Mornings were hazier than I thought. Before this, sleep had been a stranger that only visited once every blue moon.

Birds chirped from the outside of the barrack window, their melodies unseen in the darkness of the early morning. I groaned, sitting up from my cot and looking around at the empty beds of the barrack. The room was illuminated by one singular candle that flickered weakling on the table by the door.

My brain was foggy from the sleep that I was not used to getting. Almost like my body didn’t know how to process the extra energy that I attained. I peered around, my hands rubbing my eyes that blinked slowly in an attempt to become more alert.

Moving my legs to rest outside the cot, I sat in silence at the empty barracks, looking outside the window at the orange glow of the rising sun.

Well, it was certainly very early morning. Yet, there were signs of the others having left. Some chests were placed on beds with supplies missing and nighttime garments thrown on the floor. Was I left on accident?

Surely not. I had killed two intruders as instructed. My performance should have been satisfactory from what they believed to be a sixteen-year-old kid.

Maybe it was better this way. It left me alone with the conversation from yesterday racing through my mind.

That’s right. It hadn’t been a dream. My territory was lost, Dagon warned me to stay away, and the portal mishap was most likely under the direct orders of my father. The reason was simple to anyone familiar with the Demon King. Currently, I was a useless pawn that he could no longer use. Punishment for the useless grounded dragon.

After all, what good was a dragon that couldn’t fly?

I thought back to those last moments in front of my father in the throne room, his piercing gaze had decided to throw me away. That day, my father had thrown away his prized dragon; his son.

Perhaps, he had worked this out from the very beginning.

Harsh. But that was the way of the demonic race, even for the feared Morningstar bloodline.

Staring at the flickering flame, I felt myself consumed in these thoughts and these theories that I may never know were true. The only thing that remained certain was that I needed to survive.

Even if that was in the lands of the race I used to slaughter. I would do it. I’d manage. Somehow.

The door clicked open; a meek man dressed in servant's attire peeked his head in. His gaze widened, as he looked in to see me awake on the bed, my hazy eyes focused on him.

The servant jumped, opening the door wider and giving a slight bow. The bow was not low enough for royalty but was to match the respect given to guards. It was human castle etiquette that I had read in the rule book.

I gave a nod in acknowledgment, my voice groggy from having just woken up, "No need for that."

Why would I care when I was no longer considered royalty anyway?

The servant collects himself, standing tall,” Guard Asta, I was to inform you that you have been given the day off. You are free to leave the castle if you so choose. However, you must not…”

I cut him off.

“Section 2, Article 18. A guard off-duty is to represent the legacy of the Trane Royal Family. This insurance includes the banning of alcohol. Yes, do not worry. I’m underage anyway.” I sighed, sliding off the bed, and stretching.

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I yawned, looking at the servant, who seemed to be awkwardly standing, “Say, are guards allowed to wander outside the kingdom?”

This question caught the servant off-guard, he seemed to hesitate, putting a hand to his chin.

“…Yes. As long as you return before sunrise.”

Perfect.

“I’ll do that. Tell Eran or Serlon that I’ll be back before sunrise tomorrow morning.” I instructed the servant and crouched down to grab a change of clothes from the chest.

“Yes, Guard Asta.” The servant bowed before closing the door behind himself.

Reaching down to the bottom of the bin, I grabbed a blackened hood, throwing it on top of the bed while I changed into new clothes. Compared to the blackened attire that I wore before; I dawned navy long-sleeved undershirt and simple black trousers. I pulled the blackened hood over my head, not wanting to waste any more time.

I wouldn’t question the day off, as it worked out in my favor. There was no doubt that it was from pity. Pity for the young guard that had killed two people yesterday, that’s probably why.

Oh, woe is it for the young lad that had slain! Or something like that.

If I had looked shocked yesterday, it defiantly wasn’t from the killings. Besides, I didn’t care about pity, not when it benefited me.

My body ached, not from the events of yesterday, but from the strain of the human body that I tried hard to maintain.

Therefore, this opportunity had come perfectly. And I was not one to look a gifted horse in the mouth.

There had been thick woods outside of the kingdom. If I could get there, the ache of this form would be relieved, and I would be able to use the rest of the time to catch up on my mana; hidden in the thick shrubs of the woods.

