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English Sub, English Subtitle, Short Drama
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00:00I am the daughter of the true dragon, but on the day I gave birth, my husband Varys carried my
00:06children away with his own hands.
00:17The dragon crystal was bitterly cold. I lay in a pool of blood, my fingertips digging into the seams of
00:23the stone, my voice horny enough to sound like someone else's.
00:28Varys, give me back my children.
00:30The two newborns cried in his arms. Each cry stabbed it, hurting more than the tearing of flesh and bone
00:35during labor.
00:36Isolid stood below the steps of the throne, wrapped in a snow-white cloak. Her eyes read, as if she
00:40were the one who had suffered every injustice.
00:42Sister, don't be like this.
00:44She reached out and took the children, her voice as light as a scythe.
00:48I only want to share your burden. You have just given birth. Your body is too weak.
00:53Trembling, I crawled toward her.
00:56They are not a burden! They are my children!
00:59Varys looked down at me. There was no tenderness in his eyes, only impatience. He blocked my hand with one
01:04foot.
01:05Enough, Elana.
01:07I clenched my teeth and lifted my head.
01:10I beg you, let me hold them once. Just once.
01:15Isolid hugged the children tight and took half a step back.
01:18Varys, perhaps I should not have come. Sister seems to hate me so much.
01:23Varys immediately stood in front of her, as if shielding the most precious treasure in the world.
01:28Her soul is unstable. She can never bear children.
01:31His voice was cold.
01:33You are her elder sister. What is wrong with fulfilling her wish this once?
01:37Would you really watch her suffer for the rest of her life?
01:40I laughed until blood spilled from my mouth.
01:43Fulfill her wish with my flesh and blood?
01:46His brows drew tighter.
01:48Do not make yourself sound so pitiful. You are already the commander's wife. Is that still not enough?
01:55I looked at the children in his arms. My little daughter had cried until her face was red.
02:00My little son's dragon arms were no bigger than fingertips, glowing faintly.
02:04They should have been against my chest, listening to my heartbeat.
02:07But Varys turned and left.
02:09When Isolid passed by me, she lowered her head and smiled softly.
02:14Thank you, sister.
02:15In that moment, I learned that when a person's heart is hollowed out, she can still remain alive and breathe.
02:24That was eight years ago.
02:26Eight years later, I finally understood that what had been carried away that day was not only my children,
02:31but also my last hope of ever being loved.
02:36The Dragon King of the Western Realm found me very late.
02:40Before that, I had grown up outside the dragon nest, like an abandoned wild beast.
02:46Later, they said I was the lost daughter of the true dragon,
02:50and they brought me back to the royal city, giving me fine clothes, a name, and an old betrothal contract.
02:58When I married Varys, he was the Dragon Bone Commander, cold, powerful, and disgusted by me.
03:05On our wedding night, he did not lift my bridle, Laild.
03:08He only stood by the door and said,
03:10Alana, I married you only because of the betrothal.
03:12I asked softly.
03:14And afterwards?
03:15Do not covet what does not belong to you.
03:17He did not even look at me.
03:20A year later, he married Isloit.
03:23She was a false dragon daughter.
03:24Yet she looked more loved than I ever did.
03:27My parents doted on her, the servants respected her, and Varys protected her.
03:33Later, even my children called her mother.
03:36After eight years of marriage, the Dragon God appeared again.
03:40A silver spirit body hovered above the outer keep, its light illuminating my empty room.
03:46The trial is over.
03:48Varys' soul love has reached completion.
03:50You may strip away your dragon soul and leave this world.
03:54Or you may remain.
03:55I stared at him blankly.
03:57He loves me.
03:58The words were so absurd, I almost wanted to laugh.
04:01He gave hatred to our wedding night.
04:03Gave my children to Isled.
04:05And gave all his tenderness to someone else.
04:09Dragon God, are you certain you have not seen wrong?
04:12The Dragon God's gaze remained gentle.
04:15The love of the soul does not always appear as tenderness.
04:18Then how does it appear?
04:20As humiliation?
04:21Neglect?
04:22Or forcing me to kneel outside the door and listen to my children call another woman mother?
04:26The Dragon God was silent.
04:28My tears finally fell.
04:30But not because I could not bear to leave Varys.
04:32I want to leave.
04:34Before the separation you have one day,
04:36the Dragon God said,
04:37You may say goodbye.
04:39I thought of Lucian and Avaria.
04:42Even if they refused to acknowledge me,
04:44I wanted to see them one last time.
04:46So I went to the Crystal Corridor.
04:49Lucian was six,
04:50standing in the light,
04:51his small dragon horns glimmering faintly.
04:55When he saw me, the first thing he said was,
04:57Why are you here again?
05:01Lucian stepped back warily,
05:02as if he had seen something filthy.
05:04Didn't I tell you not to come?
05:06If Mother sees me talking to you,
05:08she will be sad.
05:10I crouched in front of him and tried to make my smile gentle.
05:13I only came to say goodbye.
05:15He frowned.
05:17Goodbye?
05:18Are you pretending to be pitiful again?
05:20My hand froze in midair.
05:25After today,
05:27we will not see each other again.
05:30Lucian paused,
05:31but his face quickly turned cold again.
05:33You say that every time.
05:35Are you trying to make me feel sorry for you,
05:37so you can make Mother cry?
05:40Lucian.
05:41I called his name softly.
05:43I am not trying to take you away.
05:45You are lying.
05:48Hatred filled his eyes.
05:50Mother said you have always wanted to steal me and my sister back.
05:54Why can't you leave us alone?
05:59Before I could answer,
06:01Varas' voice came from behind me.
06:04Elana.
06:05As he approached,
06:07the entire corridor seemed to grow colder.
06:11He seized my arm and dragged me into the room beside us.
06:16The door slammed shut,
06:17leaving Lucian outside.
06:20What exactly are you trying to do?
06:22Varas lowered his voice.
06:25Lucian and Aurelia were raised by Iselth.
06:28Must you expose their bloodline in front of them
06:29and make them suffer?
06:30I wrenched free of his hand.
06:33I am their birth mother.
06:35I only wanted to say goodbye before I die.
06:39Die.
06:39He sneered.
06:40Dragons do not die easily.
06:42Elana,
06:43do not use such words to trick others into pitying you.
06:46I am not lying to you.
06:48Then go apologize to Iseleth.
06:50He stared at me.
06:52Promise that from now on,
06:53you will never disturb her family again.
06:57Her family.
06:59My husband,
07:00my children,
07:00the blood I had shed in childbirth.
07:02In the end,
07:03all of it had become her,
07:04her family.
07:05Suddenly,
07:06I became very calm.
07:12Varas,
07:14if one day I truly died,
07:16would you regret it?
