Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

‘I can't stop now.’

The little thing could feel his lungs burning with each breath. With all the trauma his body was suffering, he knew he shouldn't push against his limits. 

But the voices behind him didn't offer such a lenient choice. 

“Shit! Don't stop now, it's just a baby!”

“We're all nothing but dead meat if it escapes!”

“Fuck, that person will kill us all!”

Despite his vision blurring, the young dragon couldn't stop. He knew too well that if he stumbled, nothing but pain and agony would be waiting.

Those monsters behind him were adamant, it was either his misery or their own. 

Going back to that place wasn't an option for him. For this little dragon, everything and everyone was too cruel even before he opened his eyes. 

From the first moment he could remember, deep within the darkness— 

Nothing but misery was his companion. 

As he welcomed this cold world, only chains embraced him. 

Had he been alone when he opened his eyes, he may have given up. The pain and anguish that had been tormenting him were enough to break anyone, let alone a child that was abused even before being born. 

Yet, there was someone else beside him. 

A smooth, black egg. Instinctively, he could tell this egg was related to him. Most likely a sibling. 

This little egg was still intact without any scratch on it. Unlike himself, this egg was protected and never touched by those loathsome devices. 

‘There's still a chance.’

It was at that moment he realized he could save this egg from facing the same tragic fate which was forced upon him. 

Reality, however, proved him to be too naive. 

Darkness was trying to engulf the young dragon again, but this time he was running. Having decided to not give up on the slim possibility of this other egg having a better future, He risked everything.

He needed to get away, just for a little bit more, and he would be able to escape. 

If he could escape, surely he would be able to save that black egg. 

Tiny wings pushed past its limit, crashing against the vicious winds. The young dragon's small body—which had always been restrained behind chains—was rapidly absorbing the mana from the world, in a pitiful attempt to make it through. 

His beautiful red scales were matted with blood and dirt, to the point the little being was unsure if any part of his body remained without a deep wound. 

‘I need to keep up just for a bit more.’

Repeatedly encouraging himself, the young dragon's words echoed in his mind. 

THUD. 

“Ugh… Mm…”

Without warning, the young dragon found himself on the ground. A ringing noise sounded in his ears, and slowly, he noticed the blood dripping from his head. 

‘It's not that dark anymore…’

After barely lifting himself, he looked around. The red dragon had only ever been in the cave, and throughout his fervent escape, he didn't have the time to gaze at his surroundings. 

But now that he was able to take his time and look around, he felt weird. His body was weak, battered with scars, and the blood continued to pour from every wound. 

Although it wasn't completely bright, it was no longer the darkness in the cave. The young dragon thought he would feel warmth and relief, however, 

“It's… Weird. This is uncomfortable.”

Unfortunately, he couldn't even savor this newfeeling as he heard the monsters catching up to him. 

“There! That punk fell there!”

“Spread across the area. It's injured and shouldn't be able to escape in the dense forest for long.”

Without wasting a second, the little red dragon crawled deeper into this so-called ‘forest’. He had no idea what it was, yet he couldn't be bothered. 

His curiosity could only be shoved aside in order to pursue survival. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

In the middle of the forest, a peerless white bathtub was slowly twitching. A handsome being emerged from the bathwater and landed on the grassy field. 

“Hmm… Who dares to tarnish this lord’s forest?”

The handsome young man didn't need to do anything to feel all these pesky flies scattered across his forest. It was noisy, too noisy. His green eyes flashed dangerously as green mana wrapped around his hand. 

SWOOOSH. 

“Ugh-!”

“Ah!”

“What-”

All the humans who were running around and buzzing fell to the ground, allowing the handsome man to heave a sigh. 

“Peaceful- huh?”

However, he soon felt something else. Although a little faint, there was a familiar presence near him. It wasn't familiar in the sense of feeling it before, but it was the presence of a kin. 

‘Why would a dragon be here? This lord's territory is well-known already, and any dragon could feel my mana surrounding the forest. Who dares?’

Eliminate them. That was a reckless thought, but Oline, the green dragon, had always been rash and reckless. If a dragon dared to step into his turf, why shouldn't he attack first? 

He never thought about the possibility of the dragon being weak or seeking shelter here. Dragons were the strongest race in this world. No matter what kind of power do you have, you'll need to fight for your life just to injure a dragon. 

Not to mention, the forest wouldn't be so calm had it been an injured dragon. To cause a dragon to abandon all caution and step into another's dragon den knowingly, the enemy would need to have nature-defying power. How come there's nothing different about the forest then? 

Then, it must've been a young dragon who knows no fear trying to test himself by sneaking around despite the danger. 

‘If so, I'll just pummel them to the ground!’

Confident in his theory, the green dragon teleported to the spot he felt the presence at. Only to stand there speechless, his mouth agap. 

Why was there a baby dragon here? 

Oline stood awkwardly in front of a tiny red dragon. The tiny red dragon was heaving, his breathing barely coming out, as his scales were getting even darker with his own blood. 

This young one was dying. 

Chapter Text

“Why would you call me all of the sudden?”

“This lord needs your help, Eruhaben.”

“It's Eruhaben-nim, punk. I'm your senior. And stop using that annoying tone with me.”

Oline groaned. He was too used to referring to himself as this lord, but disobeying this crazy grandpa wasn't an option. He sighed and then allowed Eruhaben directly into his lair, to which the latter raised an eyebrow. 

“You're inviting me in? You already finished your second growing phase, I helped you twice already. Are you asking for more help?”

The golden dragon put on an annoyed mask. In reality, though, he felt the green dragon's growth was impressive 

Although he was a weirdo with an inexplicably perverted obsession with bathtubs, the young man was a good dragon. 

However, Oline’s next words made him wonder if coming here was the right thing to do. 

“Ha. No, this isn't about me! I just found a little whiny bitch half dying and he isn't recovering!”

“Huh?”

“Here! Please just do something!” 

The green-haired young man shoved Eruhaben rudely into a room next to them. The room was brightly lit with mana orbs, a lot of empty healing potions scattered on the ground, and in the middle was a small red dragon. 

With one glance, Eruhaben felt a headache coming. 

Size alone told him that this dragon was a baby. Perhaps two weeks old at most. Despite having unique mana, the little one was dying because his unique mana clashed with the healing potions effect. 

“Just where in hell did you find this one?” as he said that, he got closer and carefully started examining the red dragon. 

“Like hell I know! Senior, I was just sleeping peacefully when pesky flies started buzzing around the entrance to my lair. I normally would have let them go if they weren't close, but they also disturbed my sleep!”

Puffing in annoyance, Oline patted his chest. “So I decided to eliminate them all. But then I felt a dragon's presence. It was so faint, but still a dragon. I was gonna teach them a good lesson to not dare and step into my place again, but—”

“But you ended up finding this dying baby dragon?”

“Ugh yes!”

Both of them sighed at the same time. This was truly a troubling matter. Dragons were typically aloof and distant from each other, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't help each other in a case like this. 

A newly hatched baby dragon was in this type of difficulty, the normal thing would be to help just enough and then they'd be on their own. 

The issue was—

“Hey, Eruhaben-nim. Why isn't he recovering?”

No matter how many potions and magic Oline tried, nothing worked. The little one kept on bleeding and he never regained his consciousness.

“You can feel his different mana, correct?”

Oline nodded. 

“This mana is causing his body to be in disarray. It isn't pure enough, it doesn't look like nature's mana, but it also clashes with every other power. Whether it was divinity or pure magic, the mana of this child is rejecting everything. I'm unsure about the cause as well.”

“Then… Will he just die?”

With great hesitation, Oline was able to ask. Honestly speaking, he wasn't concerned about this baby specifically, but about the situation. Why was he here in the middle of nowhere? Where's this child's mother? Who put this child in such a state? 

A lot of questions, and the only one who could answer was this child. If he died, who would clarify these matters?

No matter who dared to put a dragon in this state, they needed to be punished. For that as well, the young dragon had to live. 

“He'll live.”

Eruhaben’s curt response made Oline heave a sigh of relief. 

The golden ancient dragon, on the other hand, couldn't be at ease just yet. He started by wiping all the remaining healing potions from this baby's scales before turning to Oline and bluntly ordering him. 

“Get out. I'll come and talk with you once I stabilize him. Don't bother me.”

“It's my lair though…?”

No words needed, just a beautiful golden dust starting to float around the ancient dragon was enough. 

