“This is insane. I’m so worried I can’t even feel my stomach,” I complained for what felt like the tenth time since Lily disappeared with the storm last night.The sun had already begun casting its golden hues over the horizon, slowly chasing away the darkness. The sea, now calm, had lost its storm—along with my Lily. And I couldn't shake the terrible thought of where it might have taken her. Alex and I had searched until exhaustion set in, but she was nowhere to be found. The worst possibilities clawed at my mind, each more terrifying than the last.“And yet, someone here is acting so relaxed, like we haven’t lost Lily for hours,” Alex muttered, his gaze never leaving Eric, who had been standing motionless by the water all night.“He’s worried. But he made a promise to Lily—to seek his dragon side—and that means listening to it, even now.” Frustration twisted in my chest, a burning need to scream at the sea to give her back. “But how long are we supposed to just wait here?”“Maybe we
As we approached the shore, I saw Eric standing in the shallow part of the water, looking completely lost. I paused, my gaze fixed on him.“He’s been like that since last night. He hasn’t said a word or moved from that spot,” Jess said before she and Alex made their way out of the water. I hesitated for a moment before stepping toward him. When I finally stood in front of him, it was as if he didn’t even notice my presence.I reached out, gently touching his hand. The way he flinched and jumped back in shock surprised me. His questioning eyes met mine, and in that instant, I felt my demon side fade, my human side taking over, grounding me in the reality that I was back on the shore—no longer beneath the water. But what I wasn’t expecting was the realization that I was completely naked.“Lily,” Eric breathed, quickly closing the distance between us.A cold gust from the sea swept over my bare skin, sending a shiver down my spine. Before I could react, Eric pulled off his shirt and drap
“You look worried,” Jess’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts as I stood on the balcony, lost in contemplation.“Yeah, I have a lot on my mind,” I replied, glancing at her before looking back at the setting sun.“You’re worried we won’t be able to pull this off, right?” Jess asked, stepping beside me.“More than that, Jess. You should have seen them—the dragons. They trusted me. They celebrated me like I was their savior.Just thinking about how many people could get hurt—or worse, all the dragon souls in Drakemere disappearing—it gives me chills. I don’t want to let anyone down.” A deep sigh left my lips as I felt like a heavy weight was pressing down on my shoulders.“It’s okay to feel that way, Lily, but you have to trust yourself. We all trust you—the dragons, Terranovae, and most importantly, us. Eric believes in you. I believe in you. So does Alex. You have to believe in yourself, too, and know that we have your back.” Jess’s words soothed me slightly, but the weight on my shou
“I can't believe they left us behind,” I muttered, watching as Eric and Alex disappeared from sight.Lily let out a small chuckle. “Let’s just see if we can keep up.”There was something unreadable about her these days. I could tell she was struggling to believe Eric’s sudden change, just like I was.“He seems so different now, right?” I asked as we took off after them.“Eric?” she asked, glancing at me. I nodded.“Well, he’s still the same, but… livelier. The Eric we knew barely used to smile. Now, when I look at him, I don’t just see him—I see them both.” A faint smile tugged at her lips, but her eyes remained distant.“I’m glad he finally accepted him,” I said, feeling a sense of relief at the thought.“Me too,” she admitted, though there was something heavy in her tone, like her thoughts were elsewhere.I stole a glance at her. “You’re worried about her, aren’t you?”“About who?” she asked, but I could see right through her.“You don’t have to hide it, Lily. I know you’re anxious
“Wow, look who decided to show up. If it isn’t Prince Alexavier and Princess Jessandria—the runaway couple.”I can't believe he’s still as annoying as ever.“Hey, Zyren, how about you shut your trap and give us back our accessories?” Alex snapped, slamming his hand on the glass showcase. The glass shattered instantly, shards scattering across the counter.“Calm down, big guy. I was going to return them,” Zyren said, smirking as he leaned toward us. “You’re lucky you came back just in time—before Drakemere freezes completely.”Something in his tone made my stomach twist.“You know, strange things have been happening,” Zyren continued, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Mysterious creatures have been appearing in different clans. First, the Fire Demon City. Then, the Air Demon City. And just yesterday, the Earth Demon City. But you know what’s funny?” His lips curled into a crooked grin. “The Water Demon Cities haven’t been attacked. Isn’t that a little… suspicious?” He let out a hollow
"Michael, wait up! Mum says we need to come home together.""I know, Lily, but you need to keep up.""I'm trying, but you're way too fast. And besides, why didn’t Dad pick us up today?""Because it’s your birthday. Dad is helping Mum at home—I’m sure of it.""Are you sure? Or is he just in another meeting?""I don’t know, Lily. But Mum wants us to take the bus home.""This birthday is going to suck if Dad isn’t around.""You invited your friends, right?""I’m not like you, Michael. You have friends. You’re smart and cool. But no one wants to be friends with a freak like me.""That’s not true, Lily. And you need to stop saying things that are way beyond your age.""Way beyond my age? Michael, I’m turning eleven today. I’m not a child anymore. Complaining about not having friends isn’t something beyond my age."I sighed in frustration. Why does she always have to be so sharp? It’s always been like this with Lily, and honestly, that’s one of the things I love most about her."I’m not say
