ログインBy morning, the whole palace already knew what happened. Servants whispered whenever I walked by. Guards gave me weird looks, like they couldn’t decide if they should run or bow. Even the maids went quiet when my name came up.“The outsider girl.” “The dragon actually chose her.” “It’s gotta be a bad sign.”I heard every rumor floating around. Some people sounded scared. Others sounded amazed. Honestly, I didn’t know which one got under my skin more.I kept my head high and walked those halls anyway, pretending the stares didn’t get to me. But deep down, every look felt heavier than before. *What if they’re right about me? What if I really am some kind of walking trouble?* The thought sat cold in my stomach.When I stepped into the dining hall, every conversation died instantly. Not a slow quiet, total silence. It hit so hard I almost stopped in the doorway.Estevan leaned back with his usual grin. “Well, this got awkward real fast.” Maria kicked him under the table. “What?” h
Get it together Pandora ....I immediately came back to my senses.”Huh!..I need to rest.” I said rather nervously.Valdanus just blinked like he too came out of his reverie. He slowly stretched his body to ease the tension between us.”I should get some sleep too..Have a good night rest.” With that he smiled then slowly walked away. I made my way to my room afterwards.I woke up to the sound of roaring again. At first, I thought I imagined it. The palace was dark and quiet except for the wind brushing against the windows. Then the sound came again, deeper this time, shaking the walls faintly. I sat up immediately. Something about it felt wrong. Not angry or painful.I quickly climbed out of bed and threw a cloak over my shoulders before leaving my room quietly. The halls were nearly empty at this hour, with only a few guards standing near distant corners. The roar echoed again. This time, I followed it. The deeper I moved through the palace, the warmer the air became. The stone hallways
“Ugh! Why can't I sleep?” I murmured. Sleep refused to come that night. I sat alone on the palace balcony with a blanket wrapped around my shoulders while the cold air moved softly through the halls behind me. The palace was quieter at this hour, though distant voices still echoed somewhere far below. Above the mountains, dragon riders crossed the night sky. Tiny lights moved through the darkness as dragons flew in slow circles around the kingdom. Their wings cut through the clouds while the riders guided them carefully through the air.I watched them silently. Sometimes I still forgot dragons were real. Back in Adengard, they were stories people whispered during festivals or used to scare children. Now I lived in a kingdom where dragons flew above the palace every single night like it was normal. Everything about my life felt unreal now.I rested my chin against my knees and looked out at the dark city below. The lights from homes and markets stretched across the lower parts of Scori
Maria's POV I woke up before sunrise again. The palace room was quiet except for the sound of the wind outside the windows. For a few seconds, I forgot where I was. Then reality returned all at once. Oh! Right, Scorish and dragons. And then there's Pandora changing everyday.I sat up slowly and rubbed my face tiredly. Sometimes I still expected guards from Adengard to burst into the room and drag us back home. Other times, I wondered if this place was changing us too much already. Especially Pandora. Back in Adengard, she used to complain about dresses and palace dinners. Now she spent her mornings training with swords beside soldiers twice her size. And from what I've been noticing….she seems to be happier doing it and that scared me a little. A knock suddenly came at the door. I frowned. “Come in.”The door opened, and Estevan walked in carrying a tray of food like he worked in the kitchens himself. He looked far too cheerful for this early in the morning. “Good morning,” he said.
I regretted agreeing to training the moment I stepped onto the training grounds. The cold morning air hit my face hard as I walked across the open field. Soldiers filled the area, swinging swords, sparring, and shouting at each other loudly. The sound of metal clashing echoed everywhere around me.And then there was me. Wearing training clothes for the first time in my life. Really awkward. The dark fitted shirt and trousers felt strange against my skin. I kept pulling at the sleeves awkwardly, suddenly missing the heavy dresses I used to complain about.At least those hid how nervous I was. Several soldiers glanced at me as I walked past. Some looked curious. Others looked amused.“This already feels like a terrible idea,” I muttered under my breath.“You’re late.”I turned quickly. Valdanus stood nearby with his arms crossed, though there was a small smile on his face. Unlike the soldiers around him, he looked completely relaxed.I frowned. “I’m not late.”“You are,” he replied calm
“The dragon is here!” The guard’s voice echoed through the throne room, sending tension rushing through the air again. Everyone froze for a second before the nobles who hadn't fully left immediately started speaking over each other.“What now?”“How did it get this close?”“This is because of her!”I felt every stare turn toward me again.Valdanus moved first. “Clear the entrance.”The guards quickly rushed out while King Edric’s expression darkened. Estevan stepped closer to the windows, trying to see outside.Another roar shook the palace walls. Maria grabbed my arm tightly. “Pandora…”I swallowed hard. Deep down, I already knew. It came because of me. Valdanus looked at me briefly before turning toward his father. “I’ll handle this.”The king gave a short nod. “Be careful.”Without another word, Valdanus walked quickly out of the throne room with several guards behind him. Estevan followed almost immediately. The nobles remained restless, whispering nervously among themselves. Some