“Yes senior, I'm leaving.”

The moment he left the room, Eruhaben let out a deep sigh. He seated himself next to the trail red dragon and started to examine him more thoroughly. 

This child must be no older than two weeks, his weakness could be contributed to his young age, but the ancient dragon was quickly able to notice something wrong with his body. 

Numerous magic circles were planted inside this little body, clashing against each other in a chaotic cacophony. Moreover, there was another source of power planted next to this little one's heart. 

It was neither mana nor divine power, but a power that reminded Eruhaben of dragons’ attributes. However, it was still different. 

‘To stabilize this unlucky child, I need to remove these troublesome magic circles first.’

However, he soon realized it wasn't as easy as he thought. 

No matter how many circles he managed to remove, twice the number will start appearing in no time, sending the young red dragon into a deeper agony. 

Blood started seeping from his lips. 

It was truly a headache. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Creaaak-

“Ah, senior, you really took your time there.” Oline yawned, checking the clock on the wall. 

It had been a week since the golden dragon locked himself in that room to help the dying kid. Oline thought he would've come out in no time, but the longer time passed, the more unsure he was. 

At one point, his heart ached, wondering if the red kid would even make it out alive. The green dragon didn't dare to doubt the ancient dragon, but time was gnawing at his confidence. 

Selfish or not, he had no desire to watch helplessly as a kin died. 

“Everything is okay. He lived.”

Immediately, Oline felt the weight on his shoulder disappear. That was right, how could he doubt this amazing dragon who could bring dust out of the water? 

Soon, however, he became anxious again. 

“But he's unconscious with no signs of waking up any time soon.”

“What…?”

“This kid's origins are not ordinary. His body had been tampered with, and it's already a miracle he survived. I managed to balance his body, but there's no certain thing about his fate.”

Oline bit his lower lip, ‘That's troublesome…’

Since the kid will live, that was great! Oline just hoped to have no connection to it whatsoever, though. He made sure the little one wouldn't die and that was as far as his responsibility would go. 

So… 

“Then will you take him with you, senior?”

A shaky—and obviously fake—smile blossomed on the handsome green-haired guy's face as he asked pleasantly. 

However, how could Eruhaben not realize the intention behind that? 

‘Please take him! I won't raise this feeble thing! It's none of my business! Eruhaben, don't rub your bad habits on me!’

With a deep sigh, Eruhaben responded: “Fine, I'll take care of this child.”

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Ten years later. 

“Eruhaben-nim, is that child still not awake?”

The green dragon, who was begging Eruhaben years ago to take the unwanted responsibility from him, ironically started to frequently visit Eruhaben to check how the red dragon was doing. 

Dragons were whimsical creatures in their free time. 

“No, he's still unconscious. Why do you keep bothering me about this?”

Eruhaben had to admit that the constant presence of this junior wasn't as unpleasant as he made it to be, but that was something only he needed to know. 

This little rascal, Oline, should never know about his true feelings or he'd get too full of himself again. 

“Is there really no way to force him awake?” swiftly skipping over Eruhaben’s annoyed words, the green dragon crouched next to the red dragon and continued to stare at him. 

“Haaa. If there was any, I would've already used it. But all of them would be harmful to this child.”

“Are you sure? Actually, didn't you say there's a strange power next to his heart that seems to be sucking everything?"

“That's right?”

“Then!”

Without saying another word, Oline touched the red dragon and sent his pure mana right to that magic circle. 

“You—!”

Eruhaben was too late to stop it. Oline’s thoughts were relatively simple: if his own power weren't enough to awaken, wouldn't the power of another dragon help him to awaken? 

Such a simple logic, how could an ancient dragon like Eruhaben miss it? The issue was that it was too dangerous! This little body already had numerous different mana surging through it, adding another source was nothing short of insanity. 

However, his fears were thankfully washed away in the next second. 

As the mysterious power sucked Oline’s mana, the young dragon's body glowed brightly and the mana inside it flowed  harmoniously with each other. 

“That actually worked…?”

“Ha! Senior underestimate me so much!”

“Insane punk. Shut your trap and follow my guidance now.”

With Eruhaben guiding the process for the next few hours, all the mana inside the red dragon's body became stable and harmonious. 

After ten hours. 

Twitch. 

The red dragon finally opened his eyes. 

Chapter Text

“He actually woke up!”

“Calm down. Don't cause a fuss.”

‘Hmm? Who?’

The moment the red dragon opened his eyes, he saw two weirdos towering over him. It was an utterly absurd experience. 

His head was hurting, his body felt weak, but the worst part was not remembering how he got here to begin with. 

Although he wanted to talk, his mouth was a bit dry. His lips parted and closed but to no avail, only a soft whisper was heard. 

“He can talk!”

Despite that, the green weirdo seemed to be excited with just that. As for the golden weirdo, he had some tact. Soon giving him a mouthful of water. 

After drinking, the red dragon finally spoke. 

“Who are you? Why am I here?”

“Heh. This great lord saved you when you were at death's door. You shall be grateful!”

The red dragon's face was anything but impressed. He looked the green man up and down before shaking his head and turning his gaze to the more composed golden weirdo. 

“Are, are you ignoring this lord…??”

“I'm sorry, I don't speak lunacy.”

“This rascal-!”

Pfft~

“Ahahahaha! This little rascal is telling the truth. Oline, stop acting like a kid. And you, little rascal, what Oline said was the truth. He saved you ten years ago when you were almost dying at his doorstep.”

“Me?”

‘I? Ten years ago? Wasn't I just born a week ag-’ 

“Ugh…”

He groaned, the mere attempt to try recalling his past caused him to have a pounding headache. 

“I don't remember… Why would you save me though? Just for your information I have nothing to give.”

As he said that, he checked his body. No injuries, all healed up. His chaotic body had also calmed down and his mana was now flowing flawlessly. 

Eruhaben flicked his forehead, making the red kid recoil and bare his little teeth, but he remained unbothered as he answered the kid's questions.

“You are but a child. There's no need for a reason to save you. Though it would've been ideal to get to know who could reduce a dragon to such a sorry state.”

Scoffing, the red dragon tried to step back once more. 

“What a terrible luck then, you saved a useless case. I remember almost nothing. You won't get anything from me-”

Suddenly he was lifted by his wings—rudely, if he may add—and suspended in the air. The green weirdo took hold of his wings while grumbling. 

“Was I also this terrible when you first helped me, Eruhaben-nim?”

“You were worse. At least this kid acknowledges he got nothing, you, on the other hand, even acted as if you were the son of the dragon lord or something.”

“I wasn't that bad I'm sure!”

“Release me already.”

The red dragon truly had no idea what he was getting himself into. 

After being released and after everyone took their seats, the red kid heard all the details about how he was found half dead and rescued. 

However, he remained on guard as the only memories he had were quite… unsavory to say the least. 

A dark cave in a rural mountain, countless magical devices around, people clad in black — and most importantly, pain and agony. 

Whether he wanted to have revenge or not, that was going to need a lot of thinking. In addition, he also needed to remember all the missing memories in order to not throw himself into a trap. 

Was he grateful that these dragons saved him? Only a little, but he couldn't trust them enough to allow himself to be completely overwhelmed with gratitude towards them. 

Strong people could write the weaklings fate. And whether he liked it or not, he was a weakling to these mighty beings. 

“Little rascal, you can leave if you want. Nobody is forcing you to stay since you're healed.”

As if reading his complicated mind, Eruhaben casually sipped his tea. He quickly added, “You can stay for a while if you want, too. But don't expect to be pampered. You're a dragon, you can take care of yourself.”

However, the moment the red dragon heard those words, he smiled brightly. 

“Then I'll stay here, golden uncle!”

“Unc- hahahahahah!”

“Uncle…?”

While Oline was crying laughing, and Eruhaben twitching at the new nickname, the red dragon had one thought. 

‘Free lodging and safety, acquired.’

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

‘....?????’

The red dragon was flabbergasted. Due to everything that happened, he couldn't look around properly before. But now that he started investigating his new house… 

‘I'm pretty loaded? I have such a great base for recovery?’

Golden uncle’s residence made the red dragon feel great respect for him. Perhaps due to spending his first few days in darkness, the golden glow of everything made him feel at ease as well. 

That was the start of his obsession with gold, but he didn't know that yet. 

