The night was calm and bitterly cold, with the wind howling softly through the trees surrounding Mertha’s small house. The wooden structure stood at the edge of the forest, a humble cabin with a sloped roof covered in snow, its windows glowing faintly from the fire within. Outside, the world was bathed in a pale blue light, the moon hanging heavy in the sky, casting long shadows on the untouched snow that stretched out for miles.

Inside the cabin, Xyenn lay on a bed that was far too small for his large frame. His body was half off the mattress, one leg dangling precariously over the edge, and his arm thrown lazily across his face. He snored loudly, his mouth open, drool threatening to escape the corner of his lips. Every now and then, he would shift slightly, mumbling something incoherent, lost in a deep, food-induced slumber.

Across the room, Mertha was curled up in an oversized chair, her large form spilling over the sides. She was fast asleep, her head tilted back, her mouth slightly ajar. She was muttering in her sleep, her voice low but clear in the quiet of the cabin.

"Get out of my pub, you scumbag," she grumbled, her hands twitching as if she were gripping the handle of her hammer. "No one messes with Big Mertha... I'll throw you out myself... right through the window if I have to..."

She shifted in her chair, her face contorting into an expression of righteous anger. "I swear, if one more idiot orders a drink without paying, I'll—"

Her voice trailed off into a soft snore, her body relaxing back into the chair.

Outside, standing alone under the vast, moonlit sky, Yuuna stared up at the stars with a thoughtful, distant gaze. The wind played with her dark hair, swirling it around her face as her cloak flapped behind her in the cold breeze. She was still, her arms crossed over her chest, but there was a tension in her body—a restlessness that the biting cold couldn’t touch.

Far off in the distance, beyond the snow-covered hills, she could see the faint, ghostly forms of ice covered antelopes with bluish white horns, moving gracefully across the tundra. They were creatures of legend, rarely seen by human eyes, their bodies translucent and shimmering like crystals in the moonlight. Some floated in the sky, drifting like snowflakes on the wind, while others moved along the ground with ethereal grace. Their forms were ever-changing, shifting between humanoid and animalistic shapes—Frostwraiths, as they were known in the old tongue, spirits born from the ancient magic of the frozen lands.

Yuuna watched them for a moment, her thoughts miles away. The Frostwraiths were a reminder of the world she lived in—a world filled with magic, but also with loneliness. She closed her eyes, her fists clenching at her sides as memories began to flood her mind.

She remembered the battle. The moment when she and Xyenn had fought against Deathitself. She had been so drained, her power nearly gone, her body on the verge of collapse. She had felt the cold grip of mortality for the first time in centuries, and she had been ready to face it. But Xyenn hadn’t let her fall. He had fought, even with barely a fraction of her power left in him, and in his wild, reckless way, he had refused to let her die.

"I won't let you die."

His words echoed in her mind, and her chest tightened. How could a human like him—someone who had been born with no power, who had been used and discarded by the world—still find the strength to fight for someone else? They were so alike, and yet so different. She, a draconic demonic goddess of darkness, had been hunted for as long as she could remember. The other draconic deities wanted her heart. And Xyenn, powerless from birth, had been beaten down by life, his hatred for the gods burning as fiercely as her own.

Her eyes flickered with anger, not at him, but at herself. A deep, gnawing rage that she couldn't shake. Romance between draconic deities and humans was forbidden—cursed. She knew the risks, knew the consequences, and it only made her hate herself more. She was drawn to him, despite everything. Despite knowing that she was putting him in danger just by being near him. Even if she just met him, she hadn’t met anyone like him for years.

Her voice was barely a whisper as she spoke to the empty night. "Mother. I can’t keep doing this. I’m a murderer. I’ve killed so many... all those humans who made contracts with me. They thought I could give them power... but in the end, I just used them. I made them my weapons, my shields, and every single one of them died because of me. Fucking dead..”

She clenched her fists tighter, her nails digging into her palms. "I’m a failure, mother. I’ve taken so many lives, and for what? To survive a little longer? To keep running from the gods who want to tear my heart out?"

Her breath came out in a sharp exhale, visible in the cold air. "I don’t want Xyenn to die. But I know..I feel like he will. The way he’s so determined, it’s too good to be true. They all do. And it’ll be my fault. Just like it always is."

