Winter stood in the shadowed alley, his impatience evident as he waited for Yul who had called him requesting that they meet up. Yul had been fed up with Winter's recent behaviour. He doesn't return calls, replies messages or even attend meetings. If there was something Yul hated so much, it was being taken for granted and that was Winter was doing with his recent conduct.Yul approached with a determined look on his face. He was ready to bash Winter and to tell him that he was no longer part of the group since his loyalty was no longer to the group but to himself."Winter," Yul began, his voice steady but laced with frustration, "we need to talk. You've been ignoring our mission, abandoning the group. What happened to our plan to take down the Serpens? This wasn't the initial plan. You've become insensitive and disloyal to us."Winter's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint appearing in their depths. He remained silent, letting Yul's words hang in the air. The tension grew palpable, and
Xin who had always been plagued by her nightmares, started having them once again. The nightmares had actually started when she was a kid but old man Xue, decided to suppress them using a powerful serum which he stumbled upon during his days of adventures.It was during those adventures that he met a strange lady who told him that his only daughter would give birth to a child, a powerful daughter who will play a major role in restoring peace and balance to the world.On the day that Xin was born, it had rained heavily with flashes of lighting and ferocious roaring thunder. It was a time that Old man Xue would never forget in a hurry. Not because, a new member was added to his family, but because it was the day he lost his only daughter Nana.When Xin began to grow up and the nightmares began to come, he went back to the woman who had told him the prophecy about his granddaughter to help him put an end to it. The woman gave him a special serum but told him a time will come when the ser
Professor Layton's hands trembled slightly as he picked up the phone and dialed Serpens's number. After finding out that there was still a way to help Serpens in fulfilling his mission, a wave of relief had washed over him.He couldn't afford to waste any more time. As the phone rang, he anxiously tapped his fingers on the edge of his desk, glancing at the ancient book now lying open before him.Finally, the call connected. "Hello?" Serpens's voice came through, tired but alert."Serpens, it's Professor Layton," Professor Layton began, his voice filled with urgency. "I’ve found something—something incredibly important. It could be our way of finding the draconic gem before the solstice even without the map and the compass."Serpens's tone shifted immediately, sensing the gravity of the call. "What is it, Professor?""I've been going through my old books, searching for anything that might help us," Professor Layton explained, his words coming out in a rush. "I found an ancient text tha
The sky was overcast, reflecting the somber mood of the small gathering at the cemetery. Friends and family of Yul had come to mourn. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the nearby trees, adding a soft, mournful sound to the quiet scene.It was a very sad sight to behold as everyone came dressed in black, a reflection of the sadness that the moment had cast upon everyone.Jack, Yul's father, wore a somber expression. Even if he made it appear to everyone that Yul had been a coward and had taken his own life, he still felt the pain of having lost a son.Among the mourners was Tiara. She stood by the freshly dug grave, her eyes red from crying, a deep sorrow etched across her face. Beside her was Cheong, who tried to comfort her, though he himself was clearly struggling with the weight of the loss.As the ceremony continued, Serpens quietly stood quietly at a spot where no one could see him. He felt a knot of guilt and sadness in his chest, knowing that Yul's death was a tragedy that
Serpens arrived home, feeling the weight of the day’s events pressing down on him. The words of Cheong still echoed in his ears - "You were a part of the chaos." He just couldn't understand why Cheong would say such a thing to him. Stepping down from his bike, he made his way towards the door.As he opened the door, he was greeted by the sight of Lan who had been waiting for him for almost an hour. However, he was surprised to see her and his sister pulling along very well like they've always known each other.“Hey,” Lan said softly, standing up from the couch. “Hey,” Serpens replied, walking over to her and greeting her with a warm kiss. "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting for so long," He went further to apologize.“Its okay," Lan said, wearing a warm smile. "How have you been?" She asked."I'm good," Serpens replied. "And you? How have you been?" "Good too. Just that, I’ve missed you,” she admitted, her eyes full of affection as they settled back onto the couch.“Same here,” Serp