‘For now… I need to start practicing the most important thing.’

Dragons’ bodies were naturally tough, but the easiest way to move was to morph into a human. The young red dragon loathed humans, but their body was pretty agile and nimble. 

He would've pushed past the hate and did it anyway had it been necessary. Thankfully, the golden uncle’s appearance showed him another way. 

An elf. A race the young dragon had never seen, and only learned about them recently through the golden uncle's books. 

The red dragon's first goal was to shapeshift into an elf. 

Chapter Text

Shapeshifting was unexpectedly not an easy task. 

“Little rascal, your ears are off.”

The next day. 

“Hahaha hahaha! Your nose looks weird, red brat!”

Next. 

“Your arms are asymmetrical.”

Next. 

“Your height isn't consistent with your weight.”

And finally, after a whole week–

“Good job. You've done well.”

An exhausted yet enchantingly beautiful young ‘elf boy’ was sprawled on the golden table. His little chest was moving up and down, his short red hair messy and sticky with sweat, and his beautiful red eyes had a faint beautiful glimmer. 

“Tired.”

‘Why am I suffering like this…? I just wished to be a slacker-’

The thought crossed in the red dragon's head quickly and so naturally. 

“Slacker…? What does that mean?”

A word he was unfamiliar with slipped through his mind. The little dragon couldn't understand why that would happen. However, he quickly brushed it off. A passing thought was of no importance. 

“What are you mumbling about, red brat?”

“It's none of your business, uncle.”

Oline was hovering above the young boy with a curious expression. Before he knew it, he was used to the rude attitude of this little thing. 

‘I suppose I feel some kinship with him.’

For a whole ten years he had been checking on this baby dragon, he undoubtedly did develop some tolerance toward him. 

“Stop being rude to this lord. You did amazing with shapeshifting for now, what do you want to do later?”

Blink. 

‘I don't know.’

Should he try regaining his memories? Build up his power? But why, was there any reason to do that? 

Although he knew how terrible being weak would be, he was a dragon. He could survive on his own, he had no need to be stronger because these two were being tolerant of him as well. 

“I'll… Think about it.”

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

“Senior, will you try to teach him?”

“Dragons are normally arrogant. Even though he's staying here, you think he would agree?”

Eruhaben sighed, sipping his drink. 

Getting older made the ancient dragon more fickle than he thought. From saving a baby dragon to wanting to be his mentor, all were insane things. 

Old age was making Eruhaben do the unthinkable for dragons. 

“He's a little rude but he's still a child. You can teach him if you want. Either way, I don't think he'd survive on his own.”

“Hmm?”

“Just look at him,” Oline shrugged, reclining more onto the sofa, “he's surging with mana but the mana he has is nothing short of a hurricane.”

“A hurricane…?”

“The red brat’s body probably absorbed a lot of mana before we could save him. The mana that was absorbed was running and wreaking havoc inside his body—like a hurricane.”

Eruhaben nodded in understanding. 

“That's why I didn't dare to put any of my mana inside his body. It was way too risky.”

“But! When I poured my mana in the spot next to his heart, it worked as a stabilizer.”

Squinting his eyes, Eruhaben put his cup down. 

“You're saying without a more powerful being providing a stabilizer, the mana will end up exploding his body from inside out.”

Oline nodded, and silence followed after that. Oline truly hoped that the red brat won't try to run away and hurt himself unknowingly by that. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Unbeknownst to them, the red dragon was already eavesdropping on their conversation from the moment they left him alone. 

He knew. 

His body wasn't normal, and he wasn't born like that. Even before being born, he had consciousness. The little dragon had memories even before being born. 

In a dark, damp cave. The red egg was wrapped in countless wires. Strange substances were being poured on it daily. As uncomfortable as it was, nothing could've been done by him to stop it. 

However, it became hell the moment he was born. Torture, experiments and—

“Ugh…”

Again, his memories were cut off. He can't remember everything, but he knows his body has been altered. 

There was a reason why he had to run away. Yet, he couldn't remember it. 

At the same time, the little dragon realized what he should do next. He should cling to these two dragons until he's able to take care of himself. Hence his knowledge was lacking, the two draconian uncles would help with that. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

In another place, far away from anyone's reach, a young boy was sitting with tattered clothes and open wounds. 

‘Painful. So cold. Why did father leave me here…’

Why was his father treating him that way? The little boy thought he was doing great. Not only did he follow everything his father said, but he was the last survivor every single time. 

Why was he getting beaten up despite passing all the tests? 

Why? 

Why? 

His eyes landed on the object next to him and his agitated state calmed down a bit. With his shaky hands, he hugged

it and chuckled. 

The voice that spoke was too hollow. 

“I'm sorry… Grow up well… only you can get me out…”

The large black egg in his arms shook softly as if responding to him. 

Chapter Text

Two identical eggs were gently huddled in a beautiful room. The room was white, shiny, and most importantly warm. A gentle presence accompanied the two eggs all the time, not leaving them for a second. 

But one day that gentle presence was willowing in despair before completely leaving their side. 

Or was it them who were taken away? 

“Ha—!”

The red-haired kid woke up from another dream. At this point, pretending to not understand what was going on was impossible. 

Sweat dripped from his forehead as he tried to move his limbs. 

“We were two…”

After a year of fragmented memories grilling him in his dreams, he understood. He and his younger brother were born to a loving mother who remained by their side even after leaving this world. 

However, they ended up being separated. 

The young dragon boy had no idea how it happened. Only remembering how their mother's presence turned into despair before they were taken away. 

He and his brother were just helpless eggs, no one was there to protect them. 

They were taken to that weird cave afterwards and after a lot of tests, his brother was deemed to be too weak to withstand experiments before hatching. 

“Keep them close to each other, but don't do anything to the black one.”

Cold, emotionless. 

“He can be a good fertilizer.”

Vague, ominous words. 

“You can do anything to the red one. It'll survive.”

With cruelty laced in between. 

At the end, an unknown amount of time had passed. And finally the red egg hatched, letting him understand how little they cared about his life. 

Desperate, he could only run away. Relying on the words he heard here and there as an egg, he foolishly believed his brother would be safe. He just needed to escape, recover and come back. 

But it has been over eleven years now. 

“Damn it…”

Was his brother even okay? 

“I forgot for so long… I… I failed…”

Tears ran down his cheeks. Doubts assaulted his mind. 

Would his brother be even alive? Eleven years had passed. Who to say that since he himself escaped, the torture wouldn't be passed to his younger brother? 

The image of the black egg trembling under countless substances made his blood boil. 

He couldn't stay here for even one minute longer. 

A pair of red wings sprouted from his back, and he immediately used them to skip to the lair’s entrance. With a wave of his hand, a few red mana orbs made a cross shape and opened the door. 

The young red dragon left without saying a word. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Arriving at the cave of his memories wasn't a hard matter. The young boy stood at the entrance, clenching and unclenching his fists.

The place didn't change despite a whole eleven years passing. The entrance was also hid by an illusion like before, something the young dragon had learned now to be a great ability to have. 

An Illusionist was helping those trash. 

Hence, he had to be careful. One moment of distraction could cause him to fall under an endless illusion and be trapped for eternity. 

Lifting his hand carefully, he sent a few sparks into the air. 

Wiggling their way through, the mana spark entangled with the illusion mechanic, searching for the object that held everything together. 

‘It's not easy.’

Despite searching for a while, he couldn't find it. Perhaps it was much smaller, so the young dragon decided to send a few more sparks around. 

Finally after searching for half an hour, he found the object. A small golden ball was vibrating in the middle of four different illusions to disguise its appearance as nothing. 

With a little bit more control, the sparks wrapped tightly around the golden ball. 

Crack. 

Cracks started appearing on the golden ball and in no time, everything was done. It broke to pieces and the illusions all dissipated into the air. 

The entrance of the cave appeared in front of him. 

‘I don't wanna go in.’

Hesitation and fear threatened to stop the red-haired boy. But he knew better than to let anything hinder him. The despicable memories of agony here weren't the only ones, his brother was here as well. 

And he needed to save him. 

With no idea about his brother's condition, whether he was born already or still an egg, the young boy entered the cave after using invisibility magic. 

Although he was strong now, pointless battles weren't his style. If he could assassinate everyone inside this cave without being discovered, that would be preferable. 

But to his surprise… 

“Empty…?”

