angry.
There was no pressure on her.
Instead, he stood next to her.
Then, he raised his head.
The sky was a clear, deep blue.
A few fluffy white clouds drifted by slowly, and sunlight streamed down through the clouds.
Rudeus suddenly paused for a moment.
He had completely forgotten how long it had been since he had looked at the sky so intently.
The greater one's strength, the heavier the responsibility on one's shoulders.
Without realizing it, the person who used to be happy because of a cloud or a breeze seems to have drifted far away.
But at that moment, he suddenly remembered his childhood.
That feeling of not having to think about anything.
No responsibility, no pressure.
Only the sky, the sunlight, and boundless freedom.
Rudeus smiled.
The next moment.
Magic was quietly stirring.
His body slowly lifted off the ground.
The robes swayed gently in the air.
Finally, he floated into the air.
This scene finally came into the girl's view.
Benedict paused slightly.
She turned her head for the first time.
A clear emotion finally appeared in those light blue eyes.
Puzzled.
surprise.
And a barely perceptible longing.
Rudeus hovered in front of her, a gentle smile still on his face.
Do you yearn for freedom?
The girl stared at him blankly.
Do you yearn to fly to the sky?
Do you long to touch those pure white clouds with your own hands?
His voice was gentle and calm.
There was no preaching.
No command was given.
He simply extended a hand to the girl trapped in the palace.
"Sa~"
Rudeus slowly extended his hand.
"Choose?"
"Will you seize the future with your own hands, or give up everything?"
Benedict looked at the hand.
long time.
long time.
She seemed to have never been invited like this before.
Not as a princess.
Not as useless.
It was not used as a political bargaining chip.
Just as an ordinary person.
Invite her to see the sky.
Finally, she slowly raised her hand.
Slender fingers gently touched Rudeus's palm.
Then--
hold.
In an instant, magic surged.
Their bodies slowly rose into the air simultaneously.
Crossing the desolate courtyard.
They passed over the towering palace walls.
She overcame the cold stares that had bound her for years.
The girl's long, sky-blue hair fluttered in the wind.
She looked down at the receding earth, then looked up at the approaching sky.
For the first time, light shone in those eyes that were once as still as a lake.
They flew upwards.
Soaring into the clouds.
It also flies towards what that girl never truly possessed.
free.