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The sky was roaring exceptionally loud that day. Thunderbolts crashing, buildings crumbling, there were screams of despaired civilians that could be heard.
It was another bloody battle, a fierce one.
A man with red hair was huffing as he glared at the other redhead. Even though he was wearing a mask, the gaze was sharp, the other one felt it too. Beyond that white mask was a man who had unmatched fury.
Even though Cale was tired after using all that he had, he managed to curl his lips up in a smirk as his usual calm self.
“Now, now, no need to glare at me like that, White Star, it's just our second face to face meeting! How about a smile?” He chimed, mocking him. He looked at the perpetrator of this mess, this chaos, as if he were amused.
“Cale… Henituse…. you son of a bitch.” White Star said his name like a curse, a curse he found hard to undo and remove.
Almost like the lifelong hex similar to his damned reincarnations.
Their second meeting to fight, to face each other on opposing sides like it’s always been.
Cale has been going around sabotaging all of White Star’s plans. So he knew the masked villain was irritated and frustrated beyond belief, because nothing went according to his schemes. All because of a single human like him.
Grunting and sweating, they were both exhausted from using all their powers.
White Star looked around, he noticed many people on his side were already defeated, exhausted from the faceoff. He could see a red-haired mage causing mana explosions, the raven swordmaster slicing through their defenses, a golden haired man who looked like an elf was helping children to make their way to where Cale and him were.
‘This situation…the tides aren’t in our favor anymore.’ White Star glanced at his hand; it was bleeding. Injuries littered his body, blood soaking his cloak.
‘It really isn’t looking for us right now, dammit..’ He looked up to see Cale’s allies gathering together again.
He looked around for a chance to escape. But he had something in mind; he did not want to leave with just his side taking the damage.
He noticed the mage who was going to cast the teleportation magic already heading his way. Smirking, an idea popped in mind. Something devious and despairing enough for a good revenge.
While Cale was still busy rounding up with his people, he heard his name being called out.
“CALE HENITUSE!”
It was a voice filled with rage.
Cale turned towards the source of that voice but it was too late. White Star was now already standing in front of him with a sword in hand.
“Cale!”
“Cale-nim!”
“Cale-nyaa!”
“Human!”
His comrades all rushed to his side, as fast as he could. But his allies who were dragging their strengthless body realized something as they moved.
‘It's too late.’
‘We won't make it.’
Maybe it was exhaustion from the fight that their bodies were on the verge of giving up. They looked at how close White Star had gone to Cale. In a mere few seconds, it would all be over.
And it wasn’t the conclusion they wanted.
As their heads were filling up with despair and horror, they felt a gust of air pass by them.
‘‘Ra...Raon-nim?”
“Dongsaeng?”
Even with his body depleted of mana, the small dragon flew towards his human as fast as he could, bringing out every ounce of strength in his small body. The back of the small 6 years old dragon, now looked so big as he bravely flew to save his human. Who must have been the most tired out of all of them.
Bang!
They heard a loud crash of a sound. Turning towards it, they saw a man carrying a blade which was drenched with a dark and sinister aura.
“Choi Han!” Rosalyn called out to the man who was now dragging his already tattered body to save his Cale-nim. His savior, his new family.
“We can't just let Raon-nim handle everything, right?” Choi Han passed her, trudging on but still giving her a bright smile.
‘Yes, of course! We can't let our brave Raon-nim be alone. Especially not now!’
Pushing through their limits, all of them rushed towards where Cale and the White Star stood across each other.
Waiting, staring down at one another as if any moment would be their last.
Cale’s life was now one swipe of that blade away from death. With the sword pointed to his chest, Cale couldn’t help but cuss under his breath.
“Fuck.”
“Didn't see this coming now, did you?” The smug expression never left White Star’s face as their proximity reached its peak. He felt a sense of victory right now. Even though he had multiple casualties, he got to the enemy’s commander.
Overlooking Cale, White Star could see his allies running towards them.
‘Good, good! Run faster to see your commander’s demise; I want you to witness true pain in these final moments of our battle.’ White star awaited for the perfect moment to deal the most damage. He could also sense the mage was now standing right behind him. Preparing their hasty leave as soon as he finished one last scheme for their encounter today.
“I want to let you witness real despair, Cale Henituse.” How confident and excited was he, to see that look of apathy washed away from the human who ruined his plans from the ground up.
