Archive of Our Own

Today was a special day in Kremnos' Kingdom.

And not only for them, but for the rest of Amphoreous.

Today the ambassadors from each kingdom would travel to Aedes Elysiae to celebrate the birth of the next dragon to offer their respects and best wishes. It was a tradition that has been celebrated for hundreds of years due to a conflict that occurred many years ago.

The kings of the ancient kingdoms came to fear the power of those creatures and devised a plan to destroy them under the disguise of protecting their people. The tales from the books tell of battles that were utterly brutal and bloody; resources were wasted, and warriors died every day in a senseless war. The dragons, despite the difficult and complicated situation, fell one by one.

The three ambassadors who would undertake the voyage were waiting at the port. The ship was about to set sail, when suddenly, something caught their attention.

"Hey... What's that?"

This continued until one day they almost completely disappeared. It was only then that the kings of that time realized the grave mistake they had made and tried to remedy it by bestowing all kinds of riches upon the few creatures that remained. The most surprising thing of all was that, despite the pain brought on by the humans' betrayal, the hearts of the dragons were far greater, their nobility and loyalty reigning supreme.

As a way of restoring the peace they had shared, the dragons periodically offered each kingdom one of their descendants. This child would be intrinsically bound to that kingdom or to a specific person, being profoundly loyal to them.

"Is that... a child?"

However, the kingdom that received the dragon would not know its mission, as each one would fulfill a different one; all they could do was wait for it to manifest itself at some point in their lives. Some of them ended up helping with mundane tasks like raising livestock or farming. Others ended up in the forge creating weapons, and others would serve as advisors to the kings.

“Yes, it’s definitely a child. But... what is it doing here, on the riverbank?” asked one of the ambassadors.

The three glanced at each other quickly, wondering whether to approach him or not. It was strange that, until now, no one had noticed him, since the port wasn't particularly deserted. One of them dragged him out of the water and onto the shore, lifting his head above water. As he did so, the body didn't move an inch; he was just laying there.

"Why hasn't anyone done anything?! We have to help him!"

The ambassadors quickly asked for help from a couple of crew members who were loading things onto the ship; so busy and focused were they that they didn't notice the incident on the shore. Soon one of them carried the infant and they took him inland to help him; they didn't know if he had really drowned or if there was still hope of saving him.

Along the way, several citizens looked at them, some with curiosity, others with surprise, since it was unusual to see the ambassadors in such a hurry. In no time they managed to reach the royal infirmary; despite being a place exclusively for royalty, it was the place where he could be treated at once.

"Ambassadors? What are you doing here? You should be sailing for Aedes Elysiae any minute now" said the royal physician, Krateros, as soon as they entered.

"We know, Krateros. The thing is..." 

Before the old man could ask any more questions, the crewman carrying the child appeared behind them with the body completely lifeless. Seeing this, Krateros immediately cleared one of the nearby stretchers, indicating that they should lay him down there. 

"Don't worry about him, I'll take care of him."

The ambassadors and the crew members nodded, and with lingering concern, they left the sickbay, leaving them alone.

Once they were alone, Krateros took the child's wrist and checked his pulse. At first, there was nothing. Not a single heartbeat. He moved his finger a little higher, in hope to detect something, but there was still nothing. He sighed in frustration; he was too young to die like this. His skin was cold and pale as ice, probably from the time he had spent in the water. His exotic white hair stuck to his forehead, as wet as it was.

As the minutes ticked by, he began to lose hope, but suddenly, one, two, one, two. As if reactivated, his pulse returned, slowly painting his cheeks a subtle shade of pink; his chest rose and fell in a measured rhythm, almost as if he was afraid of doing so. His head barely moved, and that was the last sign he needed to confirm he was alive.

When the younger boy opened his eyes after a while, Krateros never expected to find a pair of bright, innocent blue eyes staring at him with a mixture of curiosity and fear. 

"Hey, how are you feeling?" the old man asked, using a much softer tone of voice than usual. The young boy lowered his head without taking his eyes off him. He brought his hands to his torso, curiously touching his wet shirt. Krateros cleared his throat and tried again. "Do you remember how you got to the river?" Despite this, the result was the same. He combed the hairs on his forehead in an exasperated gesture. Wasn't he being clear enough?

He momentarily abandoned his attempt to communicate with the child and instead picked up the stethoscope to continue examining his body. The fact that he had remained without a pulse for such a long time was impossible for any human; the strange way in which it returned so suddenly made it even stranger. 

However, when he approached with the strange device pressed to his ears, the infant opened his eyes with renewed interest and jumped off the examination table; with trembling legs, he walked without hesitation towards the exit, ignoring a stunned Krateros. 

"Hey, kid, wait. Where are you going?" - he called out because he had no other option, but was ignored again.

He put the equipment back and followed the child. The situation was becoming increasingly bizarre. In all his years of life, he had never witnessed anything like that. Perhaps the boy didn't speak his language? Which surprised him, since almost all the kingdoms of Amphoreus used the same language. Or perhaps he simply didn't know how?

Ignoring all this, the boy walked through the kingdom's streets, stopping at every stall, in front of every business, every person who paused to look at him curiously, as if searching for something, or someone; he moved with complete agility as if he knew the streets all his life. Krateros simply gave a slight shrug to the people who looked at him with the same question in mind.

After a few minutes wandering around, Krateros came to a conclusion: he had no idea what he wanted or was looking for. Occasionally, he would stop in front of someone, observe them intensely, only to lose all interest seconds later, trying the next person. He tried calling him repeatedly, and it wasn't until he took his arm that he finally paid attention, looking at him with those large blue eyes. 

"I don't know where you want to go or what you want to do, but you definitely can't go there. It's the kings' palace" he explained, now holding his interest. The white-haired boy shifted his gaze between him and the large structure.

"K-Ki..." he tried to repeat, stumbling over his own words. He tried again, frowning in frustration.

"Oh, so you can talk after all... Interesting." Still holding him by the arm, he tried to lead him back to the infirmary, with some resistance. The little boy shook his head, trying to free his arm.

"K-Ki... Ki!" he tried to repeat, pointing once more at the large building. Krateros let out a long sigh, combed the gray hair on his forehead, and shook his head. 

"We can't go with them. Or rather, you can't go with them" he explained firmly, emphasizing the "you." However, with his response, the boy's face contorted into a grimace of panic, retreating with each step until, with a swift movement, he freed his arm and ran towards the castle.

"Damn it... Brat, wait!" he clicked his tongue in frustration and followed, finding it somewhat difficult due to his age.

To say he was surprised was an understatement. This person had not only literally returned from the dead, but was now demonstrating strength and agility beyond his years. Abilities that impressed not only him, but also the guards watching over the castle.

"Catch that kid! Don't let him advance any further!" Krateros ordered once he reached the guards.

"Medic Krateros?! What's going on?" one of them asked, signaling others to rush the boy and stop him, but he dodged with relative ease. After several unsuccessful attempts to catch him, they deployed many more guards from other areas, quickly devising a plan to corner him and finally capture him. However, just when they thought they had him, he slipped with enviable agility between the guards' legs, leaving them astonished as he continued to curiously explore the castle.

Subsequent attempts to catch him continued throughout different parts of the castle, attracting the attention of other staff members, and becoming a truly comical scene as large men in armor with wielding swords were unable to catch the child.

However, the commotion wasn't limited to just the staff.

"What's all this fuss about?!" King Eurypon demanded, bursting out of his room, frustrated by the interruption to his reading of some documents. Before anyone could answer, however, a small body collided with him, sending him sprawling to the floor. They stared at each other in confusion for several seconds.

"Ki... Ki-?" the white-haired man asked, getting to his feet. Once standing, he stared intently at the other.

"And what's this child doing here?" he asked the guards once they reached him. They rested for a few seconds on their laps before answering, trying to catch their breath.

"W-we're sorry, Your Highness. We had some trouble trying to catch him" Krateros explained, lifting the child into the air to prevent a repeat of this situation. Eurypon looked at him with a raised eyebrow... How could someone that young have caused his guards so much trouble? Before anyone present could add anything else, the white-haired boy glanced at Eurypon once more before shaking his head. He squirmed in Krateros' arms, quickly freeing himself from his grasp and slipping away another way, this time following the direction indicated by a large staircase.

"Boy, stop right now! Guards!" Eurypon ordered, leading the chase once more.

The younger boy took the stairs two at a time with the same agility as before. When he reached the upper rooms, he paused behind one in particular; he sniffed above but shook his head in denial, trying the next door.

"Don't let him go any further!" he shouted, racing up the stairs as fast as he could with the guards and Krateros hot on his heels.

