“What do you mean, ‘Chosen Hero vs. Dragon’? Does the Dragon Royal Palace even screen shows like that?”

“Not in the palace. It’s at an arena elsewhere on the island. You’ll see soon enough.”

Elise’s words only deepened Naya’s curiosity.

What kind of play was it? The classic “Chosen Hero vs. Dragon” she imagined? Or a Dragonkin-perspective rewrite?

Before Naya could ponder further, Elise pulled her into the secret realm.

The moment they stepped into the shadowy passage, it felt like stepping into a vacuum.

Gravity and direction vanished. Only when swirling light particles shifted and faded did vision return.

They stood in a dense forest—pitch black, so dark you couldn’t see your hand. Towering trees swallowed the moonlight.

Panic flickered in Naya’s chest. The warmth of Elise’s hand was gone.

“Elise, where are you?”

Suddenly, a firm yet soft pressure pressed against her back.

“Elise!”

Naya hastily grabbed the hands on her chest.

“It’s me.”

She exhaled in relief.

She knew it was Elise… yet a sliver of fear lingered—what if, by some one-in-ten-thousand chance, it wasn’t?

The resistance in her muscles melted away.

“Elise, it’s too dark. Can we go home?”

“We’re nearly two kilometers from the castle. You promised—if you learned to transform, you’d show me your dragon form’s cute butt.”

“H-how can you still be thinking about that?!”

“What? I’ve given you plenty of favors. Don’t you owe me the same?”

“No… Elise, this place feels… unsafe.”

Naya bit her lower lip.

In the darkness, sight vanished. Every sensation sharpened—the press of Elise’s palms, the magnetically alluring whisper behind her ear, the chirps and rustles of a truly wild forest, even within the realm.

“Don’t worry. Transform. You’ll glow. Your dragon scales will be our moon.”

“Oh… right.”

She’d been too tense.

She’d forgotten her own light magic.

Naya raised her hand, silently chanting.

A warm golden glow bloomed in her palm.

*Pfft!*

Elise blew gently from behind, snuffing it out. Naya let out a flustered squeak.

“What was that for?!”

“I want to see your dragon form.”

“Elise, I know what you want… but this is the wild…”

“And could that castle hold us both? We finally got out—to a wide, empty space, just us.”

“But…”

“Relax. No sound travels this far. Not to the castle, not outside. Even if we fight until the ground is scorched… no one will ever know.”

Naya leaned into Elise’s shoulder.

Hesitation.

Why did her heart race with thrill? Why did anticipation coil inside her?

Elise’s hands pressed against her chest. Ragged breaths cut sharply through the forest hush.

“Transform together? On three?”

“Mm…”

As if moved by unseen strings, Naya nodded.

“Three…”

“Two…”

“One…”

White and crimson light erupted, flooding the woods in stark clarity.

Two towering dragons materialized. Expanding bodies snapped ancient trees with thunderous cracks. Birds scattered in panic. Beasts fled blindly.

Watching tiny creatures bolt, Naya sighed.

“I told you not to do it here.”

“Perfect. Now no one’s watching.”

The blinding transformation glow faded to a soft bedside-lamp shimmer—just enough to see each other.

Gazing at Elise’s sleek crimson scales, Naya felt only awe. No desire.

“Elise… maybe we should stop…”

“No way. Didn’t you say you wanted ‘dragon corruption’? Tonight, I’ll give you the real thing.”

Naya couldn’t see Elise’s face—but the teasing lilt in her voice was unmistakable.

.......

I am a little peacock.

I was sleeping soundly in my tree-nest.

Then—blinding light, thunderous roar.

I jolted awake. The world spun.

I flapped wildly to steady myself, scanning for the culprit.

Whoa!

What *is* that?! Dragons?!

Before them, I was a speck of dust.

Frozen. Petrified.

Just as I snapped out of it—wait, are they *fighting*?

They say when dragons fight, little birds suffer.

But curiosity won. I had to peek.

Hiding behind a fallen trunk…

Two seconds later? Total disappointment. Ugh!

I expected magic clashes—just raw, primal grappling.

Crimson Dragon pinned Silver Dragon’s back, teeth sunk into her neck. Vast wings clamped the silver ones down. Tails wrestled like serpents.

Crimson dominated from start to finish.

Wait… is she *eating* her?!

A chill shot down my spine.

Nope. Nope. Too scary.

That slick, gleaming tongue sent phantom pain through me.

Pierced by that? Instant death.

Poor Lady Silver Dragon. As fellow egg-laying females, my heart ached for her.

But dragon matters? Way above my paygrade.

I shook my head and flew off.

I gazed at the moon—bright, silvery. Meteors seemed to strike its surface, carving craters.

Higher I flew… until I pierced the sky’s barrier.

I glanced back.

The forest was gone.

Replaced by the Dragon Royal Palace.

Perched on a lone island, surrounded by endless sea.

Above, the full moon bled crimson. Tsunami waves crashed, moonlight glinting on foam. Mermaids’ mournful song drifted on the wind—a promise of a sleepless night.