It had been so long that Aven couldn't even remember the last time he cried. In a harsh life like his, there was no room for tears. Not that he couldn't cry—it's just that suffering had become his norm. Crying wouldn't fill his stomach or give him a warm place to sleep. Living in poverty, he learned to accept things. Fighting fate alone, he became cold and emotionless...
After touching the red coal, Aven was shocked—he had lost his only chance to find a way out. The coal turned to ash, and then... something he couldn't have expected happened.
His vision shifted to somewhere completely different.
He saw himself lying in a bed. His strength seemed to be draining away. Time stretched endlessly, helplessness consumed him... but strangely, joy swelled in his chest. He could still see, hear, feel everything around him. But he couldn't move. It felt like watching a vivid, living movie. So real, it was as if he were living it himself.
His vision blurred. A woman with silver hair appeared, her face sharp and cold. But her eyes—slitted like a reptile's—were both majestic and... gentle. She held something wrapped in a white cloth as she walked closer.
"It's a girl. You've done all you could… Please rest. We've prepared everything. We can begin now."
He didn't mean to speak, but his mouth opened and a soft, melodic voice came out:
"Please… let me see the child one last time."
The woman hesitated, then closed her eyes, showing slight reluctance. She bent down and placed the baby beside the bed.
From his point of view, he saw a baby with snowy white curls—so different from other children. Anyone would feel tenderness seeing something so small, let alone her mother.
And yet, deep inside, there was a pain... a sorrow tearing her apart.
She leaned over to see the baby better, gently brushing her fingers over its head.
Her vision dimmed. Her chest grew heavy. A storm of emotions swirled inside her. She wrapped her arms around the tiny life.
"So small... Seraphina, forgive your mother..."
The voice was choked, stuck between reason and emotion.
"Dear, Fate .Lead this child to the light..."
Then everything was swallowed by crimson flames.
⸻
He didn't know when it ended. The burning visions turned into twisted ashes. It was unlikely anything could've survived. Curled up in the blackened cinders was a girl with deep crimson hair. Her body trembled slightly. You could hear water softly hissing into steam.
She snapped out of the dream. Everything around her was scorched. Only ashes and glowing embers of trees remained.
A salty taste touched her lips. A tear rolled down from her left eye. Its pupil was now amber, slitted. She—Aven, or now, Seraphina.
Still frozen, she gently touched the warm water on her cheek.
For a moment—maybe more—she had become one with that woman. Perhaps… her "mother." A strange feeling stirred her tears...
[A piece of truth has been found]
[Unlocking the fate of the flame.]
[You received the trait: [Flamebound]]
[Hidden Bloodline Awakened: [Dragonkin]]
[Legacy Unlocked: You carry the blood of ancient beings, the last of your kind in thousands of years.]
[You received the unique trait: [Dominate]]
[Awakening Level: Dormant]
???
Trait [Flamebound]: The flame is part of you, it will stay with you now and forever. It burns brightest in hardship—even if small and flickering, its warmth will always welcome you.
Overwhelmed by the new information and strange feelings, Seraphina was stunned.
She realized she was surrounded by smoke and ash. The heat was intense, but not painful. Just suffocating. She realized she had buried herself alive.
There's no oxygen left here!
She looked around for an escape. To the right of the room, through the haze, a trapdoor was cracked open—where the burning trees still flickered. A faint light could be seen—at least through her left eye.
She hesitated. That place was the only spot with air left... it was the only way out. A place where she could breathe.
'The flame is part of you...' She paused, feeling kind of stupid.
If I survived burning this place down, why would I be scared of a little fire?
With no regrets, she stepped back, muttering to gain momentum.
One...
A powerful force built up in her legs. Even she was surprised by her body's newfound strength.
Tw—
Before she could finish the count, she had already leapt through the fire. She shielded her face, eyes stung by the sudden light.
Beyond the door, far in the distance—the sun was rising, painting the clouds gold. Dense clouds blanketed everything around.
...
Skydiving is an extreme, thrilling sport that gives you the ultimate sense of freedom as you fall through the sky, the wind roaring past your ears, heart racing with every second...
Yeah, that's when you have a parachute, you idiot!! And they have clothes to wear too.!!!
Her legs felt nothing. Actually, they weren't touching anything at all.
Gravity doesn't play favorites—not even with Dragonkin...
Falling through the thick clouds, terrified as the wind slapped her face, she braced for a painful landing.
She tried spreading her arms and legs to slow down. Even flapped her arms like a bird—a bird without feathers—
[Please stand by... Don't imagine that.]
Her mind raced, and her heart skipped a beat—
"DAMN ITTTTTTTTT!!!"
She couldn't accept dying in such a stupid way. Her eyes darted around, searching for a way out. Then she noticed—she was falling alongside a massive tree. Its branches and leaves spread out like a staircase to salvation.
She tilted right to reach a thick leafy branch.
Crashing through the giant foliage, she couldn't see a thing. Desperate to grab onto something—but it seemed hopeless.
Suddenly, she slammed into something, broke through, and landed inside. Her back hit a smooth, rounded surface. She tumbled and lay still—too hurt to move—but at least she wasn't falling anymore.
Relieved that she was still alive, her second life hadn't ended just yet.
A little more, and Dragonkin might've faced extinction again.
Enjoying a moment of peace, she still sensed danger lurking.
"What kind of crazy place is this now!?"
The branches above bent and curved into each other, forming a dome-like structure—crude, but organized. Made of sticks, dry grass, and reinforced with clay. It looked like a simple shelter.
Looking up, she saw a hole in the roof—just the right size for someone falling with arms and legs stretched out—
...
"Better check this place out first."
Around her were giant feathers and scattered bones. One skeleton was still mostly intact—horned like a bull, with four limbs, but its body structure looked like it stood on two legs.
What kind of two-legged cow lives up this high?
"Unless-"
She turned around and saw it—a huge round object, off-white with dark brown blotches. It stood nearly three times her height.
And on top of it—a crack. The exact place she had crashed into.
She didn't want to imagine what would happen when the "homeowner" came back. A trespasser, guilty of "illegal entry," "property damage," and worst of all, "injuring a family member"—especially if the owner was a hungry, protective parent.
Maybe I should call a lawyer...