---
Irkalla's cloak swayed behind her like wings of shadow. She strode toward Yuki and Lumi with the gait of someone who'd survived assassins, betrayal, and the weight of a dying empire—probably before breakfast.
> "You're Yuki," she said curtly. "The dragon from the forest. The one the Church fears."
> "Guilty," Yuki replied, lazily wagging his tail through a patch of charred dirt. "And you must be the angry princess who blew up three border forts and a cathedral last month?"
Irkalla didn't blink. "Four forts. And two cathedrals. But who's counting."
Lumi nudged Yuki in the ribs. "She's actually not bad once you get past the murdery vibe."
> "Says the girl who uses a hurricane as an alarm clock," Yuki muttered.
"*You* slept through an orc ambush, Yuki. I had to improvise!"
> "Anyway," Yuki said, turning to Irkalla, "we're here now. So, what's your plan for ending this charming little holy war?"
Irkalla's jaw tightened.
> "The Church has crowned a puppet emperor. My elder sister Selene has been imprisoned for refusing to kneel. The nobles are divided. Half the realm burns. I have only scattered rebels and dying allies."
She looked him dead in the eye.
> "But I have you now."
Yuki blinked.
> "Flattery won't get you a scale, princess."
Lumi smirked. "Give it time. It worked on me."
---
**Elsewhere — the Rebel Camp**
Inside a makeshift fortress of stone and spellwork, Seiris leaned over a war table, frowning as Aeiris, her now-rescued and incredibly *curious* sister, balanced upside-down on a wooden support beam behind her.
> "Seiris, are all dragons *that* shiny, or is he like a rare model?"
> "Aeiris, please, for the love of—get down before someone thinks you're possessed."
> "But he *glowed*, Sis! Like a holy disco ball!"
Sylvaeria floated beside them, sipping dew from a flower cup, completely ignoring the tension in the air. "He does glow, yes. Especially when embarrassed."
> "What?"
> "You heard nothing," Sylvaeria said quickly.
Elira, dressed in a fine dark robe now adorned with silver runes gifted by Yuki himself, entered next with a scroll of strategy in one hand and a cookie in the other. "Alright, so if we want to take the western passes, we'll need to collapse the bridge and reroute the flow of magic through the ley line underneath—"
> "COOKIE FIRST," Aeiris announced, leaping from the beam and stealing the one in Elira's hand midair.
> "HEY!"
---
**Back in the tent**
Irkalla's cold composure cracked for a moment as she entered the war tent with Yuki and Lumi—only to be met by the chaotic whirlwind of his harem.
> "...I thought you were a divine beast," Irkalla whispered to Yuki. "Not a daycare supervisor."
> "They're all highly qualified war goddesses," Yuki whispered back, "they just happen to be gremlins."
> "We heard that," Sylvaeria said sweetly.
Lumi leaned back on a chair with her feet up. "Irkalla, welcome to Team Insanity."
Elira handed her a war map. "We're still working on the name."
> "How about *Holy Temple of the Handsome Dragon God*?" Aeiris chirped.
Everyone paused.
Yuki facepalmed. "Do not encourage her."
> "Too late," Selene said softly, walking into the tent at last—her golden hair tied into a high imperial braid, now free thanks to a secret rescue effort. "The High Priestess already agreed."
Irkalla turned, eyes wide. "S-Selene?"
The two sisters stared at each other—one flame, one sunlight. A beat passed.
Then a slap echoed through the tent.
> "THAT'S for locking me in a gilded tower!" Selene yelled.
> "YOU WERE TRYING TO MARRY A PRIEST!"
> "HE WAS A NICE PRIEST!"
> "HE HAD A GOD COMPLEX!"
> "SO DO I!"
The room froze.
Then, from behind the tent wall, Aeiris whispered to Seiris, "Are all princesses this fun?"
> "No," Seiris whispered back. "Ours are just…special."
---
**To Be Continued…**