Chapter 2

-Watson Soons Residence, 2019-

Hopping down the empyrean loop after peeking through several times, Miracle found herself in an unfamiliar land. As the loop vanished behind her, she took in her surroundings. The warm sensation of wild grasses, coupled with a wave of sea-scented air, greeted her. Her shoes were gone, and the layers of her silky garments had transformed into a set she had no connection with—a pink cotton T-shirt and a pair of black ripped jeans. She touched her head. Her silver chains were no longer on her too. 

'So this is the version of their world,' she muttered inwardly, recalling the lessons she had learned about humans.

"Good day." A deep voice snapped her to her senses. "Here, wear these." He placed the jelly flip-flop next to her bare feet.

"T-Thanks..." She lifted her eyes to the middle-aged man standing before her. "And you are?"

"Amenxious. I’m Hayden Watson, the TinXi who has been guarding here for decades," he said, giving her a slight gentlemanly bow.

TinXi, the border keepers of the mortal realm, were endowed with half immortality, possessing exceptional strength and agility that proved invaluable in aiding dragons during their missions. In addition to their physical prowess, they excelled as spellcasters, effortlessly erasing the memories of mortals who had witnessed scenes they weren't meant to see.

"Amenxious. Nice to meet you too, Hayden. I'm Xue…” She trailed off for a moment, almost forgetting that she wasn't supposed to use her real name in this world. "Miracle. I'm Miracle."

She studied the man—fair skin, sharp nose, and rounded ears. Behind his hazel-brown eyes, she discerned hints of blue—the color of TinXi. Her gaze then drifted to his T-shirt, catching a glimpse of his tough body as it wasn't buttoned fully.

While Miracle was still sizing him up, a blue aquatic drop suddenly surfaced out of his dilating pupil. She froze. Her sight rippled for a second as another drop was extracted from the blueness behind her disguised left eye. When the blue spheroids merged together, they radiated a vibrant presence of vitality.

Miracle shook her head. She was starting to feel dizzy. 

Hayden didn't seem to notice what was happening to her. He had his focus fixed on the glowing cerulean levitating a few inches away from his palm.

“H-Hayden?" She rested her hand on a bench next to the Magnolia tree.

Seeing her pale face, he furrowed his brows.

'Hang in there a while more, dragon girl,' his gaze spoke.

Drawing in the spheroid, he squeezed and burst it into tiny twinkling pieces. They surged upward, and a new piece of an invisible elemental net descended over their house the next moment. In an instant, the blue flakes were gone.

Hayden hurried over, catching her arm just in time before it slipped off the crest rail. "Sorry, Miracle," he said, "we needed to do this to strengthen the barrier of this house. I apologize for not informing you before getting started.

She smiled. "No worries. It's done, isn't it?"

"Yes." He nodded. "Let's get in. It's cold out here."

When Miracle entered, she swept her gaze around. Blue opaque curtains were drawn, leaving only thin gaps between them for the slightest hint of light to pass through. Books, seemingly weathered by a century or more, adorned the racks beneath the double-stringer stairs. Familiar silver fronds at the corners infused the space with a divine ambiance that coursed through her body. Yet, her nose itched at the lingering breaths that belonged to the late dragons, tugging at her heartstrings.

'I'll end this disaster, my friends. And shall bring back your names and dignities.'

"Have a seat, Miracle." Hayden gestured her toward the solo couch, stopping her from dwelling on the past. "I'll get you something to drink."

"Sure." She outstretched her legs.

Suddenly, the echo of loud footsteps behind the door jolted her, instantly heightening her guard. Miracle's eyes locked onto the entrance, her fists clenched in readiness.

"Daddd! We are back!" A teen's voice.

'Dad?' Her tensed shoulders relaxed.

"Oh, you're back?" Hayden responded from the kitchen.

Ignoring her father's reply, the girl in school uniform halted her steps as soon as she entered. 

"The... dragon?" She slacked her jaw. 

“Gosh, what's with the stop?" the taller boy grumbled, drawing his face back from the voluminous maroon hair.

Both of them bore a striking resemblance.

The moment he moved his eyes to Miracle, he looked as shocked as the earlier girl.

"Wow," he uttered under his breath. 

Putting down the tray of strawberry tea, Hayden waved at his children, telling them to come over. “Lyn, Kingsley. Come here." 

Lyn stood by the staircase, frozen in place. Her widened stare exuded curiosity, as if she were uncertain how to react to Miracle's sudden presence in the house. It was only when the eldest TinXi introduced them to the young dragon that they finally approached.

The twins set their bags aside and executed a proper bow. Bending on one knee, Lyn formed a circle by connecting her index fingers with her thumbs, seamlessly interlocking them. The remaining fingers were held outstretched.

"Amenxious. I'm Lyn, a water striker with 600 years of cultivation,” she introduced herself, lifting her hands to her forehead.

"Amenxious. And I'm Kingsley.” The brother followed suit. ”A fire striker with 600 years of cultivation."

Gently pushing up their elbows, Miracle curled up the corners of her lips. "Just ignore all the protocols. Nobody's here to check on this."

"Exactly!" Kingsley shot Hayden a sidelong look. "But our dad doesn't seem to be getting it at all."

"Well... It's all—"

"Respect," said the twins. 

Miracle chuckled softly.

Hayden flashed an awkward smile before walking away with the empty teapot in his hand. Right then, Lyn hopped over and perched on the arm panel of the couch where Miracle was seated.

"You're really... the most beautiful dragon I've ever met," Lyn whispered. She was so close to Miracle that Miracle had to inch a little to keep her maroon hair from tickling her arms. "Actually, the first white dragon.”

“Can you stop acting like a hungry beast?"

"White dragons are powerful in nature, Kingsley. How can you not be impressed?"

He rolled his eyes. "Just so you know, aside from creeping her out, you're nowhere looking like you're impressed." Kingsley took a sip of his tea. "By the way, Miracle, are you aware that you'll be attending our school?"

"Yes." She nodded. "We were told about that before having to come here."

"Great. Don't worry too much about it. Lyn and I will be by your side." He shot a look at his sister.

"Of course—" Something caught Lyn's attention.

"What's wrong?" Kingsley arched his brow.

"L-Look... Her m-mark. It's amazing,” Lyn said, her fingers trembling.

Lowering his eyes to where she was pointing, he muttered, “I see... A truly white dragon.”

"I finally see some hope in ending this bloody war," Hayden mumbled as he came up from behind, leaving Miracle to wonder what he meant.