"We had peace with humans. For years, we coexisted. Trade, alliances—everything was good."
"But then they realized something."
"If they killed us and took our cores, they could become stronger."
"And so, they came."
The castle trembled as fire spread, thick smoke curling into the night sky. The scent of blood was everywhere, suffocating. Princess Liliana could hear the clash of steel, the screams. Knights stormed the halls, cutting down dragons in their human forms. And then—ripping their cores from their bodies.
She curled up in the corner of her chamber, hands clamped over her ears. She wanted to block it out. The sounds, the burning, the horror. But it was everywhere. It was everything.
"Cowards" The word rattled through her skull.
"They attacked when they knew dragons were weak. When they knew they couldn't be burned to ash"
A scream rang through the corridor—high-pitched, cut short.
Liliana pressed harder against her ears, nails digging into her scalp.
"Make it stop. Please, just make it stop"
The door burst open.
Her father stood there, his armor stained with blood.
"Liliana," King Lucian said, grabbing her hand. "We have to go"
She stumbled after him, her legs barely working. The halls were a graveyard. Bodies lay twisted on the stone, frozen in agony. A knight knelt over one, dagger plunging into a lifeless chest. He pulled out a glowing core, its light flickering before he shoved it into a pouch at his belt.
Liliana's breath hitched. "Where are we going?"
Lucian didn't answer. He just kept moving.
They reached a dead end. He pressed a hand to the stone, and a hidden door groaned open, revealing a dark tunnel.
"You must leave," he said.
Liliana's heart pounded. "No! I-I can't—"
"You can. And you will." He reached into his belt and pulled out a leather bag, pressing it into her hands. "Take this. It will help you a lot."
She stared at it, her fingers tightening around the worn leather. "But—"
"Go." His voice was firm.
Liliana shook her head. "Father, please—"
His grip on her shoulders tightened. "You have to survive"
"Then come with me!" she begged, holding onto his hand.
Lucian exhaled, his expression softening just for a moment. "I can't"
Her chest clenched. "WHY?"
"Because I have to stay"
Tears burned her eyes. "They're killing us! Taking everything! How can you—"
"We are not saints, Liliana." His voice was calm, but heavy. "And, not all humans are bad."
She stared at him, hands shaking. "But they destroyed us."
Lucian didn't answer.
A scream tore through the castle—one of their own, cut short.
Lucian pushed her toward the tunnel. "No more questions. RUN!"
Liliana swallowed hard, then turned and ran.
The tunnel was cold, the walls rough beneath her fingers as she moved blindly through the dark. Her breath came fast, her chest tight.
Then— A scream.
Her father's voice.
She stopped, her body trembling. Tears blurred her vision.
Her fingers curled around the bag in her hands. Heat rose in her chest, hotter than the flames that burned her home.
I'll kill them. Every last one.
And with that, she kept running.
-----------------------
Liliana ran.
She didn't know how long—how far. Her feet were raw, her throat burned, but she kept moving.
The tunnel had spat her out into the wilderness. From the hills, she had seen it.
Drakaros was gone.
The castle, once proud and golden, was now a blackened skeleton. Smoke still curled into the sky like a funeral pyre, the last breath of a dying kingdom.
Her breath hitched. She had nothing. No home. No people. No father.
His scream still echoed in her ears.
She swallowed hard and kept walking.
-----------------------
Two days.
That was how long it had been since she'd crawled out of the tunnel. Since she had lost everything.
Now, she stumbled through a crowded marketplace, her bare feet leaving streaks of blood on the cobblestones. Her once-fine dress was nothing but rags, the hem torn, stained with dirt.
The world around her was loud. Too loud. Laughter, haggling, the clinking of coins. The scent of roasted meat drifted from a nearby stall, and her stomach twisted painfully.
Then she saw them.
The merchants. The knights.
And her people.
Half-blooded women and children stood on auction blocks, shackled at the ankles, their eyes empty.
A merchant yanked a little boy's chains, laughing as the child stumbled.
"Prime stock! Weak in daylight, strong at night!"
Her fingers curled into fists. "Cowards. Monsters. I'll kill them—"
Her knees buckled. The hunger, the exhaustion—it crashed over her at once. She collapsed against a barrel, her vision swimming.
