TRAVEL BETWEEN REALMS

It was early—just before dawn. The full sun had yet to rise, casting a soft golden hue over the still-sleeping city. In the distance, the faint chirping of birds marked the beginning of a new day. Each note was gentle, a reminder that even amidst chaos, every dawn brought the promise of a fresh start.

David always appreciated these quiet moments. The world, not yet stirred from slumber, gave him a rare chance to center himself. He stood by the window, drawing in a deep breath of the cool, crisp morning air. Peace settled over him like a familiar cloak, grounding him for whatever lay ahead.

Knowing the day would be long and unpredictable, he began preparing himself. He dressed quickly, his mind already spinning with thoughts of their planned visit to the Temple of Iris.

But just as he finished tying his boots, he paused.

There it was—footsteps. More than one pair. Approaching his room. Fast.

His posture stiffened, instincts sharpening like drawn blades.

Someone was coming.

David didn't want to take any chances—especially after what had happened the night before. That careless lapse, losing his father's pendant to a stranger, had already cost him enough. Quietly, he tucked the pendant beneath his shirt, hiding it close to his heart.

Inside the pendant, Albion stirred, having sensed the sudden movement. He was about to ask why—until he too heard the approaching footsteps. Multiple sets, nearing fast. He went silent at once, understanding the situation.

David moved into a ready stance near the entrance. His knees bent slightly, posture balanced—prepared to strike or defend if necessary. Under his breath, he muttered a calming mantra:

"Om Namah Shivaya."

As those words echoed in the air, David felt a surge of energy ripple through him. His mind cleared, his body tensed, and a newfound strength coursed through his veins.

After all David couldn't afford to be careless again. If someone had discovered his identity—son of Albion and Vritra, scion of one of the most powerful Empires—then an assassination attempt wasn't just possible. It was likely.

David waited.

The footsteps stopped just beyond the threshold… and then, to David surprise, came a polite knock.

Still wary, David didn't approach immediately. David circled toward the door slowly, staying in the shadows of the room where David had a clear line of attack and defense. David flicked on a torchlight beside the door, casting illumination over the entrance. If they tried anything, he wanted to see their faces first.

Luckily, this inn wasn't ordinary. It was protected—every door and wall reinforced by Hermes' divine blessings. These doors could withstand several of David's own blows if needed. And right now, he was counting on that. If this turned into a trap, the door would become his first line of defense.

He opened it just a crack and looked through.

Standing outside were several city guards—the same patrolmen who worked the streets of Argos. Their armor bore Hermes' sigil, and they stood with the casual professionalism of trained enforcers.

The lead guard, a tall man with bronze skin and silver-threaded armor, gave a respectful nod.

"Boy, do you have a minute?" the guard asked. "We're investigating the forest fire that broke out last night."

The words hit David like a thunderclap. A chill ran down his spine, and a thin layer of sweat broke across his skin. His fingers twitched involuntarily, his posture stiffening. Even his usually confident expression faltered slightly, making him look less like a proud young man and more like a nervous child caught sneaking out past curfew.

I'm going to jail, he thought grimly.

Still, he managed to summon a small, polite smile and asked with caution, "What can I do for you, sir?"

"Just a few questions," the guard replied. "And a simple verification test."

David gave a stiff nod.

"State your name, your purpose for visiting, and how many people are with you."

" Arthur "he said. "I'm here on a coming-of-age pilgrimage… and I came alone."

The guards exchanged brief glances, writing something on their enchanted scrolls.

"Have you seen any dragons acting suspiciously since arriving in the city?" the lead guard continued.

"No, sir," David said quickly, keeping his tone even and his expression innocent. "Nothing like that."

He fought to maintain his composure, keeping his nervous thoughts buried beneath a mask of calm. But he knew the truth—if they discovered he had been involved in that forest fire, things could spiral very quickly.

The guards weren't fooled by appearances. At first, they simply studied him—this silver-haired, brown-skinned, blue-eyed young man who looked no older than seventeen. To an untrained eye, he might've passed for a harmless traveler.

But these were city guards of Olympus. They had seen countless young dragons—arrogant heirs and reckless wanderers—leave home at eighteen and roam the worlds on "pilgrimages," often causing chaos wherever they went.

Behind David's youthful face, they saw potential danger.

"Witnesses report that a dragon clashed with Lord Hermes himself in the forest last night," said the captain. "We're investigating that as the likely cause of the fire."

He snapped his fingers, and another guard stepped forward, holding a glowing crystal sphere pulsing with faint magical energy.

"This is a trace analysis orb," the captain explained. "It's been attuned to the energy signature of the dragon responsible for the incident. If you'll place your hand on the orb and release a bit of your magic, it will confirm whether or not you're a match."

David's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't refuse—not without raising suspicion. But he had a plan.

Carefully, he placed his hand on the orb and channeled a small amount of his father energy into it. The sphere glowed brighter, pulsing once… twice… and then began to shift through different hues as it matched the magical signature against the recorded one.

Inside, David held his breath.

After several seconds, a result appeared.

53% match. 47% deviation. Not a full match.

The guards narrowed their eyes but said nothing immediately. They knew what this meant: David was the same type of dragon as the one responsible—but not necessarily the same individual.

The captain gave him a long look, then nodded. "same type , no doubt," he murmured to a subordinate. "But not the dragon we're looking for."

Still, just to be sure, the captain turned back to David. "We'll just ask one more questions."

David kept his breathing steady, waiting.

"What elemental type of dragon are you? And which world do you hail from?" the guard asked.

David didn't hesitate. "Lightning-type. From the Sanatan Dharma universe."

That response caught the captain off guard. His brows lifted slightly, a flicker of surprise passing over his otherwise stern face. Lightning dragons were rare—and one hailing from the Sanatan Dharma realm? Rarer still. But he said nothing. He simply noted it down without comment.

After a pause, the captain spoke once more. "If you come across any information about the dragon responsible for the forest fire, report it immediately to the city guard."

With that, he turned on his heel, and the rest of the guards followed. Their armor clinked faintly as they moved down the hallway, boots echoing against the polished stone floors of the inn.

David stood by the door, watching silently as they descended to the ground floor. He remained there until he heard the final footsteps fade away into the distance.

Only then did he let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He closed the door quietly behind him.

"That was close," a voice muttered.

"Yeah," David replied, his shoulders finally relaxing.

"Thanks for the save, Dad."

"You're welcome, brat," Albion's voice grumbled from within the pendant, though there was a trace of relief hidden beneath his usual sarcasm.

David allowed himself a small smile as he stepped away from the door and into the room's dim morning light.

For now, at least, he was safe.