Ace's POV
Rain fell that day. It fell on the day of my father's death.
Why must he have died?
I stared at his corpse on the ground and then to the dozens of others surrounding us.
But each of those around us didn't mourn my father's death. Instead, they laughed and flapped their wings in joy. Why?
However, at the time, I couldn't think of anything other than that the rain was cold.
I took one last glance at my father and flew away.
According to the other dragons, my father and I were strange.
Unlike the many dragons around us, we had no wings. We glided through the skies without the bulky wings of the others.
We were faster. We were stronger. But instead of treating us kindly, they treated us like outcasts.
"Foolish. They are all foolish," I spoke in anger.
They would never understand our struggles.
But now, there was no one to share my pain. My father was killed by the humans he trusted and my mother committed suicide years ago.
There is no one left.
Everything is foolish.
A few months later, I was caught in a human trap.
But I didn't care.
There was no purpose for my freedom anyway.
The humans pinned me upside down by my tail. They chained my legs together and made me immobilized. They hung my tail on a metal bar and carried me in a carriage.
"Wow! Lucky us! We caught a baby dragon so easily! God must be on our sides today," a man spoke joyfully.
"And it wasn't even guarded by any adult dragon!" Another human gleefully spoke with sickening snickers.
"God," huh? If I recall, the main god of this world was Gadia.
Gods. If there really are gods, they must have really hated me.
I bet they laughed when father and I were ridiculed.
Did they celebrate when my mother committed suicide?
It must have been funny for them when my father's intestines were ripped out.
Maybe they hoped for more of our pain. Maybe they were disappointed that I was alive.
Right?
All of my pain...how will you make it up to me, you foolish gods?
That night, I slept in the cold.
Actually, I lied.
I couldn't sleep.
I spent the next few hours in the quiet, thinking about my mother and father. I recalled something my mother told me once when attempting to make me fall asleep.
.
.
"Shh...Sleep tight, son," my mother said in her lovely voice.
"No! Tell me a story!" I said.
"Do you promise to go to bed if I do?"
"...Yeah?"
"Hmm...Okay. I'll tell you a story about your father."
"Father?"
"Yes...he was very rowdy as a child."
"Really?"
"Not as much as you though," my mother said while giggling.
"Hey! I'm not that rowdy!"
"Sure."
"Humph!"
"Please calm down. I'm sorry for teasing you."
"Fiiine...but tell me about dad!"
"Okay. When your father was little, he enjoyed participating in races. He was very fast..."
"Mwahaha! I'm going to be faster than Dad!"
"Hahaha. Maybe. When your father wanted to race, the other dragons would get angry."
"Why?"
"You and your father are special. You two don't have to deal with bulky wings," mother said while flapping her own wings.
"That's true. Wings look difficult to handle."
"Yes, they get in the way when we want to land or move."
"Dad and I are super cool!"
"Yes, I agree. You two are the coolest!" she said with a genuine smile.
"Yep. But what did Dad do?"
"Your father would challenge the other dragons to races, but they would almost always refuse because they were afraid to lose."
"Cowards!"
"Yes, they were cowards. If they knew you two had royal blo-" my mother stopped herself before she could say more.
"Royal blood?"
"Oopsie! I was supposed to keep that a secret. I promised your father..."
"I'm royalty?!"
"Yes, you are a part of the direct line of the ancient dragons who ruled over the others with absolute authority. These dragons didn't have wings just like you and your father."
"Really?! That's so cool!!!"
"But keep it a secret, okay? Only a handful of individuals know our secret. The other dragons don't understand how special wingless dragons are-and we need to keep it that way."
"Why?"
"Because if the others found out, it would upset the balance between the dragons."
"Ohh...okay then..."
"Promise me that you will keep it a secret forever."
"I promise, Mom."
"Alright, go to sleep now."
"Goodnight, Mom."
"Goodnight, son."
.
.
If only the others knew who I and father were, maybe nothing would have happened.
Maybe my cheerful mother wouldn't have committed suicide. Maybe my strong father wouldn't have been killed. Maybe I could have been happy. Maybe I could've had a family...
Morning came, and somehow, I have escaped. Beasts came and attacked the hunters' carriage. They are dead now.
But I am still alive.
The gods must really want me to continue to suffer.
I don't know how far I've traveled now. I've debated on whether to commit suicide like how my mother did, but I decided not to.
My parents would be disappointed if I don't continue to live.
But continuing to live means that I must continue to live with my pain.
It hurts.
Mother...father...it hurts.
Mom, where have you gone? I miss you. Can you tell me stories before bed like you used to? Can you kiss me good night?
Dad, why did you leave? I'm all alone now, thanks to you. I wish I talked to you more before you left. I had a lot of fun racing you. Can you race me again?
Can I see you two again?