"Oi."
A hand clamped around her arm.
"You lost, girl?"
Liliana blinked up. A merchant loomed over her, his breath thick with ale. His beady eyes flicked to her ears—smooth, human. No horns. No scales. But his grip tightened.
"Pretty thing. You'd fetch a good price."
She yanked her arm back. "Don't… touch me."
He grinned. "Feisty. Buyers like that."
His hand landed on her shoulder.
Liliana moved on instinct. Her fingers snapped around his wrist. Before he could react, she twisted—Hard.
He yelped, knees nearly buckling. "Agh—"
"I will kill you if you touch me again," she hissed, her grip unrelenting.
For a moment, he hesitated. Fear flickered in his eyes.
Then she shoved him away.
The merchant stumbled back, rubbing his arm. "Crazy bitch!" he muttered before turning away.
Liliana exhaled sharply. "Filth."
Then— A whimper.
She turned her head.
A small child, no older than five, huddled near the edge of the square, a tattered blanket barely covering her thin frame. Iron shackles dug into her wrists, her skin raw and chafed.
Liliana's chest tightened. She knew those golden eyes. "Dragonblood"
The little girl flinched at the word.
Liliana took a slow step forward, reaching out. "It's okay, I—"
A whip cracked through the air.
"MOVE!!!"
A merchant yanked the girl's chain, dragging her toward the auction block.
Liliana's hand fell to the side, fingers curling into a fist.
Her teeth clenched as she whispered, "Cowards"
But she did not move.
Not yet.
Because she had no power. No plan. Nothing.
For now… all she could do was watch.
The auction was in full swing.
The merchant stood proudly on the wooden platform, yanking the little girl's chain like she was nothing more than a piece of cattle.
The child trembled, her golden eyes darting from face to face, searching for help that would never come.
"Two silvers!" a man called out.
"Five!" another shouted.
"Ten silvers and a copper!"
Laughter rippled through the crowd. It was casual. Thoughtless. Like they were buying livestock, not a child.
Liliana's nails dug into her palms. "Disgusting."
Then— A figure brushed past her.
A man in a tattered brown cape. His steps were silent, his face hidden. He moved through the crowd without hesitation, slipping between bidders until he stopped right in front of the merchant.
"Five gold."
The crowd stilled. A hush fell over the square.
That was too much. Far too much for a single half-dragon child.
Liliana's breath caught as whispers spread.
The merchant's greedy eyes gleamed. "Sold! To the generous ser in brown!"
The man handed over a pouch without hesitation.
The merchant smirked, his fingers already closing around the money. "Come. We'll settle the details inside."
The caped man didn't respond. He simply grabbed the little girl's chain and led her off the platform, disappearing through a side door without another word.
Liliana exhaled, her fists still clenched.
Then— A strange heat prickled against her skin.
She glanced up. The moon had begun to rise, its silver light breaking through the clouds. "No."
Her blood ran cold.
Her scales would appear soon.
She had to leave before anyone noticed. Before anyone realized what she was.
She turned to go— Her hand brushed her waist.
Empty.
Liliana froze— Then patted down her dress.
Nothing.
Her breath hitched. "No, no, no…"
Her heart pounded as realization struck.
That man.
The caped one. He had walked past her—close enough to touch her. Close enough to— Her gold.
Liliana snapped her head toward the door he had entered. It was shut now.
That bag had everything. It was all she had.
She took a step forward—then stopped.
She couldn't storm in. Not yet.
So she had no choice.
She would wait outside.
-----------------------
Inside. the merchant's grin stretched wide as he loosened the pouch's strings, expecting the glint of gold.
Instead—rocks.
His smile vanished. His fingers dug into the pouch, shuffling through pebbles and bits of worthless junk.
"What the—" His eyes snapped up, narrowing. "WHAT IS THIS?" His voice darkened.
Across from him, the man in the brown cape leaned against the wall, arms crossed, perfectly at ease. His hood still shadowed most of his face, but his smirk was clear.
"Oh, that?" His voice was smooth, casual. "It's exactly what you deserve. You know, for selling children like they're pieces of fruit." He sighed dramatically. "I mean, really. A little girl? …Have some standards."
