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