As Serpens lay in bed that night, he couldn't shake off the question which Serena had asked him. Their parents had died when they were still kids. He was just six years old at that time and Serena was just three years old.Though he couldn't really remember everything that had happened, he could still remember some police officers coming to their house to break the news to Grandma Suki.Someone had assassinated his parents. Someone who had always envied his father but that was all he could remember. While he was still in deep thoughts, his phone buzzed and it was a call from Lan. He had forgotten to call her after promising he'd do so."I've been waiting for your call," Lan began, after he picked up the phone to answer the call."Sorry, I forgot." Serpens apologized. "I was talking to Serena and I lost track of time. I'm really sorry.""It's fine. I just thought of reminding you that I'm home. I got home about thirty minutes ago." Lan said. "Extend my warmest regards to Serena. I rea
The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the neighborhood as Serena made her way to the assisted living facility where she had decided to visit for her voluntary project work.The whole purpose of the project was to visit the elderly people who had lived in Draketown for at least fifty years and most preferably those who were born there to gather enough information regarding the current deaths in Draketown for the school's end of year magazine publication.As she walked into the facility’s courtyard, she noticed old man Xue sitting alone on a bench, enjoying the fresh air. His silver hair gleamed in the sunlight, and he seemed lost in thought. Serena approached him with a friendly smile.“Good afternoon,” she said softly. “Do you mind if I join you for a moment?”Old man Xue looked up, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. “Not at all, young lady. Please, have a seat.”Serena sat down beside him, taking in the peaceful surroundings. “My name’s Serena. I’m on a school's project assign
Serena couldn't hide the pride that surged through her after her meeting with old man Xue. She had always known that there was something special about her grandmother but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.She was still on her way going home when she heard someone call out to her. Turning around, she saw Cheong. She recognised him as one of the guys who had picked on her then."What do you want?" She sneered at him."I've come to apologize for what happened the other time. I didn't mean to pick on you. I know what I did was wrong." Cheong said, feigning remorse. "I'd really want us to start on a much better ground."Serena looked at him, a feeling of suspicion washing over her. She could feel that there was something quite strange in Cheong's sudden appearance to apologize to her. It's been over two months they picked on her making her wonder why he had only decided to apologize now."Tell me why I should trust you. What exactly do you want from me?" Serena asked, her anger risi
The priest stood solemnly at the edge of the grave, his weathered hands clasped around a simple wooden cross. His voice, steady and calm, reverberated through the air as he spoke the final prayers, his eyes reflecting the sorrow of the moment. The soft rustle of leaves was the only sound as Rose was laid to rest, the earth slowly covering her.Serpens stood nearby, tears silently welling up in his eyes, his heart heavy with grief. As the ceremony ended, people began to approach him one by one. Xin placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, his face solemn. Lan, always reserved, offered a quiet nod of respect. Serena’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she whispered her condolences. Dr. Sun, with a grave expression, grasped Serpens' hand in solidarity, while Inspector Lui, ever the stoic, simply said, "I'm sorry." Finally, Tiara approached, her eyes filled with understanding and empathy, and she gave him a brief, supportive hug.After everything was said and done, as the crowd disper
In an instant, Rose disappeared into the portal, her figure merging with the energy of the Dragon Stone. There was a flash of blinding light, and the portal sealed shut, its power absorbed into Rose’s being. The energy of the Dragon Stone flowed through her, and the stone itself crumbled to dust, its dark power dissipating into the air.Serpens and Xin watched in awe, their hearts heavy with the sacrifice that had just been made. Rose had given herself to save the world, her courage and selflessness breaking the cycle of darkness that had threatened to engulf them all.For a moment, all was quiet, and then, from the stillness, a gentle breeze began to blow, carrying with it the promise of a new dawn."No!" Serpens cried as he rushed towards her. Rose fell on his arms, her form as cold as ice. "Don't leave me, Rose," Serpens cried. "Please come back," The strange lady spoke, "This was bound to happen, greet dragon. She's your fourth sage, the one who would help you win the war agains
Serpens struggled to his feet, his heart pounding with fear and frustration. Winter was too strong, even with the combined might of the dragon lords. They couldn’t overpower him—not like this. But what frightened him more was the sight of Xin, now standing on the rock, her hand trembling as she raised the dragon stone toward the point where the sunlight met the sea."No!" Serpens cried out, his voice breaking with the weight of his despair. But his words fell on deaf ears. Xin, lost in Winter’s spell, placed the stone on the rock. The moment the stone touched the surface, the sunlight intensified, its beams converging on the stone and then spreading outwards, enveloping Bahamut in a blinding light.The light was quickly swallowed by a sudden darkness, a pitch-black void that seemed to emanate from Bahamut himself. The last chain around the dragon’s neck glowed fiercely for a brief moment before shattering into a thousand pieces. The sound of the chain breaking echoed like thunder acro
