One of the men chasing Ryn was Aurora's father. The moment he saw her step out in front of the dragon, his heart stopped.
He sprinted toward her, dread rising in his chest. He had to reach her, before the unthinkable could happen.
But the dragon didn't attack.
It paused and looked at her… then vanished into the forest.
Still, he kept running, his heart pounding like a drum.
He reached her, nearly out of breath, but his voice came out sharp and furious.
"What were you doing walking in front of a monster like that?!"
Aurora barely flinched not fully realizing the seriousness of the situation. Her eyes remained fixed on the forest line. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine."
His voice rose.
"That dragon could've killed you with a single strike!" His face filling with anger, but beneath it, was fear. "Have you gone crazy!?"
Aurora bit her lip and turned her face away, conflict flashing in her eyes.
"Aren't you going to answer me?" he demanded.
Something inside her cracked. After everything that had happened, she couldn't hold it in anymore.
"You don't understand anything!" she shouted, hardly believing she was saying it to her father.
But she continued, "I wasn't even in danger, and that dragon didn't hurt anyone!"
"That dragon could've torn this place apart!" he snapped. "What do you mean you weren't in danger!?"
Aurora's jaw tightened. She couldn't tell him the reason that she wasn't afraid of Ryn.
So instead, she turned her head aside and said, "I'm not going to stay trapped in this small village forever. And I don't care how dangerous it is out there."
She started walking away and back toward their house, every step heavier than the last. Her father was taken aback and was still trying to process her words, he softened. "Wait… it's too dangerous to leave right now."
Aurora stopped walking but didn't turn back.
"I'm sorry I yelled," he added, his voice lower. "I just… I can't lose you too."
That made her turn. The fire in her chest cooled slightly.
She had never seen him like this before, not since her mom had died.
He looked at her with genuine fear and concern for her. "Please. Just stay in the village."
Aurora sighed and reluctantly said. "I'll stay, just so you don't worry."
Looking down slightly as to not make eye contact, she then walked past him, into the village, to give herself some space and help clean up the mess left behind in the market.
Meanwhile, from the forest line, I had been watching their conversation. I hadn't left, just in case Aurora decided to follow me.
There was some shouting. An argument, maybe. I couldn't make out the words, but I didn't really need to.
If her dad was anything like she described, overprotective, or even just a decent father, then he was probably terrified seeing her step out in front of a dragon. And furious she'd taken such a risk.
I glanced down at myself again. My new form was… monstrous. I couldn't blame him. But even knowing that, I still felt a twinge of guilt knowing that I was the cause of their arguing.
When I looked back, Aurora had started walking, at first, I thought she was leaving. But then I saw her stop, it seemed her father had convinced her to stay in village. I exhaled with quiet relief. That was probably the safest place for her right now.
Even though the plan had worked… part of me regretted it after seeing her reaction to the damage I caused.
But I didn't let myself get too distracted by my emotions.
What's done is done, I couldn't change anything. What mattered was tonight.
There was still plenty of time until the army attacked, and I wasn't about to waste it.
I still hadn't fully adjusted to this new body's power, and if I was going to fight to my full potential, I needed to know exactly what it could do.
I headed back to my camp and picked out a medium-sized tree as a target. "Ok time to see just how strong I am."
I wound up and slashed with my right claw. It tore deep through the bark with surprising ease. Another swing with my left-CRACK-a long split ran down the trunk.
Then, with a sharp spin, I let my tail whip in the air.
Its sharp fin connected with the tree and sliced clean through it.
The trunk creaked and toppled with a thud.
I stared for a moment. "Woah," I said a little surprised at my strength. I'd come a long way since struggling against those tiny forest rats.
Ugh. I really need to stop thinking about them, their evil faces were still burned in my mind.
I shook it off. I still had a lot of practice to do.
And for the next while, I continued to practice my Strikes, as well as my new presence suppression ability.
At the military camp a few hours later, soldiers were sharpening their blades and preparing for battle when a scout returned, sprinting through the camp.
"Captain!" he called out, out of breath. "I have news to report!"