When he stopped in front of the largest and most imposing door, he hesitantly opened it, one of the guards leaped at him, pinning him to the ground. One by one, the rest of the guards joined in, forming a pile of human bodies that caused the little boy to whimper in pain.

This sudden commotion surprised the person inside the room. Gorgo, who was sitting on the edge of the bed reading an old book, jumped at the arrival of the guards and her husband.

"My dear! Are you alright?" asked Eurypon, entering the room and striding towards his wife.

"Hm? Of course, my dear. Why wouldn't I be? What's going on?" she asked, intrigued, placing the book on the nightstand and getting out of bed. Eurypon helped her with this last task, as his swelling usually complicated anything.

"Nothing, my dear. Just... a minor inconvenience. Nothing you need to worry about," he replied quickly with a small smile on his face. "Take him away."

The guards, who were holding the child by the shoulders and arms, nodded at the king's order, taking him outside despite the other's protests and groans.

"Wait. Why are you taking him?" Gorgo asked once she was closer. "What's he doing here?"

"W-we don't know, my queen. He's just a child, probably just trying to cause trouble" Krateros replied, looking embarrassed, following the king's instructions.

"Leave him, my dear. It's not important." Eurypon helped by putting his arm around his wife's shoulders in a brief embrace.

"Ki... Ki, ki!" they heard him murmur, struggling more forcefully from the guards' grip, making a greater effort to get closer.

Gorgo felt sorry for the white-haired boy. "Let him go." she ordered, the guards looking at her in surprise.

"B-but my queen..." one of them tried to reply, their eyes meeting.

"If he managed to evade the entire guard just to get here, the least we can do is see what he wants," she explained, getting up from the bed and taking a step forward.

Krateros, along with the rest, obeyed the queen's order, releasing the boy. Once he was free, he sniffed the air around him and looked with those large blue eyes at the woman, tilting his head to one side. He walked hesitantly toward her while the others maintained a defensive position in case he tried to do anything to her. When he was in front of her, he sniffed again, curious. "Ki?" he asked, addressing her.

"Hm? What are you looking for, little one?" she replied with another question, softening her voice as she unconsciously stroked her swollen stomach.

"Pay no mind to him, my queen. It's the only thing he's said since he woke up in the infirmary."

Gorgo ignored the comment and noticed the younger boy's intense gaze on the hand on her stomach, moving closer and closer until he was just inches from her. Guided by something he didn't yet understand, he extended his hand, intending to mimic hers. However, Eurypon's swift movement stopped him mid-air.

"Stop there, brat. Don't even think about touching my wife." The king threatened, causing the child to moan in pain and writhe under that pressure.

"Eurypon, stop it. Do you really think someone his age could hurt me?"

"I'm not willing to find out."

The woman sighed at her husband's overprotective attitude. She understood, but sometimes she considered it exaggerated and extremist. Gorgo returned to the edge of the bed and turned his gaze to the child.

"Eurypon, let him go." She snapped calmly, looking at her husband. "Guards, you may leave."

"B-but dear..." he tried to reply but he knew the woman well enough to know that if they didn't do what he asked, the biggest danger in the room wouldn't be the child. "Do what he says. Except you, Krateros."

The guards, stunned by the queen's order, could do nothing but nod, they bowed in her direction, and left the room as she had ordered. Krateros closed the door to the room and waited in front of the door on hold for any indication. Eurypon freed the child who immediately took the doll to his mouth and licked the skin like an animal treating a wound; The rest observed that small gesture, intrigued.

Gorgo extended his hand towards him, inviting him to come closer. He looked at her doubtfully at first considering the treatment he had received in the short time there, but the smile on the woman's face and the tranquility she exuded were enough for him to try again.

"I insist, dear. What if he does something to you?"

"He won't, darling. I don't see any evil in his eyes."

Eurypon couldn't help but snort at that, crossing his arms.

"You've read a lot of novels lately, dear."

Gorgo ignored that comment, keeping her hand outstretched waiting for the white-haired child to take it. After a few seconds he did so and carefully the woman guided him towards her bulging stomach, allowing him to caress it.

As soon as this happened, the minor's eyes lit up and he put a big smile, letting out some sort of laugh in the process. "Ki, ki!" He exclaimed as he nodded quickly, taking the confidence to even rest his head against the swollen skin, emitting a gentle vibration.

"Huh, so that's all he wanted to do." Krateros muttered from his position, crossing his arms as well. "Why?"

Gorgo simply shook her head and dared to reach out and stroke the younger boy's white hair, marveling at its peculiar color, or rather, lack thereof. However, as the minutes passed in that position, a pair of small, rounded horns began to sprout from within the mass of white hair.

"W-what the heck…?" Eurypon exclaimed in a whisper, surprise and fear etched on his face.

And he wished it had only been that.

A pair of small white wings sprouted from his back, tearing through the shirt he was wearing; wings that ended up dragging along the ground along with a tail that curled around Gorgo's leg. Both limbs were covered in small, fine white scales that shimmered with iridescent colors, something completely new and strange to everyone. "Oh, by Nikador... Is it a dragon?" the old doctor barely managed to say, so surprised was he. "That would explain why it controlled the pulse at will."

"But what is it doing here? The ambassadors just set sail for Elisios to celebrate its arrival. It wasn't Kremnos' turn to receive it." Eurypon reasoned, observing how the creature remained with its head resting against his wife's swollen stomach, completely oblivious to the questions about it. "We have to inform Elisios and return it."

"My king, if we do that, they could accuse us of stealing the creature and threaten the crown of Elisios. The perfect excuse to start another war." The doctor quickly analyzed, walking beside his leader.

"What do you suggest then? We won't be able to hide it for long with those... things" he said dismissively, pointing at the dragon's limbs. While they both tried to figure out a way out of the situation, Gorgo continued to stroke the other's small head, completely captivated by the power and beauty it radiated. And not only that, but his body emitted a pleasant and comforting warmth that she had barely noticed. It seemed incredible to her that she really had a dragon in front of her, even if he was a child. The fascination and fondness she had always felt for them was the same one that had led her to read the hundreds of books from Kremnos' and other kingdoms that had recorded the existence of and experiences with these creatures throughout their history.

They were truly exceptional creatures. Each had its own personality, but all shared one quality: lethality. Lethality towards what, exactly? None of the books she had read offered a precise answer. Some mentioned lethality towards kings, others towards the kingdom itself, others towards a specific task. In the end, they all agreed that it would manifest itself over time.

The woman ventured forward and curiously touched one of those horns, getting a purr from it. "Can you hide them?"

Only then did the white-haired man pull away from her and look at her, tilting his head to one side. The small horns, just as they had sprouted, disappeared into his hair, leaving those present even more astonished. "I don't think it will be a problem, my dear." He addressed Eurypon, who had been left speechless. "What does 'Ki' mean, by the way?" he asked, turning his attention back to the small dragon.

He pressed his head back against her stomach, wrapping his small arms around it in a sort of hug. "Ki!"

Gorgo, finally understanding what he meant, chuckled and corrected him. "It's not a 'ki,' it's a prince." Seeing the other's confused expression, he repeated, "King" and pointed at Eurypon. "Prince" he patted his belly.

The little one looked back and forth between them, shaking his head at Eurypon. "ince!" Gorgo laughed, touched by the innocence in his every action. She stroked the dragon's small cheek with her long fingers.

"I don't understand what's going on, my King" Krateros murmured under his breath, puzzled by their behavior. "Throughout my life I've seen all sorts of things, but this..."

"That's right, little one. He's a prince. Prince Mydeimos." The young boy laughed along with her, resting his cheek against the queen's hand and wrapping his tail more tightly around her leg. "But you'll have to wait a little while to meet him." He tilted his head to the side again, silently asking why. "Because he hasn't been born yet."

Just as Krateros had predicted, a few days later the ambassadors returned from their short trip with the news that, indeed, the dragon that should have been in Elisios was missing.

The news would have shocked those present had they not known that the dragon was actually with them. What was truly worrying were the repercussions this would have, not only for their kingdom but for all of Amphoreus. The ambassadors shared the message from the kings of Elisios to support the search for the dragon and return it where it belonged.

Eurypon insisted that it was best to announce that the creature was in Castrum Kronos, but Krateros reaffirmed his point that this would only make things worse. Gorgo kept her comments to herself, as she was the one who was against returning it the most. She was completely captivated by the little dragon who, since what happened in her room, hadn't left her side for even a moment.

The dragon was relatively calm and easy to handle. He usually observed everything around him with great curiosity, occasionally asking questions. He listened to and attended to everything Gorgo asked of him, but only to her. If it was Eurypon, Krateros, or any of the staff, he turned a deaf ear; a small detail that amused the woman greatly.

