The next morning, he awoke to the sound of birds chirping outside the small cottage. The soft light of dawn filtered through the tiny window, casting a warm glow on the wooden walls. He felt more rested than he had in years, as if the exhaustion from his previous life had finally lifted. For a brief moment, he forgot where he was, his mind reaching for the familiar comfort of his old world.

But then the memories came flooding back—the void, the hunger, the strange woman named Elara who had told him of his rebirth. He sat up quickly, the blanket falling away as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed. He was still in the same room, the fire now nothing but embers in the hearth.

The door creaked open, and Elara stepped inside, carrying a tray with a simple breakfast of bread, cheese, and a steaming mug of something that smelled faintly of herbs. She placed it on the table beside him, her expression calm and unreadable.

“Eat,” she said simply. “You’ll need your strength.”

He looked at the food, his stomach growling in response. The hunger from the void might have been gone, but a more ordinary hunger had taken its place. He reached for the bread, taking a cautious bite. It was coarse but satisfying, the taste of something real anchoring him in this strange new reality.

As he ate, Elara watched him closely, her piercing blue eyes never leaving his face. He could feel her scrutinizing him, assessing him, and it made him uneasy.

“Where are we?” he asked between bites, needing answers to the questions that had plagued him all night.

“We are in the Dark Beast Forest,” she replied, her tone matter-of-fact. “One of the most dangerous places in this world.”

He paused, bread halfway to his mouth. “Dark Beast Forest?” The name alone was enough to send a shiver down his spine.

Elara nodded. “This forest is home to creatures that would freeze your blood with fear. Beasts of shadow and nightmare, monsters that roam in the darkness, hunting anything that crosses their path.”

“Then why are we here?” he asked, trying to keep the fear from his voice.

A shadow passed over Elara’s face, and she looked away, her gaze distant. “We are here because we were banished,” she said quietly. “Because we are not welcome anywhere else.”

“Banished?” The word echoed in his mind, heavy with meaning. “Why?”

Elara met his eyes again, her expression hardening. “Because we are half-breeds,” she said, her voice laced with bitterness. “In this world, those of mixed blood are seen as abominations, cursed beings who don’t belong. You and I… we are different, and that difference is feared and hated.”

The truth of her words hit him like a physical blow. He had been reborn, but not as a human. He was something else, something that this world despised. His hands trembled as he looked down at them, trying to see what he had become.

“What am I?” he asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Elara sighed, a sadness in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. “You are a half-dragon, half-elf,” she said. “A rare and powerful combination, but also one that is reviled by most. Your father was a dragon—a being of immense strength and vitality. Your mother was an elf, gifted with grace and magic. Together, they created you, but such a union is seen as unnatural, and those who come from it are often cast out.”

His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to process this information. Half-dragon? Half-elf? It sounded like something out of a fantasy novel, not the life he had known before. But then again, this wasn’t his old life. This was a new world, a world of swords and magic, of beasts and monsters.

“What does that mean?” he asked, his voice shaking. “What does it mean to be… half-dragon?”

“It means you are strong,” Elara said, her tone firm. “Stronger than any human could ever be. You have the vitality of a dragon, the endurance to survive where others would perish. You also have the magic of an elf, a connection to the world that few can understand. But with that power comes danger. Many will seek to use you, to exploit your abilities for their own gain.”

He swallowed hard, the reality of his situation sinking in. He had always been weak in his old life, always at the mercy of others. Now, he was being told that he had power, real power, but it came with a price.

“And because of this… we were banished?” he asked.

Elara nodded. “Yes. When you were born, the elders of the elven village where your mother lived feared what you might become. They saw you as a threat, a danger to their way of life. Your mother fought to protect you, but in the end, they gave her a choice—leave the village and never return, or see you destroyed.”

He felt a surge of anger, hot and fierce, rising in his chest. “They would have killed me?”

“They would have tried,” Elara said, her voice cold. “But your mother chose exile instead. She brought you here, to the Dark Beast Forest, where she believed you would be safe. She hoped to raise you away from the hatred of the world, to teach you how to survive in this harsh place.”

“And what happened to her?” he asked, a sinking feeling in his stomach.

Elara’s gaze softened, and she looked away, her expression pained. “She died protecting you,” she said quietly. “The forest is a dangerous place, and there are many creatures here that would prey on a child. She gave her life to keep you safe, but in the end… she couldn’t protect you from everything.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

His heart ached at her words, a deep sorrow settling over him. He didn’t remember any of this, didn’t remember his mother or the life they had lived here. But the thought of her dying to protect him filled him with a sense of loss, a grief that he hadn’t felt since his parents’ death in his previous life.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, not even sure who he was apologizing to.

Elara placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch gentle. “It wasn’t your fault,” she said softly. “Your mother loved you more than anything. She did what she had to do to keep you alive.”

He nodded, his throat too tight to speak. He had been given a second chance, a new life, but it had come at a terrible cost. His mother had sacrificed everything for him, and now he was alone in a world that hated him for what he was.

“Why are you helping me?” he asked after a moment, his voice hoarse. “If everyone hates half-breeds, why didn’t you leave me to die?”

Elara smiled faintly, though there was a sadness in her eyes. “Because I, too, am a half-breed,” she said. “I am half-elf, half-human. My mother was a human slave, taken by an elven lord. When I was born, I was treated as an outcast, a stain on their noble lineage. I know what it’s like to be hated for something you have no control over.”

