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I Raised a Dragon for Ten Years, but He Only Loved My Sister - FULL | DramaReel
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00:21To be continued...
00:30The night before our bonding, I learned the truth.
00:32He only wanted to bond with me to stay close to my sister.
00:36After he becomes a dragon, he'll kill me and marry Eliza.
00:40That's when I realized I was just a tree to him.
00:43The twin worms we found dying had both fallen for my sister.
00:47But that's fine.
00:48Now that I know the truth, I have my own plan.
00:51I dragged myself back home.
00:53Kalos came home late.
00:55We bumped into each other.
00:56He doesn't know I know everything.
00:58He stepped back.
00:59Don't touch me.
01:00Same reaction as when I first tried to touch his tail.
01:03I thought he was just born cold.
01:06But no, he was disgusted by me.
01:08I let out a bitter laugh.
01:10My eyes burned.
01:12Tears fell.
01:13Drop by drop.
01:15Kalos turned and walked away.
01:17Annoyed.
01:18Didn't look at me once.
01:19The only time he shows any warmth is when I give him my magic blood.
01:23I thought about the winter hunt our house holds every year.
01:27Every time, I brought double supplies.
01:30Hoping he'd come with me.
01:33Kalos, will you come with me?
01:35No.
01:36Everyone brings their bonded beasts.
01:38They'll laugh at me if you don't come.
01:39Then bond a new one.
01:40I don't care.
01:42So for ten years, I went alone.
01:45The hunt beasts are clever.
01:46They attack anyone alone.
01:48I always came back covered in wounds.
01:50One time, I ran into Eliza and Wesley.
01:52Wesley has the same face as Kalos.
01:55But his smile was warm.
01:56He held my sister's hand gently.
01:58Eliza, your palms are raw.
02:00Let me do the hunting from now on.
02:02She smiled and nodded.
02:04She reached for his tail.
02:05He wrapped it around her waist, letting her touch as much as she wanted.
02:09How wonderful.
02:10I envied my sister.
02:12She had Wesley's true heart.
02:14For three days, I didn't eat or drink.
02:16I just sat in my room.
02:18The only place I felt safe.
02:19Day turned to night.
02:21Then day again.
02:22I was empty but not hungry.
02:24My parents only saw Eliza.
02:26No one noticed I'd disappeared.
02:27Not even Kalos, who lived with me.
02:29Or maybe he just didn't care.
02:30On the third morning, Kalos left.
02:32I walked through every room.
02:34Every corner held our memories.
02:36Ten whole years.
02:37He was like an accident in my life.
02:39I thought I could melt ice.
02:40But he was a knot I couldn't undo.
02:43My stomach twisted in pain.
02:45I packed up everything I owned.
02:47I decided to leave.
02:48For ten years, my only goal was him.
02:50Bond with Kalos.
02:52Grow together.
02:53But that dream was dead now.
02:54I remembered bringing him home.
02:56He was so weak.
02:57Almost dead.
02:58His worm blood was special.
03:00Normal herbs and magic stones did nothing for him.
03:02I had no money.
03:04No status.
03:05So I fed him my own magic blood.
03:07What's stronger than a Karen's blood?
03:09It hurt every time.
03:10I don't know how I kept going.
03:12But seeing his face turn healthy again gave me courage.
03:15Again and again.
03:17I thought we'd grow old together.
03:18Even if he was cold.
03:19He was still my little dragon.
03:21I did so many things for him.
03:22I never told him the cost.
03:24I didn't want him to feel guilty.
03:26But even that wasn't enough.
03:27He still hated my kindness.
03:29I decided to let go.
03:31Free him.
03:32Free myself.
03:33I packed my bag and left.
03:35I wandered with no direction.
03:37I found myself at the valley where we used to watch the moon.
03:40I love the moon.
03:41So does Kalos.
03:42But he never watched it with me.
03:43Only when Eliza and Wesley came.
03:45Then he would join us.
03:47That was the only time his cold face came alive.
03:50He couldn't even hide his true form.
03:53His tail trembled under his robe.
03:55I thought it was because they were twin worms.
03:57The signs were so obvious.
03:58But I was too blind to see.
04:00I took a deep breath.