He accompanied her everywhere. If she stayed reading in her room, he remained at the foot of the bed, wrapped in his tail and wings. If she visited the garden for a walk, he accompanied her as she played with the flowers. During their free time, Gorgo took the opportunity to teach him his language, which, surprisingly, he was quite adept at understanding. He just didn't know how to respond.

Over time, she had understood that the mission of the dragons so often mentioned in the books was located here, in Kremnos, even though he was originally born in Elisios. This, coupled with the fact that Phainon, the name she gave him shortly afterward, could control the display of his limbs at will, meant there would be no problem keeping him in the kingdom. Or at least those were their arguments against Eurypon and Krateros, who, frankly, didn't know how to refute them due to their limited knowledge of the subject.

It wasn't that Eurypon wanted to doubt his wife, but it was a matter that went beyond mere belief. It was something that would affect the entire kingdom because of a possible belief, likely leading them to repeat the conflict that occurred hundreds of years ago. The mere fact that the news could reach outsiders would turn everything against them. Nor could they launch an investigation into why the dragon ended up in the lands of Kremnos, as this would only raise more suspicions.

However, all these matters were forgotten as soon as the prince was born.

The birth went smoothly thanks to Krateros and a couple of nurses. Eurypon held one of Gorgo's hands while Phainon waited on the other; he licked her wrist and rubbed his head against her arm, trying to help, but the moans and cries of pain escaping her throat wouldn't stop no matter what.

It wasn't until a small, sharp cry echoed through the room, a sound that caught the white-haired man's full attention. She was breathing heavily, completely exhausted, with Eurypon brushing the hair from her forehead and kissing her skin, while the royal doctor cleaned and wrapped the newborn.

Phainon tried to approach the baby, but Krateros hid him under the blankets, suspicious of his presence there, and handed him to the queen, who took him in weak arms and pressed him to her chest.

"Krateros, don't be like that. Do you want to meet the prince, Phai?" Gorgo asked in barely a whisper, addressing him. Phainon's eyes widened, his dragon-like features unconsciously revealing his euphoric side. However, the two nurses who were cleaning and tidying up fainted instantly upon seeing this; Krateros had to check on them to see if they were okay.

"Well done, brat."

With his characteristic agility, he climbed onto the bed and waited beside Gorgo's body, who let out a small giggle. Once he was close, she uncovered the baby's head, revealing a thick mane of blond hair that mirrored that of the two kings. The newborn gurgled and cried, moving his tiny hands, calming down in seconds in his mother's arms.

Phainon watched every little action, completely mesmerized, barely taking his large blue eyes off the bed; he reached out, wanting to touch the chubby cheek. Something inside him, something he didn't understand, drew him closer. Dozens of images flashed through his mind, one after another, images of situations he hadn't yet experienced but which stirred a pleasant, warm feeling in his chest.

"Don't even think about it, dragon." Eurypon threatened from the other side. Gorgo snorted at her husband's overprotectiveness, and Phainon resigned himself in that place, pouting and resting his chin on the queen's shoulder.

Despite this, the dragon couldn't tear his gaze away from the newborn face, feeling a kind of connection forming with it, unable to stop the movement of his tail. This gesture brought smiles to more than a few faces among those present.

The news of the prince's birth filled the entire kingdom with joy. People danced and celebrated for a whole week. Eurypon hosted several banquets for the people in honor of his little one, occasionally mingling with them. Krateros, though, kept a constant watch over the queen and the prince; fortunately, both were in perfect health.

However, Gorgo couldn't have been more paranoid about caring for the newborn. She knew the first few months were the hardest and had mentally prepared herself for it. But for reasons beyond her control, the situation couldn't have been more different.

Because she not only had the support of her husband, Krateros, the nurses, and the palace servants, but also from little Phainon. When she wasn't with the newborn, the dragon was his constant companion.

If the baby cried for anything other than hunger, Phainon would do anything to distract him. From spreading his wings, covering him with them, or flapping them in the air, anything to get the little prince to gurgle and forget his crying. At night time, the dragon slept beside him in the cradle, sharing the natural warmth emanating from his body, ensuring the baby slept peacefully and soundly.

Sometimes Gorgo couldn't resist the tenderness she felt when his little Mydeimos played with the dragon's tiny antlers or slept hugging one of his wings. Or when Fainón used the tip of his tail as a toy for the baby to reach with his hands in the air. This didn't quite please Eurypon, as he still didn't trust the white-haired dragon, believing he might hurt him at any moment.

However, this worry was soon dispelled by the gentleness with which he moved and acted around the baby, the warmth with which he looked at him, and the patience with which he soothed each of his cries. Details that did not go unnoticed by Gorgo.

Overall, it made her life and raising her children much easier.

"Heh, is that all you've got?" he asked, easily blocking the wooden sword with his tail and sending it flying.

His rival laughed sarcastically, took a few steps back, wiping the small beads of sweat from the side of his face, and raised his fists, assuming a fighting stance.

"Of course not!" he charged at the dragon, initiating a flurry of punches, some landing, others easily dodged. However, in a swift and agile movement, the blond ended up on his back on the ground, looking down at the other. "It's not fair if you use your wings..." he complained with a pout, looking away in frustration.

"Haha, would you prefer I hide them and you try again?" he asked playfully, swinging his tail behind him.

"Don't even think about it." And before he could say anything else, Mydeimos gathered momentum and charged at the white-haired man by the waist, causing them both to roll on the ground in a friendly scuffle, each vying for the other's dominance, with the blond man ultimately gaining the upper hand. Phainon, taking advantage of a moment of inattention, firmly grabbed his wrists, preventing him from continuing the fight. Their eyes locked for several minutes, their chests rising and falling with exertion. "Again" he murmured under his breath. The dragon shook his head.

"It's not good for you to train so much. You should rest first." the white-haired man replied, wrapping his tail around the blond man's leg. He freed one of his wrists and reached out to wipe the dirt from his cheek.

"We haven't even trained much..." he replied, shifting his weight onto the other's hip, slowly catching his breath. "I can still handle another round." Phainon shook his head once more. "Come on, just 15 minutes. Okay?"

"Pfft. Whatever." He huffed resignedly, crossing his arms. Phainon chuckled at the other's attitude; he knew him too well to know he wasn't truly annoyed. He spread his wings until he could envelop the blond boy in a small hug. Mydei stroked the edge of one of them, curious. "When will you let me help you?"

"Hm? With what?" he asked, tilting his head to the side.

"You always help me train..." he said softly, taking hold of his wings and extending them as far as his short arms could. "But I can never help you fly."

Phainon hadn't expected those words from the little prince. He looked away and covered his mouth, resisting the urge to let out a squeal.

"Ah, hahaha. No need, Mydei." He laughed slightly, embarrassed, tightening his grip of his scaly tail against the other's leg.

"Why?"

"I've already mastered it! I don't need to practice." He declared with apparent confidence in his voice. The blond raised an eyebrow, doubtful.

"Really?" Phainon nodded with a fake smile on his face. "Try it." He challenged, emphasizing his crossed arms and slightly puffing out his chest.

"Huh? You want me to show you how I do it?" He offered, slowly rising from the ground and opening his wings, flapping them a little to prove his point. Mydei shook his head.

"Take me with you."

"E-eh…?"

"Hmh. Take me with you while you fly." He repeated, this time hanging onto the dragon's neck.

Phainon swallowed hard, sweat trickling down his neck and his heart pounding a thousand beats per minute. While it was true that he had learned over the years to control and use his wings, he had never done so carrying another person, much less Mydei himself. He wasn't sure this would go well.

"B-but Mydei…"

"If you don't, we'll go back to training until nightfall." He threatened firmly, tightening his grip on Phainon's small arms around him.

He didn't know whether to be surprised or not that, at such a young age, Mydei already gave orders with the same confidence and firmness as his parents. But in the end, who was he to refuse his prince's commands?

Phainon sighed in defeat and wrapped his arms around the younger boy's waist. He mentally prepared himself for a few seconds before beginning to flap his wings in a motion that slowly lifted them off the ground, the earth beneath them rising. He felt the younger boy cling tighter to him, letting out a gasp of surprise. "Haha, what's wrong? Have you changed your mind already?"

"S-shut up..." he murmured against the skin of his neck. Phainon chuckled, still focused on his task. Flying while carrying his own weight was one thing, but doing it with the weight and responsibility of carrying someone else was completely different. It was proving more difficult than he cared to admit, but he couldn't afford to fail, not when it was a request from his prince.

