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She couldn’t open her eyes and continued to fall into the watery depths. The last sight she saw was the ship breaking — the wood splintering as people panicked when the harsh waters engulfed them — before all went black. Just as she almost fell into the dark abyss, something saved her in time bringing her to shore.
She gasped for air, coughing out water as she sat up. A gentle hand rested on her back — the touch hesitant and careful — as she continued to catch her breath. Once she had exhausted herself, she looked at who had saved her, her eyes widening as she took in the distinct features far from her kind.
Horns, pointed ears, and a sharp gaze — all features of a Vidyadhara.
The girl yelped and immediately tried to crawl away, though the young Vidyadhara quirked a brow in confusion.
“Wah! Don’t eat me!” She cried, covering her eyes.
He tilted his head, his eyes curious at the cowering girl who seemed as delicate as the peach blossoms that fell on the ground. Frowning, his tail slithered to wrap around her wrist, prying it away from her face to get a better glimpse of the ordinary girl.
“Why would I eat you?”
The girl’s sobs slowly died down as she processed his question. She looked at him, her eyes puffy and red with tears, looking like a soaked rabbit who had been pulled out of the water. She stared at him momentarily before her gaze landed on the cold thing around her wrist, stiffening at the sight of the teal coil filled with scales.
He stared back, following her gaze, and immediately let go of her wrist, coiling his tail away from her and averting his gaze in embarrassment. A light blush crept to his face before sighing and looking at her again.
“Sorry.”
The girl blinked at him, scrutinizing his features, and she couldn’t help but become starstruck by how cute the boy looked with his horns and restless tail.
“You’re like… a puppy,” she remarked, her lips curving into an amused smile. “Your tail is wagging like a puppy!”
His eyes narrowed at her, and it was getting harder to maintain his composure.
“I suggest that you leave before they get here.”
She quirked a brow in confusion.
“Huh?”
Without answering, he siphoned the water from her, leaving the girl dry before pulling her up and carrying her. She yelped, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck as he paced along the shore where they wouldn’t see him with the human girl.
“What’s your name?”
The girl held onto him tighter.
“March,” she answered, meeting his gaze. “What’s yours?”
The Vidyadhara met her eyes before looking ahead.
“Dan Heng.”
“Dan Heng!”
He shook his head, an amused smile on his lips as he held her tighter.
“We’re almost there.”
March hummed, holding as tightly as she could until they reached a deserted hut on the far corners of the shore. Once they stopped before the hut, she stepped onto the sand, feeling the grains against her bare feet as she skipped to their little place.
He watched her with a sigh, following her steps as they entered the hut, closing the door behind them. She lay on the soft futon, relishing the comfort of the soft makeshift bed.
Dan Heng joined her, sitting at the edge with his tail coiled beside him. She leaned close, a cheeky grin on her face.
“So?”
March nuzzled her face into his arm which he lifted to ruffle her hair, eliciting a huff from her.
“You never change.”
She smiled at him.
“Would you want me to?”
At her words, his tail began to wrap around her waist. He narrowed her eyes at her, a faint glow in his sharp gaze.
“Who said I wanted you to change?”
March laughed, her fingers gently brushing along the teal scales, earning a contented hum from him.
“I was thinking about my clothes,” she answered sarcastically.
Dan Heng shook his head with a sigh, watching as she got up and slid her robes off before he followed suit.
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March traced lazy circles on his chest, snuggling closer in his embrace as she hummed contentedly. The moonlight entered the open window, illuminating them who lay together beneath the sheets — warm and bare.
Dan Heng pulled her closer, his tail wrapped around her waist securely, having no intentions of letting go.
Within their little secret, the human and the Vidyadhara shared a bed and slept soundly without a care about the world outside.
It had already been a habit — a routine.
She would wait for him along the shores of Scalegorge Waterscape, and he’d carry her to their small nest, spending the night together hidden from the Preceptors who despised humans just as much as humans despised the Vidyadharas.
However, in their little world, they dream of a future — a possibility that their races would no longer be at odds with one another so that they could live together peacefully without the judgmental looks upon them.
But they hope that one day, their dreams will happen.
After all, if one dreams enough, one's wish will come true.
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…Right?
“High Elder, I implore you to take action to cease this conflict that has run for centuries.”
“High Elder, the humans have been trying to take control of this part of our territory. Please give an order to solve this issue.”
“High Elder, I suggest we plan on reclaiming our territory from them, and remind them of their place.”
Dan Heng looked down from his throne, contemplating their words before giving his verdict. Clenching his fist he thought of the consequences should he consider the last suggestion to fix the earlier concerns.
His brows furrowed, looking at the map before him, his jaw clenching at the sight of said territory before looking back at the Preceptors who awaited his word.
“I don’t see why we must reclaim the territory that has been long dead to us for centuries.”
The Preceptors looked at each other before one bowed before him.
