The smell of burning leaves filled the air, and Dad and I suddenly remembered the fire that had started earlier. Our hearts raced as we worked together, spending nearly an hour putting it out. We were tired but relieved.
We walked back to Axon's house, the humanoid cat who was our client. He looked at us with wide eyes as we explained about the Land Crawler, not just a normal critter.
"I'm sorry for putting you through such a difficult quest," Axon said, concern in his eyes. "Are you both okay?"
"I'm fine," I replied, "but Dad's injured."
Axon smiled, inviting us in, and that's when we met her – Agnes, a little girl a bit older than my sister Illyanna. She had long blue hair, blue eyes, and a fair complexion. She looked human, but something about her reminded me of Lucianna, my close friend, who was an Aasimar.
I noticed that Dad and Agnes seemed to know each other, their handshake filled with familiarity. When it was my turn to greet her, she became shy and timid, leaving my hand hanging in the air.
"Agnes is very shy with strangers," Dad explained.
"Are you the Agnes from the bedtime stories?" I asked, curiosity filling me. "The powerful young druid from the Enchanted Forest of Alice?"
Agnes's eyes widened, and she stammered, "There's a bedtime story about me?"
She didn't look at me or shake my hand, just sipping her tea. But then, suddenly, she shook my hand, introducing herself as Agnes.
I sat next to her, my heart filled with excitement. "It's an honor to meet a legend in real life," I said, smiling.
Agnes blushed, all fidgety, and whispered, "It's nothing."
But I knew it was something special. I had met a real legend, and maybe, just maybe, she could become a friend like Lucianna. And that thought made the whole adventure feel even more magical.
"Dad's hurt," I said, looking at Agnes with wide, pleading eyes. "Can you heal him, please?"
Agnes softly smiled and nodded. "Not a problem, Max."
Dad chuckled. "She's done this a couple of times in the past."
"In the past?" I asked, curious.
Dad's eyes sparkled as he explained. "During my adventuring times, I was in a party with your mom, Laussinna, Agnes, and Matterinna. That's how I fell in love with your mom."
My eyes lit up in amazement. "So, Agnes, you've been fighting since you were a toddler?"
Agnes looked down, her voice soft. "I'm cursed with immortality." She refused to talk about it more, and I quickly said I was sorry.
Agnes stood up, revealing a beautiful blue and white dress with a black cloak that swayed gently as she moved towards Dad. Her arms outstretched, channeling soft, white mana that flowed like snowflakes.
"Restoration of Physical Wounds," she whispered.
I was amazed, having never seen healing magic before. So, that's what Restoration was.
Seconds later, Dad was fully healed. He thanked Agnes and ruffled her hair, making her blush and mutter, "I'm not a little child."
But to me, she was something even more special. A real-life legend and now, a connection to my parents' past. I smiled, feeling a warmth inside, knowing that this was a moment I'd never forget.
"Dad," I stammered, my eyes wide with shock. "Why is Agnes here?"
Dad turned to Agnes, his brows furrowed. "Agnes, what brings you here? To meet Axon?"
Agnes looked at us, her eyes soft and kind. "The birds whispered to me of your whereabouts. I came to meet Axon so I could find you."
"The birds whispered to you?" I blurted out, amazed at the idea.
Her eyes narrowed, and her voice was filled with anger. "Yes, the birds told me. Are you mocking me for choosing to become a druid?"
"I'm not mocking!" I protested, my heart pounding. "I'm just amazed at how useful and cool that ability is!"
Agnes's face softened, and she apologized. "I'm sorry, Max. I misunderstood."
She went on to explain that for several days, birds and butterflies had been bringing her alarming news. At first, she thought they were mistaken, but the message was consistent.
"What was it, Agnes?" Dad asked, his voice steady.
"The animals report that a necromancer will rise again, spreading darkness throughout the lands. Someone who recently walks the path of Dragon's Road," Agnes replied, her voice filled with concern.
Dad choked on his saliva, turning to look at me. My heart froze. I was the one who had recently chosen to walk the Dragon's Road.
"Max, Antrodos, do you have any idea who that might be?" Agnes asked, her eyes wide with fear.
I shook my head, my voice trembling. "No, I have no idea."
Dad followed suit, echoing my words. "Same as Max."
We sat in silence, the weight of the news pressing down on us. A necromancer? The Dragon's Road? What did it all mean?