He flew over the kingdom and the castle, the wind whipping at their faces, accompanied by the warmth of the sun which was a unique sensation in and of itself. If we also added the boy's completely joyful face, observing everything from this new perspective... It was entirely worth the effort.

Phainon tightened his grip on the boy's body, giving him enough confidence to let go of his neck and extend his arms as if they were his own wings; at times, he even wanted to touch the clouds. Mydei laughed, feeling completely happy and fulfilled in those moments, enjoying the ephemeral experience of the flight.

However, something the dragon didn't take into account were the unexpected gusts of wind; these tended to appear sporadically, and it was very difficult to predict one of those. One of those struck them, causing their wings to catch more air than they could handle, unbalancing them and sending them plummeting onto the ground.

At that moment, all he could do was tightly wrap his arms and wings around the little prince's body, hoping to lessen the impact of the fall as much as possible. As if fate had blessed them, the place where they fell was none other than the forest behind the castle, crashing through several trees that lessened the intensity of the final impact, breaking several branches along the way.

"Ugh... Phai...?" Midei murmured, slowly opening his eyes. The firm grip that enveloped him at that moment began to loosen, unraveling the small cocoon that had protected him. He felt his heart stop for a second when the dragon didn't respond to his call, keeping its eyes closed. "Phai? Why haven't you...?" he asked again, noticing how one of its wings had fractured. He took its hand and searched for a pulse at its wrist.

"Ah... N-no, it can't be..." he murmured when he didn't notice anything, feeling tears welling up in the corners of his eyes. He took him by the shoulders and shook him, trying to wake him. "No, no, no..." Unable to hold back his tears any longer, he collapsed to the side, clutching the dragon's cold, lifeless hand and pressing it against his cheek. "S-sorry, Phai... I-I didn't mean for you to..." he sobbed once more, feeling the guilt starting to consume him.

His mind raced with how he would tell his mother, how he would go on with his life without the dragon, and the mere thought broke his heart. Suddenly, a hand gently wiped the small water droplets from his skin.

"Don't cry, Mydei." The blond boy lifted his crystalline gaze, blinking a few times, unsure if his mind was playing tricks on him. "Ta-daaah!" he replied once more, winking and extending his good wing.

"Hks… B-bad dragon..." The prince, finally realizing that the white-haired boy had tricked him, could only lean against his chest and gently hit him, sniffing.

"There, there. Are you alright? You didn't hurt yourself, did you?" the other asked, getting up from the ground to examine the younger boy. Mydei shook his head.

"D-don't do that again… I really thought..."

"I know. I'm sorry, Mydei," he replied, while holding his cheek and licking away the small drops that were still falling. "How about we go get some pomegranate tart? Will that make you feel better?" he asked. The other nodded slightly, clinging to the other's clothes.

However, before they could reach the local pastry shop, they were discovered and reprimanded by Gorgo on the way back. It wasn't just the danger they had been exposed to, resulting in Phainon having a broken wing and dozens of cuts and scrapes all over his body, but also the fact that someone outside the palace could have seen them and reported them.

"My queen... I have examined so many patients in my life." he commented, seeing the state they had both ended up in, especially Phainon. "But I am not a veterinarian to know how to treat a dragon..." While the adults argued, Mydei took the white-haired dragon's wing and tried to reposition it like the other, causing a groan of pain. Krateros sighed and approached them, switching the prince's grip with his own. "I don't even know if a veterinarian could treat you, brat." Phainon grunted at this, letting the old doctor examine him. Krateros found a certain similarity between his wing, those of bats, and human limbs, so he quickly applied the same treatment he would use on a person; Despite the white-haired boy's screams and complaints, the old doctor managed to reattach the wing and secure it with many bandages, instructing him not to move it for a while under any circumstances or it wouldn't heal.

"No leaving the palace, no flying, and no training." Gorgo threatened, standing beside Krateros. "That goes for both of you."

"Yes, Mother."

"Yes, Gorgo."

That day the entire palace was all over the place; staff rushed between one place to another, decorating every corner, carrying trays of food from the kitchen to the main hall, all under the queen's orders. Eurypon spoke with the advisors and ambassadors, finalizing the last details of the celebration that would be held with the other kingdoms.

But one person was missing.

"My dear, where is Mydeimos? He should be here with us to greet the guests; they'll arrive at any minute," Eurypon asked, straightening his royal attire. "I'll go get him."

"No, my dear. Wait." Gorgo interrupted, taking his hand. "I'll go for him. It's more important that the guests see you here."

Eurypon snorted, crossing his arms. "Are you saying that because they listen to you more?"

Gorgo was already climbing the stairs at that point. She stopped halfway up and turned to look at her husband. "Maybe." she replied, winking.

She finished climbing the stairs, dodging a couple of employees who were rushing by carrying a couple of flower arrangements. "Mydei?" She knocked on his bedroom door and waited a few seconds, receiving only silence from the other side. She tried once more, achieving the same result. 

Without waiting another second, she opened the door and entered the room, finding it partially disheveled, with clothes thrown on the floor and a few more on the bed. She closed the door behind her and waited for a few seconds, analyzing the situation. 

She was sure her little one was there, since no one had seen him wandering around the palace, much less training. She didn't hear any movement in the bathroom, so he wasn't there either. She walked to the edge of the bed and sat down for a few seconds. "Mydei? Phai?" She called out, thinking she might only receive silence in response, but she did perceive a slight movement under the bed, quite sure it wasn't her.

She crouched down and lifted the sheet that concealed the space under the bed to reveal a pair of little heads looking in her direction. "Sweetheart?" "What are you doing down there?" 

It wasn't the first time she had discovered them hiding under the bed; over the years she had learned that it was mainly Phainon's fault. He had a strange habit, if he could call it that, of hiding in dark, narrow places and taking Mydei with him. Like that time he'd found them hiding inside one of his closets with his son wrapped in the dragon's wings. 

This time was no different, as they were pressed together, one of the dragon's wings covering Mydei's back, its tail probably wrapped around his leg. She had concluded that this was a dragon custom, but she didn't know the meaning behind it. On more than one occasion she had wanted to ask the boy, but the few times she tried she always received the same answer. 

"I don't know, I just... know." 

And she couldn't blame him.

She was the one who knew the most about dragons because of the number of books she had read on the subject, but there were still so many things she didn't know about them that she understood his own confusion and felt bad for not being able to help him in understanding why he did what he usually did.

"N-nothing, Mom." Mydei replied, hiding his face behind the white-haired boy's wing.

Gorgo raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "You know you have to go out and be ready for the party, right?" The little blond boy nodded at her question. "So?"

"I don't want to go." he finally said with a pout, pressing himself even closer to Phainon, who responded with a purr, hiding him even more in his wing.

Gorgo let out a tired sigh. Despite the years, the two of them still acted and behaved exactly the same. "Can you at least come out and tell me to my face?" Phainon growled at her question, barely showing his fangs. "No, Phainon. Even that won't save you." 

Resigned, they both crawled across the floor until they finally emerged from their hiding place. "Oh, my little Mydeimos, you look divine in those clothes." the woman praised once they were both standing in front of her. She brushed off some of the dust that had stuck to the clothes and tried to smooth down the unruly blond hair. "I'm sure everyone will love you, especially the princesses." 

Mydei clicked his tongue and crossed his arms. "But Mom... Can't it just be you and Dad? Why do I have to go too?" 

She shook her head. "No, dear. It's important that the three of us are there to show unity and strength to other kingdoms. You never know. Besides..." She reached out and stroked his cheek, removing a speck of dust that had been left there. "It will only be for a little while, okay?" "Phai, I'm asking you to do this as a favor." He gave his son one last look and left the room, closing the door with a click. 

Once they were alone again, Mydei sighed wearily and rested his forehead against the dragon's chest, finding himself almost immediately enveloped in his arms. "I don't want to go, Phai."

"I know, Mydei. But you heard your mother." He tried to comfort him, resting his own chin on the blond head. Unconsciously, he ended up wrapping him in that small cocoon with his wings, seeking to comfort him.

"I don't like to interact with other princes, or well... princesses." he complained again, hugging the other around the chest. Somehow, despite not doing much, the warmth and presence of the dragon always managed to calm him. "What if you come with me?"

"W-what? Come with you? I don't have a problem with that, but..." he hesitated for a moment, wrapping his tail around the younger one's leg. "Your dad doesn't like me showing up in public, you know..."

"We can say you're my guardian, and no one will doubt it." suggested the blond, bringing his hands to the older one's head and reaching for the pair of horns that had grown beside him. "Hide your wings and tail, but keep these. I like them a lot." he murmured, giving them a gentle caress.