The captain turned, annoyed. "Well? Spit it out."
"R-right." The scout stood straighter. "The village… it looks like they're preparing for an attack."
"What?!" the captain snapped, his voice rising. "Do they know about us?"
"N-no, I don't think so," the scout said quickly. "It looks like there was some kind of monster attack this morning, and that's why they're preparing"
The captain fell silent, thinking.
"A monster attack, huh…" He narrowed his eyes. "So they're not preparing for us, they're just scared of some forest beast"
He scoffed and walked to the center of the camp, raising his voice so every soldier could hear.
"Listen up!"
The clattering and chatter stopped.
"We've just received word the village is already in a panic. Some monster showed up this morning and gave them a fright."
A few soldiers chuckled.
"That means they'll be on alert tonight, but if a single monster is enough to scare them, they're not going to last more than a few minutes against trained soldiers."
"But be ready for more resistance than you were expecting. And if I catch anyone slacking" he gave a sharp grin, "I'll deal with you personally. If a farmer doesn't beat me to it."
There were some smirks and quiet laughter among the troops.
"We march in three hours. You all know the orders."
His smile grew cold, "and don't forget, we don't take prisoners."
With that he finished, and he walked off, the soldiers slowly returned to their tasks. A few began checking their armor and weapons with more urgency.
Near the edge of the group, one soldier leaned toward another and muttered, "The captain doesn't seem worried... even though it's our lives on the line."
The other soldier gave a quick glance around and lowered his voice. "Don't let him hear you say that."
Still, the first soldier didn't take it back. He just stared out past the tree line with a tense look, "I didn't sign up to follow a captain who plans on hiding behind his soldiers."
Back in the village, Aurora sat alone in an old storage shed near the edge of town. She'd gone there for some space and silence, but her thoughts were anything but quiet.
Over and over again, she tried to make sense of what had happened. But everything felt like guesses or assumptions.
Outside, she could hear people running, talking, preparing for another attack. Their boots pounded against the dirt. Someone shouted for more weapons to be brought out.
"Is this really necessary?" she thought. "it's not like Ryn is really dangerous... right?"
That was the question that had been plaguing her.
"Ryn must have come to see me… and the villagers panicked. Maybe he just defended himself. Maybe it was all a misunderstanding…"
But then she remembered the smashed crates. The broken windows. Mr. Willson saying he'd been chased.
"The damage… it was undeniably deliberate."
She clenched her fists.
"Why would he do that?"
And with that came the thought she dreaded the most.
When she first saw him, she'd frozen in fear. That dragon had looked nothing like the Ryn she remembered, it was taller, sharper, monstrous.
But the eyes… the posture… the way he looked at her…
She had known. It was him.
"Has his mind changed to match his new form? Was he still Ryn? Or had he truly become a monster now?"
Her eyes drifted down to the catalyst in her hands. A small metal rod, simple, elegant. It had once been her mother's. Now, it was hers.
She remembered she had shown it to Ryn, when she tried to fill a bucket, back when Ryn had still been recovering. "He'd seemed calm even when I drenched him, maybe even amused."
Her father hated the sight of it. Maybe it reminded him of what he lost, or maybe he just didn't want Aurora following the same dangerous path.
Either way, she kept it hidden when he was around.
She held it tightly now, the cool metal grounding her thoughts.
"Could the seemingly kind dragon I saved really have become a heartless monster?"
She shook her head.
"No," she said resolutely. "I still want to believe this is all a mistake. There must be something I'm missing."
Back at the old camp, I had finished my training, it was time to move. I now had better control and coordination of my movements.
"If I can just get behind the captain without him noticing me... I can end the battle before things get bad," I thought.
The sun had started to lower, piercing the sky with a deep red haze. The forest was silent and suffocating.
"Is this what it feels like before a war begins?"
I started running toward the soldiers' camp so I could follow them discreetly. But with each step, something heavier grew in my chest.
"I've been so focused on protecting the village… I haven't even stopped to think about what this really means."
"This isn't just a raid. It's the start of a war, between what might be the only two nations left in this world."