The merchant's face twisted in anger. "You bastard—"
His hand moved toward his belt, reaching for a weapon— Too slow.
A knife flashed. Fast. Precise.
It buried itself deep into his chest.
The merchant staggered, his breath hitching. He tried to speak, but only a choked gurgle escaped. His knees buckled. Then— He collapsed.
Silence.
The little girl flinched, pressing herself against the wall. Her shackles rattled as she shrank back, golden eyes wide with fear.
The man sighed. "See? That's what happens when people don't listen."
He crouched in front of the girl, moving slowly, carefully. His hands reached for the iron cuffs around her wrists. With a flick of his fingers, the locks popped open.
"Alright, little one, you're free." He tilted his head, flashing her a grin. "And before you ask, no, I'm not gonna sell you. I'm a thief… not a monster."
The girl hesitated. Then, slowly, she nodded.
Heavy footsteps thudded toward the door.
"Sir, is everything alright in there?" a guard called from outside.
The man barely blinked. He took a breath—then spoke, perfectly mimicking the merchant's voice.
"Yeah. Let them go."
A pause. Then—
"Alright," the guard replied, footsteps fading down the hall.
The man exhaled, brushing imaginary dust off his cloak. "Hah. This works every time."
He stood, holding out his hand. "C'mon, kiddo. Let's get out of here before someone realizes I just gave them a very permanent refund."
The little girl hesitated—but then she reached out, her tiny fingers curling around his.
Together, they walked out the door.
His stride was steady, confident, like he belonged there. No one stopped him. No one even looked twice.
And just like that—
He was gone.
-----------------------
Liliana moved quickly, weaving through the streets as she followed the man in the brown cape. He was fast, slipping through the crowd like a shadow.
He stole her gold. She wouldn't let him get away.
But just as she turned a corner— He was gone.
She stopped. The street was empty. No trace of him.
Liliana's chest tightened. Then—
A faint glow caught her eye. She looked down at her hands. Her arms. Her scales were visible.
"The moon."
Panic surged through her. She yanked the hood of her ragged cloak lower, turning to leave— And then she felt it.
A presence.
Two knights. Right behind her.
She didn't turn. She didn't breathe. If she moved, they'd see her face. If she stayed still, they'd reach her anyway.
"If they see me—I'm dead."
Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. "What do I do?"
Then— A hand grabbed her wrist.
Before she could react, she was yanked into a dark alley. A firm hand clamped over her mouth, muffling her gasp.
Liliana struggled, but a voice whispered against her ear.
"Stay still."
She froze.
The knights walked past. They didn't stop. Didn't look.
Didn't see her.
The hand over her mouth loosened.
She turned her head slightly, just enough to see her captor. And her eyes widened.
It was him.
The man in the brown cape.
He smirked. "You're not very good at staying out of trouble, are you?"
Liliana wrenched herself free, stepping back with a glare. "YOU STOLE MY GOLD."
He held up his hands. "Whoa, easy now. Didn't know you were a half-dragon like me."
She narrowed her eyes. "You're a—?"
Then she saw it… Under the moonlight, faint scales shimmered on his skin—just like hers.
"You're a dragon," she said.
He grinned. "Well… half-dragon. But yes, guilty as charged."
With a dramatic flourish, he pulled her pouch from inside his cloak and tossed it back. "Here. Consider this my official apology."
Liliana caught it, still glaring. "You're returning it just like that?"
He placed a hand over his heart, gasping. "You wounded me! I may be a thief, but I have standards."
Then, with a teasing whisper, he added, "Besides, stealing from a half-dragon? …Rookie mistake. Lucky for you, I'm feeling charitable tonight."
She didn't smile. "I don't trust you."
"Fair," he said easily. "But you do owe me. You'd be in a cell right now if I hadn't pulled you away."
Liliana's jaw tightened, but she said nothing.
The man clapped his hands. "Alright, so where do you live? I'll help you get back."
Liliana hesitated. "…I don't have a place."
He blinked. "Oh." A beat passed, then he suddenly grinned. "That's alright! You can live with us."
"Us?"
"My people." He said it like it was obvious.
Liliana crossed her arms. "Do you trust strangers that easily?"
"Not usually." He tilted his head. "But we're the only ones left. We have to look out for each other."