Her voice trembled, though she fought to keep it steady. "I’ve thought about ending it myself. Ending this cycle. So I can stop hurting people. But now… now I can’t stop thinking that maybe this time it’ll be different. Maybe if I’m with him, I can grow. Maybe I can change."

She closed her eyes, her voice barely audible over the wind. "I’m tired of being alone."

Unbeknownst to her, Xyenn had woken up inside the cabin, his senses alert despite his groggy state. He had heard her voice through a small crack in the wooden wall, and though he hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, he found himself wiping his tired eyes and listening to every word in stunned silence. He just listened, his heart beating a little faster at the raw emotion in her voice.

Suddenly, Yuuna vanished, her form disappearing so quickly that Xyenn barely had time to react. His eyes widened, and before he could move, she was behind him, her voice cutting through the silence like a knife.

"Are you stalking me?"

Xyenn jumped, his heart pounding in his chest. Without thinking, he threw himself back onto the bed and immediately started snoring loudly, pretending to be asleep. His exaggerated snores filled the room, but they did little to hide the flush of embarrassment creeping up his neck.

‘Damn she’s fast!’

Yuuna tilted her head, her eyes narrowing in amusement. Slowly, she began to crawl onto the bed, her movements deliberate and sensual as she let her dragon senses take over. She leaned close, her nose brushing his neck as she sniffed him, her breath hot against his skin.

Xyenn’s body went rigid, his heart racing as he tried to maintain his façade. But the heat of her breath, the closeness of her body, the way she moved over him—it was too much. Her hand rubbed upwards on his chest, still softly smelling him. Xyenn gritted his teeth, trying to hold it together, but his mind was spinning. He had never been this close to anyone, let alone a draconic goddess, and his body betrayed him. Yuuna’s leg and thigh crossed over his body, brushing against him as well, as she let out a small draconic growl, grinning.

With a flustered gesture, he jumped up, unable to take the tension any longer. “I’m awake!"

‘Did she feel it?! I hope not!’’ Xyenn thought with a panicked look.

Yuuna burst into laughter, pointing at him with a wicked grin. "Hahaha! I knew it! I got you! I knew you were awake! Stalking pervert!”

"Obviously! And I’m not a damn stalker, psycho!" Xyenn shot back, his face still flushed as he tried to regain his composure. “And you’re the pervert! All up on me like that!”

Yuuna shook her head, a smirk playing on her lips. "Get your sleep, you’ll need it, darling."

As she turned to leave, Xyenn instinctively **reached out** and grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. The touch surprised her, and she froze, her back still turned to him. For a moment, neither of them moved, the air between them thick with unspoken tension.

Yuuna slowly turned her head, her dragon-like eyes glinting in the faint light. "What is it?"

Xyenn didn’t release her wrist. He looked at her, the moonlight casting a soft glow on both their faces, illuminating the sharp angles of her features and the intensity in his eyes. "I just… wanted to say thank you."

Yuuna blinked, genuinely taken aback. "Thanks? For what?"

Xyenn met her gaze, his voice steady but filled with something deeper. "For giving me power. I know I could die the next time we fight one of those draconic deities, but… when I first felt what power was like, I felt immortal. I felt great. It reminded me of a time when I wasn’t… alone. When I was a kid, before my parents died. I haven’t felt that way in a long time. But being around you, having your power… I don’t feel as alone anymore."

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

There was a vulnerability in his words that Yuuna hadn’t expected, and it made her chest tighten. She swallowed, her voice softer now. "Even though you know the risks… you’re not afraid of death?"

Xyenn shrugged, his grip on her wrist loosening but not letting go. "No. I mean, I don’t wanna die now, but… I still wanna feel important a little longer. And killing a few gods who abandoned me and my parents? Yeah, that sounds good."

Yuuna’s lips curled into a malicious smile, her eyes gleaming in the moonlight. "Then we’ll both have our fill, darling. I have a hit list of draconic deities we need to hunt down and kill. And our first target is right here, on this continent! It’s perfect.” Yuuna rubbed her hands together with the grin of an evil villain.