07:19A flicker of impatience passed through his eyes.
07:22I would only regret having indulged you too much in the beginning.
07:27I nodded.
07:29All right.
07:31I will remember that.
07:35Outside the door,
07:36a maid's panicked voice suddenly rang out.
07:38Commander,
07:39something is wrong.
07:40Miss Aurelia's dragon breath is unstable,
07:42and she is crying for Lady Elana's scent.
07:44Varas' expression changed,
07:46and he turned immediately.
07:48Looking at his back,
07:49I whispered,
07:50so she finally still remembers me.
07:52But that one memory
07:54almost cost me my life.
07:58Aurelia still remembered my scent.
08:00That alone
08:01was enough to make my heart ache
08:04until it softened.
08:06I returned to the outer keep
08:08and took out a soul crystal.
08:09The stone was cold in my palm.
08:11I cut my wrist open
08:12and let true dragon blood
08:13seep into it,
08:15drop by drop.
08:16When the blood fell into the crystal,
08:18silver-blue light flared,
08:19but my chest felt as if it had been torn open
08:22and black dragon blood
08:24surged into my throat.
08:26The dragon god's voice sounded.
08:32Before the separation,
08:34your soul will split,
08:36your blood will grow cold,
08:39and life will slowly leave your body.
08:43I wipe the blood
08:44from the corner of my mouth.
08:46It does not matter.
08:48I am very good
08:49at enduring pain.
08:52A child raised in the bone wasteland
08:55learns first not to cry,
08:57but to keep silent.
09:00Crying draws monsters.
09:02Saying it hurts
09:03only makes others
09:04think you are easier to bully.
09:06I carried the soul crystal
09:08to Silvermoon Tower.
09:09Inside the tower,
09:11warm light shone
09:12and soft fragrance drifted
09:13as if it were another world.
09:15Lucian stood at the door
09:17and blocked me.
09:18What are you doing here again?
09:20Auraria wants my dragon breath.
09:22I brought it to her.
09:24Leave it here.
09:25He reached out
09:26and snatched the soul crystal away.
09:28You cannot go in.
09:30Mother will be unhappy.
09:36I looked at the figures
09:37through the crack in the door.
09:39Auradia lay in Isaleth's arms,
09:41calling her softly.
09:43Mother.
09:44Isolade lowered her head
09:45and kissed her forehead.
09:51Good child.
09:53Mother is here.
09:54Vera sat beside them,
09:55tucking Isolam's cloak around her.
09:57His voice was so gentle
09:58I nearly failed to recognize it.
10:00You have worked hard.
10:02I stood outside the door,
10:04my wrists still bleeding.
10:05Isolade suddenly lifted her eyes
10:07and saw me.
10:08The corner of her mouth curved.
10:11Holding my daughter,
10:13she mouthed silently to me.
10:15See?
10:16She only recognizes me.
10:18I lowered my eyes
10:20and turned away.
10:24But before I had gone far,
10:25a scream suddenly came
10:27from inside the tower.
10:29Cups and dishes shattered.
10:30A maid rushed out in the panic.
10:32Something has happened
10:33to the soul-calming crystal.
10:35Lady Isolin is coughing blood.
10:39Before I could return
10:40to the Outer Keep,
10:42Varys came after me.
10:43He seized my wrist,
10:44his grip almost crushing the bones.
10:47Elena.
10:48You have grown bold indeed.
10:50Pain darkened my vision.
10:52Let go.
10:53You placed a soul-splitting curse
10:54in the crystal.
10:55His voice was as cold as snow.
10:57After Isluet touched it,
10:58her dragon soul became unstable
10:59and Auroria vomited blood as well.
11:01I froze.
11:02Impossible.
11:03There was only my blood inside.
11:07Your blood?
11:08He laughed in fury.
11:10Do you think I would believe that?
11:12You can have the High Priest examine it.
11:14Before the matter is clarified,
11:15you will apologize to her first.
11:18He dragged me back
11:19to the front of Silvermoon Tower.
11:21Wind and snow struck my face
11:23and I could barely stand.
11:25Lucian rushed out,
11:26his eyes frighteningly red.
11:28You hurt my sister!
11:30Lucian, I did not!
11:31You are still arguing!
11:33Flames of a young dragon lit on his little horns
11:35and he slammed fiercely into my abdomen.
11:37I fell into the snow.
11:38My ribs felt broken
11:40and my throat filled with the taste of blood.
11:42I hate you!
11:43He cried.
11:44Why don't you just die if you died?
11:46Mother would never be sad again!
11:47Only after those words fell
11:49did Varas finally pull him away.
11:50I looked up at Vase,
11:52thinking he would at least say,
11:53enough.
11:54But he only said coldly,
11:55until Isoleth and Auraria recover.
11:57Kneel here and reflect on your wrongdoing.
11:59I knelt in the snow,
12:01the blood from my wrist freezing dark red.
12:03Inside Silvermoon Tower,
12:04the lamps were warm.
12:06My children were crying there
12:07and my husband was guarding another woman.
12:09What if it turns out it was not me?
12:11He was silent for a moment.
12:13Then I will apologize.
12:15Apologize?
12:15Such a light word.
12:17Soon,
12:17the High Priest walked out of the tower,
12:19his face grave.
12:20Commander,
12:21the result is out.
12:22I lifted my head
12:23and saw Varus' face finally change.
12:28The High Priest said in a low voice,
12:31There is no curse.
12:32The crystal contains only true dragon blood.
12:35Miss Auralia was merely frightened
12:36and Lady Izzel's dragon soul
12:38briefly became unstable
12:39because of overexertion.
12:41The sound of snow suddenly seemed very loud.
12:44Varus froze where he stood.
12:45Lucian stood inside the tower door.
12:48Even after hearing the truth,
12:49he only clutched Izzeleth's skirt tighter.
12:52and did not look at me.
12:54Varus came toward me
12:55as if he meant to help me up.
12:57Elena,
12:58I'm sorry.
13:00I did not give him my hand.
13:03He frowned.
13:04Lucian was only worried about his sister.
13:07He does not truly hate you.
13:09I wanted very much to ask.
13:10Then what would count as true hatred?
13:12Was it making me me kneel in the snow,
13:14letting my own child curse me to death?
13:16Or asking me to swallow all the pain
13:17and then understand them in return?
13:19But I was too tired.
13:21It does not matter.
13:22It will be over soon anyway.
13:24Varus's expression darkened slightly.
13:26What are you saying now?
13:28Before I could answer,
13:30Madam Morwen arrived with guards.
13:33She had been an old attendant
13:34by my birth parent's side.
13:36From the first day,
13:37I returned to the dragon nest.
