Chapter 3

• She feels the water tingling her whole body. She notices herself. “Water is a reflection of who we truly are.” She recalls Atlas’s words.
• She hadn’t had the time to savor this—being a human. She brushes her fingers along her curves, feeling the smoothness of her skin.
• She missed this—the sensuality of it all.
• And above all, her mind is her own. Until now, her thoughts and memories were shared with Dark, something that she used to enjoy. But Dark grew cold, more like a God, weary of her thoughts. And she kept missing her previous life, feeling as if her light was going to fade.
• She wears a layered silk dress in pale jade and white. The sleeves are long and loose, the waist wrapped with an embroidered sash tied at the back. Golden patterns line the fabric—dragons and branches.
• And while alone in her room, with only the door balcony open—the breeze stirs the curtains—she feels like she isn’t alone, catching a glimpse of a shadow lingering just outside.
• Is it her mind playing tricks, or she is being watched?
• Kaelith’s words play in her mind, wondering why he would hate her, even though he doesn’t even know her. He wasn’t born when she walked the human realm, yet his contempt reminds her of someone else…
• She hears a knock on the door.
• “Mrs… Dragon…” the man mumbles as he tries to find the correct way to address her.
• “You can call me Leo—”
• “Light, right,” the man completes her sentence, not the way she expected him to. “The king wishes for you to dine with his family.”
• Entering the throne room, she is mesmerized by the beauty the room holds. Tall chandeliers, paintings of battles fought in the Dragon age and the new era that began decorating the walls.
• The family is there, the king sitting in the middle, with Serika on his right and Irelith on his left. And there he is, Kaelith sitting next to his sister. She can sense his burning gaze—a man that would kill her if he had the chance.
• Everyone stands and she decides to take the seat next to the queen.
• “Thank you Light. It is an honor to have you dine amongst us. Truly, this day will go down in history!” the king announces.
• She awkwardly takes a sip of her wine, leaving a bubbling taste to her throat. She then tastes the meat that melts inside her mouth. “I have forgotten how amazing everything is… or the hunger that comes with having this body.”
• Kaelith lets out a dry chuckle.
• “Something you wish to say?” Leona responds through gritted teeth.
• His eyes narrow. “Nothing that concerns you.”
• The king clears his throat, a signal for him to stop. “How are things in Paradise?”
• Kaelith cuts his dinner with too much force, the knife screeching against the plate. Everyone jolts in their seats, but Leona remains still—unbothered.
• “Everything seems to be alright,” she says vaguely.
• “Yes, if you don’t count this world,” Kaelith snaps.
• “That’s enough of you!” Serika shouts, a vein pulsates on her forehead. Kaelith tries to stand and leave. “Sit down!” the king commands and he has no choice but to do as he says.
• “I—it’s alright,” Leona says, trying to defuse the tension. “If he wishes to leave—”
• “He can't,” the king responds. “You wish to investigate the anomaly?”
• “Yes,” she says.
• He gulps down his wine. “Her name is Aelira. She has just come of age. She is located in the kingdom of Nora.”
• “From the Sun Dynasty?” she asks.
• “T—the Sun Dynasty is long gone,” Irelith informs her.
• “W—what? When? How?” Leona stutters.
• “They enslaved you and all the Dragons. They kept the biggest force ever seen. Without the Dragons, no one was there to protect them, and no one really wanted them in power,” Irelith reveals and Leona feels her world shaking.
• “Why didn’t Atlas tell us this?” she wonders as anger builds inside.
• “Good riddance, I’ll say,” Serika sneers as she looks at Kaelith.
• “This isn’t how it happened—”
• “No need to linger on the past,” Ryuzen interrupts her. “We were planning to send one of our own to investigate, until we heard of your arrival.”
• Kaelith shifts in his seat, clearly uncomfortable.
• “My son is tasked to do so,” the king continues.
• Leona looks at the prince who she knows won’t agree to this. “No need. I can go on my own.”
• “Nonsense. You’ll need an escort, someone to protect you,” the king insists.
• “With all due respect, I don’t need protection,” she responds.
• “The magic that bloomed after you left is in the league of a demi-God. Besides, you are in a human form, you might not be as powerful,” Irelith adds.
• Before she can respond, Kaelith says, “Fight me. If you end up defeating me, then you can travel on your own.”
