1214-02-21
I sat at my desk, observing the pen.
More dragons had been born, breaking out of their shells and emerging from their eggs. Each dragon was in its own habitat. In the snowy pen, blue and silver ice dragons stood out, their scales shimmering like frost-covered gemstones. They moved with a deliberate stillness, their breath fogging the air. Occasionally, one stretched lazily, but for the most part, they slept, still as statues, almost appearing lifeless.
In the next enclosure, water rippled around aquatic eggs, and juvenile water dragons darted playfully through the currents. Their sleek, serpentine bodies shimmered with shades of turquoise and sea green, fins gliding effortlessly as they bashed into one another in harmless games.
The third pen was divided between earth and air dragons. The earth dragons, a deep emerald hue, had thick, armored scales that made them appear almost carved from stone. They moved with a slow, deliberate strength, their claws digging into the soil beneath them. Above them, air dragons floated lazily, their translucent wings shimmering like sunlight on glass. Their lighter, almost feather-like scales gave them an ethereal appearance as they hovered, looking down at the earth dragons with smug, playful grins.
I made a note of how many dragons there were to tame: seven in total. Three ice dragons, two water dragons, one earth dragon, and one air dragon.
While scribbling notes on each dragon, I glanced up occasionally. The air dragon floated higher, laughing silently at the earth dragons below. The water dragons swirled and bonded, playing joyfully with one another. Meanwhile, the ice dragons remained still, sleeping, almost as if dead.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I walked toward the wooden door, placing my notes on the table behind me. The door led to the castle, while the other door, left ajar, allowed a breeze to flow in for the dragons.
Dragons are mysterious creatures. They needed time to adapt to their environment, to feel at ease in these enclosures.
I opened the door to find Kairo standing there. The small dragon sat on the ground, smiling at me. Behind him stood Hanami, his presence calm and composed. As I glanced at Hanami, Kairo's demeanor shifted. The little dragon climbed up Hanami's arms and legs, curling around his neck like a necklace, his bladed tail resting neatly against Hanami's chest.
Hanami entered the room with Kairo perched contentedly on him. His gaze wandered around the pens, observing the dragons. Kairo, however, leaped off Hanami, landing gracefully and wagging his tail like an eager pup.
"Where's the kid?" Hanami asked, his voice breaking the silence.
"The kid?"
"Your apprentice," he clarified.
"Oh… Yuta." I hesitated before continuing. "He's off today."
As we spoke, I noticed Kairo watching the glass pens. The dragons inside seemed to stare back at him, exchanging glances as though they were communicating in some unspoken way.
Hanami and I stood silently, watching as Kairo wagged his bladed tail again, like a dog waiting for praise.
"Come here," Hanami commanded softly.
I crouched beside Kairo, his tail wagging as he tilted his head, waiting for my next command.
"Sit," I said firmly.
Kairo cocked his head, considering, then lowered himself onto his haunches.
"Good job," I praised, patting his head. His bladed tail thumped against the ground.
"Now, get," I said, pointing to a small wooden block on the table. Kairo hesitated, his sharp eyes flicking between me and the block. With a small huff, he bounded forward, picked it up in his jaws, and returned, dropping it at my feet.
"That's good," I said with a smile, scratching behind his horns. "You're learning fast."
I opened my notebook, labeled Kairo on the cover, and scribbled down a few notes:
Responsive to basic commands. Quick learner. Trust is building.
The door creaked open. I looked up, startled. A woman stepped inside, her silhouette framed by the light from outside.
"You forgot me already?" she said, her voice soft yet cutting.
Her long black hair cascaded down her back, almost blending into the shadows of the trees behind her. Her dark eyes met mine as she straightened, and a flicker of recognition stirred within me.
"Shin…" I began, my voice trailing off. No, I thought.
She locked the door behind her with deliberate slowness, then turned and walked toward the other door.
"What are you doing?" Hanami shouted, his voice sharp as he drew his sword.
Shino didn't answer. Instead, she unsheathed her blade, the steel glinting coldly in the dim light.
She simply stared at us, her dark eyes unreadable.
"I'm sorry," she replied coldly, her tone betraying no emotion
. "My master ordered this. This action and the following reaction is part of his grand plan."
"Your master?" I scoffed. "After everything the Emperor did for you, for us? You betray him for some twisted scheme?"