13:38She had never treated me
13:40as a true young lady.
13:41She glanced at me
13:42and frowned in disgust.
13:43Lady Alana,
13:45the dragon king and queen
13:46were furious
13:46when they heard you had harmed Izzeleth.
13:48I am here to carry out family discipline.
13:51Varus said coldly.
13:52The matter has already been investigated.
13:54She did not cast a curse.
13:56But Morwen said indifferently.
13:58Yet Lady Izzeleth
13:59was indeed frightened because of her.
14:01True dragon blood
14:02is filthy and uncontrollable.
14:05It deserves punishment.
14:07I lifted my head.
14:10My blood is filthy.
14:12Morwen waved her hand.
14:14Thirty strips with the dragon wax.
14:18When the first lash fell,
14:19I could not even make a sound.
14:22The dragon bit was carved
14:23with forbidden runes.
14:25Each strike felt as if my soul
14:27were being torn apart.
14:29After thirty trisses,
14:30the snow was dyed red with blood.
14:33Varus finally shouted in anger.
14:35Enough!
14:36But Morwen crouched down
14:37and pressed her hand to my chest.
14:39Not enough.
14:40Her most precious heart-guarding scale
14:42will be perfect stabilizing
14:43Lady Izzeleth's dragon soul.
14:45My eyes widened.
14:46The next moment,
14:47she tore away my heart-guarding scale
14:49with my force.
14:53When pain reaches its limit,
14:55a person cannot scream.
14:57I only heard something shatter
14:59inside my chest.
15:00Morwen held the silver scale
15:01as if she were carrying an offering.
15:03Now this is proper.
15:04She sneered.
15:05You owe Lady Izzelaine
15:06far too much.
15:08Varus's face had gone pale.
15:12Morwen, how dare you!
15:14Commander.
15:15Morwen did not yield.
15:18The dragon king and queen
15:19will approve of my decision.
15:21Lady Izzelaine is more important
15:23than she is.
15:24More important than she is.
15:25I had heard that too many times already.
15:28Dragging my mangled body,
15:29I crawled toward the outer keep.
15:31Each movement tore open the wounds
15:33on my back again against the snow.
15:35Ahead,
15:36the dragon crystal garden was lit.
15:38Varys, Isolette, Lucien, and Auraria
15:40stood there together,
15:41releasing starfire lanterns
15:42into the sky.
15:43Isolette leaned in Varys' arms,
15:45her voice soft.
15:46I hope our family can be together every year.
15:48Varys lowered his head
15:49to look at her.
15:51The dragon god were granted.
15:53Lucien held Auraria's hand
15:55and shouted with a smile.
15:56Father, mother,
15:57the lantern is flying!
15:59I lay in the shadows
16:00as my blood slowly drained away.
16:03After they left,
16:05Isolac returned alone.
16:06She crouched in front of me
16:07and gripped my chin.
16:09Does it hurt?
16:10I looked at her coldly.
16:11She smiled.
16:12Your parents do not love you.
16:14Varys does not love you
16:15and your children do not want you.
16:17Alana, what is the point
16:18of you staying alive?
16:18I pushed her hand away.
16:20She leaned close to my ear,
16:22her voice vicious.
16:25If I were you,
16:26I would smash my head
16:28against the dragon bone
16:29pilittle and die,
16:30so I would not be such an eyesore.
16:32I staggered back
16:33to the outer keep.
16:34Soon, Lucien's voice
16:35came from outside the door.
16:37I do not want to see her.
16:38She deserved to be whipped.
16:39Isolette comforted Varys gently.
16:41She is always like this,
16:43forcing others to pity her.
16:45Just like back then,
16:46when she forced you
16:47to honor the betrothal.
16:49Leaning against the door
16:50from the inside,
16:51I suddenly laughed.
16:52They had never known
16:53that the old betrothal contract
16:55was not a lock
16:55I had used to trap Varys.
16:57It had once been
16:58my only rope to survival,
17:00and this time,
17:01that rope had snapped too.
17:05My parents had originally planned
17:07to give me to a guard
17:08at the Northern Fortra.
17:13That guard had already tortured
17:14three wives to death.
17:16I knelt all night,
17:18begging them not to send me there.
17:20My mother thought my crying
17:22was unlucky.
17:25And my father said,
17:26Since you are the daughter
17:27of the true dragon,
17:28you should sacrifice yourself
17:30for the dragon clan.
17:32Later,
17:33the old betrothal contract
17:34was brought out.
17:35I married Varys,
17:37thinking I had finally
17:38escaped hell.
17:39It turned out I had only
17:41walked from one hell
17:42into another.
17:45How much time is left?
17:47Three hours.
17:48When Varys pushed
17:49the door open,
17:51he happened to hear that.
17:53His brows fluttered slightly.
17:55What has three hours left?
17:56I sat by the bed.
17:57Silver gals covered
17:58the hollow wound
17:59in my chest.
18:00Valys,
18:01I really am going
18:02to die soon.
18:03He looked at me
18:04as if judging what play
18:05I was putting on this time.
18:06How long are you going
18:07to keep making trouble?
18:08After today,
18:10I will never disturb
18:11you and Isol's family again.
18:13At last,
18:14a trace of unease
18:16appeared in his eyes.
18:18If you want a child,
18:19I can have another one with you.
18:21He paused,
18:22then added as if
18:23granting charity.
18:24This time,
18:25I will let you raise it.
18:27I stared at him blankly
18:28and suddenly felt
18:29that he was more powerful
18:30than any monster.
18:31What do you think
18:32a child is?
18:33Compensation?
18:34A gift?
18:35Or a toy you can toss
18:36to me whenever you like?
18:38Vara's expression
18:39turned ugly.
18:40I am giving you a chance.
18:42I do not want it.
18:44He said in a low voice,
18:46Alana,
18:46do not be ungrateful.
18:48If I could do it all again,
18:50I said looking at him
18:51word by word,
18:53I would never meet you.
18:55Varys' lips moved,
18:57but he said nothing.
18:58In the end,
18:59he only left
18:59one furwish behind.
19:01You need to calm down.
19:02I will come see you later.
19:06After the door closed,
19:07the outer keep
19:08became completely silent.
19:13At midnight,
19:14I changed into
19:15the silver white gown
19:16I had worn on the day
19:17of the covenant ceremony
19:18and covered the wound
19:19where my scale
19:20had been taken
19:20with silver's os.
19:22Outside the window,
19:23snow fell soundlessly.
19:25The dragon god's voice
19:26sounded,
19:28It is time.
19:31Before leaving,
19:32I wanted to make myself
19:33a little beautiful.
19:34When I came into this world,
19:36I had been covered in mud,
19:37like a dying beast.