There was no one inside. No matter how he searched, only their old equipment remains but nothing about the people in black or even his brother. 

Deep inside, there was a secret room. That area was where he and his brother usually held captives. 

“At least, he, he should be here…”

His lips trembled. He wanted to believe, but even his hands were shaking. Every inch of his body was unwilling to step forward. 

Just another step was everything that stood between him and despair. 

‘Do I even dare— no, it doesn't matter. I must do it.’

Gulping a mouthful of cold air, the young redhead opened the area and barged in. 

What he saw wasn't what he expected. 

The room had no one. It was empty. The only things that remained were blood. 

Blood that stained the whole room and the equipments they used to torture him before he escaped. 

Who was the owner of the blood? 

“Wa, was he already…?”

Did he come too late? 

Was his negligence the reason for losing his brother? 

The young elf body he worked so hard to craft started to crack. Every fiber of his being was screaming at him. 

“My brother…!”

Was he even alive? 

The two eggs were born from the same mother, at the same time. They were an occurrence that didn't happen ever before. A dragon laid two eggs. For the sake of her kids, their mother built a whole castle for them. 

His younger brother may not know, but he, who had memories even before hatching from his egg, was aware of everything. 

Hundreds of years they spent next to each other as eggs… 

The red dragon held an immense affection for his younger brother even when they had never met face to face after hatching. 

The imagery the bloodied room gave him…

…pushed him to have the urge to destroy everything. 

All the mana that was barely contained in his body exploded with his blood-curdling scream. 

Chapter Text

“What the hell is this…”

Looking at the roaring red hurricane in front of him, Eruhaben felt regret. 

I should've noticed sooner. 

The red dragon who forgot to get a name. The red dragon who had always found sleeping to be nice yet never found peace in it. The red young dragon who was undeniably suffering from the moment he was born—

Such a result was natural by thinking about all of these. 

Despite looking calm all the time, the red dragon… 

“Senior.”

With a faint green light, Oline arrived behind Eruhaben. His face had no traces of any of his usual arrogance or playfulness as he looked down at the scene in front of them. 

This mountain was an abandoned area. No living beings lived here after it was corrupted by dark mana in some of the dark races battles. 

Black was the color it should've been. However, it was now glowing red. A mana explosion just happened and now every black bit was dyed red. 

There was a huge hurricane roaring and slowly expanding from inside the mountain as well. 

The two dragons noticed the familiar presence in the middle of it. 

“How did the red brat end up like this?”

“I'm not sure.” 

The ancient dragon sighed. 

“He suddenly left the lair without a word. I didn't notice immediately because of locking myself up and working on some research. But I felt the mana disturbance and couldn't sit still anymore.”

“Can we even get close…?”

“No. I'm sure you can tell as well. This is—”

“Mana explosion. I know. But what made the cold brat reach this level??”

Like hell did Eruhaben know either. They both were in the same boat, the young dragon's mana was destroying everything in its way, and now they were stranded mid-air unable to even step closer. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Twitch. 

“Ah. Did the useless son of a bitch wake up?”

“Yes sir.”

“Start again then.”

Whiiip— smack! 

“Ugh…”

‘I need to endure. A little more… Then I can run away. And I'll take revenge on them all.’

The small being repeatedly told himself what he should do. On the other hand, he was wondering why his heart was beating painfully all of the sudden. 

It started beating very erratically and painfully, as if something important to him was in danger. 

But the black baby dragon had nothing important since the moment he was born. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

“We need to stop him regardless. If he continues he'll die!”

Without waiting for Eruhaben’s order, Oline threw himself inside the hurricane and started using his attribute. 

Vines. The reason for him being able to control the whole forest and making it his lair was this attribute. At first he thought it was useless, but he soon came to realize something. 

What could ever be stronger than a weapon that can continue growing until the end of time? 

Vines shot from the ground around the young redhead and attempted to immobilize him, but the explosive mana melt them away. 

The next patch of vines, however, were different. 

Glowing bright green, the vines grew stronger and sturdier. 

“Red brat, you need to realize how you can't stand a chance against this lord!”

Cheeky words may have been uttered but the green dragon remained vigilant. Before he could do anything,though, mana started to attack him and seep into his body. 

“Shit!”

“Give me my brother… I want my brother back…”

Countless blades formed and aimed at Oline. 

From inside and out, the mana in this area was his enemy. 

‘Like a domain.’

It was as if this little punk made the area his domain without effort, being the master, and now everything wants to fight against Oline. 

Seeking destruction and nothing more. 

“You little rascal, are you sleep-talking? Dragons don't have any siblings. Did you forget my teachings?”

Eruhaben who finally arrived beside Oline heard what the red dragon said. He was confused. Every female dragon would only lay a single egg. Was this brother real? 

With no way of verifying that in this dangerous fight, he decided to recklessly stimulate the young dragon by saying those words. 

“My brother is real…! REAL…!”

Blood trickled down his face that was filled with cracks, his eyes were red and completely in despair. 

“GIVE HIM BACK!”

With another roar, the red dragon continued to attack everything that stood in his way. 

Eruhaben tried his best to spread his dust attribute around but that was difficult as everything kept being swept away by the red hurricane. 

Both Oline and Eruhaben suffered heavy injuries. It wasn't just because of the young dragon's attacks, but also due to the mana that entered their bodies and started obstructing their mana flow. 

But at the end, they managed to subdue the little boy, knocking him out at the last second. 

Both were panting as they fell next to him. His body was slowly calming down but the tears continued to flow down his cheeks. 

“Do you really think he has a brother…?”

“Although it's almost impossible, this little rascal has a lot of impossible things surrounding him. Let's go back now and see what we can do.”

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Chapter Text

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

“Team leader.”

“Kim Rok Soo, oh Rok Soo-ah, would you stop causing a ruckus wherever you go?”

“... I guess this isn't a dream.”

‘I have no memories resembling this. It isn't a dream.’

“Even after dying for so long, why are you clinging to whether this was a dream or not?”

Two young handsome men stood face to face. Their surroundings were a simple old office, a little worn out with a lot of cracks. 

Kim Rok Soo opened the window and saw nothing outside. 

“Why is there nothing?”

“You're dead. This isn't the real world. It's natural to not have anything outside.”

Kim Rok Soo turned around and looked at the person he called the team leader. 

Lee Soo Hyuk. 

How long had it been? He was one of the people who sacrificed their life while fighting alongside Kim Rok Soo. 

Dying and leaving him behind, yet again all alone. 

Seeing Kim Rok Soo stare at him like that, the team leader prepared coffee for them and sat down, signaling the younger man to follow him. 

He then started speaking. 

“I know you're aware that you died. But can you remember how?”

“... I do.”

“You remember dying due to an overdose of caffeine?”

“.... Yes sir.”

“Pfft-”

Lee Soo Hyuk covered his mouth and laughed until tears came out. What could he do? Kim Rok Soo survived everything, going through many battles with terrifying unknown monsters, only to die due to a caffeine overdose. 

No matter who you tell about this, they'll laugh their guts out just like him. 

Especially because Kim Rok Soo insisted he won't die, even believing he was cursed to be the last survivor whenever he walked around with a group. 

Eventually, the team leader was able to calm down. 

“Alright. I won't tease you anymore. Do you remember what happened before you came here?”

Unfortunately, he did. 

The curse of Kim Rok Soo followed him even in his new life. 

“Isn't it ironic? For me, to lose someone because I finally could forget?”

Although he tried to laugh it off with that sarcastic remark, Kim Rok Soo really couldn't. 

It was painful. He lost another person because of him. No wonder he went on a rampage, the loss triggered his lost memories. 

“He's not dead. Rok Soo-ah, you still don't have all your memories or are you in too much of a shock? 

“Huh?”

“Aish. Birth of a Hero. Remember this and wake up.”

The world suddenly turned black. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

“Fuck.”

With cold sweat soaking his skin, the red-haired boy opened his eyes with a curt swear. 

“... When did you start cursing?”

“Who cares about that, Eruhaben-nim, just check his health!”

“Haha…”

The red dragon, Kim Rok Soo, let out a hollow chuckle. 

One of his memories remained hidden until he woke up a few moments ago. 

The memory of reading a book with the title “The Birth of a Hero”. Comparing it to this world, he seemed to be inside that novel. 

But Kim Rok Soo wasn't deluded. 

Coming from the world where monsters appeared out of nowhere and ripped everybody to shreds, he could tell that this world was not a novel. 