“High Elder, the territory lost under your predecessor’s rule meant a lot to our people, providing our kind abundant resources, we Preceptors would like to propose this idea for quite a while now… and now that we had a plan…”
Dan Heng raised a hand, cutting the Preceptor off. His sharp gaze fell on the Preceptor before it landed on the said territory, his lips thinning into a line. He took a deep breath, suddenly feeling the weight his words would hold, and how it may change his relationship with her — someone who had lived in the small seaside village.
Despite their differences and the ongoing disputes between their races throughout the centuries, he knew he loved her truly, and that he couldn’t find the heart to take the life she had known ever since willfully. But his duties were like chains, binding him to think about his people’s future, even if it sacrificing his love for the human girl.
With a sigh, he massaged his temple, shaking his head.
“I am well aware, however, I’m afraid stoking conflict will only leave them to retaliate — the cost may not do well in our favor,” he said without missing a beat. “I would not go through with the plan.”
The Preceptors looked at each other before kowtowing, their faces apprehensive at his verdict.
“Please reconsider, High Elder.”
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The moon shone brighter than usual, basking everything in its pale glow. Moonlit rays seeped through their haven as the two lay together again. March rested her head against his chest, their shared blanket covering them as she traced lazy circles on his skin.
Dan Heng only stared at the ceiling, running his hand through the pink strands of her hair dampened by slick from earlier. He couldn’t help but be distracted, his thoughts trailing to the events earlier in the day.
March looked at him, noticing how his mind seemed to be elsewhere. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her fingers stopping on his chest.
“Something on your mind?”
He looked at her momentarily before shaking his head and mustering a small smile.
“Nothing.”
March returned the smile, tracing lazy circles on his chest again before she sighed and changed the topic.
“Hm, I just wish it’s all over… that we don’t have to hide, and all.”
Dan Heng hummed, his lips pressing into a line at his suppressed hesitance to say otherwise — that their races would never find the peace and equal understanding as they did.
“I wish too.”
She nodded, closing her eyes as he continued to run his fingers through his hair soothingly.
At the sight, he couldn’t help but feel regret creeping within. He leaned in, kissing her forehead softly with his lips lingering momentarily before pulling away. He could only swallow the lump in his throat as he shut his eyes.
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“I’m sorry.”
Sunlight seeped through the open window, stirring her in her sleep only to feel the emptiness beside her. At the realization, her eyes opened wide and she sat up. She squinted as her sight adjusted to the sudden light before looking around, finding herself alone in the hut.
Frowning, she went to collect her robes, dressing up before stepping outside, looking around in hopes for any sign of him only to find none.
“Dan Heng?”
Her feet dip into the grains of sand as the waves meeting the shore responded to her call instead.
Where is he?
She walked along the shoreline, her mind sharp to her surroundings, hoping for any sign of him.
Dan Heng would usually wait for me to wake up… maybe he had something to do so early.
But even then, he’d still wait for me.
Maybe it’s something important.
March huffed, deciding to give up searching for him, thinking he had important matters to do that couldn’t wait.
“I’ll just go home…” she mused, her feet taking her to the path back home.
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Except, home no longer looked like home anymore.
To her horror, the places of the town she frequented were burnt to ruin, wood and stone in nothing but unrecognizable debris save for their names etched on destroyed signs.
She stood there, frozen — unable to comprehend the reality or whether this was all but a bad dream. But the screams and rushed footsteps sobered her, signing that all of these were very real.
And that’s when she felt it, the rush of adrenaline coursing through her system as she found herself running into the ruined town — into the ruined home. In a panic, she no longer cared about her stumbles, every short trip when she stepped on her robes — she only ran as she could, turning to the paths that led to her home where her family was.
March’s breath caught in her throat as she saw people seemingly scouting the area, finding a place to hide to wait for the coast to clear. She glanced to see the people, her eyes widening at the sight of their distinct, non-human features: pointed ears and scales along their arms and legs.
All features of a… Vidyadhara.
Seeing them walk in her direction, she hid behind the rocks and splintered wood of a wrecked building, feeling her heart thrumming in her chest as she heard their footsteps fade. She waited a while, feeling sweat forming along her forehead from the heat and her nervousness, hoping for any higher being to keep her safe from being caught.
As their heavy steps disappeared into the distance, she released the breath she’d held, heading deeper into the ruined town. She glanced around, finding covered areas she could safely walk to without getting noticed by the roaming Vidyadhara.
March stumbled on her steps, looking around with each step before turning to a cranny. Her heart dropped at the sight, her eyes widening and her breath catching in her throat. She stood frozen, her hands trembling as she saw… him. She stepped closer, taking a shuddered breath as his silhouette became clearer.
He didn’t fail to notice her presence, holding his spear tighter before turning to look at her — his sharp gaze piercing contrast to her gentle demeanor. She stared back in shock, and he felt his cold demeanor falter when he noticed the flicker of hurt in her eyes.