"Hey, if what you want is for everyone to know I'm a dragon..." he replied mockingly, tilting his head at the gesture.

"Not if I do this first." He momentarily escaped the embrace and rummaged through his drawers, gathering a few items in his hands. He went to the bathroom and repeated the same process. When he finished, he placed them on the bed and quickly began to craft something under the other's curious gaze.

"Whoa, that... definitely looks very realistic." He covered his mouth to stifle a small laugh.

"Hks..." He looked away, embarrassed. Without even needing to look in the mirror, he could already imagine how ridiculous he looked.

The small creation was nothing more and nothing less than a headband with a couple of pieces of paper rolled into balls that formed a pair of dragon-like horns, attached with tape.

"Hehe, but that's what my prince wants..." He approached the other and hugged him around the waist, rubbing his horns against Mydei's falsetto. A gesture that he didn't understand why, but he felt a deep need to make. "I'm not one to refuse."

After that, Mydei helped Phainon get ready for the party, choosing one of the suits his parents had specially made for him, combing his long white hair into a high ponytail, and clearing his face.

With one last look in the mirror, they both nodded and finally left the room. As they descended the stairs, the eyes of everyone gathered in the main hall turned to them.

For a moment, he felt an unpleasant surge of nerves. He gripped the banister, thinking for a moment that he would lose his balance as his stomach lurched. However, the comforting, warm hand of the white-haired man gently pressing on his lower back gave him the confidence he needed to continue.

With each step they took, whispers and a round of applause greeted them equally; guests wondering who the young man accompanying him was, others envying him for being with someone so handsome. In the distance, he saw his father with a red face, unsure if it was derived from alcohol or anger.

"Prince Mydeimos, it is a pleasure to have you here." he received from one of the ambassadors, if he remembered correctly, from Doros.

He responded with a short bow, which Phainon imitated from behind. "The pleasure is all mine, sir."

"If I may ask, who is this charming young man accompanying you? I have never seen him before." Queen Aglaea of ​​the kingdom of Okhema inquired, inserting herself into the conversation, ignoring the detail of the false horns on his head.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his mother approaching them, so he hastened to reply. "He is my guardian, Queen Aglaea." Under the intense gaze of the other woman between him and Phainon, he added, "I hope it's not a bother."

"Oh no. Not at all. It was just... I thought it was interesting that a prince would need a guardian." He paused briefly, focusing now on the details above their heads. "Especially with these rather... unusual decorations."

He was about to reply to that, but quickly realized the message behind that statement. For a moment, he forgot that this was more than just a party...

"Don't worry, Queen Aglaea. The title is merely symbolic." His mother arrived just in time to salvage the situation, gently patting both their heads. "You know how children are. They always come up with something new."

Phainon tilted his head to the side, intrigued by Gorgo's words. Did that mean such a title actually existed? The Queen of Okhema, as well as the other people who had gathered out of curiosity about the conversation, were satisfied with Gorgo's answer, everyone soon returning to their own affairs.

"Mydeimos... when I asked you to dress up, I didn't mean something like this." his mother remarked once she had led them to a more secluded spot away from the eyes and ears of those present. "We're lucky Princess Cyrene didn't attend, but still, be as discreet as possible, okay?" She stroked both their hair and returned to Eurypon, who was chatting with the King of Styxia.

"That was close." Once they were alone, Mydei finally let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "It's the kind of thing I hate about these gatherings..." he complained, resting his forehead against the taller boy's shoulder.

"I know. But hey, we've already made it through the hard part." He consoled him, bumping their horns together again. He didn't understand why, but doing that triggered a strong feeling of possessiveness towards the younger boy, a feeling he wanted to hide from everyone.

"Prince Mydeimos?" They heard a voice calling from behind them.

"Ah, Princess Castorice. What can I do for you?"

She giggled and shook her head. "No need for formalities. We really liked the idea of ​​using fake horns, so the rest of us made some. Would you like to play with us?" she said, pointing to her own head. It was only then that Midei realized that detail, finding it utterly adorable. She glanced at the dragon for a second, asking with her eyes if he agreed. Phainon nodded.

"Uhh, sure. What are you playing?" she asked as they walked toward the other princesses.

"Since we all have these, we're imagining we're dragons." she commented cheerfully, but without losing her usual composure. Mydei glanced sideways at the white-haired man who had a mocking smile on his face. "Since none of us have ever seen a dragon, it's really fun to think about how one would act."

"I see."

Upon reaching the others, she was surprised to find more than one familiar face: Princess Hyacine. In previous years, when he had the pleasure of meeting her, he had found her to be a very kind person, and even somewhat cute; she felt a weight lifted with her presence.

"Oh, Prince Mydeimos! How wonderful to see you here!" greeted the pink-haired princess, waving her hand energetically. The fake horns on her head were much smaller than the others, fitting her personality. "Oh? And who is him? Is he a prince too?" she asked, referring to the white-haired man.

"No, Princess Hyacine. This is Phainon, my guardian." he introduced him, who greeted her with a slight nod.

"Oh, it is a pleasure to meet you! Your horns are very beautiful, the best of all of us, in fact." she remarked to the others.

"Yes! How did you make them?" asked another of those present, one with intense reddish hair whom she hadn't recognized before. "Ah, I'm sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I am Princess Tribios of Janusopolis."

"It is a pleasure, Princess."

"Hehehe, he must have had them made in advance." commented a fourth voice appearing from behind them. "Hello, I'm Cipher. The Duchess of Okhema." She introduced himself with a big smile, patting both of their shoulders with extreme confidence.

After those introductions, they continued their little game where each one commented on what they thought the dragons were like. Hyacine imagined them as calm creatures who only watched everything flow into the distance; Castorice, on her side, thought that they should even be treated as people, not as something different. For the same reason, she imagined them living a normal life working for the kingdom; Tribios thought they were calm beings but could react aggressively if provoked.

"Noo! They are aggressive and dangerous creatures. All they want is chaos and destruction." Cipher interrupted, making exaggerated gestures with his arms to emphasize his point.

"Why do you think that?" Hyacine asked curiously.

"And why not? They have power in their clutches. They can destroy an entire kingdom if they want to!"

Mydei for a moment felt uncomfortable and out of place in the little game, containing the urge to deny and refute all the ideas they had on the matter. They had the fervent proof right at their side without knowing it. As if Phainon had read his thoughts, she approached him from behind and hugged him by the shoulders, resting her chin against his head to avoid damaging the pair of false horns.

"And you, Mydeimos? What do you think dragons are like?" At the question asked by Castorice, the four of them looked towards them, eager for their answer.

"Uh..." he paused for a moment, nerves returning to him. "I-I believe that dragons are noble and beautiful creatures. They are not aggressive unless provoked." At his response he felt the vibration of a soft purr from the white-haired man behind his back.

Those present looked at him for a second before applauding his excited response. After that, both Castorice and Hyacine took him by the wrists and pulled him towards them to start another little game where now they had to act in the way they mentioned before. Phainon wanted to growl at the princesses for having taken the young one from him but he made a great effort to contain himself.

Instead he preferred to stay on the sidelines and simply watch how they all played. As much as Mydei denied her taste for this type of gathering, when it came time to meet with the rest of the princesses, deep down, he enjoyed it to the fullest.

While this was happening, Phainon headed to the food area where there were several tables full of different kinds of food. He sniffed and looked at some of them, looking for one that the blond might like. He dodged a couple of people who were also checking on the food, and once he found them, he took a plate and served a little of each one along with a glass of juice.

However, someone got in his way when he was returning to the room where the little princes were playing.

"Let go of me."

"Hehe, why, little guardian? I just want to see what they're made of." replied the duchess without releasing one of her horns. "Are they plastic or wood?"

"I won't repeat it twice." He snapped in a firm voice, containing the anger that this had really provoked in him.

"Y-yes, they're firm... Did you glue them to your head or something?" He ignored her words, tightening his grip on her fingers.

Suddenly, the loud sound of a ceramic plate and the glass breaking against the floor caught the attention of many. In an agile movement, the white-haired child had held the duchess's wrist tightly with a severe expression on his face.

"I told you to let me go." He threatened, bending the other, causing a pained expression to appear on her face.

"Ow ow ow, yes, I understand. Sorry..." she moaned in pain, trying to free her hand from that strong grip without success.

It didn't take long for the people around him to come closer and murmur around him. Some faces were of curiosity, others of surprise and some of fear. They never imagined that a scene like this would occur in a meeting of this type, not really knowing whether to intervene or not.

"H-hey, I already apologized..." Cipher tried to free herself once more but, instead of being released, the pressure not only intensified but she felt an alien heat starting to build up. A heat that seemed like it wanted to burn her.