“Just do it already.” There was clear impatience and frustration in Cale’s voice as he glared at him. He would have preferred if he did it quickly compared to drawing on.
Cale did not want any of his loved ones seeing him die or get harmed; not like this. Not when their morale could turn the tides of this war.
As his eyes headed past Cale, White star curled up his lips into a sinister smile.
“Don't worry; you won't be dying so easily. I am planning on giving you a different present.” His voice was laced with venom and promise to the redhead. His gaze somewhere else as he flicked his wrist, moving the blade with his hand.
“What?” Cale’s eyes widened as he followed White Star’s oddly-directed gaze. As that ‘eureka’ moment struck, the panic and anxiety sunk in.
The sword wasn’t aimed at him.
It was someone else.
“NO!” Cale screamed as he watched that heartless steel pierce through the small chest of the tiny body. The small dragon was lingering behind his human, as if ready to attack at any given time. But due to his lack of vigilance, Raon wasn’t able to dodge the attack aimed for him. The White Star grinned at the realization; yes, this was the despair he wanted to give.
Not the sweet embrace of death, but the curse of mourning for those who weren’t able to escape the afterlife.
He watched someone he cared for die again.
The second time in his two lifetimes.
Cale felt warm blood dripping in his hands, blood that wasn't his; somehow it hurt him more than his injuries combined. An ache, a sting that haunts him more.
“HAHAHA!” The wretched sword from White Star’s hands fell down as the teleportation spell activated. Their grand escape worked, and the despair he left was unimaginable.
“This is my beloved gift to you Cale Henituse. I am sure you will never forget it.” Those were his last words as the light covered their visions leaving nothing but a vacant space of where he once stood.
Choi Han felt his heart race, the panic and anxiety rising as he tried to run, return to their side— but alas he was a few beats too late. The deed was done.
An irreversible milestone of hurt has been formed on this very day.
There was silence in the air as they all gathered to where their dear commander was. Hoping to see the chipper dragon, it was a surprise they couldn’t hear the excited childish voice.
One of them gasped as soon as they saw Cale's bloodied self, but soon realized that was not his. It wasn’t his own blood that soaked him. Instead it belonged to the small existence wrapped in his embrace, the dwindling spark of life fighting to remain.
“Ra… Raon!” Oh how Cale’s voice trembled as he called out the young dragon’s name. This wasn’t how it was supposed to end. This wasn’t how he foresaw the ending of this fight.
Cale could feel the young one’s heart beat slowly fading. The tremble in his hands did not stop. He wanted to take the sword out of Raon’s chest but he couldn't, the tremble in his hands didn't allow him. And he knew if he did, the bleeding would simply worsen, taking away the sliver of hope for him to survive if he wasn’t careful.
“Hu… human.. are.. you… ” Raon coughed up blood; dripping down his ivory scales, stained the crimson liquid. Oh how his sheen and sparkle slowly dimmed as the seconds passed by. And yet, Death did not scare him— no. The young dragon was relieved his human, his dear and beloved human, was safe and sound.
“Don't speak Raon! We’ll wait for Eruhaben-nim, for gramps to come back and heal you—” For the first time in his life Cale was scared. Frantic even. When he lived his life as Kim Rok Soo, he wasn't scared of dying himself, but the thought of losing the people he cherished, did. He wanted them to live a happy life.
Cale looked up to Eruhaben who had put his hands atop Raon’s head. The little hope he had dissipated when he saw the ancient dragon shake his head with such a pained look.
“Human…” Raon tried so hard to speak once more. He had so much left to say, for they had barely lived their lives together. How time flew for them as they haven’t even bonded as a real family yet. At least not enough for the unpredictable pair.
“Yes, yes, I am right here, Raon... please don't talk. We’ll do everything to heal you so, please, hold on—.” Cale felt his voice crack, the tears overflowing and staining his pale, bloodied cheeks.
“I am going… to die soon… my human…” He could barely make out the words, but the small dragon acknowledged it. Young as he was, he tasted fate worse than Death more than once. Under the hands of a bastard whom he had broken with his newfound loved ones.
Those words crushed Cale, his cries turned into sobs as he realized this was it. There was no going back. He was too complacent, too reckless— and it cost him something precious.
Oh how he gathered courage, false courage to try and face this horrid death. It wasn’t an illusion nor a dream— it was an unfavorable and bizarre reality he’s forced to come to terms with.