04:02I blinked back the tears.
04:03Just as I turned to leave.
04:04What are you doing here?
04:06His voice wasn't cold for once.
04:07I remembered how he flinched the last time I touched him.
04:10I stepped back quickly.
04:11Nothing.
04:12Just walking.
04:13His gaze is fixed on me.
04:15He smiled.
04:15A warm smile.
04:16I need to talk to you.
04:17I looked at him confused.
04:19He brushed the hair from my face.
04:20So gentle.
04:21Like a different person.
04:22Let's bond.
04:23He said softly.
04:24My mind went blank.
04:25I'd waited ten years for these words.
04:27I thought I'd given up on him.
04:28But my heart still leaped.
04:30I nodded before I could think.
04:32Forgetting the days I'd locked myself away.
04:34Maybe it was ten years of hope.
04:35Maybe I could still warm him.
04:37He took my hand and led me home.
04:39The first time we touched in ten years.
04:41I held on tight.
04:42Leaned into him.
04:43He held my hand loosely.
04:45Like it would slip away the moment I let go.
04:48Back at the Karen estate, Kalis smiled gently.
04:51His eyes sparkled like shattered stars.
04:53Just like when we first met.
04:55My heart soared from the depths.
04:57I told my parents about the bond.
04:58Then magic fireworks exploded outside.
05:01I thought Kalis had planned it.
05:03I ran out excited.
05:04Eliza and Wesley stood beneath the lights.
05:07Not for me.
05:07I'd done it again.
05:09Disappointment washed over me.
05:10I looked at Kalis beside me.
05:12He was still smiling.
05:13But I could see the sadness.
05:15Ten years together.
05:15I knew his face.
05:17He still loved my sister.
05:18The joy I'd felt faded.
05:20Kalis squeezed my hand.
05:21So hard it made me cry.
05:23News of the bond spread fast.
05:25Your family is so lucky.
05:27No true dragon since the dragon lord fell a thousand years ago.
05:30Works are the next best thing.
05:32The Karens have two works.
05:34Two of them.
05:34Other houses burned with envy.
05:36Dragon blood plus the Karens' natural healing magic.
05:38Boundless potential.
05:39But they only praised Eliza.
05:41The gifted one.
05:42The first daughter.
05:42I was an afterthought.
05:44Wesley will become a true dragon with the strongest heir of this generation.
05:47Too bad KS got stuck with the failure of the family.
05:50When Wesley is dragon lord, Eliza will be the most powerful woman on the continent.
05:53She can let her failure sister share some of the glory.
05:56I've heard words like these my whole life.
05:58My sister is the moon in the sky.
06:00I'm mud in a well.
06:02Even my own parents play favorites.
06:04So how can I expect fairness from others?
06:06I don't care about any of that.
06:07The only one whose opinion matters to me is Kalos.
06:11Does he think bonding with me wastes his bloodline?
06:14The night before our bonding, I asked him,
06:16Will you regret this?
06:18No.
06:20On the night before the ritual, Kalos and I weren't supposed to see each other.
06:24We each had to purify ourselves in the magic spring.
06:27But I remembered I hadn't given him his monthly magic blood yet.
06:30I went somewhere private and extracted it.
06:33I carefully put it in a bottle and held it close.
06:35Following his scent, I found him.
06:37Just as I was about to call his name, I heard him scoff.
06:41Eliza, you know I only agreed to bond with her so I could stay by your side.
06:45She has no talent.
06:46Her magic blood is pitifully weak.
06:47How could she compare to you?
06:49My feet were frozen to the ground.
06:51He was holding my sister's hand.
06:53His eyes were burning, like I'd never seen before.
06:56More words spilled from his mouth.
06:57Once I become a dragon, the first thing I'll do is break my bond with her.
07:01Then I'll make you the dragon lord's wife.
07:03Growing up, whenever people called me ugly or useless,
07:07Eliza was the one who spoke up for me.
07:09My parents always favored her, but I never envied her.
07:12She was the only one in the family who never looked down on me.
07:15Eliza frowned.
07:16I thought she was about to scold Kalis.
07:18I really hate that you have to stay with a failure like Lena.
07:21How is her weak magic supposed to help you train?
