She gasped at the sight of my wings, exclaiming, “Oh no! What happened to them?”

Feigning nonchalance, I shrugged. “They’re fine, just a little different.”

“Different? They’re gorgeous!” She ran her claws over the dark feathers, shimmering with hints of purple and blue. “They remind me of the starry sky. And these spots… are they akin to freckles?”

I chuckled, “I suppose so. I can’t really tell why they appeared. Perhaps it’s a side effect of the elements.”

“I don’t care. They’re still soft and beautiful.” She wrapped her arms around me, burying her face in my wings. A surge of warmth filled my chest.

We found ourselves in the throne room, but it felt more like our own private sanctuary. She dismissed most of her servants, retaining only a few loyal ones for essential tasks. Visitors rarely found their way to her, and when they did, their stay was brief. She wanted to maximize her time with me, something that I reciprocated.

She frequently spoke to me about her kingdom, her plans, and her dreams. She taught me how to be an effective leader, how to inspire respect and loyalty, and how to make wise decisions. She was shaping me to be her king.

We also discussed the prophecy that predicted I was destined to save the world from a great, mysterious, and unknown evil.

“Freya,” I asked her one day, “what if they come for me? What if they discover my location and try to take me back? I don’t think I can endure being without you.”

She smiled, caressing my cheek, “Don’t worry. They won't even recognize you. You’ve changed. You’re a dragon now. A powerful, magnificent one. And you have a new name, remember?”

She suggested that I change my name to make it harder for anyone to understand who I really was. She proposed many options, all related to darkness or night, to match my new appearance. I, at first, didn’t want to do that, but eventually, I agreed.

“Thanks, but I think I’ll keep my name.”

She pouted, “Come on, Raphael is such a mundane name. What about Ater?”

I shook my head, “No, thanks.”

She attempted again, “What about Nox? It means night or something similar, if I’m not wrong, just like your wings!”

I sighed, “It’s better, but I’d still rather call myself Raphael.”

She was persistent, throwing more names at me, hoping one would resonate. “Tenebris? Nocturnus? Umbra? Erebus?”

I interrupted her before she could continue, “Okay, okay, how about this? Nox Raphael. That has a nice ring to it, right?”

She clapped her hands, hugging me, “Yes! That’s perfect! Nox Raphael, the night dragon! I love it!”

I smiled, caressing her forehead, “You’ll still call me Raphael, though.”

She giggled, “It will take some time to get used to it. But let’s finish these papers for now.”

She had already signed the official documents and logs, declaring me her consort and even heir to the throne. It was a straightforward process when you had the queen’s authority and approval. My new name was Nox Raphael, but most just called me Nox for short. It was a fitting name for a creature of nocturnal appearance like me.

I met some of the high-ranking officials and nobles in the city. They all welcomed me with respect and admiration, accepting me as their future king, even though I wasn’t a wind dragon like them. They trusted Freya’s judgment and saw potential in me. The general was particularly impressed by my skills and abilities in combat and elements. He offered to train me and teach me more about dragon culture and the kingdom's history. Little did he know, the queen had already taken the initiative in that area.

Their acceptance and support filled me with hope and honor. And on the day we announced our engagement to the public, the kingdom erupted in cheers for us.

I had assumed the mantle of King Nox, yet we had a minor problem. How could we communicate to our allies about our new bond when we had no way of contacting the Kingdom of Aura? The answer came unexpectedly when a visitor arrived from that very kingdom. Not an official envoy, but someone I knew well. His name was Leo, a Wyvern, and I was delighted to see his familiar face.

Unaware of my presence, Leo requested an audience with the queen immediately. I chose not to reveal myself, and he did not recognize me in my new form. This allowed me to continue my role as King Nox undetected. As he voiced his concerns, his tone laced with anxiety and urgency, I stood beside the queen, playing my part. He asked about Sol and Cyrus, two of the Guardians. We told him that we had no news of them, to which he responded with palpable disappointment and defeat.

Then he asked about Raphael, a non-dragon being that our messenger had mentioned got here. He didn't realize he was referring to me. As Freya subtly warned me with a glance not to disclose my identity, I felt a pang of sorrow seeing Leo so distraught. I told him that the creature he was asking about had long departed, despite our efforts to detain him. Leo struggled to keep his emotions in check.

