Chapter 21: Is this turning enemies into friends?

“ Sister Fratina?”
Dorothy stepped toward Fratina, as if ignoring Lucia beside her, staring intently.
Fratina nodded awkwardly.
“ It’s me.”
Steeling herself, she asked, “ Dorothy, why are you here?”
“ Because…”
Dorothy started to explain but noticed Lucia’s hand on Fratina’s shoulder.
Her demeanor shifted, eyes turning fierce. She quickly pushed Lucia’s hand away and stepped protectively in front of Fratina.
“ You’re the one controlling Sister Fratina?”
She glared at Lucia, making her heart skip a beat.
But then, Fratina stepped in front of Lucia.
“ Dorothy, it’s not what you think. It’s hard to explain, but…”
Seeing Fratina defend Lucia, Dorothy looked at her in shock.
“ Sister Fratina, I didn’t believe you’d betrayed humanity, but now… were they telling the truth?”
Her expression grew cold.
“ You know why I’m here, don’t you? If you stand in my way, even you, Sister Fratina, I’ll have to defeat!”
The tension crackled.
Lucia stepped forward from behind Fratina.
“ Betraying humanity? Where does that come from?”
“ …”
Dorothy glanced at Lucia and sneered.
“ You forced Sister Fratina to become your servant, and now you’re playing dumb?”
“ Fratina is my servant, true, but does that mean I’m humanity’s enemy?”
“ Isn’t it obvious? Haven’t you done enough evil?”
“ Then tell me, what evil have I done?”
Lucia countered Dorothy’s accusations.
Dorothy thought hard but couldn’t recall any specific crimes, only knowing Lucia was labeled a vile dragon by Londe’s people.
“ You… you’ve occupied this valley, driving out Londe’s people whenever they try to enter…”
After struggling, Dorothy managed to cite this “crime.”
Lucia scoffed. “ Do you know why they want to enter? And didn’t you just say I only drove them out, not killed them?”
She turned to Fratina. “ Fratina, from what you’ve seen of me, do I seem like a cruel, bloodthirsty dragon?”
“ …”
Fratina paused, then looked at Dorothy.
“ Dorothy, I speak from the heart. Lord Lucia isn’t what the outside world claims. If anything… Londe’s leaders are the real problem.”
“ Sister Fratina!”
Dorothy’s face flushed with anger, staring at the girl.
She couldn’t fathom what spell Lucia had cast to turn a righteous Hero like Fratina into her defender.
Clenching her fists, she forced herself to calm down.
“ Fine, I won’t argue.”
Looking at Lucia, she said, “ If you claim you’re not humanity’s enemy, then release Sister Fratina. Let her go, and I’ll take my people back, staying out of your business with Londe.”
“ No.”
Lucia shook her head, rejecting Dorothy outright.
“ So you’re choosing war?”
Dorothy’s expression hardened.
Lucia’s reputation and strength were formidable, but the Papal State was the continent’s mightiest force. Fighting her would cost Lucia dearly.
Under her cloak, Lucia was sweating profusely, her steady voice only maintained by the cloak’s magic.
“ Fratina challenged me and lost. Sparing her life was mercy enough.”
“ If you want her freed, you need to offer an equal price.”
“ Then I’ll stay, and you let her go!”
Without hesitation, Dorothy offered herself in exchange.
Lucia was dumbfounded.
Not only could she not activate the contract array now, but even if she could, swapping a Hero for a Saintess was absurd.
Dorothy was strong, but Fratina was the chosen one.
“ No, you’re far less valuable than Fratina.”
For some reason, Fratina felt a warmth in her heart at those words.
Her mindset seemed to be shifting dramatically.
Dorothy, hearing the near-insult, wasn’t angered.
She agreed with Lucia’s assessment.
“ Then name your terms.”
“ …Can I ask why you’re so determined to free Fratina?”
“ Because…”
Dorothy nearly mentioned the demons’ invasion plans but, recalling their secrecy, changed course. “ Because monsters are still wreaking havoc out there. We, and the Adventurers’ Guild, need Sister Fratina’s strength.”
Lucia exhaled slightly.
‘ As long as we talk, there’s room for negotiation.’
Not only did she not know how to undo the contract, but Fratina was her only lifeline in her current state.
Letting her go was out of the question.
Dorothy frowned. “ What do you mean?”
“ I’ve been bored in this valley. If you’re willing, I could join Fratina on missions.”
“ …”
Dorothy’s mind blanked.
‘ Join her on missions?’
A Hero’s strength was already immense, but with a dragon alongside…
Dorothy couldn’t wrap her head around it.
‘ Isn’t this dragon supposed to be my enemy? Why does it feel like she’s not against humanity?’
‘ Did Sister Fratina work on her these past days, winning her over, turning an enemy into an ally?’
Looking at Fratina, Dorothy saw her equally stunned expression.
She couldn’t help but admire her.
‘ Worthy of Sister Fratina. Even in defeat, she achieved a victory greater than any battle!’
Turning an enemy into a friend was far better than destroying one.