07:26I stepped back.
07:27I couldn't believe those words came from my sister.
07:30She even reached for Kalis's tail and played with it in her hands.
07:34If I accidentally touched Kalis's tail, he'd say it disgusted him.
07:38But he let my sister touch it however she wanted.
07:40I have Lena's magic blood.
07:43Once we bond, the benefits will be even greater.
07:47Can a little bit of blood compare to my talent?
07:50Kalis's eyes flashed with cruelty I'd never seen before.
07:53If it's not enough, I'll take more.
07:56She's obsessed with me anyway.
07:58What's a little blood to her?
08:00So Kalis always knew.
08:02He knew I'd been feeding him my blood.
08:04At that moment, I felt like my heart was being squeezed and stomped on.
08:09I thought having Kalis meant I'd never be alone again.
08:12I thought he wanted to bond with me because he didn't want me to leave.
08:15But it was all just a way for him to stay close to my sister.
08:19Only then did I finally admit to myself, Kalis never cared about me.
08:23Those twin worms we found dying in the northern wastelands.
08:27Their first love was always my sister.
08:30I stumbled back to my room, my hands trembling.
08:33I packed up everything I'd just put away.
08:35I was really leaving this time.
08:37Before I left, I wrote a note.
08:39Kalis, you're free.
08:40I raised my hand to my eyes.
08:42Day after day of draining my magic blood had taken my vision first.
08:47Soon, I wouldn't be able to see anything at all.
08:50My chest felt heavy.
08:52I finally let go of my white dragon.
08:54Let go of the me who threw myself into the fire.
08:57I didn't tell anyone where I was going.
08:59I couldn't breathe here.
09:00I just wanted to run.
09:01After leaving House Karen, I moved around a lot.
09:04Finally, I settled in a border town where no one knew me.
09:08Simple people, simple life.
09:10Lots of small, untamed, magical beasts.
09:13Slowly, everyone learned I had healing powers for magical creatures.
09:17Word spread.
09:19The local Tamer's Guild found me.
09:21They convinced me to join.
09:22They promised not to reveal who I really was.
09:25At House Karen, I was a failure.
09:27But in this border town, I was just good enough.
09:31The people were kind, especially the children.
09:34They'd pick colorful magic stones from the wild and leave them on my windowsill
09:38to thank me for calming their restless beasts.
09:41Some of the braver kids would ask,
09:43Miss, you're so amazing.
09:44Why don't you have your own magical beast?
09:45I'm not amazing.
09:47I'm not pretty either.
09:48No beast would want to bond with me.
09:50Who said that?
09:51You're the kindest, prettiest Tamer we've ever met!
09:53I forced a smile and shrugged it off.
09:56Kids get distracted fast.
09:57Soon, they ran off to play with their own beasts.
10:00I suddenly thought of Kalos.
10:02Had he noticed I was gone yet?
10:04Was he furious that his plan fell apart?
10:06Would he drop his cold mask?
10:09I shook my head, pushed those thoughts away.
10:12House Karen and Kalos had nothing to do with me anymore.
10:15My dad found a lame beast.
10:17Its face is covered in ugly scars.
10:18I've never seen such an ugly beast.
10:20No wonder its owner dumped it.
10:21I saw it too.
10:22With all those injuries, it must have escaped from the underground arena.
10:25Everyone went quiet.
10:27In this small town, people didn't talk about places like that.
10:31I'd heard my father say only savage beasts get sent to the arena.
10:35Beasts that won't obey.
10:37The arena doesn't treat them like living things.
10:40They just make them fight each other endlessly.
10:44I couldn't help asking, where is he now?
10:46Lena, you're not thinking of going to find him, are you?
10:48Don't do it.
10:49If he really escaped from the arena, he's dangerous.
10:51He could go crazy and hurt you.
10:53You've seen him today, haven't you?
10:55The man hesitated, then nodded.
10:57I saw him in that abandoned shack by the mountain.
11:00Then he added,
11:00You're not thinking of taking him in, are you?
11:02Take in a new beast.
11:04The scar on my chest ached.
11:06I probably didn't have the courage to raise another beast.
11:09Ten years with Kalos had nearly drained all my magic.
