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