Xyenn’s eyes lit up with excitement, his voice filled with anticipation. "Here in Vördrheim?"

Yuuna nodded, her smile widening. "Yes. The Draconic Deity of Snow, Kragvyr. He’s here, and he has a vessel in this kingdom. The King of Vördrheim."

Xyenn’s brow furrowed as he let go of her wrist. "Who’s the king?"

Yuuna’s eyes darkened, her voice low and dangerous. "His name is King Haldrek Frosthewn. And in order to kill Kragvyr, we’ll need to kill him first. He’s a crazy religious heretic who’s obsessed with keeping the word of Kragvyr. Being his vessel, it’s understandable, but he takes it wayyyyy too far.”

The wind howled outside, and the moonlight cast long shadows across the room, the weight of their words hanging in the air.

Xyenn sat on the edge of his too-small bed, his legs dangling over the side, still feeling the lingering warmth of Yuuna’s wrist in his hand. The moonlight streamed in through the small window, casting long shadows on the floor, giving the room an almost ethereal, dreamlike quality.

Yuuna stood by the door, her back to Xyenn, but he could sense the shift in her demeanor. She seemed lighter, more at ease, the tension that had gripped her earlier now replaced with something else—something almost... manic.

"Hey," Xyenn called out, breaking the silence as he scratched the back of his head, "I’ve been meaning to ask… all this talk about killing draconic deities, and these gods that rule over the land—how does it all work? The magic, the kingdoms, the gods, everything. I know I’m kind of new to this whole ‘cosmic hierarchy’ thing, but I feel like I need to understand it if we’re going to go around killing gods."

“Hmmmm. Why ask all of a sudden?”

“Cause’ all of this happened all of sudden. In the blink of an eye my life changed. There’s only so much I know, since I’ve been asleep I’ve had dreams of a bunch of dragons fighting each other. I wanna understand it all.”

Yuuna turned slowly, her eyes gleaming in the moonlight. Her lips curled into a wide grin, her sharp teeth just barely visible, giving her an almost predatory look. "Fine. You want to know about the draconix gods and their little games?" Her voice was dripping with amusement, but there was an edge to it—like she was savoring the chance to explain something that made her blood boil and bubble with excitement.

She crossed the room in a few swift steps and sat down on the bed next to him, her eyes alight with a wild enthusiasm. "Alright, alright," she began, her fingers tapping against her knee with a manic energy, "let me break it down for you, darling. But not too much, I’m too tired to explain it all. And plus, if I were to explain everything, it would take me an entire year to lore dump you.”

She leaned in closer, her voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper, though her excitement made it impossible to contain. "Every kingdom, every realm in Kyrrin, is aligned with a specific draconic god—or sometimes a whole pantheon of them. These gods? The more followers they have, the more powerful they become. So, they lavish their chosen lands with all sorts of gifts—fertile crops, military strength, even control over the elements. Think about it—one kingdom might have the best warriors in the world, while another has crops that never fail, no matter the season. It’s all because of the gods they worship."

Xyenn blinked. "So, worship equals power?"

"Yes," Yuuna said, her voice taking on an almost sing-song quality, "but it’s not just power for the mortals. The gods get power from it too. The more devotion they receive, the stronger their connection to the mortal world becomes. And trust me," she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a near whisper, "they’re addicted to it. They crave it. Worship is like a drug to them, and they’ll do anything to keep their followers hooked. But you know that they die without the worship anyway. They’ll do anything to command it. Even if it means going to genocidal terms. The bastards..”

Xyenn whistled softly. "That’s... brutal."

Yuuna let out a sharp laugh. "Brutal? That’s an understatement. It’s manipulation on a cosmic scale. The gods pretend they’re doing it out of benevolence, but really, it’s all just a way to keep control. They make sure you know that without them, you’re nothing. And the mortals? They fall in line, every time. Well, sometimes. Then those gods die and then boom! Reborn!”

She stood up, pacing now, her excitement palpable. "And the magic? Oh, the magic! That’s where it gets really interesting." She spun on her heel to face him, her eyes wide with an almost manic energy. "Magic in Kyrrin isn’t just some arcane force that people pull out of thin air. No, no, no. It’s much more primal than that. Magic is the breath of the dragons. The lingering essence of the Primordials. Draconic mana. The magic you begged the gods for.”

