“This disgusting smell...”

Spreading his red-scaled wings in opposite directions, Ember groaned heavily. His yellow eyes moved around the cavern, his intact body stretching from a long sleep. With a few more gasps, Ember sobered.

“I smell a human...how dare these pests disturb my slumber!” Ember roared in rage, sending vibrations throughout the entire cave. With his mind filled with violent intentions, Ember’s wings moved up and down.

A moment later, Ember was already flying through the space of the hollow, rising towards the only source of light, upwards. Those vile creatures dared to set foot in Ember’s land. Never would he let anyone get away with such a deed.

Hastily, Ember exited the cave and let his gaze wander over the surrounding area. The sunlight shone against his scales, prompting him to look even more subtle. Ember pupils constricted at the sight of the long-forgotten sunrise before turning explicit again.

The scent of a human was still easily detectable, and it was brisker than ever.

“Something’s wrong here...this smell is so odd” Ember’s wings moved. It was undoubtedly the reek of a human, but it was extraordinary. It almost seemed familiar to him.

As he rose high into the air, the picture of the entire island became clear. Most of the land was covered in grass and trees, leaving a few mountains in isolation. Followed by the jolt of the wind, a few waves crashed against rooted stones.

The sight was admirable, but Ember did not leave his grotto to enjoy the spectacle. He left to slaughter, tear, and destroy all the invaders. Barely a second later, Ember was flying downwards, all attainable speed.

As he neared the seashore, doubts languidly overcame Ember's mind. There was no sign of a ship anywhere in the area, and the stench was unusually peculiar. Something was not right.

Landing onto the soft sand, Ember’s wings swooped downwards. He closed his eyes and his nose twitched. In an attempt to get to the core of this trail, he subconsciously moved along the seaside. Each of his steps left a deep imprint in the sand.

“There’s a human inside this thing?” Ember’s curiosity sprang at the sight of a green sphere settling in the sand. It was translucent, but the wet dust left no openings to see what was inside.

“How interesting,” Ember said, marching on in silence. All the power he had accumulated in his mouth dissolved. Whatever was inside, it would pose no danger to Ember.

“What’s that noise?” Ember stopped only a few feet from the ball, ears pricked. A baby’s overwhelming cry resounded through the field, later drowned out by the din.

Variously, Ember splayed his claw towards the sphere, tapping lightly on the surface. This human’s defenses proved vulnerable, and the sphere burst open instantly.

Ember’s nostrils filled with the pungent smell of human flesh. But he did not move yet. The green facade remained still for a few moments before it lowered onto the sand, revealing a baby underneath.

Ember and the human baby stared at each other. Neither of them had seen such creatures before. The hatred in Ember’s mind skyrocketed, but he did not attack the human... he looked too vulnerable.

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“Hello?” Ember broke the awkward silence, not really knowing how to approach this thing. However, in response, he only heard a vexatious cry of the baby. For some reason, this noise was supremely annoying.

“Should I just kill it?” an idea crossed Ember’s mind, but he promptly cooled down. He had lived for hundreds of years, and this was the first time he had seen a human baby. Before taking any action, he should at least investigate it.

“Don’t cry, human, or I’ll kill you,” Ember said as a few sparks escaped his nostrils. He smiled at the ingenuity of his plan. Sure, anyone would be scared at the sight of two giant eyes staring at them.

Though, the baby still didn’t understand something called ‘fear’ yet, continuing to cry, even louder. Annoyed, Ember nearly let his instincts take over.

This time, Ember took a novel approach. He inspected the baby from all sides, looking for anything abnormal. Yet only the completely naked human boy and the facade of the orb darted into the picture.

“Maybe I should just go back to sleep?” Ember sighed, fed up with this creature. Killing a harmless baby was the last resort. Ember, one of the most feared dragons in the world, simply couldn’t let himself attack someone so weak. Even if it was a disgusting human, it was still too shameful.

“Listen,” Ember tried to sound as gentle as possible, even going so far as to show his fangs, “if you calm down, I’ll give you a snack.”

Hearing the monster’s words, the baby turned silent. Don’t misunderstand, he didn’t comprehend a word coming from Ember. He was simply astounded at the sight of such a scary creature trying to look dainty.

“It worked?” Ember whispered, continuing to force out a smile and looking at the baby. Of course, the silence didn’t last long, and the boy screamed out again.

This time, however, the sound filtered past Ember’s ears unhindered. Doubt, confusion, and later realization passed through Ember’s mind like a thunderclap. All the circumstantial evidence coalesced.

“Who would have thought someone from that cursed bloodline would have stayed alive,” Ember said, looking directly at the baby’s somewhat closed eyes. Albeit faint, but this boy’s eyes were assuredly red - crimson.

“How fascinating!”

Ember’s face turned solemn, despite saying such words. He looked through the perimeter and checked for any venture, ignoring the baby’s laments. For the first time since he came to this island, Ember felt danger.

An intangible threat.

“Should I flee this land? Or should I save the baby?” Ember wondered, inspecting the area repeatedly. His gaze lingered on the boy, his breathing becoming uneasy.

“Ah... Ember, you’ve been reckless all your life. Saving one poor soul wouldn’t change anything,” Ember sighed. He hated humans, but there were still a few exceptions. Puran Clan, one of the most cursed souls to ever exist on this planet, was one of a few.

“From today on, your name will be Draco. Keep it with pride.” Ember whispered, placing his claw on the boy’s forehead. Draco continued to cry, but it wasn’t sounding irritating anymore.

Instead, it grew calm.