11:12But I couldn't help feeling bitter.
11:14Why do only the pretty ones, the talented ones,
11:17get seen, get treated well, get loved?
11:20We who long to be noticed and loved,
11:22don't we count too?
11:24Looking at the worried faces around me, I said,
11:26Even arena beasts can tell right from wrong, just like people.
11:29As long as he means no harm, I don't think he will attack anyone.
11:32Please don't judge him too harshly.
11:33Maybe he's just an ordinary beast who suffered a lot.
11:36I followed the man's directions to the abandoned shack by the mountain.
11:39It was dark inside.
11:41Two black stone-like things glowed in the darkness.
11:43The beast's eyes.
11:45I placed the food I'd brought in front of the shack.
11:50This is for you to eat.
11:52Don't be afraid.
11:53They're just ordinary things.
11:56After a moment, a voice came from inside.
11:59Who are you?
12:00The voice was rough, like gravel grinding together.
12:04I smiled and answered softly,
12:06I'm like you.
12:07Someone with no home.
12:09Maybe he could tell I meant no harm.
12:11There was a rustling sound from inside.
12:13The beast moved to the doorway.
12:15He carefully picked up the food.
12:17Only then could I see him clearly.
12:19His true form was a wyvern.
12:21Nothing like the man had said.
12:23He didn't seem fierce at all.
12:24Just lifeless, like ash.
12:27The scars on his face were deep.
12:29His hair was matted into knots.
12:31He ate while watching me nervously.
12:33Like he was afraid I'd take the food away.
12:35I hid my hands behind my back to make him feel safer.
12:38What's your name?
12:39I asked.
12:40He swallowed the food with difficulty.
12:43His eyes glowed brighter.
12:45Caspian.
12:46My name is Caspian.
12:48I repeated.
12:49Caspian.
12:50That's a lovely name.
12:52Caspian's face turned a little red.
12:54Even through the scars he was beautiful.
12:56When he finished eating I got ready to leave.
12:59I told him.
13:01Caspian.
13:02The people here are kind.
13:04No one will hurt you.
13:06Caspian nodded hesitantly.
13:07Such a gentle beast.
13:10Why would anyone send him to the arena?
13:12Why treat him so cruelly?
13:13I sighed and turned to leave.
13:16But Caspian grabbed my sleeve.
13:17I looked back into his eyes.
13:19Wet.
13:20Begging.
13:21He spoke with difficulty.
13:22Could you...
13:23Could you take me in?
13:25I'm not a bad person.
13:26I was stunned.
13:27Afraid I'd say no, he rushed out words.
13:29I know my leg is hurt.
13:30But I can still work.
13:32Build fires.
13:33Cook soup.
13:33Clean the house.
13:34Mend clothes.
13:35I can do all of it.
13:36Anything you need.
13:37Just tell me.
13:40Looking at Caspian I saw my younger self.
13:43I did everything to get my parents to notice me.
13:46Copied spells for them.
13:48Cleaned their magic circles.
13:50Organized my sister's spell books.
13:52Polished her magic tools.
13:53Just to seem useful.
13:55Like if I did less, I'd...
13:56I always wished someone would tell me,
13:58You don't have to earn our love.
14:00My heart ached.
14:01I looked into Caspian's eyes.
14:02I'm not pretty.
14:03My magic is weak.
14:06Are you sure you want someone like me?
14:08Caspian let go of my sleeve.
14:10My heart sank.
14:11Of course.
14:12Looks and power were all that mattered.
14:15But then Caspian wiped his hands on his clothes and gently touched my face.
14:19Lena, you are beautiful.
14:21More beautiful than anyone I've ever seen.
14:24I want to be with you.
14:25I like the way you laugh.
14:28No one had ever said that to me before.
14:30Caspian's eyes were clean.
14:31No disgust.
14:33No judgment.
14:34Looking into his honest eyes,
14:36I reached out my hand without thinking.
14:38Afraid I'd change my mind,
14:39he grabbed it quickly.
14:40And just like that,
14:42I took Caspian in.
14:44Caspian was nothing like Calus.
14:46With Caspian around,
14:47I didn't have to lift a finger.
14:48He kept the house perfectly.