Xyenn leaned forward, intrigued. "The Primordials?"

Yuuna nodded, her grin growing wider. "Yes, the First Beings. When the First Dragon died, its essence didn’t just fade away. It fractured, split into the gods themselves. They’re all pieces of the First Dragon, each one representing a fragment of its power. But the breath—that raw, primordial energy—it still flows through the world. It’s in the air we breathe, in the ground we walk on. It’s the source of all magic.”

Xyenn’s eyes widened. "Oh yeah, I knew that.”

‘I didn’t know ALL of that, I knew power came from the dragons, but not in that way.’

"Exactly!" Yuuna said, clapping her hands together with a manic glee. "It’s all tied to the divine order and the natural world. When people use magic, they’re tapping into the remnants of that dragon’s breath. But it’s not just a tool to be wielded like a sword or a hammer. Magic is alive. It has its own will, its own desires. It’s tied to the gods and the land, and it must be respected—. That’s the law of the First Dragon. A Law we even have to abide by.”

Yuuna said, her voice practically vibrating with excitement. "And that’s not even the worst part. Every miracle, every blessing, every little bit of divine magic comes with a price. The gods don’t just hand out power for free. They demand something in return—sacrifices. Time, devotion, sometimes even life force. If a cleric wants to cast a powerful spell, they might have to offer up something precious—a beloved animal, a child, or even their own life. It’s all about balance. The gods give, but they also take. And if you don’t give them what they want? Well… let’s just say they can be very creative in how they punish disobedience.”

“And those fuckers use that to demand more worship so they don’t die and get reborn? Makes me sick.”

‘Yeah, now they really have to go. I knew they were crazy, but not that crazy. People are worse off than me, and here I was thinking I was the most cursed 19 year old in this forsaken world.’

Xyenn sat back, his mind spinning with everything she was telling him. "So, the gods are basically holding everyone hostage with their power. Worship me, or everything you love gets destroyed."

"Yep!" Yuuna said, her face lighting up with a manic grin. "It’s a finely-tuned system of control, and the gods are masters at it. They keep the mortals desperate, always needing more, always afraid of losing the blessings they’ve been given. It’s a game, and the mortals are nothing but pawns. They want to live, afraid of death. Imagine building up good memories with your people that worship you, then

She took a deep breath, her energy still palpable as she continued. "And you know what’s even more fun? The weather? The seasons? All of it is in sync with the miracles the draconic deities perform. Every gust of wind, every storm, every drought—it’s all tied to the whims of the gods. They control the elements, and they use it to remind everyone who’s really in charge. If a kingdom pleases their god, they might get warm summers, gentle rains, and bountiful harvests.”

Xyenn shook his head in disbelief. “The gods literally control everything. The land, the weather, the magic… all of it."

"Yes," Yuuna said, her voice now a soft, almost melodic whisper. "And that’s why we’re going to tear them down. Bite their heads off and devour them One by one."

“Also!” Xyenn just remembered something.

“What is it?”

“Since you’re different from all the other draconic deities, what happens to them after you devour them? After we kill them?”

“With my devourer's heart, it eats anything. Once they die, after I devour them, it devours their entire being. They won’t be coming back, no rebirth for them.”

“Why is that—?!”

“Ooooookey! Enough lore dump!” She turned toward the door, her hand resting on the wooden frame, but before she left, she glanced back at him, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Get some sleep, darling. You’ll need it."

Xyenn blinked, still processing everything she had just told him. "Wait, we're just going to bed after all that? You can’t just drop a whole world-shattering explanation of magic and gods and then—"

But Yuuna was already opening the door, her grin widening. "Goodnight, Xyenn," she sang playfully, and before he could protest further, she shut the door with a soft click, leaving him alone in the dimly lit cabin.

Xyenn stared at the closed door for a moment, then let out a long, slow breath. His mind was spinning, trying to piece everything together. The gods, the magic, the constant competition—it was all so far beyond anything he had ever imagined. But one thing was clear: the world was a far more dangerous and complicated place than he had realized.