“It can’t be! There’s still something— somehow… Sherrit-nim! Maybe she could, or Rosalyn, or gramps— anyone!” His rationality was crumbling. Was there any logic when facing the death of someone you loved?
No.
“Don’t worry, human… I am the great… and mighty dragon! I will be alright.” How his voice tried to be upbeat and energetic but it barely came out. Strained and pained, that’s how it sounded.
“...” Cale couldn’t contain himself and was so close to breaking down. He tried and tried, to come up with ways to save him, and yet nothing could reverse the Grim Reaper’s touch.
“But…my human… if… I cannot… ” Raon attempted to explain, hoping his dear human, his first friend and family— and somewhat of a father figure that he always wished for. Someone worth trading his tiny yet mighty life to, he wanted him to understand that it wasn’t his fault.
“You don't have to force yourself Raon.. we are all here, listening to you… always...” But he knew it, right to his marrows that this might be the last time.
Cale just helplessly watched his little dragon struggling to speak, he wanted to curse at himself, he wanted to curse at the world for trying to take such a young one away, for trying to take another innocent life. One he thought he already spared from the greedy arms of Death.
‘If only … if only I could take your place.’
So many thoughts were running in his head. Anger, regrets, sadness all these feelings that he experienced flooded into him. As if a dam broke, they all washed over him, drenched him into a spiraling depression.
However the coughing roused back his attention to his beloved little dragon, who with all his fiery spirit and determination still wanted to spend his last moments with his human. Letting him know of the everlasting affection he’s had of him, as he had given him so much more in the time they spent together.
“I would have loved to spend hundreds.. no… thousands …. no, an eternity with you, my human.. that.. that was the secret wish I made that day. But... but I am glad you are alright human.. my weak human.. you alwa… always need me to protect you.” Even till the end he held this childish yet well-deserved arrogance of his strength. Knowing he was capable of doing so, and yet that same recklessness has led to his demise. Even Raon, a dragon of less than ten years of age, felt so many regrets.
For someone who cannot forget, this was a curse. This moment will be recorded in his mind for the rest of his life. Never forgetting the face Raon made, as his heartbeat was slowly fading away. These last words that Raon had said to him. Everything will stay with him until his last breath.
‘He wished for an eternity. How unrealistic, yet bold. And before he worried how the little dragon would grow up and miss him when he leaves behind first; but Fate had other plans. And Raon was the one who had decided to go forth at the end of his life’s string. Cale felt that everything crumbled; his hope, his desire for that lazy life. All long gone as he lost this sweet child of his.
Soon as the Grim Reaper arrived, to pick up the tiny dragon’s soul; how he trembled and still tried to reach out to him. His paws are so dainty and small, brushing against his cheeks. It hurt him, down to his very core.
“..human…” Calling out to Cale, he was wistful, joyful, filled with regret and relief.
“Yes, yes, I am here, Raon.” Once again he responded, and he tried his best to force a smile upon his lips. Through the tears, he wanted at least for him to have a good memory.
“Human… Ah, my eyes… I cannot find you.. I cannot see you, my human. I still want to see if you are alright!” Such childlike whims and yet hearing how his vision had failed- he couldn't even remember the last moments they spent. It broke him down more, and how his own spirit was turned to smithereens. The ugly head of war rearing his head this way.
A painful irony.
Still, the small dragon tried to feed him, reaching out to wherever his spatial bag was, as if it were his last attempts to engrave this scene into eternity. Irreplaceable, a moment to scar and to hold close to Cale’s heart.
“The apple pie… weak human..I am sorry.. I won't be able to give you apple pies anymore...when… when you feel hungry....” Till the end, Raon, full of adoration and care, left the world, thinking only of him. His family, his dear human, his savior. And everything in between.
“No… No! You can’t- this, you have to hold on!” Choked back tears have long spilled like a waterfall, and his sobs were retched and true. His lithe body shaking, trembling as he held the now cold-corpse of his dear dragon, akin to a child to him.
‘Thank you for everything.’ These were the words Raon wished to part with, and yet it was too late. Life was too short for him as even then, not enough small moments would be able to contain the pain and hope he still had to stay with Cale.
Cale did not hold back his tears, embracing the all-too-little dragon in his arms; motionless and quiet.
It was too big of a price they paid that day.
