Aeris had never known love.

An orphan from birth, she grew up in the shadows of a world that barely acknowledged her existence. The orphanage was cold, its caretakers indifferent. The other children found solace in one another, forming bonds and friendships, but Aeris? She was always alone.

She watched from the corners, hoping that one day, someone would reach out. That someone would say, "You are wanted. You are loved."

But no one ever did.

As she grew older, she learned to stop hoping. The world was cruel to those who had nothing. People only valued what they could use, and Aeris had nothing to offer.

Then she met Liam.

He was charming, kind—or so she thought. He gave her warmth when no one else did. He smiled at her, whispered promises that made her fragile heart believe that, finally, someone cared.

So she clung to him, desperate for the love she had never known.

But love was just another lie.

One evening, she walked into an alleyway, hoping to surprise him. Instead, she found him in the arms of another woman, whispering the same sweet words he had once told her.

Her heart shattered.

When she confronted him, his gaze turned cold, and his lips twisted into a cruel smirk.

"Did you actually think you mattered?" he scoffed.

Aeris took a step back, tears threatening to spill. "You said you loved me—"

"You were just a distraction," he snapped. Then, without hesitation, he shoved her.

The world spun.

Her body slammed against the cold brick wall.

A sharp, unbearable pain erupted in her skull.

The last thing she heard was Liam laughing.

Then—nothing.

---

Aeris expected darkness. She expected an endless void where her meaningless existence would simply fade away.

But when she opened her eyes, she was met with the sight of a vast starry sky.

The scent of incense and burning wood filled her lungs. She was lying on a stone altar, her wrists bound in soft silk. Torches flickered around her, illuminating the dozens of villagers kneeling before her. Their heads were bowed, their bodies trembling.

Fear hung thick in the air.

And then, she heard it.

"Forgive us, O mighty one, for disturbing your slumber. Accept this offering and grant us your mercy."

Offering?

Aeris's breath hitched. She tried to sit up, but the restraints held her in place. Her body felt different—stronger, more delicate. She was not in her old body.

A lock of long, silky black hair fell over her shoulder. Her skin was flawless, her limbs slender yet elegant.

She wasn’t Aeris anymore.

She was someone else.

Before she could fully comprehend what had happened, a sudden gust of wind sent the flames flickering wildly. The villagers gasped and pressed their foreheads to the ground.

The air grew heavy.

The ground trembled.

A shadow loomed over the altar.

Aeris turned her head just as he arrived.

The DRAGON KING.

A colossal black-scaled beast descended from the night sky, his massive wings blotting out the stars. His form radiated raw, suffocating power. The very air crackled around him, charged with the force of the elements—fire, water, air—all bending to his will.

The villagers cowered, whispering prayers of submission.

But Aeris?

She could only stare.

And then—his eyes met hers.

Glowing red eyes, deep and ancient, locked onto her with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.

She braced herself for pain. For death.

But it never came.

Instead, the Dragon King tilted his head slightly, his gaze unwavering.

He was not filled with rage.

He was not filled with hunger.

He was curious.

The silence stretched on, thick with tension. The villagers remained frozen, awaiting their fate.

Then, without a word, the Dragon King lowered his massive clawed hand toward her.

Gasps erupted from the crowd as he gently lifted her from the altar, holding her as if she were something fragile.

Aeris barely had time to react before his wings unfurled.

Then—he took off.

The wind howled as the villagers' panicked cries faded into the distance.

He had taken her.

Aeris kept waiting for the worst.

For pain.

For death.

For something, anything, to make sense.

But as the icy wind brushed against her skin and the Dragon King carried her into the endless night sky, a strange thought crept into her mind.

Something is off.

This didn’t feel real.

It was too much like a dream.

And dreams always ended in nightmares.

She clenched her fists, her heart pounding.

Whatever happens next… I must be ready for the worst.

---

To be continued…