“Dan Heng…”
His lips thin into a line, his composure calm despite the quick beating of his heart.
“March.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat, feeling chills down her spine at how cold he sounded, though she couldn’t help but hope that he didn’t mean to speak her name that way.
“Dan Heng, what’s all this?”
She looked around, though her breath hitched when she felt hard hands grasp her chin, forcing her to meet his steely gaze.
“Use your common sense, March,” he uttered before letting go and taking a few steps back.
March swallowed nervously, feeling a sinking sensation within the pits of her stomach that caused tears to well in her eyes — her fists clutching onto the skirt of her robes.
“Why?”
Her lips quivered as her query earned her an indifferent stare, a cold chill running down her spine at how he looked at her as if she were a mere stranger and not a companion he always held in his embrace at night.
“Why did you—”
“—We Vidyadhara are merely reclaiming what you humans stole,” he cut her off coldly, though he forced his voice not to waver. “After all, this land was taken by your kind from us… utterly shameless mortals who need to be put in their place.”
March frowned, her hands balling into fists as she bit her lip, too many emotions stirring within at his words.
“So… all of this…” she muttered. “It was… you deceived me? For this?”
Dan Heng eyed her coldly, huffing in response.
“Did you think I was being genuinely nice to you?”
She clenched her fists tighter, her nails digging into her skin.
“You…” she said through gritted teeth. “You’ve been lying to me all this time?”
He gripped her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye.
“What else? I merely led you on to reclaim what rightfully belonged to us Vidyadhara.”
March glared at him.
“I should’ve known better than to believe you…”
She could no longer hold the tears that had threatened to escape earlier.
“I shouldn’t have been so blind to their word that Vidyadharas are nothing but manipulative and bloodthirsty creatures!”
He chuckled wryly, releasing her.
“We are,” he agreed coldly, though his heart felt otherwise, clenching at her words.
March took a deep breath, looking at him with hatred and hurt.
“You shouldn’t have saved me back then…” she muttered. “I hate you!”
And that’s when he felt a crack in his demeanor, staring at her wide-eyed at how her words hit as hard as the whip he endured when the Preceptors held suspicion of him associating with a human.
Without waiting for his response, March took her chances, running into the flames as he tried to reach out, but it was too late.
He stayed quiet, frozen as he watched her silhouette fade into the ruins.
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“March…”
The constant sound of the waves meeting the shore filled the silence as he stared at the horizon ahead. The silhouette of a dragon slithered underneath the waves flickered amidst the sea, following his every step as his boots imprinted on the sand.
It had been a long time — many years since — and yet the sea of Scalegorge Waterscape remained constant despite the changes on its sandy shores. The two who once ran along the sand became one who roamed, ignoring the little hut that had been unused for years.
However, he stopped when he spotted the girl — her pink hair flowing in the wind as she walked in his direction, stopping a few feet before him. She looked at him with a sad smile, continuing in her tracks as he stood, watching her close the distance between them and stopping at arm’s length.
“Dan Heng.”
“March.”
She looked at him wide-eyed, though she regained composure, her calmness contrasting her exuberant self he’d known.
“I knew I’d find you here.”
He nodded, averting his gaze from her to look at the setting sun over the horizon.
“I didn’t think you’d come back.”
March chuckled, following his gaze.
“I just wanted to ensure that… we don’t end on a bad note.”
He gave her a sidelong glance before looking back at the bright yellow slowly descending the waters.
“I’m sorry,” she said quietly.
Dan Heng turned to look at her, frowning at the sudden apology.
“For?”
“For what I said back then…”
At her words, he couldn’t help the guilt constricting his chest. He took a deep breath.
“I’m sorry,” he responded. “But I understand if you don’t find it in you to forgive me.”
March hummed.
“You’re right… I can’t forgive you.”
Dan Heng nodded, though her next words made him look at her.
“It’s why I came to hopefully see you,” she continued. “To apologize and to end this on good terms.”
She took a deep breath.
“That way, we don’t owe each other anything, so we no longer have to see each other.”
He swallowed the lump in his throat.
“We should forget each other, don’t you think?”
His eyes widened at her words, and she finally looked at him with eyes filled with melancholy.
“I’m glad I got to know you, Dan Heng.”
“March—”
“You’re not like them,” she said, lips curling into a soft smile. “I know that… from the moments we’ve spent together and the things we’ve done.”
Dan Heng clenched his hand into a fist before relaxing.
“I meant them.”
“I know.”
March took another deep breath.
“But… things come to an end, right?”
He looked at her momentarily, the ache in his heart evident in his eyes.
“I have to go.”
She bowed her head, a somber expression on her face as she no longer waited to hear his words, taking heavy steps onto the sand.
He could only watch, his hand instinctively reaching out from his desire to plead her to stay — to plead for a chance to stay.
But he dropped his arm, watching with nothing but hurt as every footprint was a heavy reminder of the pain he could never make amends for.
All bound to be washed away by the sand.