The Founding of the Dragon Empire
The empire was established through the blessing of the Lightpool. The Lightpool created the first dragon, the first werewolf, the first vampire, the first elf, and many other species. However, among all the races, the dragons stood above the rest. With their golden eyes, they possessed the power to command the other species and were appointed as the guardians of the Lightpool.
The first rulers were pure-blooded dragons, descendants of the first ancient Dragon King who emerged from the Lightpool. For generations, the royal bloodline remained pure, and no other species dared to question their rule over the other races. Not until one royal dragon married an elf.
She was the first woman with crimson eyes to emerge from the Lightpool. She was destined to become the queen of the dragon race, maintain the balance among the races, and control the power of the dragon bloodline.
Aira's eyes widened.
"A woman elf? So there was a woman before?"
She continued reading.
However, the appearance of the first woman from the Lightpool caused chaos among the races.
The emergence of a woman for the first time was believed to symbolize a new kind of power, one capable of changing the balance of the empire and even determining who would eventually rule it. Because of this, the once peaceful relationship between the races began to deteriorate.
Each race developed its own pride and began seeking greater power, hoping to eventually replace the dragon race as the supreme rulers of the empire. Soon, the empire was gradually divided among the different races, with each race having its own Lightpool, which had been created by the original Lightpool, the creator of all races.
The sudden appearance of the woman caused war among the races. However, the dragons remained the strongest of them all and, in the end, claimed the first elven woman. She soon became the queen of the dragons.
Her union with the Dragon King divided the royal bloodline because, from her very womb, twins were born with golden and crimson eyes. The child who bore the crimson eyes became the most powerful king among his race, inheriting the blood of the first woman born from the Lightpool. However, after the disappearance of the first woman, no other royal was born from the womb. Instead, the royal bloodline once again came from the Lightpool.
However, the appearance of the first woman brought about a change in those born from the Lightpool. Some of their descendants retained pure dragon blood. Others inherited a mixture of dragon and elven blood. From that generation onward, the royal family became divided between pure-blooded dragons and hybrids of elves and dragons. Dragons born with crimson or golden eyes were considered royalty.
Aira frowned.
"So Julian is called a hybrid because of his golden eyes..."
She continued reading.
But only crimson-eyed, pure-blooded dragons may inherit the imperial throne. This tradition has continued for decades, as crimson-eyed dragons are believed to be the strongest among all dragon descendants. They possess the ability to devour weaker species and even members of their own race.
Aira's expression became serious.
She couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She knew one crimson-eyed emperor who was said to be capable of devouring even his own kind. That explained why everyone was so afraid of him.
She continued reading until she reached another section.
The Emergence of the Woman of the Prophecy
The woman who would emerge from the original Lightpool, the creator of all races, would bring another great change to the world. Her arrival would once again alter the fate of every race.
Aira's heart skipped.
"What?"
She leaned closer to the book.
According to the ancient prophecy, one woman would be called by the Lightpool. She would be the first woman not created by the Lightpool itself, but one who came from another world. She would possess no ordinary lineage. She would be neither dragon nor elf, but human.
Aira swallowed.
"Wait..."
She continued reading.
She shall become the queen of all races, whose arrival will cause chaos throughout the empire. And whoever claims the woman of the prophecy shall be crowned the new guardian of the Lightpool that created all races.
Aira's eyes widened.
"The queen?"
The prophecy continued.
And from her womb shall be born a child unlike any who came before, a child carrying the potential to unite the bloodlines that have remained divided for generations.
Aira stared at the words.
"What..."
She continued reading.
The woman of the prophecy would possess an unusual power. Her arrival would change the balance of the empire and all races. She would become the bridge between the pure-blooded dragons and the hybrids. She would also change the fate of all races and, most of all, stand beside the one who would be crowned the greatest creation of the Lightpool and become the King of All Races. And through her, a new royal bloodline would emerge.
Aira slowly sat back.
"That's..." She swallowed. "That's a pretty serious prophecy."
She looked down at herself. Then at the book. Then back at herself. "No. Could I really be the woman from the prophecy they're talking about?"
She shook her head.