Without waiting around, I ventured outside the guard cabins, opening a door to the main entrance hall of the estate. Even in the early morning, the space was busy with servants and cooks wandering around carrying food.

A few of them glanced over at my hooded self, exhaling when they saw the crest that had been sewn into the sleeve of the undershirt. Paying no mind, I strolled past them, towards the arched doors of the front of the estate.

Lars and Daniel were the guards placed in front of the estate’s doors, spotting me as soon as I pushed through.

“Morning Rookie,” The one twin, Lars, greeted.

“You slept like a rock,” Daniel added, not peeling his eyes from the front.

A professional, really.

I took a second to greet the two, identical humans, who looked like they wanted to pass out from exhaustion.

How long had they been up?

Lars adjusted a strap on his belt, taking in my hooded appearance, “Are you heading to rob a teller or something?”

Daniel chuckled.

“I may be young, but I’m not that dumb,” I scoffed, rolling my eyes at the two amused humans.

First off, I didn’t know what a teller was. Second, I was older than I looked. Literally. Maybe even more so now.

“I’ll be back before sunrise,” I explained, not bothering to even wave goodbye as I walked away from the two.

Daniel waved, calling out, “Don’t get into trouble, rookie!” I hope not.

I held my hand up, before continuing towards the gates. The gate controller nodded, as he moved to open them. They closed behind me, leaving me to the waking streets of the kingdom people. Trane appeared to be similar to the small town, shops had their lights turned on with the owners inside prepping the store.

Still, I had no time to be curious. I needed to find a way out of the kingdom. Just for the day. The longer I relaxed my form, the less strain my body would endure, and the more mana that I could recover.

I adjusted my hood over my head, as I walked down the nearly vacant walk of the street. Of the people I passed, most ignored me. Instead, they continued down their way, looking as tired as the next person. From what I remembered, the gates for the kingdom were located not far from the estate location. Traveling from the middle of the kingdom to the outskirts would not take too long.

I took my time to stroll through the kingdom, making notes of the several armories, magic teaching buildings, and various schools. Humans were much more advanced than I remembered. After all, it had been a hundred years since I had been awake. Although that time difference did not necessarily mean much to a dragon, to humans – it was a lifetime. A lot could change in a lifetime and change it did.

Theoretically, I should not be upset at the lost time. Dragons were known to live thousands or hundreds of thousands of years. What was one hundred years? That’s what I should be rationalizing.

But as I shuffle through the empty streets, glancing at the advancements of the human race, I can’t help but feel disappointment as a general. These schools, weapons, magic – they were aspects that spelled disadvantage towards the forces that I used to lead. The forces that were no longer alive.

Ah.

Moreover, I can’t confidently say that it has sunk in. I may not be human, but I still was a living being too. The feared dragon of the demon king and I was reduced to such a pathetic state.

It was a tough truth to swallow. Would I overcome it with some more time? Yes. But for right now… no.

Soldiers lined the entrance of the gate, their eyes immediately zeroing in on the hooded figure that bounded closer to the exit of the kingdom. Dressed in heavy steel armor, they stood in position, another with a golden sash marching up to me.

“State your business, traveler!” His voice boomed, holding authority. Surely, any normal person would have felt meek in his presence.

In my eyes, he was an ant.

I sighed, pulling out the identification card that I had gotten with Jamie. I held it out for the guard, whose eyes scanned it, then glanced back at me.

“I’m an imperial guard that wants to explore outside the kingdom for the day,” I explained, pulling back the hood to expose the crest sewn into my undershirt.

The guard’s eyes widened, his body slightly bowing in respect.

Imperial guards seemed to have some pull in the kingdom. So, it appeared.

“Understood, sir! We’ll open the gates right away!” He bowed one last time, before hurriedly rushing back to instruct the guards at the gate.

I waited, watching as the large gates opened. The scent of metal filled the air, as the screws of the gate creaked open with great force, till finally a click as they opened fully.

Strolling past the armored guards, I nodded to the guard that I had talked to, walking past the gates and into the territory beyond.

A yell sounded once I was fully outside, staring at the rows of trees in the distance.

“Closing the gates!” Several guards yelled, as the gates shut behind me.

I sighed, walking ahead, up the pathway leading towards the mountains ahead. Up the mountains. To the forest. I would be able to rest my body, even if it was just for one day.

Perhaps, this break was exactly what I needed.