14:50Always found ways to cook things that made me smile.
14:53He knew what I liked.
14:55There was always hot soup waiting on the stove.
14:57I told him he didn't have to do all this to stay with me.
15:00I said I didn't want to trap him with gratitude.
15:02But really,
15:03I was scared.
15:04Scared that one day,
15:06he'd turn cold like Calus.
15:08And I wouldn't know how to handle it.
15:10Even the old man who warned me about him had changed his tune.
15:13Good things come to good people,
15:15he said.
15:16Caspian is so capable.
15:18You're lucky.
15:19The neighbors were jealous too.
15:21They compared Caspian to their own beasts.
15:24I just smiled and said nothing.
15:26I thought Caspian would be gentle,
15:28but I never expected him to be this good.
15:30Being with him taught me something.
15:32It's not about being human or beast.
15:34It's about whether someone wants to care.
15:37Time passed quickly.
15:38With Caspian by my side,
15:40I thought about the past less often,
15:42but sometimes I still had nightmares.
15:44I dreamed about the fourth year with Calus.
15:46My sister and I took our beasts out.
15:48We were ambushed by our family's rivals.
15:51Fireballs exploded.
15:53Swords clashed.
15:54Wesley protected Eliza.
15:56I pulled Calus trying to escape.
15:58They chased us to the edge of a cliff.
16:00I was so focused on protecting Calus,
16:02I didn't watch my step.
16:04I fell.
16:05As I fell,
16:06I hated myself for being useless.
16:08I was still worried about Calus.
16:10But in the dream,
16:12I saw things more clearly.
16:13Right before I fell,
16:14someone tried to attack my sister.
16:17Calus pushed me aside.
16:18He and Wesley both shielded Eliza.
16:20It wasn't an accident.
16:21I was just in the way.
16:23The cliff wasn't that high.
16:24I survived,
16:25but all my limbs were broken.
16:27I was bedridden for six months.
16:29My parents visited once.
16:30They were too busy.
16:32Eliza had scratches.
16:33They couldn't let her have scars.
16:34They searched everywhere for healing potions.
16:37Calus came once too.
16:38When Eliza came to check on me,
16:40her voice screamed in my head.
16:41Lena Karen,
16:43you're a waste of air.
16:45No one will ever love you.
16:47I shook my head,
16:48trying to push it out.
16:49Even the beast you raised abandoned you.
16:52You're worthless.
16:53Always have been.
16:54The voice grew sharper.
16:55Sometimes my father's voice.
16:57Sometimes my mother's.
16:58Sometimes my sister's.
16:59Then it became Calus' voice.
17:01Don't touch me.
17:02You make me sick.
17:03I backed away,
17:05begging.
17:05I'm sorry.
17:06I'm sorry.
17:07The new walls I'd built crumbled.
17:09I almost drowned in self-pity again.
17:11Then I felt warmth on my forehead.
17:13The voices disappeared,
17:14like someone tore open the darkness.
17:17I ran toward the light.
17:18It grew brighter and brighter.
17:20When I opened my eyes,
17:22Caspian was kneeling by my bed.
17:24His hand was on my forehead.
17:25When he saw I was awake,
17:26he let out a breath of relief.
17:28Lena, did you have a nightmare?
17:29His voice was soft and gentle.
17:31It made me feel safe.
17:33I don't know why,
17:33but I wanted to cry.
17:35Tears flooded my eyes.
17:36For the first time,
17:37I cried in front of Caspian.
17:39The tears wouldn't stop.
17:40Caspian didn't know how to comfort me,
17:42so he just held me awkwardly.
17:44His arms were gentle.
17:45He patted my back.
17:46Don't be sad, Lena.
17:47Caspian is here.
17:48If I cried in front of Calus,
17:50he'd just tell me coldly to leave.
17:52But with Caspian,
17:53I didn't have to pretend to be strong.
17:55My lips trembled.
17:56I said something without thinking.
17:57Can I touch your tail?
17:59Caspian's breath caught.
18:00He let his tail appear
18:01and placed it in my hand.
18:03I touched it gently.
18:04The green scales shimmered
18:05with dark light.
18:06Beneath the scales,
18:08golden veins glowed.