Before he could break down, I redirected the conversation, asking him about the situation in the city and why he had mentioned the Guardians Sol and Cyrus. He revealed that they were supposed to have arrived here, but they had disappeared. This was very bad news, and it was clear that Leo was frightened to reveal the truth about the Aura's Kingdom condition. Eventually, he confessed that all the Guardians had left, including Akira and the pawns, leaving only Aura behind. He also mentioned that Aura too was planning to leave in search of Raphael.

I was taken aback by Leo's candidness. His desperation was evident, and it made me wonder, what if I were a nefarious dark shadow dragon who had tricked the queen and become king? Of course, I wasn't, but Leo's words reflected his fear and desperation.

I replied, “That seems unlike the actions of someone as wise as Aura.” He looked at me, then asked, “Your majesty, have you ever met Aura?” I remained silent, so Freya intervened: “I informed him about her. He owes his knowledge to me.” Leo expressed his gratitude, then fell silent.

I turned to Freya and asked if we should press him further. She disagreed, but I shifted the conversation again, asking to her to ask him about the unusual circumstances surrounding the missing messages.

Freya quickly addressed Leo, asking if he knew anything about the missing messages from Aura Aetherius. In response, Leo produced a letter from his bag. "This is for you. It's from Aura. I regret to say that I am unable to answer your question, your majesty and King Nox," he said. He started to say my name “King Nox” but hesitated, so I told him he could call me Nox. He thanked me for the honor, but he looked sadder than ever.

Just as we were about to dismiss him, he asked for our protection. Freya and I exchanged confused glances, that was an unexpected demand, so she asked him. “Are you seeking for help? Our protection?”. He confirmed that he was, and when I asked why and from whom he was fleeing, he explained that Aura had advised him to do so. He didn't know why, but he asked us to read the letter.

The letter was now in Freya's possession. She examined it and passed it to me, suggesting that I should read it too. The letter was from Aura, written on a distinctive piece of paper, and bore her signature, which I recognized. It detailed the changes in the city, the disappearance of the guardians, and the likelihood that they had left in pursuit of the missing Raphael.

After reading it, I handed it back to Freya. All this time, Leo was still anxiously awaiting our response to his request. I felt a pang of guilt. I was causing more problems than solutions for whatever they were afraid of. I could only believe they were afraid of the dark shadow dragon lord, that I met once in a nightmare.

Freya finished reading and agreed to Leo's request to join the kingdom. She ordered one of her servants to fetch Ferox, who would instruct Leo about our rules. Leo thanked us, looking exhausted and tearful. He was nothing like a wyvern. His demeanor was subdued, and he followed every rule obediently.

Once Ferox arrived and escorted Leo out, we were alone again. Freya looked at me with a curious glint in her eyes. "Did you know him? You seemed familiar with him," she asked. I nodded, "Yes, I know him. He was the one who introduced me to this world when I first arrived here. He even showed me a map, which is why I asked you for one previously." Her scaly eyebrows arched in surprise. "I see. We’re lucky that he didn't recognize you," she remarked.

 

I sighed deeply, feeling a pang of guilt. "Yes, he didn't recognize me. But I can't help but feel sorry for him. And did you read the message? The kingdom has changed quite a lot since I left." She nodded in acknowledgment, "Yes, I noticed. Our kingdom has undergone changes too."

I tilted my head and asked, “What has changed?” She paused before saying, “You arrived and solved our health crystal issue. Do you recall why that was a problem?” I shook my head in response, “I’m sorry, I don’t know.” She then explained, “We are against a group of wind dragons who left the city days before you came. They disagreed with my decision to allow the wyverns to move freely throughout the city. Now, they are attempting to establish their own territory within our lands.”

I frowned, “So, you’re at war with them?” She shrugged slightly, “In a manner of speaking. We are capturing and imprisoning them. It’s necessary to maintain our order and authority around here.” I wasn’t sure whether to commend or condemn her actions, but I found myself saying, “You did well. If they cannot respect freedom, they don’t deserve it.” She smiled, “Thank you. It seems we share the same ideals.” I agreed, “Of course, and that’s a wonderful thing, isn’t it?” She leaned closer and said, “It is. And I love it.” I replied with a smile, “I know, my queen.”

That explained why Solara was always guarding us when we ventured outside. She was protecting the queen from the so called ‘rebels’, and presumably hunting them down as well.

We encountered her again that night. Under the starry sky, we soared together in a romantic flight. I was in awe by the sight of my wings, which glowed with a soft light from the glittery dots that had appeared after my mishap with the dark crystal. It was a stunning view, and the weather was perfect. Summer was approaching, and the chill in the air had subsided. We could fly and linger outside without feeling like we were about to freeze.