He wasn't daydreaming either. Everything was real. The pain he experienced, the words that slipped from his lips despite his sealed memories, and more clues. 

The novel was written about a real world, and he was now inside said world. 

Such a reality may cause him to be a little uncomfortable, but now that he remembered the content of the book exactly–

He didn't lose the egg. His unborn brother was most likely already born. But that didn't mean he was healthy or in good health. 

Birth of a Hero mentioned a black dragon who was tortured to insanity. 

Kim Rok Soo had no reason to let a child, let alone someone who he has deep connection with, suffer through all of that. 

“Golden uncle.”

“Hmm?”

“Do you not want to ask me why I was there and why did I end up like that?”

The two adult dragons looked at each other and shrugged. 

“You'll tell us if you want, little rascal.”

“No matter how we convince you, brat, you'll say no if you don't want to tell so why bother?”

‘I really got a convenient bunch in this world…’

Family he would like to think. But he was afraid. 

If he keeps losing his family, wouldn't having no family be better for everyone? 

That thought passed quickly as Kim Rok Soo had no time for it. 

Instead he smiled. 

“Then first stop calling me brat or rascal. I already decided on a name long ago, it's Roksu.”

Altering his name a bit should be enough to escape skepticism from the two dragons and nobody would dare to question a dragon besides them. 

That aside, Roksu decided he needs to ask for help. 

Just in case he couldn't control himself. 

“I have a brother. I'm not sure if he's still an egg or not. He was supposed to be in that place but…”

“He wasn't?”

“He wasn't. I lost control when I thought he might've died there. A lot of blood scattered across the room and I-”

Noticing how his body was acting up again, Oline gave him an awkward side hug. 

Despite stiffening a bit, Roksu didn't pull away and decided to continue. 

“After I regained my consciousness, I remembered a conversation I heard.”

It was mentioned in the novel. 

Redikca, the blood maniac. 

“They spoke of the Stan family in the Roan kingdom.”

Roksu would make sure to get his brother back without any issues this time. 

Chapter Text

The cave reeked of blood and rotting mana.

Roksu stood in the middle of it, the faint glow from his palm illuminating the broken devices and the shattered stones. He walked slowly, too slowly, as if afraid of what he may see. 

And then… he heard it.

A faint, muffled cry.

Not a human’s. A dragon’s.

His mana froze. For a moment, Roksu thought his mind was playing tricks on him again. But when he walked a bit ahead, he saw it. 

A black scaly being clawing around, clearly afraid and in distress. 

He saw his brother.

Without a single wound! 

Roksu didn’t remember moving. One second he was standing, the next he was kneeling beside the little thing, gently brushing away fragments of shell.

The baby dragon blinked up at him, dazed, confused. Then, without warning, the little one pressed his head against his bloodstained hand.

“...Brother.”

Whining needily, the baby dragon snuggled to Roksu. He was glad. Thankfully his brother wasn't tortured like him. He hugged him tightly to his chest.

"Everything will be alright now,” Roksu whispered, his voice hoarse.”

He was shaking. Damn it. Why was he shaking? He didn’t cry when he almost died. He didn’t cry when he remembered his past life. But now, holding this fragile, warm little creature, the dam cracked. Not all the way — just enough to sting.

Roksu wiped his face harshly. “You’re safe now. You’ll never—”

“Never what?”

Roksu flinched. Of course. The forest was never quiet for long.

A lazy drawl echoed from the cave’s mouth. “Red brat, even if it's an emotional moment, you should first secure the little one before making all these loud promises.”

“Yes, Green Uncle ,” Roksu said flatly.

Right behind the green-haired nuisance, the golden one walked in with the same unbothered calm he always wore, though his eyes couldn't hide the rage within.

Eruhaben seemed to have realized what was going to happen here. 

“Seems you found what you were looking for,” Eruhaben murmured, eyes softening as he looked at the tiny black dragon trying to bury himself under Roksu’s arm.

“He’s shaking,” Roksu said, trying to sound detached. “Probably scared. I’ll take him and—”

A warm hand landed on his head.

“Don’t act tough, little rascal,” Eruhaben said quietly. "You're also a kid. Let the adults take care of you”

Roksu’s jaw clenched. “I’m fine.”

Oline snorted. “Yeah, you look fine—like you haven’t slept in a decade and just crawled out of a murder cave holding a crying baby.”

Roksu deadpanned. “You talk too much.”

“I learned from the best.”

Despite the bickering, Oline walked over and crouched beside him. With a rare gentleness, he flicked a tiny strand of blood from Roksu’s cheek. 

“So you actually did have a brother.” 

“And I’ll kill anyone who tries to take him again.”

Neither of the older dragons laughed at that. The three stood in silence until Eruhaben finally sighed and lifted his hand.

“Let’s go home.”

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

The black dragon, who Roksu named Raon Miru, grew fast. Too fast.

Eruhaben blamed the abundance of mana. Oline blamed “the cursed genes of idiots who don’t know how to rest.” 

And Roksu just felt glad. Being strong by himself will help Raon to survive. 

But at the same time, Roksu kept feeling scared. 

What if all of this disappear one day? 

Every time Raon laughed, something in his chest twisted painfully. Every time Raon asked him to play, he wanted to say yes but heard the screams of his inner self instead.

He kept those thoughts buried. Nobody needed to know.

He was fine. He always was.

And he'll make sure Raon is happy. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Sometimes, they’d go out together — just the two of them, disguised in human form. Raon loved seeing towns, laughing at markets, asking questions about everything.

And Roksu… watched. He didn't express a lot of emotions, just kept on watching and protecting little Raon. 

Until one day, Raon tugged at his sleeve.

“Hyung, look!”

Under an old bridge, two small figures huddled together. A boy and a girl, thin to the bone, eyes glinting gold even in the dim light. The boy’s hair was red like flame, the girl’s silver like sparkling fog.

They looked up sharply when Roksu and Raon approached. The girl stepped in front of her brother instantly, arms spread.

“Don’t come.” Her voice trembled but didn’t break.

Roksu’s eyes narrowed slightly, with his knees vision he saw everything. The two siblings were starving and had a lot of injuries. They were probably abused. 

Raon, of course, didn’t hesitate.

“We’re not bad people!” he said cheerfully, crouching down to their level. “I’m the great and mighty Raon Miru, and this is my brother, Roksu!”

Roksu sighed. 

Raon beamed, “You two can come with us! We have food! And a gold uncle and a green uncle!”

Roksu pinched the bridge of his nose. “Raon.”

“What?”

“You can’t just kidnap people because you think they’re adorable.”

The little dragon pouted. “I didn’t kidnap them. I invited them. Goldie uncle said it's fine!”

The silver-haired girl hesitated. Hunger and distrust warred in her eyes. “…We don’t have anywhere else to go,” she muttered finally.

Sighing, the red dragon muttered. “It's obvious.”

He turned away, muttering under his breath, “And now I need to take responsibility for extra people…”

No matter how annoying it was, though, he wouldn't let Raon be disappointed. 

The two siblings, Ohn and Hong, followed quietly behind, Roksu glanced at his adorable younger brother guiding them and laughing, and a small smile slipped.

For the first time in a long time, Roksu let himself smile.

Because even if he wouldn’t admit it, his little family was starting to grow.

Chapter Text

The air here was heavier than most places.

Thick mana hung like mist, staining the forest in an unnatural gloom. The trees were gnarled and twisted, their roots crawling across the ground like serpents. Every shadow moved, even when the wind was still.

The Forest of Darkness.

Roksu walked slowly through the foliage, instead of staying in human form, he reverted back to his elf form. 

The smell of damp soil, the rustle of unseen creatures, the quiet whisper of ancient trees.

“Haa…” He exhaled, brushing a leaf from his shoulder. “I really need a new hobby.”

He didn’t belong in a place like this anymore. Not when his so-called family was finally living peacefully.

Raon was growing stronger every day, already bragging about how his magic almost surpassed Roksu’s. Ohn and Hong had adapted frighteningly fast, turning Eruhaben’s lair into their own playground. 

The two were from the cat tribes and Eruhaben found their potential. 

And Oline… the idiot still dropped by once a month, always bringing random “gifts” that somehow caused minor explosions.

Eruhaben didn’t even scold him anymore — he just sighed, fixed whatever Oline broke, and went back to teaching.

