CHAPTER 1041: AGREEING

The chamber fell silent for a long while, the frost-ridden walls echoing only the faint sound of their breaths.

Krono and Eccar waited patiently, their eyes kept looking steady on the Ice Dragon.

Krono had already said what needed to be said and now it was her turn. Her decision would determine whether this meeting ended in unity, or not.

Both of them could only hope she chose the former.

"I’ve hidden myself long enough until now," the Ice Dragon finally said, her voice calm but guarded. "So I think I’ll be fine."

Krono shook his head slowly, his tone heavy with certainty.

"No. You’re not hearing me. This entity is beyond even my capability as a Time Dragon. I can’t use my power to foresee what they will do next."

That silenced her again. Her silver eyes flickered as though she weighed his words carefully.

Then she sighed, the sound soft and tired, forming a thin mist in the frigid chamber.

She didn’t want to be bothered. Her whole existence here proved that. But the question gnawed at her. Could she really face something like that alone? The thought unsettled her because she also didn’t want to die or be manipulated into destroying something.

And she couldn’t bring herself to believe these two were lying. They had no reason to do that.

The pressure of Krono’s presence, the steadiness in his voice, and the frustration barely restrained in Eccar’s eyes all looked honest. And if even the Time Dragon admitted his power could not pierce this entity’s veil then it was truly dangerous.

After another long pause, her voice broke the stillness again, carrying a faint edge of annoyance. "After this... what should we do next?"

Krono leaned forward slightly. "So you want to work together?"

"I don’t really," she answered flatly. "But I don’t think I have a choice. When we defeat this thing, I can return to my peaceful life again and not be bothered by anything."

Eccar’s brows furrowed, and before he could stop himself, the words left his mouth. "But really... what makes you want to keep living like this?"

Her eyes shifted toward him, cold and distant. "I just want to live alone. Away from everything. Mostly I want to avoid beings with intelligence. Because they are the ones who can betray me, use me, and hurt me again."

Her tone was even, but her eyes showing the weight of memory as if scenes that were long buried replayed behind her eyes again.

Eccar clenched his jaw and said nothing more. He knew he couldn’t push further.

Whatever cruelties she had endured must have been deep enough to drive her into solitude for so long.

But instead of becoming twisted or lashing out at the world, she had chosen silence and peace.

To Eccar, that showed the strength of her heart. He could only respect that choice.

"Alright," Krono said, his calm voice pulling them back. "I think this is good enough. Now that you’ve agreed to help us, we need to move to another world. There’s another Dragonborn we must convince."

The Ice Dragon frowned, her silence stretching again.

Then she finally spoke with sharp tone and with realization. "So it’s your plan all along."

"Yes," Krono replied without hesitation.

She sighed long and helpless, then lowered her gaze. "Whatever. I will join you for this quest but then leave me alone when it’s done."

"I promise," Krono said firmly.

The Ice Dragon leaned back, then muttered, "Give me clothes."

Eccar wasn’t surprised. He had already guessed the reason she wore her scales fully was not just for defense. Living alone in this frozen sanctuary, she had no use for garments at all.

Krono shifted and opening the scales over his waist. Reaching into his robe, he pulled out a folded set of Elven clothes he had taken from the kingdom. It was just a simple green and brown attire, practical and finely made.

She stood, taking the clothes from his hand without another word, and moved to the far side of the chamber.

Minutes passed, the sound of fabric rustling faintly behind the icy partitions.

When she returned, her silver hair shimmered against the soft glow of the chamber and the Elven clothes fit her slender frame perfectly.

The green and brown contrasted her pale white hair and skins, softening her cold imposing presence just slightly.

Eccar released a quiet breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

"This convincing is not too hard after all,"

he thought, relief spreading faintly through him. Convincing her could have ended in disaster, but it hadn’t.

They walked together toward the frozen cavern’s mouth and stepped out into the open sky.

The cold air rushed past as they spread their wings. The Ice Dragon’s crystalline wings glimmering like shards of frozen glass.

With a single beat, they soared into the mist.

The clouds parted beneath their flight, streams of vapor curling around their bodies as they pierced through the endless white veil.

Below, the earth stretched wide showing patches of ground and scattered evergreen trees.

Finally, they descended, their wings folding as their feet struck solid ground once more.

The Ice Dragon let her wings vanish.

She turned her silver gaze toward the massive red giant waiting there. His single eye studied her carefully, a mix of wariness and relief shining there.

"It must be you," she said, her voice cool but not hostile. "You are the one who told them about my home."

The red giant shifted uneasily, scratching the side of his head with a finger the size of a spear.

"They said you’re their friend," he rumbled, his tone carrying a hint of confusion. "Did I... make a mistake?"

For a moment, her lips curved into the faintest of smiles, softening her sharp presence. "No. It’s okay."

The red giant blinked, caught off guard by her answer, his expression easing into a relieved grin.

From the side, two Elves—Lyrel and Caelthar—stood frozen in place, their eyes wide as they stared at the Ice Dragon.

Her silver hair glowed faintly in the open air, her aura carrying the weight of something ancient and untouchable.

Neither of them had ever seen this Dragon who lived in their world up close.

Caelthar swallowed hard, unable to tear his eyes away. "She’s... real." he muttered.

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