The flames slithered like snakes, ascending into the grey sky. The black clouds hovered in anticipation, lilac thunder hidden inside the foamy mass. It seemed to rain soon. The white snow and the crimson fire were so profound that they swallowed the granite graves of the ancestors. The House of Ingrid's graveyard lay barren, with a single pyre engulfing the trees, the winds, and everything that came in its way. Just like the man that lay burning in this fire, his body turning into ash.

The pyre was so colossal, with hundreds of dry logs collected in the span of half a year for the preparation of winters. The flames would not die so soon, they would dance in this wasteland for the next three days.

I sighed, my gaze fixed on the pyre, although the heat did not burn my eyes, I could still feel tears welling in them. It was the first time I would feel the sensation of water falling from my eyes.

I shifted my feet uneasily away from its all-consuming strength. My face felt dry and cracked like a porcelain doll, brows were creased with lines. Tears welled and dried in my eyes but I dared not spill them on the snow… I was determined to not show them my emotions and especially not to that man.

"She could not even cry? Her husband died because of her!"

"What use is a dragon when it could not even protect us? The first prince and the Duke died because of her ego!"

"Last Dragon of the Dragon Spire was just as useless as her clan…."

Hadrian…They were right, I was just as useless as a rock on the road. The lines of sorrow and anger blurred in my heart as I took all my resentment out on you. But now that you are gone…I cannot help but miss you.

My family died and I was imprisoned in a gilded cage. Like a bird, I was let out only when it was time for my marriage. How can I not be angry? How can I not consider you my enemy? The warier I became of you the more I lost a piece of mine. I was alone in this world with nothing but fond memories that ceased to exist all of a sudden. I was just like the ice my clan dwelled on.

"You died for people who only used you, dear husband," I whispered, my voice only audible to me. I wanted to repeat the fact aloud- you died a worthless death for people who did not deserve you.

In this war against brothers, you took a side that everyone knew will lose. You said it was because you loved your friend.

Then why?... Why did you take my side, fought this macabre battle in my stead? For a useless dragon who could use her mysterious powers. Why make me realize that you were by my side all along, just as broken as me, and carrying my sins on your shoulder?

"Pl-ease c-ome back!" I gasped, choking on my words.

The last dragon of this world was left alone once again.