Somehow, everyone ended up under his care. The once aloof golden ancient dragon now answered to “Goldie Uncle” without even twitching.

Roksu smirked faintly at the memory. “He really gave up his dignity for us, huh… what an unusual dragon.”

Then his expression darkened.

“I came here to find him.”

He hadn’t planned to at the beginning. He wanted to stay at home, drink tea, sleep for a few decades, and live his perfect slacker life. But guilt was a persistent bastard.

He kept thinking about the future. About the story he already knew.

Choi Han. The boy who would walk out of this cursed forest broken, carrying vengeance in his heart.

“Damn it,” Roksu muttered, kicking a rock into the shadows. “Why can’t I just… not care for once?”

He could already imagine the disaster waiting to unfold. Choi Han would be alone, lost, traumatized — and eventually, he would meet those kind villagers.

The same ones who took in strangers with gentle smiles.

And then… they’d die.

All of them.

Because fate was cruel, and because Roksu had the misfortune of remembering it all.

“What if my being here makes it worse?” He frowned. “What if I ruin something I was never supposed to touch?”

Silence answered him. Only the forest breathed.

Then he sighed again, bitterly amused. “Well, too late now. If fear’s the problem, then the answer’s simple.”

He raised his hand. Flames sparked at his fingertips — a soft, red glow cutting through the darkness.

“Be stronger than anyone. Obliterate it. Burn it all down.”

That had always been his solution. The one that the team leader taught him. 

It was why, despite his self-proclaimed title as a “slacker,” Roksu never stopped learning. Never stopped training.

He studied under Eruhaben until his head throbbed. Sparred with Oline until he couldn’t lift his arms. Made Raon practice mana control until the hatchling nearly threw a tantrum.

And it paid off. They’d all grown strong. Strong enough to survive. Strong enough to live freely.

That was enough reason to keep going.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

A faint sound broke the forest’s stillness, metal clashing, a grunt, the hiss of something inhuman.

Roksu turned sharply and moved toward the noise.

Through the trees, he spotted a boy. Dark-haired, clothes torn, clutching a rusted sword. His breathing was ragged, but his eyes burned with that same defiance Roksu read about.

In front of him, a goblin lunged, snarling.

Before the creature’s claws could reach, a red flash streaked through the air.

Thud.

The goblin collapsed,  half its body burned to ash.

Roksu stepped out from the mist, brushing his hands together like he’d just swatted a bug.

“Honestly,” he muttered, “you pick the worst vacation spots.”

The boy spun around, blade raised. His voice was hoarse but sharp. “Who are you?”

“Someone with better timing,” Roksu said dryly. “You’re welcome.”

“…Thanks,” the boy muttered after a pause. He lowered his sword slightly, still cautious.

At the same time, though, he looked excited. Was it the first time he saw a ‘human’ in the last tens of  years?

Roksu tilted his head. “You shouldn’t be here. This forest isn’t kind to humans.”

“You're not a human…?” The boy looked dejected and lowered his head. 

“I was dragged here. I’m just trying to survive.”

Dragged here… yeah. That matched.

Roksu looked him over. Dirt-streaked face, haunted eyes, trembling hands that refused to drop the sword.

Yep. Definitely Choi Han.

He wanted to say something  comforting, but that wasn't his forte. 

But the words stuck. What could he even say? “I’m here because I remember reading your tragedy”?

Yeah, no. That’d sound perfectly sane.

So instead, he forced a faint smile. “Come on. There’s a village nearby. You’ll find good people there.”

“Why help me?”

Roksu paused. “…Because someone should.”

Those words truly made Roksu shaken up but it was just for a moment. Nobody saw that. 

The mist thinned, giving way to sunlight. Beyond the trees, a small village sat nestled between green fields.

Haris Village.

“This is it,” Roksu said.

Choi Han blinked, almost in disbelief. “They… They're there…? Village…?”

“Yes. Now go inside, good bye.”

“You… won’t come with me?”

Roksu looked away. “No need. You’ll be fine here.”

He turned to leave, but a hand shot out and grabbed his wrist.

“Wait.”

When Roksu looked back, Choi Han’s eyes were uncertain, almost desperate. “Will we meet again?”

Roksu hesitated. His first instinct was to lie. Say yes. Give the boy false hope.

Instead, he met his gaze and said softly, “I don’t know.”

Then, before Choi Han could respond, Roksu’s body shimmered with red light  and he vanished, leaving only fading embers behind.

The forest swallowed the glow.

Choi Han stood there for a long time, staring at the empty space where the stranger had been.

And far away, high above the forest, Roksu reappeared on a cliffside, the wind tugging at his hair.

He closed his eyes, letting the silence settle.

“Don’t look for me, Choi Han,” he murmured. “You’re not supposed to.”

If he got so close… Who knows what could happen? 

Chapter Text

The lair was unusually quiet, which, considering who lived there, meant something significant probably just happened earlier.

Roksu lay sprawled across the couch, one arm over his face, pretending to nap while the unmistakable sounds of childish chaos filled the air.

“Hong, don’t eat the glitter!”

“It sparkles! It wants to be eaten, Noona!”

“That’s not how logic works!”

“You said the same thing about the glowing mushroom last week,” Raon added from his spot on the rug, head tilting. “And Goldie Uncle had to detoxify you for three hours.”

Hong crossed his arms. “That was just because I ate a lot!"

Ohn groaned. “You’re impossible.”

From the couch, Roksu cracked one eye open and sighed. “You’re both loud.”

“You’re being lazy,” Ohn shot back.

Touché.

Raon giggled, flopping onto Roksu’s stomach. “Hyung, you’ve been lazy all week. What’s wrong? Are you broken again?”

Roksu grunted, poking the little dragon’s cheek. “I’m not broken. I’m thinking.”

Raon blinked, wide-eyed. “ Thinking? That’s dangerous.”

Ohn snorted. Hong looked genuinely alarmed.

“Ha-ha. Hilarious,” Roksu muttered, though his lips twitched. He let the noise fade around him and stared at the ceiling.

Thinking. Right. More like spiraling.

He’d messed up the timeline again. His freaking impulsivity was becoming worse. 

Choi Han should’ve suffered in silence for years before meeting anyone. But now? Roksu had shown up early, killed some monsters, guided him out, introduced him to kindness before trauma could twist him beyond fixing. 

The script of The Birth of a Hero was falling apart.

But honestly? He didn’t regret it.

Raon was alive. Choi Han wasn’t breaking alone in that cursed forest. The kids were safe. The world hadn’t collapsed yet. That counted as a win in his book.

But… what came next?

He could already see it. The Haris Village massacre. It was supposed to push Choi Han into the story’s main path. The day he would lose everything.

Could Roksu really sit by and watch it happen?

No. 

“…Damn it.”

He sat up suddenly, making Raon yelp and tumble off his lap.

“Hyung!”

“Get up, all of you,” Roksu said, stretching with the air of someone making a very bad decision. “We’re going out.”

Hong blinked. “Where?”

“Haris Village.”

Ohn frowned. “Where is that? It’s getting late.”

“Exactly. Fewer witnesses so I don't lose my shit.”

“What?”

Roksu smirked faintly, already opening a portal. “Relax. Just a visit.”

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

The evening sun bathed Haris Village in gold when they arrived. The smell of baked bread drifted from open windows, and laughter echoed from the square.

And right in the middle of it all—

“You!”

Choi Han’s voice rang out, full of innocent excitement. The boy looked healthier, his expression softer. The darkness that once clung to him had lightened, just a little.

Before Roksu could say anything, Choi Han ran up and without hesitation  hugged him.

Roksu froze. “Uhm...”

“You came back,” Choi Han said simply, smiling. “I didn’t think I’d see you again.”

“Yeah, well.” Roksu awkwardly patted his shoulder. “I got bored.”

Liar.

He just couldn't convince himself that Choi Han wasn't his responsibility. 

He cleared his throat and motioned to the others. “These are my siblings. Ohn, Hong, and Raon.”

Raon beamed. “I’m Raon Miru! You can call me the great and mighty Raon!”

The other two giggled and greeted Choi Han as well. 

Roksu sat on a nearby fence while the kids instantly dragged Choi Han into their games. They ran through the fields, chased butterflies, and loudly debated whether goblins counted as edible.