I regret everything. I want to talk and care for you guys more. I'll do anything if I can see you guys again! So, please...can you guys come back?
My vision became blurry with tears and I felt jolting pain in my heart.
As I flew, I could sense humans nearby. I wish they would end my suffering.
But I must live.
I can't disappoint mother and father.
I landed in some bushes and hid myself the best as I could. Perhaps the humans wouldn't notice me.
But conflicting with my wishes, I could sense a small human walking closer to me.
A young girl showed up from the other side of the bushes. She stared at me with bright round sapphire eyes.
I tensed up unconsciously.
Innocent as she may seem, she may torture me to death instead of swiftly ending me. All humans were filthy after all.
The girl froze for a moment and scanned me over one more time. She noticed my injuries and the nail on my tail. Maybe she will use this chance to kill me in my weak state.
"Shh...shhh...It's okay. I'm not here to hurt you. I'll help you get that nail off," said the little girl in a sweet and steady voice.
She was so small for a human. Although she was larger than I was, her limbs were so fragile and she was so young.
I relaxed a little.
If this human tried to hurt me, I would kill her.
The girl crouched by my side and scanned my nail. I growled in my pain and the little girl's face twisted with worry.
"I'm going to pull the nail out. It may hurt a little, okay? Please try to stay still..." The human wrapped each of her small fingers around the nail and slowly lifted it from my tail.
I yelped in pain. The burning of my tail grew into an unbearable heat.
My blood flowed from my tail. I grew a little lightheaded. Perhaps I would die this way.
This human foolishly pulled out my nail without thinking. It was inevitable that this child wouldn't understand how to properly save my life.
I thought it was the end and I was about to warmly accept the invitation to see my parents again, but the girl took a nearby rock and ripped her dress into a piece of cloth.
She used it to wrap around my tail. Surprisingly, this human seemed to be wiser than her age.
I was still weak and my breathing was irregular, but I was conscious enough to see this girl.
I stared at the girl in curiosity.
Why didn't this girl kill me and didn't she realize that I had no wings yet?
Speaking of which, the hunters from before didn't realize I had no wings either.
Perhaps humans weren't well informed about dragons. I'll keep her ignorant for a while longer then.
"Hmm...What a strange human," I said. My throat was hoarse, but the girl wasn't paying enough attention to realize. How clumsy.
"Well, excuse me...HUH?!" Her face was in utter shock and surprise. Did she not know that dragons could speak? Perhaps she was too young to realize?
"What a strange reaction. I thought all humans knew that dragons could speak in many languages. Perhaps I am mistaken..." I said confused.
Did humans know nothing about dragons other than the fact that we exist?
"I don't think people have enough information on dragons to know that. Meeting one is rare after all. And talking to one is even rarer!" The girl nearly screamed her reply.
She jumped up and down in her excitement. How strange. Humans are too foolish.
"How stupid. Humans are unsophisticated to the point of preposterousness. This is why we dragons will never comprehend human nature," I said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"You are using some pretty big words for being so young. Look at how small you are!" she said with curiosity.
Did she not know that dragons age slower than humans? This human was so foolish. But for some reason...it didn't bother me much.
"Dragons age a little more slowly than the human race. I should be many times older than you. But, you seem mature for yourself as well," I told her.
Any child who sees blood and a random wounded creature in their backyard would normally be unable to remain composed.
Although she acted so childish when she was excited, her mannerisms showed that she was more sophisticated than her age.
"Whaaa..at? Naw. I'm just a toddler! Also, there is no way that you are older than me! I'm bigger than you!" The girl said sarcastically. This annoyed me.
Maybe I could use some magic to open her eyes.
"Hmm...I guess it is difficult to believe my age. What is your name, human?"
"It's Cordelia de Boren Cyllia." Her name was so beautiful. It ringed against my ears.
"Thank-you. Now please hold out your hand."
"Huh? Why?"
"Just do it."
"Uhh sure."
I proceeded to bite her hand. I drunk her red blood and healed her hand in the process.
"OWIE! THAT HURTS!" she yelled.
For some reason, when she yelled in pain, I felt...weird.
Perhaps it was the fact that I was slowly changing into a human?
I grew much taller and I stared down on the small girl before me.
"That should be a little better, human."
Cordelia looked up in silent shock. She couldn't speak for a moment and when she did, she was screaming.
"Wh-wh-wh-a-wha-wha-wha-WHAT! DRAGONS CAN BECOME HUMAN?! ALSO, YOU ARE ACTUALLY OLDER THAN THREE-YEARS-OLD!" she screamed.
So this girl was only three years old?
I was about ten years old. So I was seven years older than her?
I looked down at her and her shock.
Her reaction was strange. She should know that dragons had very strong magic. We could do things humans couldn't.
"Another strange reaction...perhaps humans are more foolish than dragons believed."
"Dragons CAN CHANGE FORM?!"
