Semua Bab They Called Me a Lizard, Then I Awakened as a Dragon: Bab 1 - Bab 9

It was the twenty-sixth day of Rowan's coma.Kael and Vivian came to my tent together.Kael sat across from me, with his usual gentle smile. "Lia, you haven't been well lately, and there's a lot going on in the tribe. Why don't you hand over the chief's seal? Vivian and I can take care of everything for you."I didn't move. I just looked at him. "The seal is inside my body. It would have to be cut out.""I know." Kael's smile faded a notch. "That's why I brought the healer."The tent flap opened. The healer, Silas Reed, walked in carrying his medical kit, with two guards behind him.Vivian let out a soft sigh, her eyes glistening. "Lia, I know you can't bear to give up the seal, but look at what's happening now. You failed to shift, and the tribe is already talking."You're a lizard. Holding onto the seal only brings shame to the tribe. I'm doing this for your own good. Once the dust settles, I'll give it back. I promise.""A lizard?" I laughed without humor. "Who told you I'm a lizard

I was jolted awake by screaming.Dawn had barely broken. Wails tore through the air outside my tent.I dragged myself up and opened the tent flap. In the distance, a crowd had gathered near Rowan's tent.My stomach dropped. I stumbled outside and ran.The wound on my chest split open. Blood seeped through the bandages, but I didn't stop.I burst into Rowan's tent and came face to face with Silas, his face pale and his body shaking.He saw me. His lips trembled for a long time before he managed a single sentence. "Miss Vale... the chief... he's dead."For a moment, I couldn't breathe.Rowan lay on the bed, his face bluish gray, with a streak of fresh blood at the corner of his mouth.His expression was frozen in his final moment, as though he had wanted to say something but never got the chance.On the small table beside him sat a bowl of medicine, half finished.Someone had poisoned it.And three days ago, I had sent someone to gather serpentgrass.I stood rooted to the spot, my whole

The next day.The tribal square was packed with people.When Vivian was brought out, she was barely recognizable.She looked as if she had aged ten years overnight. Half of her hair had turned white, and a dark scab covered the wound at the corner of her mouth.But the moment she saw me, she jerked her head up, her eyes full of hatred."Aurelia!" She spat at me. "What are you so proud of? You're a mongrel dragon! You don't even know if you're a Silver Serpent or a dragon. What right do you have to sit up there and judge me?"I ignored her and nodded to the guard beside me. "Bring in the witness."The witness worked in the kitchens.She knelt before the crowd, trembling all over, but spoke clearly. "That night... Deputy Chief Hart brought the medicine to the old chief's room herself. She told me... if anyone asked, to say it was the heir's order. I was scared... I didn't dare refuse..."One witness after another came forward. Vivian grew paler with every statement. Finally, she sank to

I was about to return to my tent when I heard shouting behind me."Vivian attacked the guards!"I spun around.Vivian charged toward me, covered in blood. She clutched a sharp bone shard, her eyes wild with rage."Aurelia! Die!"She lunged at me, aiming the bone shard at my throat.I raised my hand without thinking. Golden light was already forming in my palm, but someone was faster.A man rushed at Vivian from the side and knocked her away from me.The bone shard missed my throat and plunged deep into his chest.Kael.He had broken free from the guards escorting him out of the tribe and returned after hearing the commotion.He was completely blind, but he had tracked Vivian by her voice. At the last second, he threw himself between us and took the attack meant for me.Vivian hit the ground. Guards rushed forward and pinned her down.Kael collapsed at my feet, the bone shard sticking out of his chest. Blood ran from his mouth.His ruined eyes stared blindly upward, but he was smiling.