For a moment, Roksu sighed with relief. He allowed himself to just watch the beautiful scenery. The sunlight catching on Choi Han’s face, the kids’ laughter ringing through the air.

It gave him inexplicable happiness. 

By nightfall, when the stars appeared, he finally called them back.

“Time to go.”

Choi Han turned to him without hiding his disappointment.

“You'll leave now?”

“Yeah.” Roksu gestured lazily. “We have bedtime stories. 

“Then… will you come again?”

Roksu hesitated. Then nodded once. “We’ll see.”

He teleported them away before the look in Choi Han’s eyes could make him rethink it.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

He could swear he only planned for it for a few days—

But days turned into weeks.

The visits became routine. Raon insisting, Hong whining, Ohn pretending not to care. Roksu knew all about it. 

Choi Han was always waiting too, always smiling brighter when Roksu arrived.

Roksu resigned and just followed what everyone wanted. 

Choi Han always brought small gifts for him: fruit, carved trinkets, even flowers.

Once, he awkwardly held out a single red rose.

Roksu blinked at it. “Thanks. I’ll dry it for potion ingredients.”

Choi Han’s smile twitched. “That’s… not exactly what I meant.”

“Then you should’ve said so,” Roksu replied simply, tucking the rose behind his ear and moving on like nothing happened.

Ohn snorted from behind him. “Dense.”

“Shut it.”

Choi Han didn’t mind. At least, he told himself that.

He didn’t understand what this feeling was, this strange warmth that pulled him toward Roksu. It wasn’t gratitude, or admiration, or even friendship.

It was… something else.

When Roksu smiled,  that small, tired smile—it felt like the sun smiled at him. The darkness in his heart was fading away. 

For someone who’d lived in darkness, that warmth was addictive.

He didn’t need to name it. He just wanted to keep it.

To stay beside this impossible, infuriating weird being who claimed to want peace yet carried a power that could destroy the world. 

Roksu, meanwhile, remained blissfully oblivious.

To him, Choi Han was simply someone else to worry about.

And as the days passed, as laughter filled Haris Village and the inevitable loomed closer, Roksu couldn’t help but think:

‘Maybe, just maybe, I can save them and escape this stupid curse this time.’

Chapter Text

If anyone asked, Roksu would insist this wasn’t a date.

That'd be too weird. He wasn't interested in relationships or romance, why would he be on a date? 

In addition to that, he wasn't alone. The three kids were with him—at least until a few minutes ago. 

Raon somehow scammed him. 

“Hyung, you stay with Choi Han,I'll goplay with my other Hong Hyung and Ohn Noona!” the black dragon had chirped.

And just like that, Roksu found himself in the middle of the city with Choi Han by his side. 

“Roksu,” he said softly. “Let's not return yet.”

“Huh?”

“Don't try escaping now. I want to go somewhere else with you.”

Roksu stared at him for a few seconds, then shrugged. “Fine. I could use a walk.”

Raon, Ohn, and Hong watched them leave with matching knowing grins from the corner.

Ohn whispered, “Bet he still doesn’t get it.”

“Bet he never will,” Hong whispered back.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

They walked through a quiet meadow that stretched between the mountains and the forest. Wildflowers brushed against their legs, and the air smelled faintly sweet, the wind gentle enough to make the world seem unreal.

Choi Han kept glancing at him. Roksu pretended not to notice.

“You’ve been visiting a lot lately,” Roksu said at last, breaking the silence. “Didn’t you have villagers to help?”

“They’re doing fine without me,” Choi Han replied. “Besides, it’s nice spending time with you.”

“Hmm.” Roksu looked up at the sky, squinting. “Is that so? You must be really bored.”

Choi Han laughed. “Maybe.”

They stopped by a small lake, the surface clear enough to reflect the sky. Roksu crouched near the edge, flicking a pebble in. “You dragged me out here to admire the water?”

“I dragged you out here because we never have time alone”

“Does it matter?”

“I want time for us.”

"We have it, just with everyone too.”

Choi Han smiled again, a little helpless. He sat beside Roksu, close enough for their shoulders to almost touch.

“I got you something.”

He held out a small wooden carving of a dragon, no larger than a thumb, polished until it gleamed.

Roksu blinked. “A statue.”

“A gift.”

“Ah. Thanks.” He took it, inspecting the workmanship. “Pretty good craftsmanship. I’ll keep it in my room. Maybe storing some magic in it.”

Choi Han’s smile twitched. “That’s… not the point.”

“Then next time, make that clear. I’m not a mind reader.”

He knew, he just wished he could pretend to not know. 

The swordsman sighed and leaned back on his palms, gazing at the clouds. “You really don’t notice anything, do you?”

Roksu’s brow furrowed. Time to dodge again. 

“I notice plenty. You’re clearly trying to distract me from something. What, is the village in trouble again?”

“No.”

“Then someone is sick?”

“No.”

“Then you’re dying?”

Choi Han chuckled. “Not yet. That's a bit extreme”

“Then I’m missing the point,” Roksu muttered flatly, crossing his arms. “Which I apparently do often.”

Choi Han tilted his head, studying him. “You’re always calm. Detached. It’s like nothing gets through to you.”

“That’s the goal,” Roksu replied dryly. “Less stress. Longer life.”

“Then why did you rescue me?”

He went silent. The question hung there, caught between sincerity and accusation.

“I just saw you there standing pitifully,” he said finally. “And I couldn't let you suffer longer when I can just lift a finger and help you.”

Choi Han smiled faintly, eyes glimmering. “It's because you're a good person.”

Roksu groaned and looked at him like he was crazy.

“No, you're wrong, I have no idea how you could view me this wrongly.”

Choi Han just laughed at him. 

They sat there for a long while, talking about small, pointless things — the color of the clouds, Raon’s latest antics, Hong’s “edible experiments.” Choi Han listened to every word like it mattered.

At some point, he quietly reached out and brushed a leaf from Roksu’s hair.

Roksu froze. “What’re you doing?”

“There was a leaf.”

“I could’ve handled that myself.”

“You didn’t.”

“Still.”

The faintest blush crept up Choi Han’s neck. “You make this really hard, you know that?”

“Make what hard?”

Choi Han looked away, exhaling through his nose. “Never mind.”

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Later, they stopped at a small roadside inn. Choi Han ordered tea for both of them, and Roksu looked unimpressed at the presentation. It reminded him of some stores on earth that disgusted him all the time.

Pink cups, flowers floating on the surface. It was probably overly sweet. 

“You’re sure this isn't disgusting?"

“Believe me it's just as sweet as you like it.”

Roksu sipped cautiously, then shrugged. “Too sweet.”

“Really? Or are you just whining?”

“It doesn't matter.”

Choi Han laughed again.

When they left the inn, twilight was spreading across the hills. The world glowed gold and violet, the kind of beauty poets lost their minds over.

Roksu took a deep breath. “So, what was this all about?”

Choi Han vaguely smiled and never answered. After this day, he could tell that forcing it wouldn't work. He had fun going out with Roksu. 

Maybe a next time will happen. 

To Choi Han, Roksu wasn’t just a strange dragon or a savior. He was the warmth of his life—a sun that would never burn him. 

He didn’t understand what this feeling was yet. But he knew it was something he wanted to keep deep within his heart. 

Chapter Text

Roksu had never believed in “peaceful days.”

They were traps–quiet, warm, and deceptively fragile.

But somehow, he’d let himself fall for it.

The laughter. The walks. The lazy afternoons under the sun.

He’d started to ask for them.

“Let’s go out again,” he had told Choi Han one morning, trying not to sound too eager.

Choi Han’s smile had been so bright it almost hurt. “Then come alone this time.”

So he did.

No Raon. No Ohn. No Hong. No Eruhaben watching from a distance.

Just him and the swordsman he’d slowly, unknowingly, begun to trust.

He thought it would be another quiet day. Maybe another awkward picnic, another poorly disguised “date” where Choi Han offered him flowers and he pretended not to notice the meaning behind it.

He was wrong.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

When the screams started, Roksu was too far away to reach the village in time. The sky was red. Not with sunset, but with fire.

The only thing he could feel was his magical arrays being destroyed one after one. He teleported there as fast as possible. 

The smell of ash and blood hit him first. Then the silence. Too silent.

Haris Village was gone.

What remained were burned homes, broken magic arrays, and bodies.

His magic arrays.

The protective barriers he’d personally set up.

All disabled. Shattered.