19:39When I left it,
19:40at least I should be clean.
19:42I reached out
19:43to catch a snowflake,
19:44but what fell into my palm
19:45first was my own blood.
19:46The dragon god
19:47counted down softly.
19:51Five.
19:52The silver white gown
19:53lifted in the wind.
19:55Four.
19:55I remembered the cries
19:57of the two children
19:57when they had just been born.
19:59Three.
20:00I remembered the first time
20:02Varys held Issa's hand,
20:03not even sparing me a glance.
20:05Two.
20:06I remembered how hard
20:07I had once tried
20:08to stay alive.
20:10One.
20:12Separation complete.
20:15This dragon body is dead.
20:20At that same moment,
20:22Silver Moon Tower
20:23suddenly fell into chaos.
20:25Aurelia slipped from Issa's arms,
20:27struck her forehead,
20:28and cried for Mother
20:29to hold her.
20:30But Issa clutched her chest,
20:32her face pale.
20:33My dragon soul is unstable.
20:35I cannot move.
20:36Lucian held his sister
20:37and cried,
20:38accidentally blurring out.
20:39Mother,
20:40didn't you say
20:41that as long as you wrote
20:42to Grandfather,
20:43Aunt would be beaten?
20:44Didn't you say
20:45Father hated her
20:46and that it would be best
20:47if she died?
20:48Varys jerked his head up.
20:49Izalite's face
20:50changed abruptly.
20:51Lucian, shut up!
20:52But it was already
20:53too late.
20:54Varys rushed out
20:55of Silver Moon Tower,
20:56black flames almost burning
20:57through the wind and snow.
20:59His carriage crashed
21:00through the courtyard gate.
21:01A dragon servant
21:02stumbled over.
21:03His sharp voice
21:04twisted out of shape.
21:06Commander!
21:07Lady Alana has died
21:08in the snow!
21:09Her dragon soul
21:10has gone out!
21:11Varys rushed
21:12into the courtyard
21:12of the Outer Keep.
21:14I lay in the snow.
21:15My silver-white gown
21:16spread around me
21:17like a wedding
21:18that had come too late.
21:19He knelt beside me,
21:20his fingers trembling
21:22as he lifted
21:22the silver scloss.
21:24Beneath it,
21:24my chest was hollow.
21:28There was no longer
21:29the slightest light
21:30of a dragon soul there.
21:31Varys seemed to have been
21:32seized by the throat.
21:33A long time passed
21:35before he could make a sound.
21:37Summon the High Priest.
21:39No one moved.
21:40He suddenly roared.
21:41I said summon
21:41the High Priest
21:42to save her!
21:43When the High Priest arrived,
21:45his knees nearly gave way.
21:46After examining me,
21:47he said in a trembling voice,
21:49Commander,
21:49the Lady's soul
21:50has already left her body.
21:51She suffered the dragon wipe
21:53and had her heart-guarding scale
21:54stripped away.
21:55That this body lasted
21:56until now
21:57is already a miracle.
21:58Holding my corpse,
22:00Varys' eyes cracked open
22:01piece by piece.
22:03Who stripped her scale?
22:05The servants knelt
22:07all over the ground.
22:09It was Madame Morwen.
22:10She said...
22:11She said it was
22:12for Lady Isolette.
22:14Varys lowered his head
22:15and looked at me.
22:16There was still frozen blood
22:17at the corner of my lips,
22:18but my expression
22:19was very quiet.
22:20It was not sleep.
22:22It was finally
22:22no longer having to endure.
22:24He suddenly remembered
22:25the soul crystal.
22:26The High Priest examined it again,
22:28his voice even lower.
22:29There is no curse inside,
22:31only true dragon blood,
22:32and the last breath
22:33of the Lady's dragon soul
22:34used to soothe Miss Oriria.
22:36Varys' hand tightened violently.
22:38So when she knelt in the snow,
22:39she had already been wronged.
22:40No one dared answer.
22:41When the children were brought in,
22:43they still did not understand
22:45what death meant.
22:46Lucien looked at my motionless face,
22:48his voice shaking.
22:50Why won't she wake up?
22:52Aurelia clutched the soul crystal
22:53and cried until she could hardly breathe.
22:55Aunt, does it hurt?
22:57No one answered,
22:58but the soul crystal suddenly glowed
23:00with silver-blue light.
23:02Varys jerked his head up.
23:05Inside the crystal,
23:06my memories began to appear.
23:10The soul crystal showed me
23:12standing outside Silvermoon Tower.
23:16That night,
23:18Alluria's dragon breath
23:19went out of control
23:20for the first time.
23:22Isolette thought her crying
23:24was too noisy
23:25and handed her to a maid.
23:31It was I who stood outside
23:33the window all night,
23:35sending dragon breath
23:36little by little
23:37into the room.
23:38Watching the image,
23:40Aurelia cried so hard
23:41she could barely stand.
23:45It was her that night?
23:46No one dared answer.
23:49The scene changed.
23:51Lucien fell from a crystal wall.
23:53Everyone was watching
23:54Isolette perform,
23:56and only I lunged forward
23:57to cushion him beneath me.
23:59The crystal cut open my back,
24:02yet the first thing I asked was,
24:04Lucien,
24:05Are you hurt anywhere?
24:08Are you hurt anywhere?
24:09Little Lucien was frightened
24:10into tears,
24:11but he was quickly carried away
24:12by servants.
24:14A servant whispered,
24:18Do not let Lady Isolte know
24:20Alana touch the young master,
24:22or she will be unhappy.
24:27Lucien stared at the soul crystal,
24:29his lips turning pale.
24:33I didn't know.
24:35The soul crystal continued.
24:37He saw himself telling me again and again,
24:41Stay away from us.
24:49He saw Aweria holding the little cloak
24:52I had sewn by hand,
24:54only for Isoleth
24:55to claim she had made it.
24:58He saw me writing medicine notes
25:00in the outer keep.
25:04Lucien should avoid cold wind
25:06during his scale-shedding period.
25:11Aweria needs warm stones
25:13when her dragon breath is weak.
25:18Every line was meticulous,
25:20as if I feared they might suffer
25:22even a little more.
25:23Varys stood there
25:24like a collapsed stone statue.
25:27He had always known
25:28the children were born from me.
25:31Yet he had given them to Isoleth,
25:33then called me selfish.
25:36That night,
25:37every lamp in Silvermoon Tower
25:39went out.
25:40Varys walked alone
25:41into my room
25:42and found the silver wedding robe.
25:46Only then did he finally remember
25:48the day of the covenant.
25:50He had thought I coveted power,
25:52that I had used the old betrothed
25:54to trap him.
25:57Until an old servant
25:59knelt at the door
26:00and spoke the true history.