18:09Were all wyvern tails
18:11this beautiful?
18:12I'd seen my sister
18:13touch Wesley's tail.
18:14Worms are the closest
18:15things to dragons,
18:16but even Wesley's tail
18:17wasn't as beautiful as Caspian's.
18:19My hand trembled
18:20as I touched it.
18:21Something I'd wanted
18:22since I was young.
18:23My fingers moved
18:24along his snake tail.
18:25I didn't notice
18:26his breathing getting faster.
18:27Suddenly,
18:28he grabbed my hand.
18:29His voice was rough,
18:30leaner.
18:31Do you know
18:31what it means
18:32to touch a tail?
18:33I looked at him,
18:34confused.
18:34What does it mean
18:35to touch a tail?
18:36Ever since I could remember,
18:37I'd seen my sister
18:38touch beasts' tails,
18:40griffins,
18:40winter wolves,
18:41countless birds and beasts.
18:43My sister said
18:44beasts only let
18:45powerful tamers
18:46touch their tails,
18:47so I never dared to try.
18:48I only touched Calus
18:49because I loved him so much.
18:51Seeing that I didn't understand,
18:53Caspian blushed.
18:54He turned his head away
18:55and whispered,
18:55A tail is the most sensitive
18:57part of a beast.
18:58Touching it means
18:59you want to mate.
19:00My face burned,
19:01so that's what it meant.
19:03My sister lied to me.
19:04No one had ever taught me this.
19:06I'd thought it was just
19:07a casual sign of affection.
19:08I'd been a tamer
19:09all these years for nothing.
19:11Did that mean
19:11I'd been perverted
19:12when I watched my sister
19:13touch Wesley's tail
19:14and my sister touched
19:16so many beasts' tails?
19:17Did her magic
19:18get stronger every time?
19:19I thought it was just talent.
19:21I quickly let go
19:22of Caspian's tail.
19:23My face was hot.
19:24Caspian turned back
19:25and looked at me seriously.
19:26Don't misunderstand, Lena.
19:27I want you to.
19:28It just feels intense.
19:31I looked away.
19:32He took my hand again,
19:33guiding my fingers
19:33along his tail.
19:35Everywhere I touched,
19:36golden light glowed.
19:37I was born in the wastelands.
19:39I was taken to the arena
19:40when I was small.
19:41They wanted me to fight.
19:42I refused.
19:43I barely escaped.
19:44I thought I'd live
19:45in the shadows forever.
19:46I didn't see the point.
19:48Then I met you, Lena.
19:49My heart ached.
19:50Caspian had suffered so much.
19:52If I'd met him
19:52instead of Calus back then,
19:53would everything be different?
19:54He kept talking.
19:56I want to bond with you,
19:57be with you forever,
19:58if you don't mind
19:59that I'm ugly.
19:59Of course not,
20:00I blurted out.
20:02I meant I didn't mind.
20:03Lena, is that a yes?
20:05His heart pounded wildly.
20:06It stirred something
20:07in my heart too.
20:08I thought about saying no,
20:10but when I opened my mouth,
20:11I said, yes.
20:12Looking ahead,
20:13a life with Caspian
20:14didn't seem so bad.
20:16Caspian took care of me.
20:17I took care of his leg.
20:18Slowly, we both got better.
20:20Every evening,
20:21we walk through the hills.
20:22The breeze in our faces.
20:24Neither of us
20:25had happy memories
20:25to look back on.
20:26But walking hand in hand,
20:28we always had things
20:29to talk about.
20:30The wind is strong today.
20:31Lots of berries
20:32fell from the mountain.
20:33We were about to gather
20:34some for dinner.
20:35Then I heard someone
20:35call my name from behind.
20:37Lena!
20:38My heart stopped.
20:39Why was he here?
20:40I froze.
20:41I used to have hope
20:42for this man, my father.
20:44I hoped he'd remember
20:45his younger daughter.
20:46Even if he didn't love me,
20:47at least don't act
20:48like I don't exist.
20:49He bought magic candy
20:50and dolls for my sister,
20:52but he never did anything for me.
20:53He'd barely even smiled
20:54at me my whole life.
20:55But blood is strange.