He lay back on the bed, staring up at the wooden beams of the ceiling. His thoughts kept drifting back to Yuuna’s words, the way her eyes had gleamed with excitement as she spoke. There was something about her—something wild and untamed, like the magic she had described. And despite everything, despite the danger that lay ahead, he couldn’t help but feel a thrill of anticipation.

‘Will I survive this?’

The morning sun peeked through the frost-covered windows of Mertha’s small house, casting a soft glow over the snow-covered landscape outside. Inside, the warmth of the fire still lingered from the night before, but the house was otherwise quiet. Xyenn was fast asleep, sprawled across the bed, his blankets tangled around him in a mess of restless tossing. Dark circles hung under his eyes, a clear sign of his troubled sleep, no doubt plagued by the lingering thoughts of the previous night.

Suddenly, the door to his room burst open with a loud crash, the wooden hinges groaning in protest. Mertha’s booming voice filled the small space.

“Wakey wakey!”

Xyenn shot up like he’d been struck by lightning, his eyes wide with panic, his heart racing in his chest. "AGH!" he screamed, clutching the blanket to his chest like a shield as he stared at Mertha with sheer terror. "What do you want?!"

Mertha stood in the doorway, grinning like a predator about to pounce on its prey. Her massive frame blocked most of the light coming in from the hall, her presence almost suffocating. She smashed her fists together with a loud crack, her grin widening as she darted forward with surprising speed.

Before Xyenn could react, Mertha's fist connected with his face in a single, brutal punch. The impact sent him flying through the wall of the cabin with a splintering crash, his body careening into the snow outside. The cold hit him all at once as he lay there, dazed, blood trickling from a gash on his forehead.

He groaned, struggling to his feet, his vision swimming slightly as he held a hand to his head. "What’s your issue?!" he shouted through gritted teeth, wiping the blood from his eyes. "Where’s Yuuna? You waited until she left to become a traitor?”

Mertha stood in the hole she had just made, chuckling to herself as she dusted off her hands, clearly proud of her handiwork. "Yuuna told me to get you in shape before she comes back," she said, her voice filled with amusement. "In order to survive in a world of gods and vessels, you need to be able to kill even if she isn’t around. I’m gonna make a warrior outta you, brat!"

Xyenn scowled, his fists clenching as he stood up fully, shaking off the snow. "Where is Yuuna?" he demanded again, a hint of desperation creeping into his voice.

Mertha crossed her arms, her grin never faltering. "You pass each step of your training, and I’ll answer all your questions," she promised.

Xyenn’s eyes narrowed at the challenge, his teeth grinding together as his frustration grew. His fists tightened, the air around him shifting as he focused. "This really isn’t a fair fight, you know," he growled. "I’m super duper strong when I’m merged with Yuuna."

Mertha laughed, her voice booming across the snowy yard. "Damn right you are. If you were merged with Yuuna, I wouldn’t stand a chance." She took a step forward, her massive form casting a long shadow over Xyenn. "But ya gonna stop making excuses now, or are you gonna attack—"

Before she could finish her sentence, FWOOSH!

In the blink of an eye, Xyenn moved, his pupils thinning into slits as he dashed forward with a speed that caught even Mertha off guard.

Mertha’s grin faltered slightly as she raised her arm to block the incoming punch, but just as his fist was about to connect, Xyenn vanished. Her eyes widened in surprise as she felt the air shift behind her.

"What the—"

**WHAM!**

Xyenn appeared behind her in a flash, twisting mid-air and delivering a brutal sideways roundhouse kick to the side of her face. The impact was loud, a shockwave exploding from the point of contact and sending the snow around them flying in all directions, leaving a crater in the ground beneath their feet.

But Mertha didn’t budge.

Xyenn landed gracefully, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at her. "What the hell...?!"

Mertha slowly turned her head, her grin returning as she brought a hand up to her ear, wiping away a small trickle of blood. "You hit me good," she said, her voice filled with excitement. Her eyes gleamed with a wild, almost predatory look. "Let’s keep going!"

Xyenn gritted his teeth, his heart pounding in his chest as he prepared for whatever came next. He could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins, but for the first time, he realized just how much further he had to go if he was going to survive in this world of gods, vessels, and impossible power.