26:07The old servant's voice trembled.
26:09Commander,
26:10Lady Alana did not force you.
26:12The dragon king and queen
26:14originally meant to send her
26:15to the northern realm.
26:16That guard had already killed
26:18three wives.
26:19The lady knelt all night,
26:20begging them not to send her.
26:22Varys' knuckles slowly turned white.
26:24Why did no one tell me?
26:25The old servant lowered his head.
26:27You did not want to listen.
26:29When the lady first married you,
26:30she tried to explain.
26:32But you said she had even learned
26:33how to imitate misery.
26:35Varys closed his eyes.
26:37The words I had spoken
26:38before my death.
26:39If I could do it all again,
26:42I would never meet you.
26:45Suddenly returned to his chest
26:47like a knife.
26:49The next day,
26:50Madam Morwen was dragged
26:52into Dragonbone Hall.
26:53The dragon whip lay before her.
26:55Varys said only one word.
26:57Whip.
26:58Morwen's face changed dramatically.
27:00Commander,
27:01I was acting under the orders
27:02of the dragon king and queen.
27:04Varys' eyes were dark.
27:06Then let them take the lashes for you.
27:08The first lash fell
27:09and Morwen discreamed.
27:11Her dragon soul
27:12was suppressed by runes
27:14and she rolled wretchedly
27:15on the floor,
27:16nothing left
27:17of her usual arrogance.
27:19Watching her,
27:20Atvarys finally understood how,
27:22after thirty lashes that day,
27:25I had dragged my blooded,
27:27ruined back
27:28through the garden
27:29and seen him and Isoleth
27:31releasing starfire lanterns.
27:34Isolad was brought in as well.
27:36She began to cry
27:37the moment she entered.
27:40Varys, I did not know.
27:43I truly did not know
27:44when Morwen took the scale.
27:46A servant knelt.
27:49When Madam Morwen
27:50brought the heart-guarding scale over,
27:53Lady Isoleth said
27:54that with pure,
27:55true dragon blood,
27:56losing one scale
27:57would not kill her.
27:59Isoleth Steela's crying
28:00stopped abruptly.
28:01For the first time,
28:02there was no pity
28:03in Atvarys' eyes
28:04when he looked at her.
28:05Send her to the Judgment Tower.
28:10Isoleth collapsed to the floor,
28:12and the bells of the Judgment Tower
28:14began to toll,
28:16one after another.
28:19As Isoleth was dragged away,
28:22she was still crying and shouting.
28:24I was only afraid!
28:25I cannot bear children,
28:27and my dragon soul is unstable.
28:29Everyone said she was the real one.
28:31I only did not want to lose you all!
28:35Varys said coldly,
28:36So you took everything from her?
28:38She had nothing to begin with!
28:40Isoleth screamed.
28:41Her parents did not love her,
28:42and her children did not recognize her.
28:45Even without me,
28:46no one would have wanted her!
28:47The hall fell deathly silent.
28:50Varys drew the dragon bone sword
28:52and set its tip against her throat.
28:54Say that again.
28:57At last,
28:58Isoleth was afraid.
29:00When the dragon king and queen arrived,
29:03they were furious.
29:04Varys!
29:05How dare you punish Morar
29:07and imprison Isoleth!
29:09Varys threw all the evidence
29:10in front of them.
29:11My old wounds,
29:12the soul crystal memories,
29:13Morwen's confession,
29:15and Isanand's accusing letters.
29:16The queen only glanced at them
29:17before turning her face away.
29:19Elana was always gloomy by nature.
29:21Who knows whether those memories
29:22were left by her to frame others.
29:24Varys laughed.
29:25That laugh chilled everyone.
29:31She is already dead.
29:33She has lost even her life.
29:36Who is she supposed to frame?
29:39The dragon king lured Mistelity.
29:41Do not forget whom you are speaking to!
29:43Varys turned his sword,
29:45the dragon bone sword
29:46cutting across the stone floor.
29:47Of course I remember.
29:49You are her parents.
29:50And you are also the people
29:52who pushed her towards death.
29:54The queen's face
29:55went deathly pale.
29:58Varys said,
29:59word by word,
30:01Touch her name again.
30:04And I will cut down even the king.
30:08After that,
30:09he returned to my outer keep.
30:12In the chest under the bed,
30:14there were little clothes
30:16for Lucien and Avalia,
30:18medicine notes,
30:19and birthday gifts
30:20that had never been sent.
30:23Each one was written with my love.
30:25For years,
30:27I had loved them silently
30:28and carefully.
30:30Yet I had never been allowed
30:32to claim it.
30:33On the third day,
30:35Varys went to the wishing spirit tree.
30:37He cut open his palm
30:39and spilled dragon blood
30:41into the roots.
30:45Dragon god,
30:46let me see her.
30:50dragon blood seeped
30:51into the roots
30:52and the wishing spirit tree
30:54lit with silver-blue light.
30:55Varys knelt in the snow,
30:57his voice harny.
30:59Let me see her.
31:00I am willing to pay any price.
31:03When the dragon god appeared,
31:06even the wind and snow stopped.
31:08She is alive elsewhere.
31:10Varys jerked his head up,
31:12hopeless hope
31:13lighting in his eyes.
31:17Take me to see her.
31:19The dragon god said calmly,
31:21She lives,
31:22but not for you.
31:24Varys' throat moved.
31:28I only want to apologize.
31:30Apologies cannot spare
31:31her one lash,
31:33cannot return her children
31:34to her arms,
31:35and cannot make her less cold
31:37when she died in the snow.
31:40Varys' face went ashen.
31:42When the soul crystal
31:43revealed the truth,
31:45she was still alive.
31:46If you had brought her back then,
31:49if you had healed her wounds,
31:51she would at least
31:52have suffered a little less.
31:54Varys bowed down,
31:56his forehead pressed into the snow.
31:58I was wrong.
31:59You were wrong for many years.
32:01She has already died once.
32:04You cannot force her to return,
32:07cannot bind her with the children,
32:09and cannot demand her forgiveness
32:11because you regret it.
32:13Varys closed his eyes.
32:15If she says she does not need you,
32:17then you may never approach her again.
32:20I understand.
32:22But he understood too late.
32:31Far away from that world,
32:33I opened my eyes.
32:34There was no cold crystal bed
32:36and no snow-covered window.
32:38Soft white bed curtains hung above me.
32:42Sunlight falling on the corner of the quilt.
32:44Someone held my hand,
32:46their palm warm.
32:48A woman looked at me with tears in her eyes.
32:51Do not be afraid.
32:52This is White Tower City.
32:56Her name was Adela,
32:57and she was the owner of the infirmary
32:59in White Tower City.