20:57He treated me like a stranger.
20:58Still, hearing he was dying
20:59made me sad.
21:00As a daughter,
21:01I should be there at the end.
21:02Even if he didn't care
21:03whether I came or not.
21:04Caspian looked at me with worry.
21:06I said to him,
21:07Caspian, let me heal your face.
21:08Caspian looked down.
21:09Lena, are you going back
21:10to that house?
21:11I squeezed his hand.
21:12Don't overthink it.
21:13I just don't want anyone
21:14to look down on you.
21:15If we went back to House Karen,
21:17I'd have to hear
21:17all those insults again.
21:19I couldn't let him hear them too.
21:20Caspian nodded gently.
21:21I trust you.
21:22It's in a beast's nature
21:24to be cautious.
21:25But after everything
21:25Caspian had been through,
21:26he could still trust someone.
21:28That made his trust precious.
21:29I couldn't help touching his face.
21:31The skin without scars
21:32was smoother than any woman's.
21:34Suddenly,
21:35Caspian revealed his true form.
21:37His tail wrapped around my waist.
21:38It felt hard against my stomach
21:40and warm.
21:41I touched his golden scales gently
21:43all the way to the tip of his tail.
21:45Caspian's body trembled.
21:46His voice was rough.
21:48Lena, did you touch his tail too?
21:49I knew who he meant.
21:50He hated when I touched him
21:52because I wasn't the one he wanted.
21:54Caspian's eyes lit up.
21:55Don't touch him anymore.
21:56I don't like the way he looks at you.
21:58That night,
21:58Caspian didn't sleep in his room.
22:00He climbed into my bed.
22:01He said he wanted to stay warm with me.
22:03I knew Calus's sudden appearance
22:05had made him anxious.
22:06So I let him.
22:07When he got emotional,
22:08he'd shift into his true form.
22:10I hadn't paid attention before.
22:11But now I noticed a horn on his forehead.
22:13Wyverns don't have horns.
22:15I stopped Caspian from moving against me.
22:17What are you?
22:18I asked.
22:19Caspian's eyes were red.
22:20He could barely stay conscious.
22:22Whatever you say I am,
22:23he said.
22:24I'm that.
22:24He didn't know what he really was.
22:26The golden light on his tail.
22:28The horn on his head.
22:29Hard as a blade.
22:30They looked like the symbols
22:31on the dragon carvings
22:32my sister and I saw in the ruins.
22:34Could Caspian be?
22:35I didn't dare finish the thought.
22:37Caspian didn't give me time to think.
22:39His true form was incredibly strong.
22:41He wrapped around me.
22:42Nothing like the gentle Caspian I knew.
22:44I held him back.
22:45Wrapped in layers of his body,
22:47I felt completely safe.
22:48I forgot about House Karen.
22:50Forgot about Kalos.
22:51Forgot 20 years of pain and struggle.
22:54The next day,
22:55I found an excuse to send Caspian away.
22:57I held a blade to my eye.
22:59The skin under the blade throbbed.
23:01You never learn, do you?
23:03I laughed bitterly.
23:04But going back to House Karen,
23:05this was the fastest way to heal Caspian.
23:08I bit down and pressed the blade in.
23:10The familiar pain hit me.
23:11Then a clink.
23:12The blade fell to the ground.
23:13Didn't I send Caspian away?
23:14How was he back?
23:15His eyes were wide.
23:17Are you hurting yourself?
23:18Seeing his panic,
23:19I explained quickly.
23:20No, no.
23:21I was just getting some magic blood.
23:22I know I have weak magic,
23:24but my blood is good for you.
23:25Drink it.
23:26The scars on your face and your leg will heal.
23:28Caspian stepped forward.
23:29He backed me into the corner.
23:31It was the first time I'd seen him so angry.
23:33No one is worth hurting yourself like this.
23:35Not even me.
23:36His words exploded in my ears.
23:38But in my memory,
23:39Kalos' voice echoed too.
23:40If it's not enough, take more.
23:42She's obsessed with me anyway.
23:43Fake love and real love.
23:45There's no comparison.
23:46Looking at Caspian's angry face,
23:48my heart felt soft instead.
