"The guards led me through the dark corridors of the palace until we reached a heavy door. One of them pushed the door with a squeaky noise, revealing the room coldly. Its walls were adorned with luxurious details, but there was no warmth within. I looked around, trying to suppress my anxiety. This lavish room felt like a golden cage, nothing more."
"My eyes widened as I examined the place, thinking inwardly, 'This is the first time I've stayed in a room like this.' The luxury around me was entirely alien. Suddenly, I recalled my previous room, which was nothing but a miserable storage shed, where I slept on an old blanket over the cold, hard floor. I felt the coldness of the past engulf my body, even though this room seemed like it belonged to another world."
"I sat on the bed, astonished by its freshness and softness. I cautiously ran my hand over it, as if checking its reality. I stared into space, my expressions widening with a question screaming deep within me: 'What's the point of my existence in a place like this if what awaits me is death?'"
"I sighed and sat staring into space, remembering how I was dragged from the count's house by the guards, then taken by carriage to stand before the king. All this happened just a day before my birthday. I laughed coldly, as irony enveloped me: 'Is my desire for freedom something impossible?' I clenched my hands in fear and anger, recalling what happened in the throne room. (That father… he is useless. Why should I bear the burden of him being a traitor? Why should I save him?!)"
"My memory was interspersed with scenes of how they mistreated me: beating, starvation, and imprisonment. How humiliated I felt there, but despite all that, I tried to hold myself together. I took a deep breath, my eyes burning with determination: 'I must not lose myself now. I managed to deceive the king even though I was shocked by myself as well. Therefore, I must not waste my chance of survival.'"
"I placed my hand under my chin and whispered to myself, 'But what should I do?' Suddenly, the memory of Count Valen's words returned to my mind: {She has a magical voice}. I frowned in annoyance, thinking: 'Why did he have to say 'magical voice'?! He could have said something else… magical touches or anything!'"
"I closed my eyes tightly, determined to find a real solution: 'I have to make my voice magical, even if it's not true. I must succeed; I don't want to die.' At that moment, I recalled the room where I spent long days in the storage shed, where I sat alone in the dark. (I waited a long time to escape that filthy, miserable place, and when I saw a glimmer of hope approaching, I ran to a beautiful place, but it was deadly.)"
"I lay back on the bed, throwing myself back and smiled softly: '…it's really comfortable.' I looked at the ceiling, different from what I was used to, and began to open my mouth to sing softly, but it was ordinary and unremarkable:
"What is my path, I wonder?
Like a bird freed from its cage,
I soar in an expansive space,
My freedom is a gift, yet it's a bond,
The sky is beautiful, but it hides
Endless fears and strange dreams."
"As the words escaped, I realized my voice wasn't as magical as I hoped; it was ordinary and tense, heightening my feelings of anxiety and insecurity. The melody of the song faded into the air, as if reminding me of my weakness, and I decided to hide my true feelings behind those words."
"I sighed, saying: 'I'm hungry…' I felt anxious as I thought: (I can't think with an empty stomach. I haven't been given food at all today. Will I be hungry here too?) I lay on my side, trying to push those thoughts away from my mind, but I couldn't ignore the growing hunger that felt heavier than any other worries."
"I didn't expect anything other than to be starved here, as was the custom in any new place I was taken to. But when I heard a knock at the door, I felt astonished. The door opened slowly, and a maid entered carrying a plate full of food."
"I watched her silently as she placed the food on the table in front of me. I couldn't help my heart from pounding, especially when she said, 'His Majesty the King has ordered dinner for you, and you should be grateful to him, even if it's simple.'"
"I looked at the food in front of me. The warm soup was steaming pleasantly, the soft bread looked as if it had just come out of the oven, and the fresh juice… oh my God. (Simple?) I thought to myself, (he doesn't know that what he calls simple is more than I ever dreamed of. How long has it been since I had a real meal?)"
"I took a deep breath and smiled at the maid, trying to hide my emotions. 'Tell him I'm grateful for his kindness.'"
"The maid left the room, leaving me alone with the food. I sat on the edge of the bed and began to stare at the soup and bread as if they were something strange. I felt something forming inside me, a mix of gratitude and fear. Was this food really a gift from the king? And why? What awaited me in this place?"
"I hesitantly reached for the soup. I felt the warmth spreading through my fingers, reminding me of the long nights when I was hungry and tired, with nothing to quench my thirst. (How many times have I wished I could have a meal like this?)"
"I took a slow bite, enjoying its taste as if it were the greatest gift I had received in a long time. But despite this, I couldn't shake the memories of the past. Those harsh moments of beating and starvation, and all the humiliations I had endured."
"I swallowed another bite, feeling the warmth of the soup. I felt my eyes welling up. (Who would believe that I'm eating real food here, in a place where death could be my fate?). I took another spoonful and allowed the warmth to engulf me for a moment. The soup was delicious in a way I wasn't used to."