"Then that means this book is saying I will be the mother of a new royal race, and I will bear a responsibility even greater than Spider-Man and any other superhero?"
She stared blankly at the book. "No, that can't be. How can I..." She trailed off. Then she turned the page.
More details followed.
The woman would possess a soul unlike any other. She would arrive from beyond the boundaries of the world. She would not remember how she came. She would carry knowledge foreign to this realm. And most importantly, she would not know that she was the woman of the prophecy until she realized it herself.
Aira froze.
"...What does this mean?"
The room suddenly felt very quiet.
Her fingers slowly tightened around the edge of the book. Then she read the sentence again. Then again. Her heartbeat became louder.
Arrive from beyond the boundaries of the world.
Carry knowledge foreign to this realm.
Not remember how she came.
Aira's lips parted.
"That's..."
She couldn't finish. She slowly looked around the library. Then back at the book.
"That's literally me. So I really am the woman from the prophecy? But what does it mean that I won't realize that I am the woman of the prophecy?"
She shook her head.
Then read further.
The woman of the prophecy would have to overcome countless trials, including the arrival of the impostor who would falsely claim to be the woman of the prophecy.
Aira's eyes widened.
"Another woman? Then does that mean another woman will arrive, and we'll have to figure out which of us is the true woman of the prophecy? So this explains why the woman of the prophecy doesn't know that she is the woman of the prophecy because there will be an impostor?"
She stared at the words.
"But it says 'the arrival of the impostor.' However, I don't know if there has already been someone before me who came from another world. Maybe we both came from Earth, and one of us is chosen as the woman of the prophecy."
She frowned. "And the impostor will cause chaos for everyone..."
She continued.
There would be only one way to distinguish the true woman from the impostor. The true woman would be recognized by the Lightpool.
Aira frowned. "Recognized how?"
She turned the page, but there's nothing. The next page contained only one sentence.
When the chosen woman stands before the King of All Races, the Lightpool shall reveal the truth.
Aira stared.
"The King of All Races... So does that mean the emperor might not be the King of All Races yet, but there is someone else who could be chosen to become the king and ruler of everyone?"
Her mind immediately went to the emperor.
The emperor was a possible candidate to become the King of All Races because of his cold crimson eyes, which were said to have been inherited from the first woman born from the Lightpool. He was also a pure-blooded dragon and the ruler of the empire.
He was also the man who had dragged her from the courtyard because he was jealous. The man who had kissed her and the man who had told her he didn't like sharing.
Aira's face slowly became red.
"No."
She slapped both hands over her cheeks.
"Why does my mind keep going to him? I shouldn't trust that emperor because he may not be the King of All Races. But what if I'm the impostor woman from the prophecy? Does that mean I will disappear? Or worse, will I be executed just like in those manhwas and novels where people tried to deceive the royal family? Argh!"
Aira stared at the page about the woman of the prophecy.
Her heart pounded. The content of this book was terrifying. But somehow, a tiny part of her was also excited.
Because if she's the woman of the prophecy, does that mean she has the power to change this world?
And could she even choose who she wants to date, like in those romantic novels she used to read, where the female lead gets to choose the most handsome man with the best body and the best abs?
Just thinking about it made her almost drool from excitement.
Uh-oh...
Why am I becoming such a pervert?
No.
That shouldn't be what she was thinking about.
What she should be thinking about was how to survive in this world, because her existence was uncertain. She might be the cause of chaos, and it might even endanger her.
What if she was the impostor?
That would make her a criminal even though she hadn't done anything wrong. She had simply been dragged into this strange world without knowing anything.
"No. I need to find a way to survive."
She looked around the enormous library. Then at the mysterious book. Then toward the direction where the librarian had disappeared. Then she turned another page again, her fingers trembling.
Her face immediately lost its color because there was another prophecy.
One that had been deliberately hidden beneath the history of the empire. A prophecy about the woman from the Lightpool.
A prophecy that had one final line.
Aira read it and her blood ran cold.
When the woman of the Lightpool awakens, the empire shall either prosper beneath her light...
Her eyes moved to the final words.
...or burn because of her.