Liliana flinched. "We're the only ones left."
For the first time, she truly looked at him. He was so confident, so relaxed. But beneath that grin, there was something else.
Something she understood.
She exhaled slowly. "…What's your name?"
He beamed. "Asmodeus." He gave a short bow. "Professional pickpocket, expert escape artist, and… your new best friend."
"I never agreed to that."
"Give it time." He winked.
Liliana sighed. "How long have you been here?"
"About five years now."
She frowned. "And they never suspect you?"
He smirked. "See, when our land was attacked… Someone saved me. He's like a big brother to me. As long as he's around, nothing can go wrong."
Liliana stared at him. He spoke so casually, but there was something deeper in his tone.
For now, she just asked, "Who is he?"
Asmodeus grinned. "You'll see soon enough."
Liliana clutched the pouch of gold, her mind racing. "Your people… will they accept me?"
He tilted his head. "Why wouldn't they?"
"I'm a stranger." She glanced at her hands, her scales still faintly glowing under the moonlight. "I don't even know how to live among humans like you do."
He waved a hand dismissively. "Pfft, don't worry about that. You'll fit right in."
She frowned. "Are you sure?"
"Positive." Then his smirk widened. "Besides, the one you should be worried about is Him."
Liliana stiffened. "The person who saved you?"
"Yep." Asmodeus smirked. "He's… extremely kind… From the inside, obviously." He shrugged. "Doesn't seem kind when he speaks, though."
Liliana raised an eyebrow. "What does that mean?"
"You'll see." He chuckled. "Just don't take it personally."
Liliana should have been wary. She should have questioned more. But instead, she found herself curious.
Asmodeus stretched, groaning. "Alright, enough talking. Let's hurry up— I'm hungry."
Liliana blinked, snapped from her thoughts. "Huh?"
"Food. Eating. The thing people do to survive?" He grinned, already stepping ahead. "Come on, unless you want to hear my stomach growl the whole way."
Liliana huffed. "Fine, fine."
She followed him.
As they walked, her eyes landed on the little girl still clinging tightly to Asmodeus's cloak.
Something in her chest ached.
She reached out, hesitating for a moment— then gently patted the girl's head.
The child flinched. Then, slowly, she relaxed, her tiny fingers gripping Asmodeus's sleeve even tighter.
Asmodeus sighed, his usual smirk fading. "The situation's getting worse," he muttered. "They're selling kids as slaves now. Even the young ones."
Liliana's hands curled into fists. "They're monsters… If I were stronger, I would have destroyed them."
Asmodeus glanced at her, then sighed dramatically. "Ah, such passion! Such burning rage! I like it." He smirked. "Buuut, let's be real here. You're exhausted, starving, and running on nothing but pure anger. Not exactly a winning strategy, huh?"
Liliana's jaw tightened. She knew he was right, but—
Asmodeus leaned in slightly. "Trust me. If you wanna take them down, you can't just rush in swinging. You need to be smart. And most importantly… You need to be alive first."
Liliana looked at him. She exhaled, forcing herself to calm down. "Then what do I do?"
Asmodeus grinned, his usual mischief returning. "Easy. You stick with me." He gestured dramatically. "I'll teach you the fine art of survival. Step one— don't get caught. Step two— don't starve. Step three— don't do anything reckless… without inviting me first." He winked.
Liliana huffed but found herself… relaxing a little. "…Fine."
Asmodeus clapped his hands. "See? …We're already best friends."
She rolled her eyes, but… she didn't argue.
For the first time in a long time, she didn't feel alone.
-----------------------
The thick jungle surrounded them, damp leaves crunching under their boots. Fireflies flickered in the dim light as Asmodeus led the way, the little girl still clinging to his cloak.
Eventually, they reached a small wooden hut nestled between the trees. It wasn't much—just a simple structure made of rough planks and a thatched roof— but it was well-hidden. A lantern flickered faintly through a small window.
Asmodeus pushed the door open. "Home sweet home!" He stepped inside like he owned the place.
The little girl clung tighter to him, eyes darting around nervously. He sighed, gently prying her off. "Relax, kiddo. No one here bites. Well, except maybe him."
Before Liliana could ask what he meant, a voice called from inside.