"After finishing my meal, I sat on the chair in front of the table. There, I saw ink and paper carefully placed. I looked at them and smiled wryly. (Good that I learned to read and write… even if it was the hard way)."
"As I reached for the ink, old memories flooded my mind. A cold laugh crept onto my face, but it quickly faded as I remembered the blows I had received. The image of a stick striking my small hands returned with terrifying clarity. {Haha, it's good for punishing us if we don't finish our homework!} The voices of the boy and girl, sitting nearby, laughing mockingly as I bore the punishment in their place."
"I paused for a moment and fell silent. I remembered their faces, their mocking laughter. Perhaps I learned a lot in those harsh times, but the price was steep. I began to write my thoughts, contemplating the legend passed down through generations. (Even someone like me, ignorant of what's happening outside, knows that everyone in the kingdom knows about the curse. It's the reason for the foundation of this kingdom)."
"The story, as it was told, speaks of the first king, Araios, who was a noble knight of high blood, skilled in the art of the sword. His dream was to eradicate the darkness and evil that plagued this land. Thus, he embarked on a journey across the world in search of a legendary dragon. It was said that whoever could meet the dragon and defeat it or win its favor would receive a great reward."
"King Araios searched tirelessly, never losing hope, until fate led him to a land he never expected to find. This land was green and enchanting, untouched by the drought and darkness that ravaged the world. As he walked through it, he felt his body lighten, and all traces of fatigue and weakness vanished. Suddenly, a massive and magnificent mythical creature appeared before him, distinguished by its white color and glowing red eyes."
"At that moment, Araios wanted to draw his sword, but the dragon spoke to him: {Human, I have allowed you to find this place. I have followed your determination and bravery. Therefore, do not hasten to open the doors of death upon yourself.}"
"Araios replied in a pleading tone: {Please, O dragon, I seek your help. I want to eliminate the monsters that have caused the darkness affecting humans, animals, and even crops!}"
"The dragon responded in a deep voice: {I see in you a sincere heart and a genuine concern for humans. Therefore, I will grant you assistance. I will give you powers that will make dragon blood flow in your veins. You will gain extraordinary powers, and your body will grow stronger, and your magic will become great. You will gain immense knowledge, whether you are a child or an adult, for when the dragon's blood awakens in you, your mind will become more mature than it appears at your age.}"
Then, King Araios extended his hands toward the dragon…
And he continued his journey toward his fate. He received the blood of the legendary dragon and drank it without hesitation. As he did this, he felt deep changes sweeping through his body and soul. His hair, once golden like the sun, turned black as the deepest darkness. His eyes ignited with a red hue like fire. The transformation was both terrifying and enchanting; however, before he consumed the blood, the dragon warned him with a deep voice echoing through the air:
{Know well that there is a heavy price for this power. Your human body will not endure it past the age of twenty-five. At that point, your powers will reach their peak and will rage, leading to your death. Also, know that you will no longer be human. It is a blessing mixed with a curse.}
Yet, King araios did not hesitate for a moment. He was ready to pay this price to save humanity from the darkness and fear that had taken hold of the world. With a brave decision, he made a great sacrifice, thus becoming a hero from that moment on.
He established a kingdom that would be known for its great strength and courage—draconia. His legacy endured through time, recounted in tales and legends, and the dragon's curse remained a part of the kingdom's identity, inspiring new generations to carry on his legacy and bravery. I gaze at the paper I have written on, recalling what I documented about the history of this kingdom. "Red eyes like fire became a symbol of the royal lineage. Whoever is born with black hair is considered the Chosen One, like the king, regardless of age; even if they are ten years old, they ascend to the throne." But things changed over the centuries. Those once labeled heroes turned into tyrants, after one of them took the throne. He surrounded the kingdom with indescribable terror. He was a monster embodied in human form, who desired nothing but bloodshed. It seems some had lost all semblance of humanity. When he died at the age of twenty-five, a harsh decision was made to kill every child born with those traits, as there was no longer a need for them and their powers in the current era.
I think of King Theodor… his distinctive appearance sends a chill down my spine. "But now, the Chosen One has appeared once again and has taken the throne easily."
I grip the pen between my fingers and begin to tap lightly on the table, pondering my next move. "… I need to visit the royal family's library… Yes, there I might find something that documents my deception of the king." I listen to the clock announce midnight, pulling me back to reality. I slowly rise from my seat and head toward the balcony, gazing at the dark sky and the moon that silently watches over me as usual. "… Right, I'm now twenty-one."
I contemplate the sky with my gray eyes, which reflect the moonlight. Alone… "… I thought this day would mark a new beginning for me, a start to a happy life." I surrender to my thoughts quietly. "Yes… I believed I would finally be able to break free. Although I didn't know what would happen to me after my banishment, I was determined to find a better life, even if it meant being homeless or broke. I didn't want to stay there any longer."