After the succinct discussion with Vishara, Henry headed back to his room. Ani and Rayne had long finished their breakfast, including Henry’s portion.

  “I’m sorry, Henry,” Ani apologised. “I tried to stop her but she didn’t—”

  “You need not be sorry for anything, Ani,” said Rayne. She was licking her finger, btantly, while fshing Henry a smirk.

  To that, Henry only sighed and smiled wryly.

  Rayne frowned. “Really? That’s all you have to say?”

  “I didn’t say anything though?”

  “Precisely.” Rayne pointed. “What kind of king would you be if you let others steal what’s yours without repercussions?”

  “First of all, I'm no king. Second, there won’t be any repercussions should someone steal from me.”

  “Oh?”

  “If it’s repercussions you want, then—” Henry suddenly leaned forward, grabbed her fingers, and sucked on them.

  Rayne squealed and yanked her arm back from Henry.

  “Taste delicious,” Henry said with a grin, licking his lips as an added effect.

  Ani giggled. “You got your repercussions, Rayne.”

  “S-shut up…” Rayne turned away from the two, holding her hand close to her chest as if she was afraid it would be taken into Henry’s mouth again.

  “Alright, fun’s over. We have some serious problems.”

  “Whose problems?” Rayne asked as she wiped her hand clean using the piece of cloth provided by the maidservants. “Ours or Vishara’s?”

  “Both. Remember the boy we met on our journey?”

  “How can I forget? What of him?”

  “Apparently, he’s here. Well, he’s coming here, to Verugo.”

  “He’s stalking us?” Ani asked.

  “It’s more probable that his target has been Verugo all along. To be more precise, Vishara is his quest. He’s an adventurer with considerable skill. It’s not much of a stretch to assume he’s here to subjugate Vishara by request.”

  Rayne ughed dryly. “I can already tell what my dear ancestor wants us to do. She wants us to go deal with him, right?”

  “Partially. According to Vishara, the boy may be a hero. The hero.”

  “A hero?” Ani blurted out. “They exist?”

  “You know them?”

  “Only in tales and legends. They are the ultimate weapon and shield of humankind. No matter how strong the opposition is, the hero will always have just enough power to defeat the enemy. That’s how the story always went. If there’s anything to be learned from the stories, it would be the hero’s extreme luck. Somehow, some way, things always worked out for the hero. Then again, that’s just the stories.”

  “Stories are often just exaggerations of the truth. But on the off chance that the ability of the hero isn’t being exaggerated, he’s going to be a handful. Regardless, what does Vishara want us to do?”

  “Does she want us to kill the hero?” Ani asked. The fear was apparent in her eyes as she asked that question.

  “That was what she wanted but I convinced her to make use of the hero instead. Killing the hero is just going to cause more problems than it solves.”

  Rayne scoffed. “You intend to brainwash the hero?”

  Henry cast her a gnce. “Technically, you will be the one doing the brainwashing.”

  Rayne’s face curled with displeasure. “Is this a joke?”

  “You have done it to me before. Can’t you do the same thing with the hero?”

  “I used an artefact.”

  “No, you didn’t. You used an item that you crafted yourself using the knowledge left behind by none other than Vishara. She told me so when I told her how you managed to take control of me.”

  “Then why don’t you just ask her instead? Why come to me?”

  “She doesn’t remember. She remembers the spell but she doesn’t remember the incantation.”

  “What makes you think I do?”

  Henry chuckled. “Considering that you were vying for the chieftain position, I doubt you would forget such a pivotal piece of knowledge.”

  “Alright, fine. I do remember. So what? Why would I do it again?”

  “Why wouldn’t you?”

  Rayne looked at Henry in disbelief. “You went through that spell. You know how horrible it is. And now you want me to use that spell on someone else?”

  “Now this is a surprise. You grew a conscience.”

  “I always have a conscience!” Rayne exploded. “Why do you think I vie for my father’s position? For fun? For my ego? For the sake of power? I did it for my tribe! Everything I did, I did it for my tribe! My tribe was dying! Do you know my tribe had twice the people it had today five years ago? The onsught of the accursed weather and those damned monsters is killing my tribe! In ten years, there will be none of us left. Do you know why I would never give up? This is why.”

  Henry was silent for a while. He knew about the Zevas’ circumstances but he didn’t know it was this dire. “Your father and your brothers are certainly taking this impending doom quite… casually, I must say.”

  “That’s because my father, my brothers, the whole tribe— they are content with how things are. They think it’s simply their time. It is their punishment for betraying… Vishara. They have long accepted their end…”

  “But you didn’t.”

  “How could I? How can I? I love my people… I refuse to just let them… perish. Now do you know why I am not truly sorry for what I have done?”

  “I do now. Still, I need your help. This hero… will be the bane of this city. Killing him will only just… create another hero.”

  “...How are you fine with this?”

  Henry smiled, not wryly, but warmly. “Because of you, Ani, Yu, and Sarynn. How long would it take before the humans decide to send the hero to Ulrum? They started this fight, Rayne.”

  “What if you’re wrong? What if he’s not here for Vishara?”