"It's ancient magic in the dragon community. Few can use it, but I am...special. All we need is the blood of the creature we wish to turn into."
"W-wow!"
"That is not important, though. Currently, I am in your debt, Cordelia. Without you, I may have died," I said solemnly.
"It's okay! You don't owe me anything!"
Don't humans normally act greedy in these situations? They are filthy creatures after all.
"...What a strange human."
"HEY! You say that too much! It's starting to be mean!!!!"
"...haha Haha HA HA!"
I can't remember the last time I have laughed so much. This girl who stared at me with defiance was shaking in rage.
With one punch, I could probably destroy this girl's head like popping a balloon. Her brain would go pop. Yet, I could see no fear in her eyes.
She was probably too foolish to know how strong I was.
"What? You really are being mean!!!" Cordelia stomped her foot on the ground.
Mother...father...I think I've found it. I think I found something I can live for.
As I stared at the girl, I smirked. After ten years of unimaginable suffering and pain, this girl saved me in ten minutes.
"I know exactly how to pay you back! Hey, Cordelia, make a contract with me," I said.
"What does that mean?"
"In return for my protection and magic, you will give me your protection and mana. We will become equals, so to speak."
She would inherit some of my power and strength. I would promise to protect her with my life as her familiar.
But once her life ends, my life with end alongside her at the same time. I won't tell her this, though.
She may be upset if I tell her that this contract would shorten my lifespan by many thousands of years.
"...Are there any risks?"
"Not really."
All I would need to do is have her name me and then kiss her.
Simple.
"Uhh...sure then?"
"Alright. Give me a name."
"Any name?"
"Yeah, but please pick wisely. This will be my name after all."
I hope she won't name me something cliche. I want a name I can be proud of.
Cordelia stood still for a while. She carefully deliberated some of her options.
"What about...Ace?"
"..."
Ace...
.
.
"Dad has a contract with a human, right?" I asked my mother.
"Yes, he does. The man he is contracted with is very strong," she said with a faraway look.
"Really?! Go, Dad!"
"Yes, I think he is very happy."
"Does that mean he has a name?"
"Yes...his name was 'Ace.'"
.
.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"...I like the name. Thank-you, Cordelia."
Who would have thought that she would name me the same name as my father?
I remembered my past and all of the times that led me to this moment.
Perhaps God has always been on my side?
"Wait really? Yay!" Cordelia said this absentmindedly. This is my chance to seal the contract.
"Yes. All that's left is to seal the contract."
"Huh? Okay, sure."
I pulled her in quickly for a kiss.
"Alright. It's done."
Cordelia's face was blank for a moment until it dawned upon her what happened.
"Huh? Wait. WHAT! WAIT A MINUTE! WHAT JUST HAPPENED?! WHAT DID YOU JUST DO?" She was blushing furiously.
"To seal the contract, there must be a kiss. I thought it was obvious." I was confused about why she was freaking out so much.
"WHAT!? NO ONE TOLD ME THAT!" Cordelia was reacting crazily. Now that I think about it, her expressions change quite often.
"Hmm...you really are strange..." I blurted out. Whoops.
"CAN YOU STOP STAYING THAT?! YOU ARE THE STRANGE ONE?! YOU KISSED A TODDLER!! THAT MAKES YOU A PEDOPHILE!!"
"Technically, I am a toddler too-in dragon years," I said at an attempt to tease her.
"THAT DOESN'T MATTER RIGHT NOW! YOU ARE THE WORST!"
"Forgive me for that. I probably should have clarified."
"YEAH! YOU SHOULD HAVE!"
She continued to yell at me. At some point, I zoned out.
I was lectured for the next half an hour by a toddler. When she seemed to calm down a little, I decided to change the subject a little.
There should be a mark on your body now. The mark's location differs for each person.
After a while of her looking at her hands and feet, she noticed a black mark on her ankle.
She still seemed to be too mad to talk to me, so I decided to change the subject again.
"Shouldn't you be getting back soon? Your family is currently looking for you."
"How do you know?" Cordelia asked questioningly, finally speaking.
"My senses are better than an average human."
"Alright then. Let's quickly head back. But first, turn back into your dragon form. Dad might pass out if I brought a boy home," Cordelia said seriously.
I wonder what her father was like.
"Yes, ma'am." I undid my magic and I slowly changed back into my regular form.
"Let's go home, Ace," she said with her expression softening.
Home.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: Wahhhhhh! It was kind of depressing trying to write the beginning of this chapter...but I had fun anyway!
I hope you guys enjoyed this special chapter! Maybe you guys will like Ace more.
The next few chapters probably won't be this long, though. Sorry! But thank-you for the support!!
Also, we are now over halfway to 1,000 VIEWS! WOOHOO!!!
Okie Byeee!
Word Count: 2840