How many people would be involved? Millions?
Probably not billions… this world still seemed far behind Earth in size and technology. But even so...
This still might be the worst thing that could happen to this world.
And I'm caught in the middle of it.
I sighed. "I really picked a bad time to arrive in this world."
Just then, the camp came into view. Soldiers were gearing up, checking weapons and fastening armor straps. The captain stood near the rear, watching them all with that smug, detached expression.
I crouched low, keeping my distance and activating Presence Suppression.
Then, after a few minutes, once everyone seemed ready, the captain gave an order, and the soldiers started heading toward the village.
I followed silently, keeping to the trees. Now that they were moving into open ground, the captain announced another command, and the soldiers broke into a proper battle formation.
They were three lines deep, with shields in front. Swords and spears behind.
The captain stayed in the rear, surrounded by his personal guards.
"Yes," I thought. "This is just what I was hoping for." I had a good chance of being able to ambush him now.
But as I watched them march-forty trained warriors, all moving in rhythm-my confidence wavered.
My claws gripped the grass. My breath quickened.
If I failed-if I missed the timing-people wouldn't just get hurt.
They'd die.
The villagers. Aurora.
I could still see the disappointed look on her face and hear her asking me "Why."
If I did this right… maybe I'd have an answer for her.
But if I failed… I would never get the chance.
I gritted my teeth and locked my gaze on the captain. "I wasn't going to miss this chance, I couldn't."
The village had now come into view.
Just outside the village, a lookout stood watch for any sign of the dragon, but instead, he saw something far worse. His eyes widened. He blinked, then blinked again. Banners. Armor. Rows of soldiers.
"Invasion!" he shouted, voice cracking. "Lamia's invading!"
Aurora, still sitting in the old shed near the village's edge, heard it, he deep, rhythmic thump of boots. Then shouting. Then panic. She pushed open the creaking door and stepped outside… and froze.
Her heart dropped.
An army was marching straight toward them.
"No… way," she breathed. "We're really being invaded?"
About thirty villagers were scrambling to grab, axes, hammers, swords, even one pitchfork. "Is this really happening?" a younger man said, barely holding his axe straight.
"Just grab an axe and stay behind me." said an older, rougher looking man.
Her father ran up, out of breath but focused. "Aurora! There you are," he said, grabbing her shoulders. "You need to get somewhere safe, now!"
He glanced toward the oncoming army. His expression tightened. "I'm going to fight. Don't… don't wait for me if things go bad, you hear?"
"Wait!" Aurora protested, grabbing his arm. "It's too dangerous!"
He gave a strained smile. "I know."
Then, softer he said, "But I have to do this."
He turned without waiting for a reply, running toward the square where villagers were forming ranks.
Aurora turned to run and hide. But after only a few steps, she slowed to a stop.
Her hand tightened around her catalyst.
"I can't just run," she thought. "If I do, I may never stop."
The army was practically at the entrance of the village now, I saw the men from the village form two ragged lines.
They were out geared, out prepared and probably out skilled. Any chance of winning was almost nonexistent without me.
The two groups were now about twenty feet apart. Aurora's dad took a step forward from the village line, weapon lowered but ready. His voice rang out, not with fear, but with the kind of anger that comes from protecting what's his.
"This is your warning. Turn around now and leave. We're farmers, not soldiers, but we'll defend our home with everything we've got."
A ripple of murmurs passed through the villagers. Some stand taller. Others grip their weapons tighter.
From the enemy line, the captain strolled forward slowly, arms behind his back, like he's out for a casual walk. His polished boots crunch the dirt.
"That's truly touching," he said with a dry smile. He paused, then shrugged. "But I'm afraid your home belongs to Lamia now. And as for your bravery…"
He lifted a hand lazily and gestured to the villagers. "It'll make this battle more entertaining."
Aurora's dad tightens his grip, jaw clenched.
"You're not attacking a fortress; this is a small village. That's not conquest. That's butchery."
"You can call it whatever you want."
He turned his back on them without a second thought, raising one hand in the air.