It didn't take long for the murmurs to spread to the rest of the room, alarming the hosts. As soon as Mydei heard the commotion, he ran in the direction of the dragon, but in his haste he did not notice the broken fragments on the ground, falling and injuring himself with them.

"Mydei!"

The fall not only captured the white-haired child's complete attention, making him completely forget about the duchess, but also that of all the guests. His parents arrived seconds later and tried to settle the situation, but Queen Aglaea's intense comments only provoked more commotion from the audience.

"Mydei! Are you alright? Are you hurt?" she asked, her voice filled with concern, quickly inspecting him. A pitiful squeal escaped his throat as he noticed several shards of broken glass embedded in his skin, staining his white suit red.

"P-phai... a-are you alright? You didn't get hurt?" He ignored the older man's questions, supporting himself on his forearms, trying to get up. Phainon shook his head, a small smile forming on his lips.

"No, little one. I'm fine. But you..." Completely ignoring everyone and under their intense stares, he picked up the younger boy and carried him out of there to where he could treat the wounds on his limbs. He heard Gorgo and Eurypon calling him, but at that moment he couldn't care less.

He went upstairs to Mydei's room, suppressing the urge to spread his wings and protect him from everything. He saw the blond boy calling him, but the only thing he could focus on was his flushed and embarrassed face.

Upon arriving, he closed the door behind them and placed the younger boy at the edge of the bed. He crouched down in front of him, removing some of his clothing to examine the wounds.

"Phai... What happened to the duchess?"

The dragon, partially ignoring the question, brought his face close to the wound on his arm and licked the skin repeatedly, causing the blond boy to hiss from the burning sensation. The taste of blood, rather than seeming unpleasant, had a sweet flavor.

"She touched my horns. I asked her to let go, but she didn't care." he explained as she continued cleaning his wounds.

"And you don't like it when someone does it, do you?" Phainon shook his head. "Then why do you let me touch them?"

"Because it's you." he replied simply, now continuing with the wounds on his arm.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Because you're the only thing I want."

His words left them in a silence, it wasn't an awkward silence, but one of realization. The white-haired child took advantage of that moment to tear the younger man's pants enough to reveal the rest of the wounds on his knees, treating them in the same way.

"D-do you love me...?" Phainon nodded. "In what way...?"

He pulled away for a second, licking his lips. "I don't know. I only know that I love you, Mydei." he replied with sincerity, resting his chin on his knee and looking directly into his eyes.

"Hks... You can't say something like that so lightly." He brought his hand to his face, trying to hide the evident blush on his cheeks.

"I don't say it lightly. I mean it."

"Really..."

They remained like that for a few moments, during which Mydei took the opportunity to stroke the other's long, white hair, reflecting on the problems that would arise from what had just happened. He would have to explain to his parents that Phai hadn't actually done anything wrong; he had simply reacted to the duchess's insistence. However, even if that was the case, in the eyes of society, he was the guilty one. And they would have to compensate about what happened somehow, though he wasn't sure how.

"Mydei..." the other whispered softly. He hadn't noticed when his wings had appeared behind him.

"Hm."

"How can I get the title of guardian?"

Mydei blinked several times, confused. "Huh?"

"When you mentioned it down there, Gorgo said it was symbolic. Does that mean I can actually get it?" he asked sincerely, looking at him with those large, deep blue eyes.

Mydei clicked his tongue, looking away. "Yes, you can. Technically, you're halfway there..." The dragon looked at him, confused, and the younger one pointed to the wounds on his body.

"Your blood?" The blond nodded. "Oh. Can we finish it then?"

"Are you sure?" Miyei asked again, stroking one of his horns. Phainon nodded without thinking too much. "My dad is going to kill me for this." He nervously brushed the hair on his forehead back and adjusted himself on the bed, sitting up straight.

"Stand in front of me."

And so he did.

"Open your wings."

And so he did.

"Make a cut on your hand."

With his claw, he did as he was told, and in seconds the room was filled with the intense smell of blood, drops staining the carpet beneath his feet. Mydei took his limb and brought it to his mouth, taking the warm, red liquid between his lips, tasting its characteristic metallic flavor.

When he pulled away, he wiped the remaining blood from his lips with the back of his hand. The dragon's tail began to move happily behind him, awaiting the next instruction.

"Phainon..."

"Yes?"

He extended his hand and placed it on the dragon's head, right between its two horns.

"Now my blood flows through your veins, just as yours flows through mine. I recognize you not as a beast nor as a weapon, but as someone capable of giving everything for me. Therefore, as long as I live, you will have a place by my side. I, Prince Mydeimos, appoint you my guardian. I entrust my life to you."

"My dear, another letter has arrived."

Gorgo sighed, sitting down across from her husband, holding the paper in her hands.

"What does it say this time?" she asked seriously. He shook his head.

"We can't postpone it any longer. Since Mydeimos and Cipher are adults, they want the marriage to be formalized as soon as possible."

"But darling... our little one won't accept it."

"Gorgo, he's not a child anymore. We did everything in our power to delay this as long as possible, but now he has to take responsibility for his actions. No one told him to bring the brat to that gathering."

The queen knew better than anyone. Year after year, after that infamous party, Queen Aglaea harassed them with constant letters demanding a marriage between her son and Duchess Cipher as compensation for the physical and psychological damage the event had caused for the young woman. They were completely opposed to that idea because not only had Mydei reassured them that Phainon was not responsible for the incident, but one of the ambassadors had also witnessed it, reinforcing the prince's words.

But they couldn't refuse either, because that meant losing diplomatic and trade relations with Okhema, one of the richest and most prosperous kingdoms of Amphoreus. And, although it might not directly affect the crown of Kremnos, its people would certainly be affected. Hundreds of families depended on trading between the two kingdoms, making it impossible to refuse such a whim.

Eurypon took both of her hands and looked directly into her eyes. "I know this is hard, not only for you but for Mydeimos. We always wanted him to be free to choose for himself... but in this situation, we can do nothing more." He extended his hand and wiped away a silent tear that was falling down the queen's cheek with his thumb. "Mydeimos must marry Duchess Cipher."

The king and queen continued discussing the best way to explain the situation to their son, unaware that a pair of ears had overheard everything.

That day, Mydei had woken up early to train by himself. It wasn't that he didn't want to train with the dragon; he truly enjoyed training with him, but... He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his forearm. It stung his pride to admit it, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to defeat him. For some reason, after making the blood pact a few years ago, the other's strength and agility had only increased. Now he even doubted whether he had truly beaten him in training or if he had let him win.

And not only that, he had also noticed a couple of changes in his own body that he was ashamed to admit, but he preferred not to make a comment on them, or even ask Krateros about them.

He had to keep training, even if it wasn't with him. He couldn't afford to lose, no matter how powerful a dragon he was.

But he would do it another day.

Now, all he wanted was a nice, long bath. He went back inside the castle, wondering on the way to his room where Phainon was, since he hadn't seen him all day and he always expected him there; it was even strange when he wasn't glued to his back.

"Son?" his mother called from the end of the hallway, approaching him.

"Hello, Mom. What's wrong?" he replied, going into his room. Gorgo followed a few seconds later, closing the door behind her.

"There's... there's something I need to talk to you about, son."

Mydei knew that the situation was more serious than it seemed when she didn't even look him right into his eyes. He sighed and sat down across her on the edge of his bed, waiting.

"Do you remember Duchess Cipher?" Mydei nodded. "What... do you think of her?"

He thought about it for a few seconds. "Well... not much, Mom. I would prefer to have nothing to do with her." Gorgo remained silent, looking at her hands in her lap. "Why are you asking me that all of a sudden?" "Because... we've received a marriage proposal from her. Well... from Queen Aglaea."

"...What?"

The news left him momentarily in shock. He looked away, staring out the window, trying to process the weight of the words.

"Actually, it's not the first time. Your father and I did everything we could to delay it, but now that you're both adults..." she explained, looking directly at him. "But we have an agreement with her. You only have to be married to the Duchess politically. You don't have to live in Okhema, nor does she have to come to Kremnos, nor do you need to have any contact with her..."

"But why are you telling me this now?" he interrupted, getting out of bed and pacing the room, his hands clenched into fists. "Why do you want me to marry her?"

"Because of what happened a few years ago with Phai. Even though it was proven that he wasn't the one who caused everything, Queen Aglaea took advantage of the situation to put us in this predicament. She threatened to sever political and trade relations between Okhema and Kremnos if you don't agree. And I know it's not fair to put pressure on you with something like that, but..."

