I could still feel the warmth from Amelia's training sessions, lingering like a faint echo along my arms. My eyes drifted down to the scar etched into my skin, a silent reminder of the lessons she had taught me in magic. As we rode the velociraptor deeper into the forest, I began noticing the herbs scattered across the clearing. Amelia called them Sin Herbs, and both of us exchanged confused glances at the name. She pulled out a signal device—looking like a can of food, its edges reinforced with black metal, the screen an unusual glass that I didn't bother to examine closely—and used it to navigate. The forests shifted under our path, the creatures and monsters within keeping a wary distance as we crossed from the Holmes Kingdom into the Homeless Woods and finally onto the green land, neutral territory agreed upon by the three kingdoms. I couldn't shake the thought that it was the Fantasy Kingdom behind the arrangement.
Amelia named the velociraptor Jack, and as we rode, she spoke. "You know, Xiver, I'm a loner too. I have love and friends, but there's this emptiness I can't ignore. When I see Jack and Sara, though, I remember why I fight. If you have no one, life has no meaning. There's no one to fight for. Hah… it sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? Forget what I said."
"I have someone I'm fighting for," I said plainly.
Her head turned sharply, eyes wide. "Really?! Who?! Tell me, tell me, is it a girl? Please tell me!"
I met her gaze calmly. "It's me."
She blinked. "Oh."
"I fight for me, I live for me," I added.
"I heard you," she said softly, letting the words hang between us. She pulled Jack to a stop and dismounted, brushing her hands on her pants. "Let's head to the mountain."
"We can just—" I began.
"Remember," she cut me off, eyes sharp, "I'm the leader now. Treat me like that. I'm not your babysitter anymore, and for your information, I'm older than you. Respect me."
I knew my words had ruffled her, but I didn't understand what would ever make her truly calm. Smile at her? Joke around? To hell with that. I simply followed, silent and controlled, letting her energy lead the way.
Suddenly, two figures fell from the sky, hitting the ground with supersonic speed. Trees splintered under their weight, and the forest trembled from their landing.
The one with purple hair spat angrily. "See? See what you've done to the Green Land, you dumb—"
The white-haired one shot back, equally loud. "Me?! You're the one who said we should hurry and meet them!"
"Amelia, tell her!" the purple-haired figure demanded.
"No, Amelia, you tell her!" the white-haired one retorted.
Amelia let out a nervous laugh. "Hahaha… let's save the drama for later. We still have a mission."
I studied them quickly. The purple-haired figure was tall and muscular, clad in leather armor that accentuated her imposing frame. The white-haired girl was smaller, about my height, but her presence felt warmer. She carried a massive wooden staff; clearly, a sorcery magic user.
"So, this is the kid you were talking about?" the purple-haired one asked, narrowing her eyes. "He doesn't look twelve at all."
"I'm Xiver Hamilton," I said coolly, keeping the fake family name intact.
The purple-haired figure didn't care. "I didn't ask that."
I didn't reply, just observed. The white-haired girl clung to her staff, eyes wary but curious. "Maria! You can't say this!"
"Huh," Maria replied, shrugging, still focused on Amelia.
They argued and bickered while I stayed quiet, noting every movement, every tone. Amelia finally intervened. "Hey, you two, calm down."
Martha's voice piped up, curiosity tinged with challenge. "Yes?"
"Is he going to stay with us?" she asked.
I realized then I wasn't truly welcomed. Amelia's tone was sharp. "Okay, that's enough. He's staying. End of discussion."
Maria pouted, clearly frustrated. "You can't just decide that. He's like a little brother, after all."
"Yeah, I know," Martha said, flustered, but Amelia's decision stood. The tension faded as we finally began ascending the mountain on foot, deciding against riding dragons or other creatures for stealth.
"I can use air magic to help us climb," I suggested.
"Yeah, but we don't know what monsters are hiding in the caves," Martha warned.
"Better to avoid magic in unfamiliar territory," Maria added.
Amelia nodded. "I'll signal the adventure guild again, just to be safe."
The day passed without finding the Sin Herbs. Night fell, and we made camp. I was placed in a separate tent, but curiosity drew me to Maria's.
"Huh? Xiver?" she murmured, half-awake.
"Shhh… I have a question," I said quietly.
"Hmm… sure," she yawned.
"Do you know anything about mirror magic?"
"Huh?"
"You're a sorcery user… I need to know."
"It's simple," she murmured, stretching. "You don't even need advanced sorcery, just basic manipulation magic with elements."
"And divine?" I pressed.
"Divine is more for controlling creatures and plants. Manipulation covers elements, materials…" She yawned again. "I'm sleepy."
I left her tent quietly, and that's when I noticed Amelia was missing from her watch.
"Guys! Wake up! We're in danger!" I called, panic rising in my chest. But no one responded. Using air magic, I surged into the sky, scanning the horizon. There, circling above, was a massive black dragon, unmistakable from the stories Elizabeth used to tell, its form adorned with floating blue circles and a massive gem embedded in its forehead. Its growl muttered words I couldn't comprehend. I twisted through the air, pushing my magic to its limits just to survive, a strange warmth pressing against me.
Then, suddenly, I woke up. Bathtub water dripped around me as I scrambled out, towel wrapped around my hips. Tears streamed down my face, and I ran toward my father, crying, screaming. He caught me immediately, worry etched across his features. "What happened?" he asked.
"It was just a bad dream…" I sobbed, letting him wipe my tears. Tomorrow, school awaited. Friends, life… reality.
I returned to middle school, embraced my friends, and later that day, I went on a date with my girlfriend. She had been the most popular girl, and our low-key romance meant a simple cinema date. I smiled, telling her I appreciated my life more now than ever.
The scene shifted, revealing the truth in chilling clarity. Xiver lay curled inside the smooth, dark confines of the egg, his body limp in slumber. In his mind, he moved freely through the life he had longed for—the warmth of friends, the laughter of a carefree childhood, the comfort of home. Every familiar face, every comforting moment, had been nothing but a projection, a dream crafted by the Fate Dragon's immense power. Surrounding him, in neighboring eggs, Maria, Martha, and Amelia also slept, their breaths slow and steady, unaware that even their consciousness had been momentarily snared by the dragon's control. The eggs shimmered faintly with an inner glow, the soft light casting eerie shadows across the chamber, hinting at the immense, silent presence of the Fate Dragon watching over them all. Reality and illusion merged in the fragile quiet, and the truth could not be denied: everything Xiver had felt, everything he had returned to in his mind, had been an illusion—and the dragon's grip was absolute.