"The Empress is weak," she said, her voice hardening. "She underestimated the true power behind this world. I am merely following the orders of the one who truly understands the future. One that truly understands the game."
Hanami's face darkened, and his hand tightened around his sword hilt, his muscles tensing. "You've fallen so far And now you side with this... madness?"
Shino's smile faded, her eyes narrowing with something darker. "You don't understand. It's not about sides—it's about power. You've always been too loyal, too predictable."
She tilted her head slightly. "Don't you see? The dragons, the bloodlines, they're all part of the greater plan. Their death is meant to bring about a new age."
"I won't let you use them," Hanami spat, drawing his blade fully now, the steel gleaming with an ominous sheen.
"The dragons are alive, Shino. They're not pawns for some madman's scheme." I added
Shino glanced at Kairo, who stood silently watching the exchange, his tail twitching nervously.
She then turned her gaze back to Hanami. "You think too small," she said softly, her voice almost pitiful. "But what if there's a way to control the dragons, to bend them to your will? To unite all the kingdoms under one banner?"
This isn't about unity," I growled. "The death of all dragons won't bring about unity"
Shino countered. "That's why you'll never understand. My master sees beyond petty kingdoms and petty borders. This is the future. And you?"
"Enough!" Hanami shouted, stepping forward with his sword raised.
Her hand moving to her own sword, her fingers brushing the hilt. "Then we will see who truly understands the future. The dragons are my responsibility now. "
There was a tense silence as both stood ready to strike. Hanami's chest heaved with anger, his eyes burning with resolve. Shino, however, remained calm, her sword now fully drawn, its blade gleaming in an ethereal energy.
"The dragons will all fall," she whispered, almost to herself. "And you will fall with the old order."
"Edict: Reverie Thorn"
Hanami's blade clashed against Shino's. They were locked in a deadly dance. Blades flashing as each tried to outmaneuver the other.
Kairo, perched on my shoulder, growled low, his body tense, his blade-like tail flicking back and forth. He could feel the danger, the impending conflict.
"Stay back, Kairo," I whispered, but the dragon wasn't listening. He was a creature of instinct. A protector.
The enclosure shattered, splinters flying everywhere. The water dragons, agitated by the chaos, surged forward, their scales shimmering in the dim light. A massive wave of water, hot as molten lava, exploded from their tank, shooting toward Shino. She barely had time to react before the steaming torrent hit her, scalding her arm.
Shino screamed in pain, her face twisting in rage.
"You fool!" she snarled.
Her sword momentarily faltered as she wiped the burning water off her arm. But it was enough. Kairo, now on the ground, launched himself forward, his body a blur of motion.
With a screech, he soared through the air, tail aimed like a whip, and struck Shino's side. She staggered back, but before she could react, the dragon's bladed tail slashed across her neck, leaving a deep, bloody gash.
She stumbled to the ground, blood spilling as she fell. The room was a mess, everything in disarray. The dragons seemed undisturbed, jumping and communicating with one another, their energy vibrant in contrast to the chaos around them.
"Its finally over " Hanami gasped
A thin line of blood spread across his chest, staining his clothes in the dim light. His face contorted in confusion, and he stumbled, hands pressing to the wound.
"Hanami?" I breathed, panic rising in my throat. No. It can't be…
His eyes met mine, and for the briefest moment, I saw something in his gaze—something far darker than I had ever known. A flicker of realization. A shadow of something that had been hidden.
"I didn't…" he whispered
I moved forward, but the room seemed to stretch, time slowing down as his body gave way beneath him . My heart hammered in my chest. My hands were shaking.
The sword that had pierced his chest—his own sword. Lodged deep within him. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the floor as he crumpled.
"It was... all an illusion." She laughed slowly. "Your victory ... was never real."
Shino's shadow stretched across the ground, the flickering torchlight casting an eerie glow on his face.
Shino's voice broke the silence, sharp as a blade. "I'm sorry it had to be this way."
My eyes widened. No... not him.
Shino took a step forward. His cold, calculating gaze never wavered from me.
"Why?" I whisper.
I opened my mouth to speak, but before the words could form, Shino was upon me, the blade singing through the air. In one clean stroke, it severed my throat. My body crumpled to the ground.
As my vision blurred I could see Shino.
Shino moved from pen to pen. Dragons fell one by one. Eggs shattered one by one. Their roars dying in their throats, until only silence remained.
In the aftermath, the scent of dragon blood heavy in the air.
Shino stood alone in the center.