However, before anyone could say anything else, hurried footsteps were heard from the corridor while some people rushed into the room.

"M-my lady...!" one of the guards exclaimed quickly, breathing heavily as he tried to catch his breath.

"What's wrong? Why the rush?"

"T-there is... there is..." another replied hurriedly, pointing at the window. Mydei turned to look at his mother, confused.

"There is what?" she asked, frowning, not understanding what they meant.

Suddenly, a loud sound, a deafening roar, echoed throughout the castle, startling everyone present.

"What on earth...?" She approached the window and looked towards the forest that surrounded the castle from behind. Suddenly, that same sound was heard once more; some trees shook while others fell, and dozens of birds flew away in fright.

"It's... what we were trying to tell you, my lords." another of them finally managed to explain. "The guards reported a sighting of a giant creature in the forest!" Gorgo's eyes widened as she jumped out of bed.

"Has anyone gone after it?" 

"N-no, my lady. B-but if it is your command..." 

"Where is Phainon?" she asked again, ignoring the guard's reply. 

"Some colleagues saw him leaving the palace a while ago." another guard answered. 

"I will apprehend it. Alert all the families living in the area and don't let any guards near the place." Mydei declared firmly, quickly grabbing one of his favorite cloaks and covering his bare torso. 

"B-but son...!"

"Don't worry, I'll be fine." he reassured her with a smug smile. After his words, he hurried out of the castle and ran towards the forest, dodging some people and guards who were fleeing in terror. He wasn't sure what had happened, but he had to make sure Phainon was alright.

He knew the dragon was perfectly capable of defending himself against anything. But if that was the case... where was he? Was that his roar? Or did it attract the attention of other creature?

The deeper he ventured into the forest, the more evident the devastation that creature had wrought became. Trees were completely destroyed, snapped in half, or uprooted; the earth and wood were covered with claw marks that seemed to go nowhere.

Another roar echoed through the area, pulling him out from his thoughts. This time the sound was closer, but now he wasn't so sure he wanted to find it. It had been incredibly irresponsible of him to go in without even taking a weapon; if it wasn't Phainon, he was in serious trouble. He hid behind one of the destroyed trees and paused for a moment, trying to think of a solution.

As he crouched down, he noticed a pair of iridescent scales on the ground. He picked one up and quickly examined it.

"They're the same as Phainon's, but this one is much bigger..." he murmured under his breath, surprised to find them there. Phainon didn't usually lose scales so often, and it wasn't because he kept them every time he found one. So why...?

However, that brief moment of distraction was enough for him not to notice the presence stalking him from the shadows. He barely managed to dodge the attack by rolling onto the ground. He quickly got up and stood before the creature. It was a being he had never seen before, similar to a lion but larger with bird-like legs.

A chimera, perhaps? He vaguely remembered the mention in history books.

He didn't understand what it was doing there, but he definitely couldn't let it advance any further. The creature lunged at him without hesitation, and he easily dodged it, even returning a powerful blow to its side that knocked it to the ground; it growled in anger and quickly got up in order to attack him again, managing to make a cut on his arm. 

He continued like that for several minutes, dodging and returning its attacks. The creature was formidable, completely different from what training with humans was like. 

It didn't even pause for a moment to think about its next move, attacking without thinking with the sole objective of finishing him off. 

His muscles burned and ached equally; every scratch he received, every blow he delivered, exhausted him more and more. 

For a moment, he heard something else approaching, and that lapse in concentration was enough for the chimera to knock him down and pin him to the ground, crushing his chest with a paw. This made him lose all the air in his lungs, intensifying the pain of the wounds on his body. He thrashed and struck the animal's paw in an attempt to free himself, but it was useless; the chimera had barely moved.

Was this the end for him? Probably.

He had ventured too deep into the forest searching for the dragon, and instead, he encountered this beast that now held him captive like it was nothing, waiting for the perfect moment to finish him off. The image of his beloved Phainon flashed through his mind, and he wondered where he was and why he wasn't there with him, protecting him as he had promised.

"My guardian, my Phainon..." he called out in a whisper. Upon hearing these words, the chimera tightened its grip even further, cutting off any other words he might have tried to utter.

Suddenly, the roar he had initially heard echoed once more throughout the forest, disorienting the chimera, which, for a moment, forgot he was beneath it. The sound was deafening, but he used that moment to kick the chimera off, creating some distance between them.

He gasped sharply, trying to catch his breath, ignoring the burning sensation within him. The chimera turned its attention back to him, ready to finish his task. However, just as it was about to charge at him again, a powerful gust of wind struck them from the sky, shaking the tree branches and briefly obscuring the sun.

Up in the sky, a creature twice or even three times the size of the chimera fell upon it, practically crushing it to the ground; the earth trembled under their combined weight. The chimera shrieked in pain, trying to break free in a futile attempt.

Mydei took advantage of this and crawled backwards along the ground until his back hit a split tree trunk, staring at the scene after him, both impressed and terrified, with his breathing chest. The chimera, which only seconds before had looked imposing and terrifying, was nothing more than a trembling mass beneath the claws of that majestic white dragon.

A final shriek from the chimera was the last thing he heard before it opened its jaws and tore apart the creature's upper body, snatching its life away. Mydei looked away and closed his eyes, the sound of crunching flesh and bones was the only thing he heard. When the ambience was silent, he looked at the scene before him, a shiver running through him at the intense blue gaze that the enormous being returned.

"Phainon...?" he whispered in fear, thinking for a moment that he might be wrong.

The dragon licked its lips, folded its wings against its body, and slowly approached him. With each step, he felt his heart pounding wildly, probably from the adrenaline of the moment. His stomach lurched when the dragon stopped in front of him and rested its head at his feet, exhaling all the air from its lungs with a pitiful groan.

"Yeah... it could only be you, right?" he spoke again, finally finding his voice. He extended his hand towards the creature, waiting.

The dragon snorted and brought its snout a little closer until it reached his hand, leaning lightly against it. Mydei slowly stroked the space between its nostrils. "Since when are you so big? I look like an insect next to you." The creature let out a subtle roar, spreading its wings and looking much more imposing than before. Mydei tried to laugh at this but the only thing he could  manage was a pained groan.

Phainon stood up and looked at him with concern, bringing his snout close to his face as he sniffed him. As soon as he finished, he crouched down again, opened his great mouth in front of him, and waited for him to approach. And, even though he had literally just killed the chimera as if it was nothing, he felt no fear.

Because it was Phainon, his guardian. The one who had promised and sworn to protect him. The one who had remained by his side for, literally, his entire life. As much as his body allowed, he managed to sit up and, dodging the long, sharp fangs, took a seat on the dragon's tongue. Seconds later, the dragon narrowed its jaws, leaving enough space for him to breathe. It wasn't until he felt the other walking that he allowed himself to relax for a moment, ignoring the intense smell of blood.

"Where are you taking me?" he asked after a few minutes of silence, where the only sensation was the movement across the uneven terrain. He heard a sound he couldn't interpret.

"Are we going to the castle?" He heard it shake its head. "To... another kingdom?" It shook its head again. "Tsk... I don't understand anything." He gave up, leaning his back against the moist tongue.

He covered his eyes with his forearm and took a few seconds to try and analyze what was happening: the recent appearance of chimeras in the forest and Phainon's unexpected transformation into a full dragon. If he was honest with himself, he had always believed that the semi-human form was his true one; It was enormous, imposing, and to a certain extent, terrifying. The mere fact that his body could easily fit in its mouth, capable of devouring him at any moment, was enough to drive anyone mad.

Instead, Phainon continued to behave and treat him in the same gentle manner, making sure not to hurt him as he carried him to who knows where. When he stopped moving, he crouched down and opened his mouth again, allowing him to emerge. As he did so, he had to hold on to one of his fangs since he couldn't see a thing.

"Did you bring me to a cave?" Phainon let out a cheerful snort. "Hks…"

Suddenly, the great creature turned around and left through the cave entrance, the light blinding him for a second. Outside, the only thing he could hear was the creaking of the trees giving way under the weight, probably because of the other. At this point, he no longer knew what to expect from the dragon, much less if they could communicate as they did before. If he thought he knew him before, now he wasn't so sure about that.

After a few minutes, Phainon returned, dragging several branches in his mouth and placing them beside him. Mydei looked at them with a raised eyebrow.

"What are these for?" he asked, confused. Phainon nudged them with his snout, insisting. The prince, more or less understanding what he wanted, adjusted them a bit and lay down on them, ignoring how uncomfortable they actually were. The dragon seemed satisfied enough and finished lying down, wrapping his body around him.