33:03When I woke,
33:04my first reaction was to draw back my hand.
33:06Adela did not press me.
33:08She only placed hot soup beside the bed.
33:11You do not have to speak yet.
33:14When you want to,
33:15I will listen.
33:18I looked at her,
33:19my voice dry.
33:21You are not going to ask who I am.
33:24She smiled.
33:27Right now,
33:28you are a patient.
33:29The most important thing for a patient
33:31is to survive.
33:36The dragon god had not lied to me.
33:40Here there was no dragon king
33:41of the western realm,
33:42no true or false dragon daughter,
33:44no at,
33:45varus,
33:46and no two children
33:48who called another woman mother.
33:51Here,
33:52I was only Alana.
33:54White Tower City stood by the sea.
33:57Its streets smelled of bread,
33:59herbs,
34:00and tidewater.
34:02Beyond the white walls,
34:04the sea flashed with light every day.
34:09Adela taught me to dry herbs,
34:11to prepare moonflower salve,
34:13and also to listen to patients finish speaking when they were in pain.
34:18Pain is not lying.
34:20When a person says it hurts,
34:22then it truly hurts.
34:24That sentence left me stunned for a long time.
34:32In the old world,
34:33my pain always had to be proven first.
34:36At first,
34:37I woke from nightmares every night.
34:39I dreamed of the dragon whip falling.
34:42Of Lucian saying,
34:44why don't you just die?
34:46Of Varus ordering me to apologize to Izalith.
34:54Whenever I woke in terror,
34:56Adela would always light a lamp.
35:03You do not need to explain,
35:05she said.
35:06The dream is already over.
35:09There was also a little girl in the infirmary named Mia.
35:16The first time she came near me,
35:19she held a bunch of wildflowers.
35:22These are for you.
35:28Why?
35:30She said seriously.
35:32Because when you woke up,
35:34you looked as if you were about to cry.
35:36Flowers can keep you company.
35:38After that,
35:39she often sat outside my door.
35:43One night,
35:44she whispered through the crack.
35:48Bad dreams cannot get in.
35:51I am guarding the door.
35:53In that moment,
35:55I covered my mouth and cried until dawn.
36:04The first time the night commander of White Tower met me
36:07was in the herb courtyard.
36:12His name was Selin.
36:14He wore silver armor
36:16and had a pair of quiet eyes.
36:18I was drying medicinal leaves
36:20when he stood at the doorway
36:22and asked politely,
36:23Are you the new healer?
36:29I am trying hard to become one.
36:34He nodded very seriously.
36:39Then I will try hard not to get injured.
36:43Fax proved he was not very good at trying.
36:45The next day,
36:47he had a cut on his shoulder.
36:49On the third day,
36:50the back of his hand was burned.
36:53On the fourth day,
36:55he came into the infirmary
36:56with bruises from training.
37:03Adela glanced at me
37:04and was trying very hard not to laugh.
37:06As I banded him,
37:08I asked,
37:12Knight commander,
37:14where is that effort of yours?
37:19Ot Selin was silent for a moment.
37:22Perhaps it is still on the way.
37:24I could not help laughing.
37:26That was the first time
37:27I truly laughed out loud
37:29after coming to White Tower City.
37:31Selin looked at me,
37:32his eyes going briefly still,
37:34then quickly looked away.
37:37Adele coughed beside us.
37:40If the wound is banded,
37:42leave.
37:43Do not delay the healer's meal.
37:48Mia ran in,
37:50carrying honey cake.
37:51Sister Alana,
37:52today is the Spring Lantern Festival.
37:55You have to go see the lanterns.
37:57I wanted to refuse,
37:59but she held my hand
38:00and would not let go.
38:02At night,
38:03lights rose over White Tower City.
38:05Children chased sparks,
38:07musicians played by the fountain,
38:12and the bakery owner
38:13saved the largest piece of cake for me.
38:16Adela placed a flower crown on my head.
38:22Sienna stood beside me and asked,
38:24Are you cold?
38:27I shook my head.
38:29For the first time,
38:30I no longer longed
38:32for the things of the past.
38:37I no longer hoped
38:38my parents would turn back,
38:40no longer hoped
38:41Varys would believe me,
38:42and no longer hoped
38:44the children would call me mother.
38:47I only watched
38:48the lanterns rise,
38:50and then,
38:51I smiled.
38:56It was then
38:57that I saw Varys.
39:01He stood at the edge
39:02of the crowd,
39:03his black cloak
39:03still bearing the chill
39:04of the old world.
39:06Varys had grown much thinner.
39:07The sharp pride
39:08that had once marked
39:09his brows and eyes
39:10had become nothing
39:11but exhaustion.
39:13When he saw me smile,
39:14his entire body froze.
39:17The lantern cord
39:19slipped from my hand.
39:22Selin immediately
39:23stepped in front of me.
39:26Do you know him?
39:27Before I could answer,
39:28Varys had already
39:29come closer.
39:31His voice was low
39:32and horky.
39:34Helena.
39:35Instinctively,
39:36I stepped back.
39:37His footsteps
39:38stopped at once,
39:39as if that single step
39:41had nailed him in place.
39:42Once,
39:43a single round from him
39:44could make me walk
39:44towards him
39:45while enduring pain.
39:47Now,
39:47I merely stepped back,
39:48and he looked
39:49as if he had been condemned.
39:50I came to take you home!
39:52He said,
39:52I looked at him
39:53and found the word
39:54terribly strange.
39:55Where is home?
39:57Dragonbone Hall!
39:58The Outer Keep!
39:59He spoke quickly.
40:00I have already repaired it.
40:02Your silver moonflowers
40:04have been replanted.
40:05Lucian and Aurelia
40:06wait for you every day.
40:07They know they were wrong.
40:09I listened quietly
40:10until he finished.
40:11What about that patch of snow?
40:13What?
40:14Varys' face
40:15went abruptly white.
40:16The place where I died,
40:17I asked,
40:18did you repair that too?
40:19He could not answer.
40:21The lights around us
40:21were still warm,
40:22but my fingertips were cold.
40:24Varys,
40:25I died there.
40:26His eyes slowly reddened.
40:28I know.
40:28You do not.
40:29I said,
40:31you only know that I died,
40:32but you do not know
40:33that before I died
40:34I was still thinking
40:35why is the snow so cool?
40:37Varys' throat trembled.
40:39You hate me.
40:40I did once.
40:41I looked at him,
40:42but now I am tired.
40:44He took a step forward,
40:46then forced himself to stop.
40:48You can punish me
40:49however you like.
40:50I lifted my eyes.
40:52He said in a low voice,
40:54whip me.
40:54Strip away my scale.
40:56Make me kneel.
40:59I will accept it all.