  “Then he can go on his way but he already knows this city exists and he’s uninhibited by the spell that usually would deter anyone from going further in.”

  Rayne sighed. “Damn it… Fine. I’ll do it, but it will take time. And I will need quite a few things.”

  “You can tell the servants what you need and they’ll get it for you.”

  “What servants?”

  Henry pointed towards a bell on the table that came with the dishes. “Ring for them.”

  “I can help, Rayne,” said Ani. “Whatever you need, just ask. I’ll try my best.”

  “Then I’ll be relying on you, Ani.”

  “Well then, girls, I’ll be off. I won’t be long,” Henry said and strode to the window. He bade the two a succinct farewell and dove out of the window. Long before he went hitting the ground, he assumed his true form, which he hadn’t in a long while.

  The feeling was refreshing. Being in the human form was akin to being in a tightly fitted suit. Now that he was back in his dragon form, it felt like he was naked but without the awkwardness. He brandished and flourished his wings, propelling him high into the sky. He unconsciously let out a roar that rippled throughout the city before taking off towards where the hero was coming from.

  The city, seen from high above, seemed small. A single breath of Inferno Vortex would be more than enough to raze this entire city to the ground. The only survivor would most likely be Vishara but even she wouldn’t get off unscathed. It was an ominously pleasant thought but he held back that intrusive thought and continued flying towards the hero.

  It was a short flight, taking only a few minutes before the hero and his party came into view. They appeared to be faring better than Henry anticipated. They were bantering with one another. Smiles adorned their faces but the smiles sted only until they noticed Henry approaching.

  The hero, Josh, took notice first. His reaction sent the others on alert. They readied their weapons. Their instantaneous reaction spoke volumes of their experience. However, their face sank and their colours drained when they realised what they were up against.

  When Henry was close enough to cast them all in his shadow, the girls of the hero’s party were all scared stiff. The hero was the only one who could still move but even so, he only managed to take a few steps back before fear chained him to where he stood.

  Henry hovered over and in front of them in all his glory. A single one of his wings alone was enough to shroud them in darkness.

  “I will say this only once.”

  “That voice…” Josh gasped.

  “Turn back and forget about this pce.”

  “As if we can do that, evil beast!” The hero baulked. “The fate of humanity lies in my hands.”

  “Then humanity is doomed if that’s the case.”

  “Don’t mock me!” The hero’s sword began to glow. “You will rue the day that you look down on us humans!”

  Henry wanted to retch at the hero’s trite performance. “Stupid kid,” he mused.

  “You three, get to safety!” the hero said and swung his sword, releasing a beam of light towards Henry.

  Henry shielded himself with his right cw. The beam struck heavily into his palm. There was pain but other than that, he was unhurt. There was no scratch or bruise to be found.

  “Not even a scratch?” the hero blurted out his surprise at the ck of effect.

  “Last chance.”

  The hero responded with a battle cry as he leapt into the air. His sword glowed once more and a brighter light engulfed the bde.

  Henry snorted and cast Gravity on the hero.

  The boy instantly fell face-first straight to the ground. It was not a short drop but it wasn’t too long either to incur any permanent injuries, not that a figure like the hero would so easily be crippled. Still, it was humiliating.

  The hero tried getting back up but lifting his head was all that he could do.

  “Josh!” His party screamed for him.

  “No, get back!” the hero warned.

  But they didn’t listen. The girls unched their attacks. The archer fired an arrow that bounced off of Henry’s body almost too comically. The mage cast fireballs but the result was obvious. The rogue threw shurikens but it had the same effect as the others. Those were not weak attacks by any means. Had it been anyone else or any other beasts, they would have sustained some serious injuries. However, Henry’s defence was far too strong for the three.

  “Just run!” the hero continued to shout.

  “No!” the mage shouted back. “We are all in this together. You have saved us multiple times. Now, it is our turn to—”

  Henry beat his wings and sent the three flying away before the mage could finish her speech. The gust was strong enough to lift them off their feet but not strong enough to turn them into sptters. After getting rid of the three nuisances, Henry nded in front of the hero and assumed his human form.

  The hero widened his eyes. “So, it is you…” His surprise turned into anger.

  “I would say this isn’t personal but it is.”

  “Why am I still alive?”

  “Because you are more useful to me alive than dead.”

  “Never!” the hero snarled. “If you think you can somehow turn me against my people, you will be sorely disappointed.”

  “We shall see.” Henry did have some doubts but if he, a dragon, was able to be maniputed, then a hero should be no problem. Unless, of course, the hero was a far higher existence than a dragon blessed by the Dragon God herself. For now, he just needed to incapacitate the hero and bring him back to the pace.

  “You will never take me alive!”

  Henry rolled his eyes. He wondered if the hero was cursed by the god of cliches. As he pondered on how to immobilise the hero, something happened. More precisely, the hero’s luck was taking effect.

  A veil of golden light enveloped the hero. The light came not from the sky, nor did it came from anywhere else. It just sort of appeared. Then, the hero rose to his feet.

  “Oh, you gotta be kidding me,” Henry muttered.

  “Now, you’ll pay!” The hero cried and charged at Henry with his sword raised.

  Henry sighed. “This is gonna be so frustrating.