CHAPTER 2 : RHYS

“Those filthy dragons are the enemies.” That is what my maid always reminds me of every night before I go to bed, but as I grow up,

“We are all created in equal,” They said, that it is making me wonder, how could a mere human rival a dragon?

“We are more powerful than them,”

---but why do we fear them then?

“Once, they said humans and dragons walked the same ground together.”

---What’s the point of this unending war then?

“If we won’t hunt them down, they will.”

---What if-

*crackling fire*

---I guess they were nothing but monsters in the end.

Before I could even notice, he was already near me, ready to pierce my neck, but I was able to dodge and jump back in pure instinct.

Damn, he is fast.

“How many souls did you manage to lead home today?” It was cold and yet, at the same time, heated by anger. He lowered his gaze as he lifted his left hand. There I saw some specks of blood on his claws.

I realized I was bleeding as a sting of pain, then reached my senses. It made me grasp my wound on my neck and wipe the blood away. He scratched me without savoring the pain, huh,

How daunting.

“Those that betray are the weakest among the weak, for they are those that rely only upon whom they think is strong.” He uttered before pointing his sharp nails at me, “That's what made you and your kind, deserve the title.”

“I never thought demons are quite a talker too,” My lips curved another smirk as I shift the sword, making its blade face him.

He took the first move again, but I was ready. The sound of my brass sword clashing to his iron-like claws created a stolid atmosphere. He could easily avoid my attack and he is too fast for me to even have a clean cut, but, geez, he is underestimating me too much.

I wasn’t a slayer for no reason.

As I felt how the air surrounding me changes every time he gets near,

There,

I blocked him again. Before he could move away, with my free hand, I pulled a dagger from my belt pocket and aimed for his damn heart.

“Ahguf,” I gasped when his tail suddenly came to the scene, causing my right arm to bleed when I blocked it in reflex. I huffed in disbelief and immediately run farther away from him to take another stance.

As I looked back to know his position, his hand was on his wounded chest. My blade reached him!

If that dragon behind him won’t back him up,--

I darted my eyes to the quiet dragon behind him. It was just watching us, silently.

“Then I will surely—“

“Did you just think you can defeat me?”

Chills went down my spine, as I feel his breath tickle my ear. My eyes widened, engraved for the first time with fear.

I cannot move.

Time can only tell when and why did I even fell on this dusty, hard ground. My chest is burning and aching, I can hardly breathe. I could feel my nose running, and blood. Ugh, I hate how it tasted.

I want to spit it to his freaking face.

I closed my eyes as I listen to his footsteps that are likely coming towards me. It was slow that it is giving me time to rest for a moment.

I could feel that he just kneeled in front of me, making me wonder what’s he’s thinking about. I wonder if dragons really are creatures of wisdom because I do not understand why he just made a bad move.

His hand crept down, planning to caress my face, and I took that chance to give him a hit. I grabbed his wrist with force and immediately pulled him closer towards me, and with my weight, I then dragged him down to the ground.

Everything was too fast; I couldn’t even see his reaction.

---If there is really something that’s quite similar about us, maybe by the fact that we are both enemies in each other’s eyes.

And I will prevail.

Yeah, his eyes show it all. Surprise, but not a sign of fear that it only made me disappointed. My right hand was holding my sword near his neck while my left hand was covering his mouth, pinning his head on the ground. He ceased to move as I let him feel the icy blade in his so-called human neck.

 “Thirteen years ago, you and your kind were but a slave.” I mumbled, “Things were working right. Humans riding on the back of dragons was possible. Everything was perfect until some demon showed up, destroying the century of peace and harmony between us.” I paused as I remember scenarios of nothing but flames. I then gave him a daze while he stared at mine.

“Pray tell me demon, why don’t you just keep pretending weak and just be human’s stepping stone for the rest of your life, one more time?---”

“---Won’t that keep the peace?” I grinned at his now angry face. “Isn’t peace what you wanted?”

He was now glaring at me, intending to kill. So he was listening, huh,

Pathetic. No wonder why they are no match for me. Seeking freedom in a time of peace, aren’t you dragons, a little greedy yourself?

 “Do not trust anyone,” That’s what my father taught me, and I did.

I did not only save myself from the influences those filthy mouths tried to mold me to be, but I also learned the truth and accepted it.

I thought he was only pertaining to these filthy dragons, but also to those who stand beside you.

Once I kill each of you, demons, that illusionary kingdom of peace and happiness will be the next.

---But my thoughts betrayed me. I was off guard, again.

 “Isn’t that obvious…?” He muttered.

I felt my body jerk; once again, my back is touching the cold, dusty ground. My sword wasn’t in my grip anymore, and he pinned my right hand down. Worse, he was on top of me.

“Peace, you say?” He uttered that without a hint of despair or hatred, not even a sign of pity or sadness. “Riding on our backs, you mean stepping on us, right? And you even wondered why we loathed you. This world is better off without creatures of greed who call themselves, ‘humans!’”

I hate him.

He then lifted a dagger, ready to strike it towards my chest. With my free left hand, I gritted my teeth and growl as I tried to push him away by his chest. As my bloody palm was still on his bloody ribs, all of a sudden, three dancing white rings with runes written on them encircled us, taking both of our attention.

“Impossible!" He mumbled with his surprised expression.

“What’s even happening?” I said to myself as the wind was getting ridiculous by any second, causing for my hair and my clothes to fiercely dance with it. I then sat on the dusty ground while he stood up, looking upon what was surrounding us.

A sting of heat was then pressed on my right wrist, making me lift it to my face. And there, a white glow is kind of tampering something in my skin.

This is…