41:02Looking at Varys,
41:03I suddenly understood.
41:05He thought pain
41:06could be traded for pain.
41:08He thought that if he knelt once,
41:10bled once,
41:10and endured the whip once,
41:12I could return to the past.
41:13But I was no longer the Alana
41:15who would wait for him to turn back.
41:17I do not want to punish you,
41:19I said.
41:20A faint light flashed
41:21in Varys' eyes.
41:23Softly, I finished.
41:25I simply do not want you anymore.
41:28That little light
41:29shattered completely.
41:31Maya ran over
41:32holding flowers.
41:33When she saw Vartess,
41:35she immediately hid behind me.
41:38Sister Alana,
41:39who is he?
41:40I stroked her head.
41:42Someone who is about to leave.
41:43Selin asked quietly,
41:45Do you need me to ask him to go?
41:48Varys looked at him,
41:49restrained hostility in his eyes.
41:51Who are you?
41:53Selin said calmly,
41:54Someone in her life now.
41:57Those words pierced Varys' chest
41:59like a knife.
42:00He saw Adrela holding my hand,
42:02saw Mia stuffing flowers
42:04into my arms,
42:06saw Selin drape a shoal
42:08over my shoulders.
42:09These simple acts of care
42:11were things he had never given me.
42:14Varys said,
42:15Quietly.
42:16Alana,
42:17I only wanted to see you once.
42:20You have seen me now.
42:22The dragon god's mark
42:23lit on his wrist.
42:24It was a warning.
42:26I looked at him.
42:27If she says she does not need you,
42:29then you may never approach her again.
42:32Varys finally stepped back.
42:35Lucien and Aurelia!
42:37I interrupted him.
42:38Do not use the children to hold me.
42:40His face was nearly transparent
42:41in its palmy.
42:44I turned and left without looking back.
42:47That night,
42:48black snow fell over White Tower City.
42:54I woke from a burning pain in my chest.
42:56My newly grown heart-guarding scale
42:58was hot and glowing,
43:00as if warning me of something.
43:02Outside,
43:03alarm bells rang wildly.
43:04Adela pushed the door open,
43:06her face pale.
43:07The star tide has split.
43:09I pulled on a cloak
43:11and ran out of the infirmary.
43:13Above White Tower,
43:14a black rift tore open the sky.
43:16Isolid fell from the crack,
43:18holding a bloodstained fragment
43:19of a silver scale.
43:20It was my old heart guarding scale.
43:23She had withered
43:23until only bones seemed left,
43:25but madness burned in her eyes.
43:28Elena.
43:29She laughed.
43:31Why do you get to be reborn?
43:32Why must I suffer in the Judgment Tower
43:35while you are loved here?
43:36Black flames poured down from behind her
43:38and surged toward the houses.
43:39Selin drew his sword
43:40and led the knights to protect the people.
43:42Adela carried Mia back into the infirmary.
43:44I stood in the middle of the street,
43:46my fingertips cold.
43:47When Isolid saw my fear,
43:49she laughed even louder.
43:50You are still the same.
43:51You only know how to endure,
43:52how to retreat.
43:53Sister, give me your body.
43:54I will live better than you.
43:57Do not call me sister.
43:59Why?
44:00She tilted her head.
44:01In the past,
44:02whenever I called you sister,
44:03didn't you always give things to me?
44:05Varys came through the rift
44:07and split the black flames
44:08with one stroke of his sword,
44:10blocking the way in front of me.
44:12His shoulder was burned open,
44:14blood flowing down his arm.
44:17Isolid, stop.
44:20Isolid stared at him with venom.
44:24Why pretend to love her now?
44:26Her voice was sharp as a blade.
44:28Where were you when she was in the most pain?
44:33Varys' face was deathly pale.
44:35Those words struck the place
44:36he could never defend.
44:38Taking advantage of his moment of distraction,
44:40Isolid clutched the shard
44:41of the heart-guarding scale
44:42and lunged at me.
44:43Sister!
44:44You have always been so good
44:46at fulfilling my wishes!
44:48In the old world,
44:49the word sister
44:49had always been able to hurt me.
44:51It made me yearn for family,
44:53made me surrender my room,
44:55my parents' attention,
44:56my husband,
44:57and my children to her one by one.
44:59I kept giving.
45:00I gave until,
45:02in the end,
45:03only a corpse was left in the snow.
45:06This time,
45:07I did not retreat.
45:09Silver-blue dragon flame
45:10rose from my palm.
45:12It was not blood from my wrist,
45:14not a scale stripped from my body,
45:16and not power exchanged for suffering.
45:18It was my own dragon soul,
45:20whole,
45:21warm,
45:22reborn inside me.
45:24The old scale shard
45:26stopped in mid-air,
45:27as if recognizing me
45:28and trembled softly.
45:30Isolid screamed,
45:31Impossible!
45:32Your scale already belongs to me!
45:35Everything from the old world
45:37that you stole,
45:38parents,
45:39husband,
45:40children,
45:40and identity.
45:41I no longer want any of it.
45:43I raised my hand,
45:45but the pain you owe me
45:46must be returned.
45:50Silver-blue flames
45:51exploded with a roar.
45:53Isolid was blasted away,
45:54layers of her false dragon soul
45:56peeling from her.
45:57She screamed,
45:58cursed,
45:58and begged,
45:59until at last her true soul
46:00was revealed,
46:01impoverished,
46:02twisted,
46:02greedy.
46:03There was not a trace
46:04of innocence there.
46:05Above White Tower,
46:06the dragon god's judgment bell rang.
46:10The black snow froze in mid-air.
46:16The dragon god appeared above White Tower,
46:20silver light lunating the entire city.
46:26Isyurde,
46:27you stole the fate of a true dragon,
46:30seized another's heart-guarding scale,
46:34and disturbed life and death
46:36across two worlds.
46:41Isyurde struggled to crawl toward me.
46:45Sister, I was wrong!
46:47I truly know I was wrong!
46:50Save me, please!
46:53You used to love me most!
46:55I remembered many years ago
46:58when I had just returned
46:59to the dragon nest.
47:01She had also clutched
47:02my sleeve this way.
47:04Sister, can I have this?
47:07I gave her everything.
47:09Later, she even wanted my life.
47:13I turned my eyes away.
47:16Do not call me sister.
47:20The dragon god raised his hand.
47:22You shall enter the lightless abyss
47:25and endure 300 years
47:27of soul-tearing punishment.
47:30The abyss opened
47:31and her cries were swallowed by darkness.
47:35Varus stood not far away.
47:38He did not save her.
47:41He looked at me,
47:42wanting to come closer
47:44but not daring to.
47:45I was not the one
47:46who brought her here.