‘I know you can speak the human language. You are a dragon. The smartest and strongest existence in the world.’ Those were the great words Cale had said to him, right as he was set free from the clutches of Venion.
‘.....’ Truthfully, Raon was baffled by it, and yet somehow, it sparked a new determination in him. To believe that he was stronger than the horrible monster that caged and hurt him.
“Oh human! What are you doing here? Wait, I thought I was stabbed?” Raon floated around as he saw a scene unfold in front of him.
“Human.. human it's me!” Just as he reached out to his beloved human, he passed through. As if he didn’t exist.
“Oh is this an illusion” The realization had set in; this wasn’t him returning to earth. It was him, replaying his fondest memories of his life.
‘What do you want to do once you are free?’
‘I.. will live! I will go away! I won't be tamed!’
‘Yes you are a dragon. A DRAGON. you have the right to live freely.’ They resonated within him, these words. Free, he was free, and so he felt the shackles that bound him remove themselves.
“Oh, I remember this. This was when.. I met my human for the first time.” Although futile he still tried to reach his paws out to touch his human. It yet again passed through. The scene had changed into something else once more.
‘Human here apple pie!”
Come now be careful!’ Now here was Cale wiping crumbs off of Raon’s snout as he was holding him in his arms
“I must have been so heavy, but he still held me like that!” He laughed, now noticing the tremble in his human’s arms.
‘Here is your allowance.’
‘Raon, I am someone who can not forget.’
‘Raon-nim.’
‘Raon-nim.’
‘Our cute dongsaeng.’
He saw his family calling out to him.
Mary, the one he showed and taught many things about the world; she was a good girl too. Ron, the lemon gramps; always smiling, and the human seems to be worried for him always pulling out a knife. Beacrox, who would cook him delicious food and took care of him and the other children well- even though he seemed a bit grumpy. Alberu, the crown prince who always had a similar look as his human when scamming. On and Hong, his precious siblings whom he bonded with so happily; they always had so many fun games to play together. Choi Han, the kind one who is bad at lying and acting, but he works hard just like everyone else. Bud, Lily, Basen, Violan, Deruth, Hillsman, the crazy Clopeh... he saw everyone.
‘Raon.’
Lastly, Cale. His human that he wished an eternity with.
“Human, I just want you to know how thankful I am to have met you. Thank you for freeing me from that hell. Thank you for showing me the world. Thank you for letting me have so much fun. Thank you for giving me a name.Thank you.. for giving me a family.” At last, he was able to tell him how grateful he was. To be loved and cared for, to be taught so many colorful things.
‘I guess I have to go now.’
Like that he slowly faded away along with the fleeting memories, like a dream that was coming to an end.
‘Goodbye.’
As he opened the door to the prison, he saw a small figure of about 1 meter long laying on a stack of hay in the corner. It was shaking. There were chains on all limbs and mana restrictions as well as on its neck, making it unable to use any strength to escape.
"Let’s leave.” He said, crouching down so he could be heard by the tortured little one.
That was the start of it all. The dragon that he planned to free suddenly became family. A new loved one. A new headache.
"Raon Miru." That was the name he had given him when he happened to finally decide what to call him. From his old life, Raon meant “joyful” and Miru meant “dragon”. It was literal, yet fitting of the child. After all, he wanted him to be happy for the rest of his days.
"Weak human." The young ebony dragon called out as he gave Cale, a tear-soaked apple pie every time he was hurt. Bleeding, or even tired.
'Weak human.'
'Weak human, I will protect you.'
'Human, here, apple pie.'
'Human are you hungry?'
'Human.'
'Hu....human am I gonna die....?'
With an audible gasp, Cale was roused from his deep slumber. How the memories, such beautiful ones, haunted him in his dreams. But as reality hit him, it felt more like living through an endless nightmare. Bringing a hand up to his face, they were once again wet, dripping with hot fresh tears.
It couldn’t be helped, it still hurt.
His heart ached still.
Clang , clang.
The sound of gold coins within the ceramic piggy bank were made as he was sitting up. Looking down at the familiar object, the realization gave him the feeling of dread he longed to escape or at least erase.
"Ah." Filled with sorrow, his eyes couldn’t help but tremble.
“Thank you for being by my side, my beloved Raon. I wish I could have given you the eternity you wished for.” And so another night passed, for the slacker who wished for a lazy life, he’s only earned a hollow and empty heart from war.