Michael left, shutting the wardrobe doors behind me. The space was too small, too tight—I could barely breathe. My knees were pressed to my chest, and the scent of wood mixed with my own sweat filled my nostrils. Time dragged on, stretching into what felt like forever. My heart pounded so loudly I was afraid someone might hear it.I wanted to stay hidden like Michael told me, but fear and curiosity gnawed at me. I couldn't take it anymore. With shaky hands, I pushed the wardrobe door open and climbed out. My feet barely made a sound as I crept toward the bedroom door, every step feeling heavier with dread.Slowly, I opened the door and stepped into the dimly lit hallway. My body trembled, but I forced myself to keep going. I had to know what was happening. I had to see.Reaching the top of the staircase, I gripped the railing and peered down.Mum and Dad were on their knees, their hands restrained by two men. My breath caught in my throat. A woman I had never seen before sat before th
I woke up after the worst nightmare, my heart pounding in my chest. My eyes darted around, and I found myself inside my room. A wave of unease washed over me. Without wasting a second, I rushed outside to find my mum, but the entire house was eerily silent.“Mum! Mum!!” I called out, but there was no response.Swallowing the growing fear, I walked to her room and knocked. No answer. With trembling hands, I turned the doorknob and pushed the door open—only to find an empty room. My breathing grew shallow. Something was wrong.Panic set in as I ran upstairs to find Michael, but his room was empty too. My chest tightened. Everyone was gone. I was alone.“Mum! Dad! Michael!” I screamed, my voice breaking as tears blurred my vision.Then, I heard it—footsteps approaching. My entire body froze. Slowly, I turned around, and there she was—the lady in the red dress. She stood in front of me, laughing like a maniac. The sound of her laughter echoed around me, growing louder and louder until it
“Wow, look who decided to show up. If it isn’t Prince Alexavier and Princess Jessandria—the runaway couple.”I can't believe he’s still as annoying as ever.“Hey, Zyren, how about you shut your trap and give us back our accessories?” Alex snapped, slamming his hand on the glass showcase. The glass shattered instantly, shards scattering across the counter.“Calm down, big guy. I was going to return them,” Zyren said, smirking as he leaned toward us. “You’re lucky you came back just in time—before Drakemere freezes completely.”Something in his tone made my stomach twist.“You know, strange things have been happening,” Zyren continued, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Mysterious creatures have been appearing in different clans. First, the Fire Demon City. Then, the Air Demon City. And just yesterday, the Earth Demon City. But you know what’s funny?” His lips curled into a crooked grin. “The Water Demon Cities haven’t been attacked. Isn’t that a little… suspicious?” He let out a hollow
“I can't believe they left us behind,” I muttered, watching as Eric and Alex disappeared from sight.Lily let out a small chuckle. “Let’s just see if we can keep up.”There was something unreadable about her these days. I could tell she was struggling to believe Eric’s sudden change, just like I was.“He seems so different now, right?” I asked as we took off after them.“Eric?” she asked, glancing at me. I nodded.“Well, he’s still the same, but… livelier. The Eric we knew barely used to smile. Now, when I look at him, I don’t just see him—I see them both.” A faint smile tugged at her lips, but her eyes remained distant.“I’m glad he finally accepted him,” I said, feeling a sense of relief at the thought.“Me too,” she admitted, though there was something heavy in her tone, like her thoughts were elsewhere.I stole a glance at her. “You’re worried about her, aren’t you?”“About who?” she asked, but I could see right through her.“You don’t have to hide it, Lily. I know you’re anxious
“You look worried,” Jess’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts as I stood on the balcony, lost in contemplation.“Yeah, I have a lot on my mind,” I replied, glancing at her before looking back at the setting sun.“You’re worried we won’t be able to pull this off, right?” Jess asked, stepping beside me.“More than that, Jess. You should have seen them—the dragons. They trusted me. They celebrated me like I was their savior.Just thinking about how many people could get hurt—or worse, all the dragon souls in Drakemere disappearing—it gives me chills. I don’t want to let anyone down.” A deep sigh left my lips as I felt like a heavy weight was pressing down on my shoulders.“It’s okay to feel that way, Lily, but you have to trust yourself. We all trust you—the dragons, Terranovae, and most importantly, us. Eric believes in you. I believe in you. So does Alex. You have to believe in yourself, too, and know that we have your back.” Jess’s words soothed me slightly, but the weight on my shou