23:50I weakly tugged his sleeve.
23:51Just once.
23:52One extraction.
23:53It'll heal most of your injuries.
23:55But Caspian ignored me.
23:56He touched the scar on my chest instead.
23:58You got this wound for him, didn't you?
24:00Caspian is almost jealous of him.
24:01Then he let go of me.
24:02He reached into his own chest and pulled.
24:05Sweat poured down his fore...
24:06Veins bulged.
24:07I grabbed him, trying to steady him.
24:09His body heat burned my palm.
24:11Then a flash of gold.
24:12A dark green scale appeared in his palm.
24:15He pressed it over my eye.
24:16I stared at Caspian in shock.
24:17What are you doing?
24:18Are you trying to get yourself killed?
24:20My heart scale.
24:22Nothing can pierce it.
24:23Now you can't hurt yourself anymore.
24:25He'd torn out his own heart scale.
24:27I touched my chest.
24:28The scale had already merged with me.
24:30A pure, powerful magic gathered there.
24:33And the scar I'd had for years was gone.
24:34I finally understood why Caspian had been sent to the arena.
24:38His power was terrifying.
24:39So much stronger than my clumsy magic.
24:42He had this incredible healing power.
24:44But he never used it on himself.
24:45He let me fumble and make things worse.
24:48So many times.
24:49I choked out.
24:50Why?
24:50Why didn't you heal yourself?
24:52Caspian smiled weakly.
24:53Because if I healed my wounds, you would have sent me away.
24:56So he kept his wounds on purpose.
24:58Tears filled my eyes again.
25:00Caspian panicked and tried to wipe them away.
25:02But the more he wiped, the more they fell.
25:04He used his magic desperately.
25:06Your wounds are healed now.
25:07Don't cry.
25:08Through the blur of tears, I looked at Caspian.
25:11The scars on his face were gone.
25:12His skin was pale underneath.
25:14But beneath the scars, he was breathtakingly beautiful.
25:17Eyes like black gems set in long, narrow sockets.
25:21A straight, perfect nose.
25:23Lips as red as cherry blossoms.
25:25Skin as smooth as jade.
25:27Every angle perfect.
25:28This beautiful man was Caspian.
25:30The better he was, the more worthless I felt.
25:33The old self-doubt came rushing back.
25:35Caspian saw my face change.
25:37Lena, do you not like how I look?
25:39I can change back.
25:40He reached for scissors.
25:41I stopped him.
25:42I pushed down my rising self-hatred and forced a smile.
25:45Caspian, you're beautiful.
25:47Everyone in town came to stare at Caspian.
25:49The neighbors all praised him.
25:50Lena, you really found a treasure.
25:52Caspian is so capable and so handsome.
25:55I've never seen such a handsome beast in my whole life.
25:58Caspian blushed at all the attention.
26:00I looked up at him.
26:01The sun gilded him in gold.
26:03Yes, Caspian was wonderful.
26:04I didn't deserve someone so wonderful.
26:07When I brought Caspian back to House Karen, everyone praised his looks too.
26:10Even Eliza Karen came up to him.
26:12You're too beautiful to be stuck with Lena.
26:15Did she force you?
26:15Word had spread that I'd abandoned Calus.
26:18So of course they assumed the worst.
26:20Caspian frowned.
26:21I chose her.
26:22She wants nothing from me.
26:23Eliza wouldn't give up.
26:24Come with me instead.
26:25I already have a bonded beast.
26:27But I'm the strongest in House Karen.
26:29I can help you train.
26:30She didn't care at all about Wesley behind her.
26:32Or Calus, hiding in the shadows.
26:34Caspian stepped behind me.
26:36He pointed at me.
26:37She is my Tamer.
26:38Only her.
26:38I don't care how strong you are.
26:40And besides, who's the strongest is still up for debate.
26:43I liked the first half.
26:44The second half confused me.
26:46For the first time in 20 years, Eliza had been rejected by a beast.
26:50Eliza was furious.
26:51And there were consequences.
26:53The entire House Karen stopped praising Caspian's looks.
26:56And started gossiping about his past instead.
26:58And I felt like I was dead.
26:58I felt like I was dead.
26:59I felt like I was dead.
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