"Oh? You finally showed up."
A young man leaned against a wooden table, arms crossed. Messy black hair, bright, sharp eyes. He wore simple clothes. He glanced at Liliana, then his gaze landed on the little girl. His brows lifted.
"Uh… what's this? You went out to steal and came back with two strays?"
Liliana stiffened. "I'm not a stray."
Asmodeus grinned. "Technically… I only stole one of them." He threw an arm around Liliana's shoulders. "This one's a half-dragon, like us. Had nowhere to go, so I figured, why not?"
Liliana shoved his arm off.
Belial smirked, then looked at the little girl, who shrank back slightly. "And her?"
Asmodeus' expression shifted, just for a second. "She was locked up. Some merchant was planning to sell her off. Wasn't planning on playing the hero, but, well…"
Belial's smirk disappeared. "Damn it." Then he crouched in front of the girl, softening his tone. "Hey, kiddo. What's your name?"
She hesitated, gripping Asmodeus' sleeve.
Belial glanced up at him. "She talk?"
Asmodeus shrugged. "A little."
Belial sighed again, then stood. "Alright". He shot Asmodeus a look. "Are you collecting kids now?"
Asmodeus smirked. "I prefer the term 'heroic rescuer.'"
Belial snorted. "Right. And you didn't steal from her first?"
Liliana crossed her arms. "He did!"
Belial groaned. "Of course he did." He turned to the little girl. "Did he steal from you?"
The girl hesitated, then shook her head in disagreement.
Belial raised an eyebrow at Asmodeus. "Wow... That's a first."
Asmodeus huffed. "I have standards!"
Belial rolled his eyes before looking at Liliana again. "Well, welcome to our fancy little jungle hut. You can stay as long as you need. And ignore half of whatever he says—it'll save you a headache."
Liliana studied him. He was too quick to accept her. Too easygoing.
"You don't even know me," she said slowly.
Belial shrugged. "Yeah, but if Asmodeus dragged you here, you're probably not too bad."
Asmodeus scoffed. "Excuse you, I have great taste in people."
Belial gave him a flat look. "You pickpocketed her first."
Liliana sighed. "Can we stop talking about that?"
Before anyone could answer, the little girl tugged at Asmodeus' sleeve. He glanced down.
"...Hungry?" The little girl said softly.
Asmodeus blinked, then grinned. "Oh, finally! A kid who understands my suffering!" He clapped his hands together. "Alright, let's eat!"
Belial snorted. "I'll heat up some stew."
Asmodeus threw an arm over his shoulder. "See? This is why I keep you around."
Belial shoved him off. "You keep me around?"
Liliana shook her head, following them inside.
-----------------------
After dinner, Liliana sat near the dim fire, hugging her knees. The little girl was curled up against Asmodeus, who didn't seem to mind. Belial was lounging nearby.
The silence stretched too long. It made her uneasy.
She glanced at Asmodeus. "Hey… who is the person you were talking about?"
"Why are you asking?" Asmodeus muttered, not looking at her.
"Because I want to know." she said.
Belial cleared his throat, forcing a smile. "Oh you're probably talking about Atlas? He's… um…" He hesitated.
"He's an ass," Asmodeus muttered.
Belial sighed. "That's not what I was gonna say."
"But it's true," Asmodeus shot back.
Liliana narrowed her eyes. "Is he dangerous?"
Belial scratched the back of his head. "Depends on what you mean by 'dangerous.' He won't kill you or anything."
"Yeah, but he might make you… wish you were dead," Asmodeus muttered under his breath.
Liliana frowned. "What does that even mean?"
Belial looked at her seriously. "Atlas isn't easy to deal with. He's… really strong. Really smart. But also really… REALLY rude."
"And terrifying," Asmodeus added. "Don't forget terrifying."
Belial sighed. "He's not terrifying."
"You only say that because you've been around him forever," Asmodeus grumbled. "The guy breathes down your neck like he's judging every single move you make."
"That's because you keep doing suspicious things," Belial pointed out.
"That's not the point!"
Liliana listened to their back-and-forth, but her mind was stuck on one thing.
"If he's that awful, why do you two stay with him?" she asked.
Belial hesitated before answering, his voice quieter than before. "Because he's the only reason we're alive."
