Dragon Blossom

The finding

The hero bursts into the room, swinging open the massive door made of orichalcum and gold. The moonlight entered faintly, barely illuminating the silhouettes of objects, framing them in an ethereal aura without fully defining them.

The numerous torches ignited all at once, blinding the solitary hero who covered himself, fearing a trap set by the Dragon King. He had fought his way through with his sword and did not wish to fall victim to a vile trick, but when his eyes adjusted to the light, what he saw disconcerted him more than any trap could have.

On the Dragon King's throne, a golden chair of gigantic size, slept a little girl no older than 5 years, dressed in a small but finely cut lace dress. The hero had only seen such attire among the princesses of the greater kingdoms. Her pink hair was perfectly styled with small braids framing her chubby, rosy cheeks. She was the picture of a little princess until you noticed the tiny horns on her head and that her dress had been cut to allow for the emerging wings covered in scales of a beautiful blue with iridescent sparkles. The little one was as beautiful as she was monstrous, breathing ephemeral flames that neither harmed nor blackened her immaculate face.

"What's going on here? Where is the Dragon King?"

The little girl woke up, rubbing her eyes with tender little hands covered in white satin gloves. She looked around until she noticed the hero's presence.

"Sir," she said with a polite voice, with the typical difficulties of tender childhood, "are you the hero? Have you come to harm me?"

"I... no, I came to seek the Dragon King."

"I am the Dragon Queen, that's what the man at the door says. He says if the hero comes, he will harm me, and I must offer him half the world to save my life."

"You? And your parents?"

"I don't know, the man at the door says I came from that egg over there, and that my mommy was in this room," the hero noticed the dry bones next to the remains of a golden shell, "he always says silly things. Where is he?"

The man at the door was very likely the last dragon he had killed, who had been an old and strange man until he transformed into his giant, reptilian form. His body lay coiled in the castle courtyard.

"The man at the door has left; he says he no longer needs to take care of you..."

The girl's eyes opened wide with disbelief.

"Then..." the little one leaped from the throne with all the agility her short legs allowed, and threw herself at the hero, hugging his legs, "You are my daddy! You came back for me!"

Of course, that man probably told her that one day her father would return for her, the hero thought. But if he left something as important as his own daughter... where is he?

"No, little one, I am not your daddy, and I did not come to harm you."

"Oh, that's too bad," a tear appeared in her shining blue eyes, just before she composed herself as if by magic, "hey, do you want half the world? If I give it to you, will you take care of me? I didn't like the man at the door; he was old and rude. You are better; you are kind."

What could he do? The girl was a defenseless being, not to mention adorable, but if she truly was the Dragon King's daughter, she would eventually become the greatest threat to the peace of the world.

"So you're not interested?" the large eyes of the little princess filled with tears, "I don't want to be alone."

The hero let out a resigned sigh; he had no heart to harm her, he never would. Although he himself did not know what to do, perhaps Runaesthera would have an idea.