• The king slams his hand on the table. “What are you doing?! Do you know the wrath Atlas will inflict on us if—”
• “I accept.”
• Everyone turns their heads, making sure they heard right.
• —***—
• Leona steps onto the training floor, breath steady, wooden sword in hand. Kaelith is already waiting, stance relaxed, eyes cold—too cold.
• “Ready?” he asks, though it sounds more like a challenge.
• Their blades meet with a sharp crack. She pushes forward, quick footwork, trying to catch him off guard. He circles her instead, every step a quiet tease.
• Another strike—he blocks, their bodies close for a heartbeat. His breath brushes her cheek. She stiffens, refusing to flinch.
• He smirks. “Distracted?”
• She swings harder, forcing him back. It’s fast, tight, almost like a dance.
• She presses in, but her strength falters—just a flicker. Her grip slips.
• Kaelith sees it.
• In one clean motion, he hooks her blade, twists, and knocks the sword from her hand. It clatters to the floor. She stumbles, breathing sharply.
• His sword stops at her collarbone—close enough to feel the wood against her skin.
• He leans in, voice low. “That’s your limit.”
• She can’t catch her breath. Not from the fight—something else.
• His eyes linger on her for a bit too long. Then he steps back, turning back to indifferent.
• She tilts her head. “It was you in my room, wasn’t it?”
• Her words wipe the smile off his face. “I won, Leona.”
• Her breath catches—he is the only person that has called her by her human name.
• “I know you don’t wish to travel with me, why do you insist?” She grabs his arm, preventing him from leaving.
• He turns slowly to face her and she notices his face is flustered. “If I leave now, I’ll regret it. Happy?”
• As he disappears from sight, she’s left with nothing but confusion of what his words mean.
• —***—
• She slowly walks behind Irelith that is leading the way. They enter a small cavern-like construction and at the end of it, the space opens into a vast cave. Leona notices tombs lined up with candles lit on each one.
• “This is where my ancestors lie,” Irelith whispers.
• Leona watches in awe as they pass by, seeing the names engraved on each one.
• “Did you let Kaelith win?” the princess asks.
• “I’m sorry?” she says, acting as if she doesn’t understand her question. But Kaelith won fair, and she has been questioning all this time why her powers failed her.
• Irelith turns to face her. “There’s no way my brother won—he wasn’t even wielding a spirit weapon.”
• “A spirit—what?” Leona wonders.
• “I’m sorry, a lot has changed. He belongs to the Arkan Brotherhood. When the Dragons were gone, chaos fell into the land,” she explains. “A wandering master discovered a method of channeling inner life-force into physical combat. He took in abandoned children, teaching them to survive with dignity rather than violence. The brotherhood was born in secrecy, far from kingdoms and politics.”
• “So basically, he is the opposite of what the Dragon Warriors were,” Leona responds. “They serve no crown.”
• “Something like that. They are very honorable people,” Irelith continues.
• “And why would your brother train with orphans?” Leona wonders.
• “That’s none of your business.” Kaelith appears, sucking the air out of the room.
• “I didn’t mean—”
• “Save it,” he interrupts her.
• Irelith tries to defuse the tension. “Anyway, here we are.”
• At the end of the hall, a tomb is placed in a small room, away from the others. Carefully, Leona enters. She gasps as her eyes meet Aryan’s burial place and a statue made in his image.
• She feels her feet trembling as she gazes upon him. She never got to say goodbye. The last thing she remembers is Aryan’s voice breaking as he begged her not to leave.
• Irelith and Kaelith wait just outside, giving her space.
• She falls on her knees, unable to hold her body straight any longer. Her breath comes in sharp, broken gasps. Then it breaks entirely.
• She folds forward, forehead to the earth. Her fingers dig into the dirt. She drags her nails through it again and again until the skin splits and blood stains the earth.
• Tears fall hard, her whole body trembling.
• She doesn’t think she would feel this way—as if someone is ripping her heart from her chest.
• The tomb stands silent. And then this hollow sensation takes over; Everyone she loved is gone, she is all alone.
• As she continues sobbing in silence, Kaelith peeks carefully. What he sees isn’t a cruel God, but a human heart. He holds his breath, reaching with his hand, only to quickly withdraw it.
• And all he feels is the need to wrap his arms around her and help her breathe again.