The baby cooed again, her innocent joy contrasting sharply with the weight of the tragedy surrounding her birth. The man pressed his forehead to hers, a single tear sliding down his cheek. "I swear on your mother's memory, little one," he whispered, "I will protect you, no matter what."
"Master, what should we do? If others learn of this, the entire world would be thrown into chaos. Some will try to kidnap her, others will seek to kill her and use her body for their own agenda," one of the maids said coldly, her voice tinged with urgency.
Eric Danjul's eyes darkened, his expression steely. "Keep this a secret. Lock down my entire castle. For one hundred years, no one outside these walls shall see my granddaughter. Only those I trust will be allowed near her. Is that understood? Anyone who dared to betray my order shall be killed immediately," His tone was cold.
"Yes, Master. We will follow your orders," the maids replied in unison, bowing deeply.
Eric's gaze softened as he looked at the infant in his arms, her cosmic eyes shining innocently. "I shall name you Melina. From this day forward, you are Melina Danjul, of the Danjul Dragon family. Granddaughter of the First Elder of the Devouring Dragon Sect." A small smile played on his lips as the baby cooed happily.
---
A century passed like a fleeting moment for beings of their kind. Melina, now appearing as a spirited teenager, darted through the castle gardens, a juicy peach in hand. Her long, shimmering hair and her horns, adorned with cosmic patterns, gave her an ethereal presence. She leaped from a tree with effortless grace, her laughter filling the air.
"It's my hundredth birthday!" she exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over. "Maybe Grandpa will finally let me go outside!"
With a determined grin, she sprinted towards her grandfather's quarters. Her steps were light, but her heart was pounding with anticipation. Without hesitation, she pushed the grand doors open.
"Grandpa!" she called out.
Eric Danjul looked up from a stack of documents, his sharp features softening slightly at the sight of her. "Yes, Melina? What is it this time?"
"I want to go to the outside world!" she declared, her voice brimming with excitement.
Eric frowned, his expression turning serious. "Why?"
Melina huffed, crossing her arms. "Because, Grandpa Eric, I want to see the world! I hate staying cooped up in here all the time! I'm not a baby anymore!"
Eric raised a brow, leaning back in his chair. "You have everything you could possibly need here. What more could you want?"
"It's so boring!" Melina groaned dramatically, throwing her hands up.
"Seriously, Melina?"
"Yes, I'm serious, Grandpa!" she insisted, her bright eyes sparkling with determination.
Eric sighed, his stern demeanor cracking ever so slightly. "I'll think about it."
"Okay!" she chirped, a wide smile spreading across her face.
As she turned to leave, a faint chuckle escaped her lips. "So I'm really in another world, huh?" she whispered to herself, her mind swirling with memories.
They had returned to her suddenly, a flood of images and emotions from a life long past. She remembered who she was before this.
The rain hammered down relentlessly, its icy touch seeping through her clothes and chilling her to the bone. The hard, cold floor beneath her offered no comfort, only a biting reminder of her reality. Darkness wrapped around her like an oppressive cloak, isolating her from the vibrant world she once belonged to. Her lips trembled as she tried to form a word, but her voice was a prisoner of the silence. Even the smallest movement was denied to her as her body, numb and frail, refused to obey.
The rancid stench of garbage wafting from nearby bins was her only anchor to consciousness, a harsh reminder that she was still alive. Raindrops cascaded over her face, mingling with the dirt and streaking over her hazel eyes, which glimmered faintly behind strands of damp, tousled hair. Her thin body was covered in mud, and she curled into herself, trembling, fighting against the cold that seemed determined to snuff out what little warmth she had left. In that moment, she resembled a lone ant defying an unrelenting storm, fragile but stubborn in her resistance.
After what felt like an eternity, fatigue set in, and she forced herself to her feet. Each step was a monumental effort as she trudged toward the place she called home. It wasn't much—just an unremarkable, crumbling building hidden on the outskirts of the city. Unlike the towering skyscrapers of glass and steel that glittered in the distance, this structure was plain, almost forgotten, and could house no more than fifteen people at a time. Yet, it was her sanctuary.
As she drew closer, the familiar aroma of home drifted through her memories. A faint smile graced her lips as she closed her eyes, letting the thought wrap around her like a warm blanket. She clung to the vision in her mind—a vivid world filled with laughter and life.
She pictured the faces of young children, their eyes sparkling with joy as they played in a vibrant yard bursting with color. Their laughter was infectious, and their smiles were genuine, radiating warmth that pierced through her gloom. Behind them, the scene was alive with flowers swaying in a gentle breeze, the sun casting golden rays over everything.