I looked at Agnes, her timid and kind face now filled with determination. She was here to help us, and I knew that together we would face whatever was coming.
My insecurities were still there, but with my family and friends by my side, I felt a newfound courage. The path ahead was uncertain, but we would walk it together.
My heart pounded in my chest as I looked around the room, uncertainty gnawing at me. I knew that being honest now could make a real difference, and if it were true that I was destined to become evil one day, I needed to prevent it.
The room seemed to shrink as I stood up, my legs feeling weak but determined. I could see my father, Antrodos, sitting across from me, his stoic face showing concern, while Agnes's gentle eyes watched me. The light from the lamp cast a warm glow over the room, highlighting the well-worn furniture and the soft, comfortable chairs.
I took a deep breath in, letting it out slowly, trying to clear away my nervous nature. "Agnes," I finally said, my voice trembling. "I've recently been chosen to walk Dragon's Road."
Her eyes widened for a moment, but then her face brightened, and she looked proud. "It doesn't surprise me to find out that Antrodos' and Laussinna's child walks Dragon's Road."
"What do you mean?" I asked, confusion sweeping over me.
Dad's hand twitched, and he quickly tried to interrupt Agnes, but she was persistent. Her face was firm, and her voice was gentle as she spoke. "Antrodos, you should tell Max the truth. He needs to understand himself more."
My heart skipped a beat. "What's wrong?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
I saw Dad's face pale, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to find the courage to speak. He looked at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of love and fear, but he was unable to say the words.
Agnes stepped in, her voice filled with compassion and strength. "Max," she finally said, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. "Antrodos is a demon, and Laussinna is an angel."
The room went silent, and I felt as if the floor had dropped out from under me. I stared at Agnes, then at Dad, my mind reeling.
Dad's face was filled with pain, his eyes lowered. I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands clenched the armrests of his chair.
"Is it true?" I whispered, my voice filled with disbelief.
Dad looked up, his eyes meeting mine, and I saw the truth in them.
"Yes, Max," he said, his voice filled with sorrow. "It's true."
I sank back into my chair, the room spinning around me. A demon and an angel. My parents. Me.
The truth was overwhelming, and I knew that my life had just changed forever. But in the midst of the shock, I also felt a sense of understanding, a connection to something greater.
I looked at Agnes, her face filled with kindness and wisdom, and I knew that she was here to help me. To guide me.
I wasn't alone. I had my family, my friends, and a path that I was destined to walk.
The Dragon's Road.
I felt a chill run down my spine as Agnes looked at me, her blue eyes filled with a strange intensity. "Max," she asked, her voice soft and gentle, "do you know what would be created when an angel and a demon mated?"
I could only sway my head, my mind still reeling from the revelation. I looked at my father, Antrodos, who sat nearby, his usually stoic face showing a hint of emotion.
"A dragon would be born," he said, his voice firm yet kind, his eyes meeting mine.
Shock rippled through me, and my heart pounded in my chest. "A-a dragon?" I stammered, disbelief in my voice.
Agnes nodded, her eyes softening. "You haven't simply been chosen to walk the path of a dragon, Max," she explained, her voice filled with warmth. "You *are* a biological dragon."
"An angel mixed with a demon creates a dragon?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"Yes," Agnes replied, her face serious. "But you must understand, the chance of a dragon being born is extremely low. The Divine Ones intended the number of dragons that exist in the world to be extremely rare."
"Why?" I asked, curiosity and confusion mixing within me.
Agnes leaned forward, her hands folded in her lap, her blue and white dress swaying gently. "Dragons are extremely powerful, Max," she said, her voice filled with wisdom. "They can drive the course of history. Depending on the dragons, they could lead the future to a better path."
My father's face tightened, and he added, his voice filled with nervous tension, "Or cause the end of the world."
The room went silent, the weight of their words settling over me. I looked at Agnes, her face filled with concern, and then at my father, his strong hands gripping the arms of his chair.
I was a dragon. A creature of legend and power. A being that could shape the future.
The realization was both terrifying and exhilarating. My mind raced with questions, my emotions a whirlwind of excitement and fear.
But as I looked at Agnes and my father, I knew that I had their support and guidance. I wasn't alone on this journey.
I was ready to embrace my destiny, to walk the path of the dragon, and to discover what it truly meant to be a child of an angel and a demon.
I was ready to become who I was meant to be.