He looked at her, seeing her in a new light. She had suffered just as he had, maybe even more. She had been through the same pain, the same rejection. And yet, she had survived. She had found a way to live in this harsh world, and now she was helping him do the same.

“Thank you,” he said quietly, the words inadequate but sincere.

Elara nodded, her expression softening. “You don’t need to thank me. We half-breeds must stick together if we’re to survive in this world. But you must understand—this place, this forest, it is not a place for the weak. If you are to survive here, you must learn to be strong, to fight for your life every day.”

He nodded, determination hardening in his chest. He had been weak once, but not anymore. He wouldn’t let himself be a victim again. He would learn to survive in this world, to harness the power that had been given to him. And maybe, just maybe, he would find a way to honor his mother’s sacrifice.

“What do I need to do?” he asked, his voice steady.

Elara’s eyes gleamed with approval. “First, you need to understand what you are,” she said. “You are not just human anymore. You are part dragon, and that means you have abilities that go beyond what any normal person can do.”

She reached into the folds of her dress and pulled out a small, worn book. The cover was cracked and faded, the pages yellowed with age. She handed it to him, her expression serious.

“This is a guide, written by a dragon-sage long ago,” she explained. “It contains the teachings of the dragon race, the knowledge of their powers and abilities. It will help you understand what you are capable of.”

He took the book, feeling its weight in his hands. It was old, ancient even, but there was a power in it, a sense of something vast and unknowable. He could feel it thrumming beneath his fingers, like a heartbeat.

“I’ll study it,” he promised, his voice firm.

Elara nodded. “Good. But knowledge alone won’t be enough. You’ll need to train your body as well as your mind. This forest is filled with dangers, creatures that will test your strength and resolve. You must learn to fight, to defend yourself.”

He looked around the room, realizing for the first time just how vulnerable he was. He had no weapons, no armor, nothing to protect himself with. But he wouldn’t let that stop him. He would find a way to survive, no matter what.

“I will,” he said, determination burning in his chest. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Elara smiled, a glimmer of pride in her eyes. “I believe you will,” she said softly. “You have the heart of a dragon, and the will of an elf. You are stronger than you know.”

He felt a warmth in his chest at her words, a sense of purpose beginning to take shape within him. He wasn’t just some weak, sickly human anymore. He was a half-dragon, half-elf, a being of power and strength. And he would prove that he could survive in this world, that he could thrive.

“Where do we start?” he asked, eager to begin.

Elara’s smile widened, and she gestured for him to follow her. “Come,” she said. “There is much to teach you, and little time to waste.”

He stood, the book clutched in his hands, and followed her out of the cottage. The air outside was cool and crisp, the scent of earth and leaves filling his lungs. The forest loomed around them, dark and foreboding, but he didn’t feel the fear that he had before. Instead, he felt a strange sense of belonging, as if this wild, untamed place was where he was meant to be.

Elara led him to a clearing, the ground covered in soft moss. The trees formed a protective barrier around them, their branches weaving together like a canopy. It was peaceful here, a small oasis in the midst of the dangerous forest.

“We’ll start with the basics,” Elara said, turning to face him. “Your dragon heritage gives you enhanced strength, speed, and durability, but you’ll need to learn how to control it. Without control, your power could easily overwhelm you.”

He nodded, eager to begin. He had always been weak in his previous life, his body frail and brittle. The idea of having strength, real strength, was intoxicating.

“First, focus on your breath,” Elara instructed. “Feel the power within you, the dragon’s fire that burns in your veins. It is the source of your strength, but it is also a force of destruction. You must learn to control it, to channel it.”

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He could feel it, a warmth in his chest, growing with each inhale. It wasn’t like the hunger he had felt in the void, this was something different, something that felt alive.

“Good,” Elara said, her voice soft but steady. “Now, let that fire flow through you, into your limbs, your muscles. Feel it strengthen you, harden your skin, sharpen your senses.”

He focused, imagining the warmth spreading through his body. He could feel it, a tingling sensation that started in his chest and spread outward, filling his limbs with a new vitality. His skin felt tougher, his muscles stronger, and his senses more acute. He could hear the rustle of leaves, the chirping of birds, the distant howl of a beast deep in the forest.

He opened his eyes, and everything seemed sharper, clearer. The world was more vibrant, more alive, and he felt connected to it in a way he never had before.

“This is the power of the dragon,” Elara said, watching him closely. “But remember, it is only one part of you. You must also learn to harness the magic of the elves, the connection to the world around you.”

He nodded, feeling a sense of awe at what he had just experienced. This power, this strength, it was everything he had ever wanted in his old life. But he knew that it was also dangerous, that without control, it could consume him.

“I’ll do it,” he said, his voice filled with determination. “I’ll learn to control it, to master it.”

Elara smiled, a hint of pride in her eyes. “I know you will,” she said softly. “You are stronger than you realize. But this is only the beginning. There is much more to learn, and the path ahead will not be easy.”

He looked around the clearing, at the forest that surrounded them, at the world that had become his new reality. He had been given a second chance, a new life, and he was determined to make the most of it.

“Then let’s begin,” he said, his voice steady.

And with that, his journey in this strange new world began.