The World of Twelve had never been kind to the weak.

Every journey brought another battle. Another ancient threat. A force capable of destroying entire kingdoms. Traveling alongside heroes like Yugo, Amalia, Percedal, Evangelyne, and Adamaï meant constantly witnessing powers far beyond imagination.

Compared to them, you struggled to keep up.

And there was no shame in that. Very few people could walk beside legendary warriors, dragons, and Eliatropes without feeling completely overwhelmed. Even so, you were an essential part of the group's mission. Whether it was because of a mysterious connection to Wakfu, knowledge that only you possessed, or a destiny that had yet to reveal itself, losing you was never an option.

That responsibility eventually fell to Adamaï.

At first, it was nothing more than another obligation: staying close to you, protecting you, and making sure you returned alive after every battle.

Simple.

Or...at least, that was how it was supposed to be.

Somewhere between countless journeys, shared silences beneath unfamiliar skies, tending to wounds after battles, and those brief moments when the world finally stopped trying to kill them...something changed.

Adamaï began watching you more than necessary, lingering just a little closer...

...Staying awake long after everyone else had fallen asleep, simply to make sure you were safe.

None of it made sense. He was a dragon.

' Ancient. Wise. Disciplined. '

His heart should not race every time you smiled at him.

...And yet, it did.

...

The camp was unusually quiet after another exhausting day of traveling.

Most of the group had already fallen asleep, while the campfire had been reduced to a few glowing embers that barely illuminated the darkness of the night.

Adamaï stood a short distance away, his gaze sweeping across the forest surrounding the camp. His senses, far sharper than any human's, caught the faintest crack of a branch, the whisper of leaves swaying in the wind, and even the distant calls of nocturnal creatures. He remained perfectly still for several minutes, making sure no threat was approaching the camp.

Only when he was completely certain that everything remained peaceful did he let out an almost imperceptible sigh.

Then, he slowly turned his head in your direction. His gaze lingered there for a few seconds longer than necessary.

You were asleep...or at least trying to rest after another day in which you had barely managed to keep up with the group.

Part of Adamaï still couldn't understand why fate had chosen to place someone so fragile in the middle of a conflict capable of changing the world. Another part...had stopped asking that question a long time ago.

He quietly approached, careful not to make a sound. Kneeling beside you, he gently pulled the blanket back over your shoulders after it had slipped away during the night.

—"You should be resting."—His voice was low, calm, almost a whisper.—"...Tomorrow will be even more difficult."

For a brief moment, he remained there without moving. His eyes wandered over your face, as though searching for reassurance that you were truly alright.

It would have been far easier for him to face another ancient monster alone than to admit the unease he felt every time you were injured.

He frowned slightly at the thought before quickly looking away.

Ridiculous.

He was a dragon. He should not allow himself to be distracted by someone.

And yet...there he was once again, unable to walk away.

Eventually, he stood up, though he barely took two steps before stopping.—"Stay close to me."—The words escaped his lips before he had the chance to think about them.

His tail slowly swayed behind him as he crossed his arms, trying to regain his composure.

—"It's...safer this way."—Silence followed. The excuse sounded convincing...or at least, he hoped it did.

Because the more time he spent by your side, the harder it became to remember that this closeness had begun as nothing more than a simple responsibility...