"Start the attack."
I looked, as the soldiers surged forward like a tide breaking loose. Swords clanged, people screamed, and blood splattered across the dirt.
The villagers were at a clear disadvantage, but because of their preparations, they managed to hold the line. It wouldn't last long, but it was enough.
The captain had returned to the back of the line, where he stood, arms crossed, still watching with that same cold, unshaken confidence.
I lowered myself to the ground getting ready to sprint and strike. "This is what I've been waiting for."
But then my concentration shattered, and I faltered in my step, Aurora had walked onto the battlefield.
No, no, no, what is she doing?! Is she… planning to fight?
She raised that same metal rod she'd shown me in the shed. It shimmered, then morphed into a wand. I swallowed hard.
She's serious.
Some soldiers paused, surprised. "A mage!" one of them shouted.
"Aurora! What are you doing out here? Get back to safety!" her father yelled, his voice sharp with panic.
She stood her ground. "This is my village too! I can't just stand by and do nothing!"
I saw a soldier break from the line, heading straight toward her. She began chanting something in a language I didn't recognize.
"No! Aurora, you're not ready, please run!" her father cried desperately.
But she didn't. A fireball burst from her wand and shot forward, colliding with the soldier in a burst of flame and smoke.
I held my breath.
From the smoke… stepped Burton, he was Unscathed.
My heart sank.
"He hadn't even flinched. And Aurora didn't move away fast enough."
Of course, it was that same cruel veteran I had seen when I eavesdropped on the camp, who else would target a young girl on a battlefield.
He raised his sword. I could see Aurora freeze.
"Move. Move!" I screamed inside. My muscles tensed. I forgot all about the captain and launched myself towards them.
Each step drove deep into the dirt. I sprinted faster than I ever had.
Burton grinned, with a wicked look. "This is a great way to start the war," he muttered.
His blade swung down.
"NO!" her father screamed, pushing forward, only to be blocked by two soldiers.
Ten feet. Then five.
Burtons sword started to swing down.
But I reached them.
With a roar, I lunged, and my claw pierced clean through Burton's side.
Blood sprayed. He gasped and fell. The battlefield froze.
It was my first time killing a human.
And I felt… nothing. No guilt. No hesitation.
He was about to murder the only person who'd shown me kindness.
And, he was a monster, more so than I was.
"Ryn?" Aurora's voice broke through the silence.
She stared at me, wide-eyed, breathless. She had a different look on her face this time, she was confused, but relieved. "You came to save me... T-thank you."
"The dragon's back!" a villager shouted. Weapons snapped in my direction.
"What the hell is a dragon doing here?" one of the Lamian soldiers yelled, voice tight with confusion.
I looked away from Aurora, and thought, "Well… this wasn't exactly how I planned my entrance."
"But there's no time to hesitate."
I looked at the army, they were still in order, but behind their shiny armor, they were visibly shaken.
I bolted toward the front line, claws raised. My first strike slammed into a raised shield, splintering it like wood.
The soldier barely had time to scream, before my second strike cut him down.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a spear flying towards me.
But I dodged it easily whilst killing another soldier.
Everything moved slower now in the heat of battle.
I hadn't noticed it before, but now it was clear.
My reaction speed and reflexes were faster than ever before.
"Is… is the dragon on our side?" someone stammered.
"I don't know," Aurora's father said, raising his sword. "But if he is, then we have a chance. Come on and fight, the battle hasn't ended!"
The villagers were reinvigorated and clashed against the army.
Just a second later, I saw a flicker of motion behind me.
Steel slammed into my back; a soldier had snuck up behind me and attacked, but there was no pain.
It probably didn't leave a scratch on my new scales.
I spun instantly.
My tailed whipped through the air hitting him, and he collapsed without a sound.
The smell of blood now filled the air, but at least the tide was starting to shift. The numbers on each side were almost even now.
But then, through the chaos, he stepped forward.
It was the captain, he looked angry, and I saw no fear in him as our eyes met.
I knew he was strong, but to what extent I didn't know.
The real fight was about to begin.