Walking through the grand gates of the Dragon Palace, Jia couldn't shake the sinking feeling in her gut. It wasn't just the looming threat of Yui, the dragon beast matriarch who probably hated humans on principle—it was Kai. He was walking ahead of her with a swagger so bold, so... confident, that Jia knew something was seriously wrong.
"Why are you walking like that?" she hissed, trotting to catch up. "You look like you've just discovered how legs work."
Kai puffed out his chest even further, his azure scales burns catching the sunlight. "I'm confident, Jia. Brave. Unshakable. A dragon who fears no—"
"You've lost your mind," she interrupted, cutting him off before he could finish whatever pep talk he was giving himself. "Are you planning on getting both of us killed? Because that's the only logical explanation for whatever this is."
Kai turned to her, grinning like a kid who thought jumping off a roof was a brilliant idea to check if gravity works. "Don't worry. I have a plan."
Oh no, he did not have this. If anything, his sudden surge of confidence was the biggest red flag she'd seen all day—and that was saying something, considering she'd just walked past a man skinning a rabbit like it owed him money.
As they stepped into the main hall, Jia couldn't help but glance at the palace gardens to her left. There, among the snow-covered trees, she spotted Armin talking to a rugged-looking man with a shaggy beard. They seemed deep in conversation, which immediately made Jia suspicious. Armin never looked that invested unless it involved teaching her how to breath properly or a really good cup of tea.
Before she could eavesdrop any further, Kai pushed open the massive crimson doors, and she had no choice but to follow him inside.
As they entered the main hall, Jia's unease only deepened. The room was vast and intimidating, with a ceiling so high it practically kissed the clouds. Golden pillars lined the space, each one carved with intricate depictions of dragons in battle. And there, in the center of it all, was Yui. She was every bit as terrifying as Jia remembered—cold, regal, and exuding an aura of I'll murder you and not lose sleep over it. The Dragon Matriarch was in the middle of what could only be described as a heated debate with the most handsome man Jia had ever seen. Dressed in a yellow kimono and radiating an aura of calm superiority, the man was casually sipping tea while Yui, the most terrifying creature on the planet, looked like she was two seconds away from causing a storm.
Jia couldn't help but stare. Shiro was infuriatingly perfect, from his flowing yellow kimono to the lazy smirk that seemed permanently etched on his face. He radiated calm composure, the kind that made you want to punch him and ask for his skincare routine in the same breath.
"Yui," Shiro said, his voice smooth and unbothered, "you're overthinking this. The elemental beast tamer will appear when it's time. Trying to force it will only—"
"Do not lecture me, Birdbrain," Yui snapped, her tone colder than the first frost of winter. "Your kind thrives on patience. Mine does not."
Jia barely had time to process the exchange before Yui's attention shifted to her and Kai. The matriarch's icy glare could have frozen molten lava. Kai, to Jia's complete horror, stepped forward with all the confidence of a man who thought he had nothing to lose.
"Ah," Yui said, her voice dropping to a dangerously low register. "My disappointment arrives."
Kai, bless his dumb, brave heart, stepped forward, chest still puffed out like he was about to challenge his mother to a duel. Jia, meanwhile, was doing mental calculations on how many squirrels she'd need to summon to buy herself enough time to escape.
"Mother," Kai began, his voice louder than usual, "I've come to—"
"Shut it," Yui cut him off, her gaze shifting to Jia. "And you. The human who's been sneaking around my province, meddling where she doesn't belong."
Jia forced herself to stand tall, even though every survival instinct in her body was screaming at her to run. "I wasn't sneaking," she said, her voice steady despite the odds. "I was—"
"Silence," Yui snapped. She turned her attention back to Kai, her expression colder than ever. "You have two choices, boy. Leave her in the village where she belongs, or watch me kill her right here in front of you."
Jia blinked. Wow, Subtlety isn't your strong suit, huh.
Kai froze, and for a moment, Jia thought he might actually comply. But then something insane happened. Something that made her question every decision that had led her to this moment.
Kai, to Jia's absolute horror, didn't back down. If anything, he puffed out his chest even more. "No, Mother. I won't leave her."
For a moment, there was silence. Then, Yui's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Then you'll die with her."
Before Jia could stop herself, she blurted out, "Wait a second. You said you'd leave me in the village—"
"I'll die with her!" Kai interrupted, his voice ringing through the hall like a declaration of war.
Jia's jaw dropped. "What?!"
Kai puffed out his chest even further if that was even possible at this point and stared his mother down with the kind of bravery that was equal parts admirable and stupid.
"You idiot," Yui said, her tone flat. "You would throw away your life for a human? And not just any human—a wannabe tamer."
Jia froze. "Wait, what? I'm not—" She knows.
"Oh, how impressive," Yui said dryly. "A human who thinks she can control beasts. How utterly delusional."
Before Jia could respond, Kai did something so shocking, so unexpected, that she nearly dropped her basket of survival instincts. He stepped in front of her, shielding her with his body. "She's not delusional!" he shouted. "She's smart and kind and—"
"And going to get us both killed," Jia muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose. This was, without a doubt, the dumbest idea she'd ever gone along with. And she once tried to tame a squirrel using acorns as bait.
While Yui's anger simmered dangerously close to boiling over, Shiro stood off to the side, thoroughly entertained, had been quietly sipping his tea this entire time, finally let out a soft chuckle. "Oh, this is delightful," he said, setting his cup down. "This tea pairs wonderfully with family drama." The Blood Phoenix didn't bother hiding his amusement as he leaned casually against a pillar, watching the drama unfold like it was the best play he'd seen in centuries.
"This is quite the spectacle," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I must admit, I'm impressed. It takes a special kind of courage—or stupidity—to defy Yui Zhou in her own palace. Quite the brave son you've got, Yui."
"Stay out of this, Shiro," Yui snapped, her patience wearing thin.
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of interfering," Shiro said, his smirk widening as she held up his cup. "I'm just here for the tea."
Jia glared at him. "You're not helping."
"I wasn't trying to."
Before things could escalate further, a deafening bang echoed through the palace, followed by a blinding flash of light. Jia shielded her eyes, her heart racing as the ground beneath her feet trembled. The light poured in from the garden, illuminating the hall in an eerie glow. The tension in the room was palpable as everyone turned toward the source of the disturbance.
Jia had no idea what was coming, but one thing was certain—this day was far from over.