"I never thought you would take the time I said to hide me in a cave so seriously, huh..." he muttered after a while, when the soft vibration and natural warmth emanating from the dragon was strong enough to make him forget for a moment where he was and how sore he really was.

As if he had read his thoughts, Phainon raised his head and began to lick his body, his fangs trying to remove the layer that barely covered him. Mydei understood this and finished removing it, adjusting it underneath, trying to make him more comfortable. The dragon continued licking and cleaning his body, taking away all the blood and dirt.

"Isn't it... unpleasant for you?" he asked, embarrassed by the treatment he was receiving, especially because of the sensations he was feeling at the time. As the dragon continued its self-imposed task, the pain from his wounds lessened, eventually becoming just a burning sensation.

"Nothing from you could ever displease me, Mydei." he heard in his mind. The prince's eyes widened in surprise.

"C-can you... speak telepathically...?" he whispered, both surprised and impressed. Phainon nodded without stopping his cleaning session. "Why are you doing this now?"

The dragon let out a pitiful whimper. "I'm sorry. There are things I'm still learning."

"Like transforming into a fully fledged dragon?" Phainon nodded. Mydei took a moment to appreciate the magnificent creature: the scales that had once occasionally appeared on its arms or face now completely covered its body. He reached out and stroked its large chin, eliciting a purr; they were still as soft and smooth as he remembered. The wings were now large enough to support its weight with ease; truly a beautiful creature.

"And how do you discover them? Is it... like you've always known how to do them or something?" he asked, genuinely curious. The dragon shook its head.

"No. It's more... like a mental library. Things appear before me as I question them."

"That... sounds terrifying." He felt a chill run through his spine at the thought; it was like having an external entity watching over everything. "Are you able to return to your human form?" He nodded this time. "Why don't you go back to your human form and then we return to the castle?"

"No, you can't go back."

"Uh-huh...? Why not?"

Phainon didn't answer immediately. Instead, he shook his head repeatedly, lay down on the ground, and wrapped his tail around him again, pulling him closer to his body.

"Phai... What's wrong? Why don't you want me to go back to the palace?" The dragon only let out a pitiful growl, closing his eyes. Observing his silence, Mydei insisted again. "You know you can tell me anything, I'll always listen to you."

Phainon thought about it for several minutes, during which Mydei simply continued stroking the enormous creature's large chin; he wondered if something had changed in his way of thinking or seeing things. 

"Because I don't want to lose you, you'll leave my side as soon as you return. I can't allow it... I wouldn't be able to bear it." he exclaimed, pain in his mind. He let out a long, hot breath, as if that could lighten the burden he truly felt.

"What are you talking about?"

Partially ignoring his question, Phainon resumed licking his torso with more insistence, as if to emphasize his point; that gesture only embarrassed the blond man.

"Don't marry her, you don't need her. I can give you everything, but please... stay with me, my prince." he practically begged. If Mydei didn't know him as well as he did, he would have assumed that he was about to cry.

"Oh, Phainon..." Like a bucket of cold water, things began to make sense. Everything that had happened up to that point, the fact that he had completed his transformation, was not a coincidence. His instinct told him that the only way to avoid that fateful outcome was to become a full dragon and have the power to fight for him. "Honestly..." 

With his hands, he took the dragon's chin and, without thinking too much, brought his lips to the scales, murmuring against them: "I won't go anywhere, I'm here with you. You don't need to protect me like this. Come back to me, my beloved Phainon." He finished by placing a long kiss, with the feelings he had held back over the years; he closed his eyes, concentrating on conveying them through that small but significant gesture.

Over the years, he believed that what he felt for the dragon stemmed from the familiarity and closeness they had shared throughout their lives. But now he could understand and realize that, despite that, there was something else. It wasn't friendship, it wasn't brotherhood.

It was something much deeper than that, and now he could finally express it. Even if he couldn't name the feeling for now.

With just his words, the creature eventually reverted to its original form, leaving behind that imposing and ferocious being, surrounded by a kind of warm mist. When he opened his eyes, he found himself face to face with the face and eyes that had accompanied him throughout his life; in his hands, he held his cheeks where many more scales now sprouted than before.

"Khaslana."

"Huh?"

"Khaslana is my true name. Now I know." he murmured once he had fully returned to his semi-human form. "Mydei... My dear prince." he exclaimed in a whisper, holding him by the waist. "Can you do it again?" He asked softly, rubbing his thumb against the exposed skin.

"What? This?" Holding his cheeks, he leaned against his lips, joining them in a shy kiss. It was the first time he'd ever shared one with anyone, and yet, he couldn't help but feel incredibly happy that it was with him; his stomach fluttered with nervousness and excitement.

Every movement was clumsy, timid, inexperienced, but so full of meaning that, in that moment, those things were the last thing that mattered. At some point, he grasped his long, white hair, letting the other roam freely down his back, drawing them closer and closer. The dragon's skin, always so warm and comforting, was now like a living bonfire; with each passing second, the temperature rose uncontrollably.

He was so immersed in the kiss that he didn't realize when the dragon had laid him down on the improvised nest of branches; their flushed cheeks and ragged breaths mingled as one. "Mydei…"

"Yes...? Khaslana."

"Hey, it's strange that you call me that, but if I had known you felt this good... I would have kissed you a long time ago." He murmured just inches away, a deep murmur vibrating in his chest before attacking his lips again in a much more frenzied kiss, bordering on desperation. Mydei let out a moan in the middle of it, unable to do anything but to cling tightly to the other's neck, letting himself be carried away by the new sensations he was experiencing.

This only intensified the other's excitement, feeling the fangs bite the sensitive skin of his lips. His hands didn't stay still either, continuing to explore every available area of ​​skin despite the saliva on his torso derived from the licking.

"Mydei... Mydei..." he called breathless as they separated, their foreheads touching. "You're not an illusion, are you? You will still be here when I wake up..."

"What are you talking about?" he replied, panting and confused. "I am here with you, Phai I mean, Khaslana." he reaffirmed, pulling his face back slightly to look him directly into his eyes. However, when he touched his forehead, it was practically boiling. "No... you're not okay. Come, lie down."

Ignoring the dragon's resistance, he managed to reverse their roles, leaving him lying on the improvised nest. He stood up and looked down, his mind racing, trying to think of some way to help him. "Are you hungry or thirsty? Tired from the transformation? Fever?" He thought aloud, all possibilities and none at once seeming plausible. He had no idea; he had never seen him sick. He didn't even know if dragons could get sick.

"Mydei..." he called again, extending his hand toward him, his eyes barely open.

"What's wrong...?" he replied, interlacing his fingers, but before he could ask more, the dragon had already pulled him back, falling onto his chest. Immediately, strong arms wrapped around his waist, and his tail coiled around his leg.

"It doesn't matter what you call me. I just... need you here with me. That's all." he murmured against his hair, embracing him with his wings as well, forming that small refuge that had protected him so much and that he was so used to.

"Are you sure? I don't even want to think that..." 

But Phainon shook his head again, interrupting him. "There are still things I don't know about myself, but I'm sure of one thing: I only want and need you, my prince. If you stay with me... I'll be alright. I don't care about anything else." He reaffirmed, reaching for his face to lick his cheek in a gesture that expressed more than the words could.

His words not only melted the prince's heart but also made him forget everything else that had been troubling his mind. The political conflicts that rejecting the marriage would bring? The loss of trade with Okhema and the eventual economic decline, not only for the families but for the entire kingdom?

At that moment, a selfish desire ran through him. But... he couldn't care less, even though his position as prince demanded, required, that he think differently; that he reconsidered and prioritized the needs of the kingdom over his own.

Because that's what kings do. They look after the well-being of their people.

But he was still a prince. Those decisions weren't his to make, at least not for now.

He was sure his mother would understand the situation and support him as she always had. The problem was his father. There was no way he could escape the punishment his father had imposed, and that was the least of his worries. He shook his head and buried those thoughts deep in his mind, focusing on the present for now.

That way, being in the warm and comforting arms of his dragon, sharing that moment of fulfillment and sincerity, feeling the deep bond between them grow stronger, was more important than anything else. He allowed himself for a moment to be greedy and desirous of the dragon, who leaned against his chest and captured his lips in a much slower and softer kiss; he cupped his cheeks and caressed the soft, new scales on his skin with his thumb. Phainon quickly reciprocated, freely exploring the exposed skin of his hip; he didn't bother to hide, much less stifle, the deep purrs that emanated from his chest.

"Mydei" As they parted for a moment, his eyes reflected a joy and something more that he had never seen in them before, as if he had just discovered humanity's best-kept secret.

"Hm...?"

"Did you know you can lay eggs now?"