As we approached the shore, I saw Eric standing in the shallow part of the water, looking completely lost. I paused, my gaze fixed on him.“He’s been like that since last night. He hasn’t said a word or moved from that spot,” Jess said before she and Alex made their way out of the water. I hesitated for a moment before stepping toward him. When I finally stood in front of him, it was as if he didn’t even notice my presence.I reached out, gently touching his hand. The way he flinched and jumped back in shock surprised me. His questioning eyes met mine, and in that instant, I felt my demon side fade, my human side taking over, grounding me in the reality that I was back on the shore—no longer beneath the water. But what I wasn’t expecting was the realization that I was completely naked.“Lily,” Eric breathed, quickly closing the distance between us.A cold gust from the sea swept over my bare skin, sending a shiver down my spine. Before I could react, Eric pulled off his shirt and drap
“This is insane. I’m so worried I can’t even feel my stomach,” I complained for what felt like the tenth time since Lily disappeared with the storm last night.The sun had already begun casting its golden hues over the horizon, slowly chasing away the darkness. The sea, now calm, had lost its storm—along with my Lily. And I couldn't shake the terrible thought of where it might have taken her. Alex and I had searched until exhaustion set in, but she was nowhere to be found. The worst possibilities clawed at my mind, each more terrifying than the last.“And yet, someone here is acting so relaxed, like we haven’t lost Lily for hours,” Alex muttered, his gaze never leaving Eric, who had been standing motionless by the water all night.“He’s worried. But he made a promise to Lily—to seek his dragon side—and that means listening to it, even now.” Frustration twisted in my chest, a burning need to scream at the sea to give her back. “But how long are we supposed to just wait here?”“Maybe we
“I have no powers. The only reason I came here was to find my demon side—yet I haven’t even come close. I wasn’t supposed to be here. I was supposed to reach Terranova’s Gate, fight through the waves, and uncover the part of me that’s hidden.If I can’t find it… then maybe Azhadrex chose wrong. Maybe it wasn’t supposed to be me.”The words felt heavy as I spoke them aloud, my chest tightening under the weight of defeat.Tythorax’s gaze remained steady, unwavering. “Azhadrex never chooses wrong,” he said with certainty. “That’s why we have something for you.” His eyes lingered on mine for a moment before he turned, striding toward the massive gate ahead.I hesitated before following.When the gate creaked open, the first thing I saw was Zyron. He stood exactly where I had left him, unmoving, patient.He kept his promise. He waited for me.“Father. Lily,” he greeted, his voice calm and composed.I froze.Father?My eyes widened in shock as I turned to Tythorax. He was Zyron’s father?“I
So, Eric was the reborn version of Azhadrex, and if his heart wasn’t found, he would turn into a beast and destroy all of Terranovae—the very place he was meant to protect. My blood ran cold.“We're here. Welcome to the dragon world. It's where we’ve learned to adapt, hoping to be saved,” Zyron said. My jaw dropped.There were so many of them—each with different eye colors and body structures—but they all looked so majestic, so breathtakingly beautiful. I couldn’t believe this was real.And I had to admit, Drakemere City was stunning, even beneath the sea. Zyron led the way toward the grand castle at the center of the city, and as we entered, we were greeted by more dragons. Their faces lit up, their gazes filled with joy and anticipation.“Why is everyone happy to see me?” I asked Zyron, feeling overwhelmed by the warm, expectant stares.“Because we've waited for your arrival for what feels like forever. You being here means hope—maybe even a second chance for us.”My chest tightened
“Lily, Lily, wake up!” A voice whispered in my ear. My eyes fluttered open, and I was met with nothing but darkness. A sharp pain throbbed at the back of my head.I couldn't understand what was happening or where I was. Looking around, I couldn't pick up a single sound or light. But the strange thing was—I was still floating. Then it hit me. I was still beneath the sea. Panic shot through me as I immediately swam up to the surface, but that only made my fear intensify.Nothing made sense. When I reached the surface, the moon that once shone brightly on the sea’s horizon was gone, leaving me and the vast body of water swallowed in total darkness.But the moon wasn’t the only thing missing—the storm had vanished too, leaving the sea eerily silent. A chilling stillness settled over me, and worst of all, I was completely lost, with no way of finding my way back to shore.I turned left, then right, but all I could see was endless water stretching around me. A shiver ran down my spine as pa
“Lily, stop! Please!” Eric’s voice was desperate as another wave slammed into me, knocking me back for the tenth time. I was exhausted, but I didn’t care. That was until Eric stepped directly into my path, blocking me.“Move out of my way,” I said, my voice laced with warning.“No, this is insane!” he shot back, but his words only stoked the fire of my anger.“Why is it insane? Let me guess—you don’t think I can make it to Terranovae, do you?” I asked, staring him down. He avoided my gaze, and that hurt more than the waves ever could. He didn’t even have a shred of faith in me.“Lily, I’m just worried about you! I don’t know what that dragon told you, but the skills he taught you? They’re useless! He’s just setting you up to get yourself killed. Let’s go back to the shore. You’re soaked, you’re freezing—please!” He reached out to touch me, but I stepped back, anger flaring.I stared at him in disbelief. How could he say that to me? “I don’t need you to worry about me, Eric! Worry abou