Determined to continue her assault, the dragon rushes, sword in hand. It is certainly no ordinary sword, evidenced by its glowing blue hilt and bright blue blade taller than most men. The colossal weapon appears sizeable and heavy, but the swordswoman swings it with ease. In a panicked, self-defensive state, Ithaca frantically blocks with her own blade. “Urgh! S-stop! I’m not your enemy!” Feeling incredibly outmatched, she pleads with the attacker to cease, lest the situation escalate past the point of no return. The dragoness, unfazed, snaps back, “You’re wasting your breath. The townsfolk warned me about bandits in these woods!” Ithaca attempts to clarify the misunderstanding, “Bandit? No! I’m-“ Alas, she is cut short as she finds herself cornered.

After their short scuffle, Ithaca reiterates, trying to get through to the familiar face, “*GASP* G-get a hold of yourself, Chi-Chi! It’s me…Ithaca!” A nickname she hadn’t used in a long while, but hopefully one that would spark even a vague memory. “Don’t you remember?” She lowers her guard and sets her weapon aside. While looking the dragoness dead in the eye, she points to her insignia. “Look at me, Zenchi!” Under her left eye, she is engraved with a stylized “I” insignia, a memory of her childhood home. And with that revelation, something finally clicked. “Wait a second…no…it can’t be…that insignia means…”

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