That day, I stayed awake longer until fatigue overtook me. Despite my dragon-like appearance, I had control over my body temperature. I wasn’t cold-blooded, and the fact that as a Dragon I had this unique ability, felt incredible.

During our flight, we also befriended a small, silent bird with white feathers. It seemed drawn to Solara, who accepted its presence. The little white owl struggled to keep up with our pace, but we didn’t want to leave behind such a friendly creature. Solara helped it by letting it perch on her head like a fluffy hat, and it clung to her without hurting her with its talons.

That day, I asked Solara, “How did you and Freya meet for the first time?” Solara glanced at me, seemingly unsure whether to answer or leave it to Freya. Freya spoke up, “I found her when she was just a hatchling, alone and abandoned near the kingdom. I couldn’t bear to leave her there.” Solara nodded, “Embarrassing, but she’s right. She took care of me until I grew up, and now I’ve returned to my roots.”

I asked, “So you prefer living in the wild rather than in the city?” Solara explained, “I can’t really live in the city. I would attract too much attention, and I am seen as a sacred creature rather than a normal being. Besides, I am safe here, so I consider this my home.” I responded, “That sounds both wonderful and sad. I’m sorry you can’t live a normal life.” She replied, “What do you mean? Isn’t this a normal life? Come on, it’s awesome. I’m free.” She was wild but kind, courteous enough to someone she did not consider an enemy anymore. I no longer feared her. Instead, I felt safe with her around and Freya.

We reached the far end of the valley, where we beheld a distant view of the kingdom. A few torches flickered in the dark, and the night sky was a tapestry of stars. It was a breathtaking and romantic scene, but I couldn’t stand up into turning it into an opportunity for some honest confessions.

I turned to Freya and asked, “What happened to your parents, if you don’t mind me asking?” She shifted uneasily and tried to evade the question, “I’d rather not talk about that.” She then asked me about my own parents, “Will I ever get to meet them?” I shook my head sadly. “No, we’re worlds apart. I doubt I’ll ever see them again. I hope they’re doing well.” She pressed on, “I hope they’re still alive then.” I sighed, “I hope so too. And that they’ve moved on after losing their son. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for them.”

She then asked, “I never asked you, how did you end up in this world?” I tried to explain, “I’m pretty sure I died. After that, I don’t know how I got here.”

She gasped, “Oh, I’m so sorry. But hey, you don’t look dead to me.” She said that because I had paused, lost in my thoughts. I felt a pang of grief for my parents, but Freya tried to comfort me. She wasn’t done with her questions, though. “Do you remember how you died?” I replied, “Yes, but I’d rather not talk about it.” She persisted, saying, “Oh, come on, you can tell me. I won’t tell anyone.” I glanced at Solara, who was flying beside us. “If I tell you, you have to keep it a secret too.” Solara promised, “You have my word. I won’t say anything.”

I finally relented, “Fine, get ready and listen. I’ll try to make it brief. I was a human in the military with a platoon in a city during the war of the federations. We were scouting the area for any remnants of the enemy army until we came across a bridge. There, we saw that they had troops on the other side, so we took cover and reported it via radio. I’ll explain what that is later. Unfortunately for us, they spotted us too and launched an artillery attack. But that didn’t do much damage. We were a small group, and we moved quickly to another location. After that, things worsened. They started surrounding the city to capture it. So,  using our drones. Another thing I’ll explain later. We realized that we had only one escape route left. We ran for it, but they were already on our heels. I decided to play the hero, what a foolish move, and let my platoon go ahead without me. I had the highest rank among them, if anyone had to be brave, it was me. I thought they would make it out safely, but instead, the enemy started retreating. We didn’t know why until it was too late. They had fired thermobaric artillery over the city and us. There was no way to avoid it. We were obliterated in an instant.”

She was speechless for a moment, then she said softly, “And here I thought I was the one with a tragic story. That’s unbelievable.” I said bitterly, “Unbelievable? No, it’s not. Like all wars.” I tried to steer the conversation back to her parents since I had done my part, but she asked me to explain all those new tools she had heard about. So, I attempted to make her understand with examples she could relate to. It was not easy, and it took a lot of time and effort. By the time we finished talking about me, I had forgotten about my questions for her.

When we finished our discussion, we returned to the palace. Our giant eagle was still frolicking with the small, cute owl on our way back. Despite everything else, telling my story lifted a burden from my conscience.