"He saved us." Asmodeus said.
Belial added "And he's not a bad guy…"
Before Liliana could ask anything else—
Footsteps.
Slow. Heavy.
Coming from outside.
Belial sat up straight.
Asmodeus stiffened.
Even the little girl clutched Asmodeus' sleeve tighter.
Then— The door swung open.
A boy stepped in, tall and sharp like a blade. His blue eyes gleamed under the dim firelight, but they weren't the first thing Liliana noticed.
His scales.
Even without moonlight, they shimmered faintly across his skin.
His breathing was heavy, clearly exhausted.
He ignored everyone at first, flipping a sword in his grip. "Asmodeus," he muttered. "I told you to make it sharp."
Asmodeus let out a laugh. "S-sorry! I'll do it after dinner?"
Atlas exhaled sharply, then, finally, his piercing gaze landed on Liliana.
"Name?"
Liliana hesitated. His presence was suffocating. "Liliana."
His stare didn't waver. "And?"
She clenched her fists. "…Liliana Drakaros."
Silence.
And then he said, "Oh… Princess of Drakaros."
Belial's eyes widened. "Wait, what? She's the princess?"
Asmodeus groaned dramatically. "If I knew she was a Princess, I would've never returned the gold! She's wealthy."
Atlas's grip tightened around his sword.
"You can't stay here," he said flatly. "Get out!"
Liliana's breath caught. "Wh-what?"
Belial instantly stepped in. "He doesn't mean that— don't worry."
"I meant exactly what I said," Atlas replied, not even glancing at him.
Belial sighed. "No, you didn't."
Atlas exhaled sharply, pinching the edge of his nose. "You're the worst."
Liliana's chest burned. "Why?" she demanded. "Because I'm from Drakaros?"
His red eyes snapped back to hers, colder than before. "Because Drakaros helped the humans destroy Valkorion. And now? Now they're paying for their sins."
Liliana's body tensed. "No… We never helped humans! And what even is Valkorion?"
Atlas scoffed. "Valkorion was the true kingdom of dragons. Pure-blooded. Strong. Some of them—decided to have peace with humans. They left Valkorion and built Drakaros. A kingdom of half-dragons. Half-humans."
Liliana felt like the ground had been ripped from beneath her feet.
Her home. Her father's home. It wasn't what she thought it was?
She swallowed hard. "And… you're saying that's why we were destroyed?"
Atlas didn't answer. He just looked at her like she was a ghost from a past he wanted to forget.
Liliana's hands trembled at her sides. "I don't trust you. You're lying."
Atlas didn't flinch. "I don't care if you believe me or not."
Something about his calmness made her anger burn hotter.
She turned away. "Then I'm leaving."
"Good," Atlas said without hesitation.
She stormed toward the door, pushing past Asmodeus and Belial.
Belial grabbed her arm before she could step outside. "Liliana, wait— you can't just go! You don't know what's out there—"
Atlas's voice cut through. "Let. Her. Go."
Liliana froze.
Belial turned sharply. "ATLAS—"
But Atlas wasn't looking at them. He knelt in front of the little girl, who had been silently clinging to Asmodeus this whole time.
She flinched as his piercing blue eyes met hers.
Liliana watched as Atlas placed a hand on the girl's head.
A faint, golden light pulsed beneath his palm.
Before her eyes, the bruises and cuts on the girl's body faded away, vanishing like they had never existed.
Her chapped lips regained color. The scratches on her wrists, the raw wounds on her ankles where the shackles had been—gone.
The girl let out a tiny gasp, touching her own skin in disbelief.
Liliana's fingers curled against the fabric of her tattered dress. "No. This isn't possible."
Her eyes locked onto the shimmering scales on Atlas's arm. The unnatural glow beneath his touch. "Am I seeing things? Is this a dream? Or… Or is he really… a pure dragon?"
Atlas pulled his hand away. The glow faded. He stood up.
Then his gaze flicked back to Liliana.
"You're still here?"
Liliana stiffened, then turned and swiftly walked out without another word.
Belial glared at Atlas before following after her. "You don't really care what happens to us, do you?"
Atlas didn't answer. He just closed his eyes and let out a long, tired sigh.