47:49I discovered she had escaped
47:51and feared she would hurt you.
47:53I said nothing.
47:54The dragon god
47:55descended between us.
47:58You should return.
48:00But Varus' gaze
48:01still languered on me.
48:03Elana, Lucien, and Aurelia.
48:05May they see you once?
48:07I was silent for a long time.
48:10So long that the hope
48:12in his eyes dimmed
48:13little by little.
48:15In the end,
48:16I still remembered their cries
48:18when they were newborn.
48:20One last time.
48:23I met the children
48:24by the Star Sea.
48:25Lupien had grown taller,
48:27but he was so thin
48:27it pained the heart.
48:29Aurelia held the old soul crystal,
48:30its light already dim.
48:32Her eyes were red
48:32and swollen from crying.
48:34When she saw me,
48:35Aurelia ran two steps forward,
48:37then stopped abruptly.
48:38Mother.
48:38My heart still hurt.
48:40That was an instinct
48:41left by blood.
48:42But I did not open my arms.
48:45Lucien knelt in the wet sand
48:46and struck his forehead
48:48hard against the ground.
48:49I'm sorry.
48:51His voice was broken
48:52beyond recognition.
48:54I should not have rammed you,
48:55should not have cursed you,
48:56should not have told you to die.
48:59Mother, I was wrong.
49:00Hit me.
49:02Ram me once too, alright?
49:05I looked at him,
49:07the little boy
49:07who had once stood
49:08before Silvermoon Tower
49:09and kept me outside the door
49:11now welt in front of me,
49:13finally knowing pain.
49:14But his tears could not
49:15make my wounds disappear.
49:17Lucien.
49:18He immediately raised his head.
49:21I will not hit you.
49:23A faint light rose in his eyes.
49:25I said softly,
49:27but I will not go back either.
49:30Aurelia cried even harder.
49:31Why?
49:32I will be good.
49:33From now on,
49:34I will only call you mother.
49:36I will never let her hold me again.
49:38I crouched and wiped away her tears.
49:40She trembled,
49:41wanting to come close
49:42and not daring to.
49:43Aurelia,
49:44I once loved you very, very much.
49:46Choking, she asked.
49:47And now?
49:50The sea wind carried the scent of flowers
49:52from White Tower City.
49:53I looked at Aurelia,
49:55my voice very soft.
49:56Now, I must love myself first.
49:59She froze,
50:00then cried until she could barely stand.
50:03Lucien asked in a low words.
50:05Then can we still call you mother?
50:06I was silent for a moment.
50:08You may,
50:09but you must understand
50:10that a title spoken aloud
50:11cannot make the past back begin again.
50:13At last,
50:14the two children understood.
50:16Some things, once lost,
50:18cannot be asked back with tears.
50:20Vera stood very far away.
50:22He had promised not to bind me
50:24with the children anymore,
50:25so he could only watch.
50:26Watch Lucien kneeling in the sand.
50:28Watch Aure cry until her voice was hard.
50:31Watch me stand up.
50:33Alana.
50:34In the end,
50:34he still called out to me.
50:36In this life,
50:37is there anything else I can do for you?
50:39I thought for a moment,
50:40do not come looking for me.
50:42His face went white at once.
50:45Take care of them.
50:46Teach them one thing.
50:48Never treat another person's endurance
50:50as something deserved.
50:52And never let another Alana die silently in the snow.
50:56Varys lowered his head.
50:58All right.
50:58That was our final goodbye.
51:01As I turned,
51:02Aurora cried out,
51:03Mother!
51:07I paused for a moment,
51:09but I did not look back.
51:10The old world grew farther and farther away from me.
51:19When I returned to White Tower City at dawn,
51:23Adele was waiting at the infirmary entrance
51:25with a bowl of hot soup.
51:27She did not ask why my eyes were red.
51:30She only placed the soup in my hands.
51:34Drink first.
51:36Mia peeked out from behind her.
51:38Are the bad people gone?
51:41I stroked her head.
51:44They are gone.
51:46Then will you still leave?
51:49I paused.
51:51Selin stood below the steps,
51:54morning light falling on his armor.
51:56He did not hurry me,
51:57only asked softly.
52:00Home.
52:01I looked toward the infirmary.
52:02The hearth burned warmly.
52:04Herbs dried by the window.
52:05Honeybread sat on the table.
52:07Adele stood in the doorway.
52:08Mia glitched the hem of my clothes.
52:10And Selin waited quietly for my answer.
52:12This time,
52:13I did not hesitate.
52:15Home.
52:15Many years later,
52:17the people of White Tower City would still speak of a healer.
52:21She could grow silver moonflowers,
52:24gently care for children,
52:26and burn away darkness with silver-blue dragon flame.
52:29Some said she came from the sea.
52:33Some said she came from starlight.
52:36And some said she had once lost an entire world,
52:40but built a better one with her own hands.
52:43I never collected them.
52:45Sometimes I would stand by the star sea
52:48and watch the tide rise and fall.
52:51I would think of snow,
52:53of the dragon crystal floor,
52:56of the cries of my newborn children.
53:02But this time,
53:03I would hear someone call me from behind.
53:06Elana,
53:07the soup is getting cold.
53:09I turned back
53:10and saw the lights shining.
53:17I would also think of that silver-white gown,
53:21of the day I wore it and died in the snow.
53:24But those memories can no longer rule me.
53:27Now they are only ashes,
53:29and I have left the ashes behind.
53:34Adela still scolds me when I forget to eat.
53:38Mia has grown tall and brave,
53:41always saying she will become the greatest guard
53:44in White Tower City.
53:47Celan still pretends all his injuries are accidents,
53:49though I see through him every time.
53:52The bakery still saves honey cake for me.
53:55The bells of White Tower ring as usual.
54:00Every spring,
54:02the silver moonflowers I planted bloom.
54:05Their petals are pure white,
54:06and their hearts glow silver blue,
54:09like the dragon soul I finally grew again.
54:11I once thought being loved meant enduring enough pain.
54:14I once thought that if I were patient enough,
54:17I could exchange it for a home.
54:19I once gave away every warm thing in my heart
54:23until nothing was left.
54:24Only later did I understand.
54:27Love is not punishment.
54:29Family is not a debt.
54:31Children are not chains.
54:34Regret is not redemption.
54:36A woman who has already died once
54:39does not need to return to the place that killed her.
54:42My name is Elana.
54:43I was once the daughter of the true dragon.
54:46An unloved wife.
54:47A hidden mother.
54:48A corpse in the snow.
54:50But I am also the healer who woke beneath white curtains.
54:53The woman who chose where she belonged.
54:55The person who grew a warm dragon soul again.
54:59And I am the one who left the ashes behind.
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