It had only been a moment— did they bypass them all and later destroy them after killing everyone? 

Roksu stood there, staring blankly at the smoking ruins.

His hands trembled, his mind echoing with the same sentence.

‘It happened again, it's your fault, they died.’

No heartbeat. No laughter. No children.

Only the crackle of fire devouring everything he’d sworn to protect.

“…Why?”

His voice was barely audible.

The novel was wrong. It was supposed to happen later.

He’d bought them time — he should’ve bought them time. So why now? Because of his interference? 

Why today?

Where was Choi Han?

Where were the killers?

His chest hurt. His mana surged out of control, reacting to the storm raging inside him.

“This… isn’t supposed to—”

“Roksu!!”

‘Shit.’

The voice was raw. Familiar.

Roksu turned.

Choi Han was running toward him, breathless, eyes wide with disbelief.

In his hand were roses. Red roses. Half-burnt.

The sight felt wrong. Too symbolic. Too cruel.

Choi Han stopped a few steps away, staring at the devastation before looking at Roksu.

His face twisted. “…What did you do?”

Roksu froze. “What?”

“You—your magic—!”

The roses in Choi Han’s grip crumbled to ash as his aura flared, tears mixing with soot. “You said they’d be safe while arranging those magical arrays!”

“I did!” Roksu’s voice broke, louder than he intended. “I didn’t—Choi Han, I didn’t do this! It's not because of me!”

‘But it was.’

Confusion. Fear. Grief.

Choi Han’s hand trembled on his sword hilt. “Then how? How could every array fail? You’re a dragon, Roksu. You don’t make mistakes.”

Roksu’s throat tightened. The accusation hit deeper than the words themselves.

Because he knew Choi Han wasn’t really asking for answers. He was drowning— just like him. 

They were breaking down. And Roksu was the only one left to blame.

“I swear—” Roksu stepped forward, his voice shaking. “I didn’t cause this. I came back and it was already—”

Steel flashed.

The blade pierced his side.

Roksu gasped, the air leaving his lungs in a broken sound. He looked down at the sword buried in him — then up at Choi Han’s tear-streaked face.

For a moment, the world went silent.

“You—”

Choi Han’s voice cracked. “You were my sun… How come you take the family I finally gained?”

Roksu’s hands trembled as he grabbed the blade. His magic flared instinctively, knocking Choi Han back. The wound burned, blood spilling down his arm, staining the ground crimson.

Everything hurts.

Not just the body but his heart. 

The sheer impossibility of it.

He had trusted Choi Han. Trusted his heart, his reason.

And yet, here they were — one holding a sword, the other a spell.

Two fools caught in the wreckage of fate. In the story that refused to be changed. 

“Why, Choi Han…” Roksu whispered, his voice barely audible. “Why now?”

Why when he finally was ready? 

“I—”

Whatever Choi Han tried to say was lost in the roar of magic as Roksu unleashed a blast between them and teleported away. 

.

Flames swallowed the ruins again, wind howled, and when the smoke cleared… Roksu was gone.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

He didn’t remember the teleportation.

One moment, pain. The next — cold marble.

The sound of a child’s gasp.

“Hyung!”

Roksu hit the floor of the lair hard, blood pooling beneath him. His vision swam, the world fading in and out.

“Goldie Uncle!” Raon’s panicked voice echoed.

A massive golden shape moved, the air shimmering with power. Eruhaben’s dragon form loomed above them, and even he froze at the sight.

“Why are you in this state?”

He has never seen him like this. Roksu was bloodied, trembling, eyes hollow. He tried to speak, but his throat only made a weak sound.

Raon pressed his tiny hands to the wound, mana glowing desperately.

“Don’t talk! Please, hyung, don’t—”

Eruhaben was about to morph back to his elf form but Roksu shook his head and gestured for him to lower himself and let everyone lean on him.

Roksu needed the warmth of his remaining family now. He blinked slowly, his vision blurring with tears he didn’t remember shedding.

For a long, painful moment, he said nothing.

Then, finally—

“Haris Village…” His voice cracked. “…is no more.”

Silence.

Even the children stopped breathing.

Only the faint echo of burning roses lingered in his mind.

Chapter Text

For the first time in a long while, the lair was quiet.

Not peaceful—just quiet.

The kind of silence that clings to your throat and makes breathing feel wrong.

Roksu sat by the window, a cup of tea untouched beside him. The others were gathered nearby, waiting for him to speak.

Raon’s eyes were red from crying. Ohn and Hong sat close together, too afraid to ask what they wanted to know. Eruhaben and Oline stood behind them, looking at each other worriedly. 

Seeing Roksu like this was painful to them. They raised him, this appearance wasn't usual for him. 

At least, the next thing looked a lot like something he'd do. 

After finally sighing, he said: “It’s my fault.”

Oline stepped forward. “Don’t you dare start with that usual bullshit. Tell us what happened.”

So he did.

Everything.

The fire. The broken arrays. The blood.

The misunderstanding. The sword.

By the end, his voice was steady, but something behind it had cracked.

“Choi Han’s not okay to see any of you,” he said quietly. “He needs time. Maybe… a lifetime.”

Raon’s wings twitched. “But hyung, he didn’t—he couldn’t—”

Roksu cut him off gently. “He’s not the one I’m blaming.”

The conversation ended there. No one knew what to say after that.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

A week later, when his wounds had closed and his body finally stopped shaking every time he tried to sleep, Roksu went to find him.

The forest was quiet, untouched by fire. The ashes had faded, but the air still carried the weight of what happened.

Choi Han stood among the ruins, sword planted in the dirt, staring at the ground.

When Roksu appeared, his head jerked up—eyes wide, uncertain, and so terribly human.

“Roksu…”

He stepped forward, reaching out. “I—”

Roksu blocked him with a hand, keeping him at arm’s length.

Choi Han froze. “Please. Just… let me—”

“Don’t,” Roksu said softly. “Not now.”

The silence that followed was sharp enough to cut.

Finally, Roksu asked, “How are you holding up?”

“I don’t know.” Choi Han laughed bitterly. “I thought I knew everything about pain. But this feels worse.”

Roksu looked away. “Yeah. It does that.”

They stood there like that for a while, two broken pieces of something that might’ve been friendship, might’ve been love, or might’ve just been two lost souls who found each other too late.

“I’m sorry,” Choi Han said at last, voice shaking. “I should’ve trusted you. I was just confused.”

Roksu’s eyes dimmed. “Maybe. But maybe it’s better that you didn’t.”

Choi Han flinched. “Don’t say that.”

“I’m serious.” Roksu’s tone was cold, but his fingers trembled at his sides. “If one mistake can break everything, then maybe none of it was real to begin with.”

“That’s not true—”

“Maybe not. But it’s safer this way.”

And with that, Roksu turned around.

“Goodbye, Choi Han.”

His magic shimmered faintly, a ripple of red light at his feet.

“Wait—”

But before Choi Han could reach him, Roksu was gone.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

He reappeared far away, in an empty field under the fading sun.

And there—when no one could see him, when no one would call him strong or smart or cruel—Roksu finally broke.

He dropped to his knees, hands digging into the dirt, and sobbed.

The tears came soundless at first, then ragged, torn from somewhere deep and old.

He’d lost something precious—something that had slipped through his fingers before he ever learned how to hold it.

But he couldn’t go back.

He couldn’t risk it.

He wasn’t afraid of being hurt.

He was afraid of hurting back.

Afraid that next time, he wouldn’t be fast enough, careful enough, good enough.

“I’m incompetent,” he whispered, voice hoarse. “I always was.”

And maybe that was true.

His curse… His memories that never failed to remind him of every mistake… Wasn't he born to be a rich slacker? 

Roksu Miru was born into this world as a dragon—a creature meant to live long, distant, untouchable.

It should have been the perfect path for a slacker.

But fate, memory, and foolish sentiment had dragged him down another road. 

Now, with his reasons in pieces and his heart left behind in the ashes of Haris Village, he made his choice.

To be what dragons were meant to be.

Aloof. Arrogant. Powerful.

Because those who felt less bled less.

His heart may ache now, but pain was a small price for safety.

For distance.

For not breaking what little was left.

Roksu Miru lifted his head, eyes dull but resolute, and whispered to the wind—

“This is fine.”

The wind didn’t answer.

And somewhere behind him, the sun set quietly on a world that no longer felt like home.

The End.