The Third World Sea stretched endlessly before Serpens, a vast expanse of shimmering waters that reflected the dark, starless sky above. The air was thick with a mystical energy, a sensation both familiar and foreign, tugging at the edges of his consciousness. As he stood on the shore, the quiet lapping of waves against the rocks was the only sound, but Serpens could feel the presence of something ancient and powerful nearby.From the depths of the sea, a massive form began to rise, the water cascading off its scales like liquid silver. Doromu emerged with a grace that belied his immense size. His golden eyes, warm and wise, fixed upon Serpens with a gaze that seemed to peer into the very depths of his soul. The dragon’s scales shimmered with a soft, radiant light, contrasting the dark waters around him."Welcome, Serpens," Doromu said, his voice deep and resonant, echoing across the stillness of the sea. He lowered his head in a deep, respectful bow. "Great Dragon, it is an honour to
The uproar in Draketwon that night increased people ran to find safety from the threats of the dragons which descended upon the city like a flock of birds.It wasn't long after that the armed forces of Draketwon set into action. Helicopters, their blades slicing through the night air, emerged from the darkness. It was a show down of the humans versus the dragons, as fire bathed the entire city like a flood.The roar of the engines filled the cockpit as Captain Marcus Rourke, the seasoned leader of the air force squadron, adjusted his headset. His eyes were steely, focused on the horizon where plumes of smoke rose from the city below. The once-vibrant metropolis was now a war zone, engulfed in chaos as dragons soared through the sky, their fiery breath raining destruction upon the streets.“Echo Squadron, this is Captain Rourke,” he spoke into the radio, his voice calm but laced with urgency. “We’ve got eyes on the target. Multiple dragons are engaged, laying waste to the city. They’re
Tiara sat at her usual spot in the school courtyard, the sun dipping lower in the sky as the hours ticked by. The news of the Zorvath's going through Serpens' locker in school, had become the news of the day, but that wasn't her problem.Her concern was in the fact that Serpens whom he had called to tell what had happened didn't show up in school. She couldn't help but wonder why he didn't show up after he told her he was already on his way when she called him earlier that day.After the first set of classes of the day, she decided to go to the courtyard and hoped that before the afternoon classes would commence, Serpens would show up.Her gaze flicked anxiously toward the school gates every few minutes, hoping to see Serpens' familiar figure stride through. But as the shadows lengthened and the students trickled out in groups, laughing and chatting, there was no sign of him.By now, the courtyard was almost empty, save for a few stragglers. Tiara’s worry had shifted to a gnawing unea
As Serpens pondered Zorvath's enigmatic riddle, a figure emerged from the trees surrounding the lake. It was a young woman with piercing green eyes and long, curly brown hair. She approached Serpens with a confident stride, her gaze fixed on him."Ah, Serpens," she said, her voice husky and mysterious. "I've been searching for you. My name is Lyra, and I possess knowledge about your past and your connection to Xin."Serpens's eyes narrowed, unsure if he should trust this stranger. But something about Lyra's words resonated deep within him."What do you know?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.Lyra smiled, her eyes glinting with secrets. "Let's just say that I can help you unlock the truth about your draconic powers and the reason behind Winter's pursuit."Zorvath, who had been watching the exchange, suddenly spoke up. "Lyra, you shouldn't be here. This is a matter between Serpens and me."Lyra turned to Zorvath, her expression unfazed. "I'm afraid I have a stake in this too, Zorvath. Se
The morning routine was almost automatic. Serpens crossed the room to his wardrobe, where his clothes hung neatly on the door. As he buttoned his shirt, his mind kept drifting back to the urgency of his quest, the need to find Xin and the draconic gem.After pulling on his trousers and fastening his belt, Serpens moved to the bathroom. He splashed cold water on his face, the chill waking him up fully. He stared at his reflection in the mirror—his dark hair tousled from sleep, his eyes sharp and alert despite the fatigue that lingered at their edges. With deliberate care, he combed his hair, making sure every strand was in place, trying to impose order on at least this small part of his life.He grabbed his school bag, checking to make sure he had everything he needed: books, notebooks, the pendant that Professor Layton had given him back then, was still there—a small token that served as a reminder of his mission.Before leaving his room, Serpens took a moment to gaze out of the wind
The night was a gentle embrace, soft and inviting, perfect for slipping into the realm of dreams. The sky was clear, a deep velvet canvas dotted with a thousand twinkling stars that seemed to pulse with a quiet, rhythmic light. The moon, full and luminous, bathed the world in a silvery glow, casting long, soft shadows that danced lightly across the ground. A cool breeze whispered through the trees, rustling the leaves in a soothing lullaby that filled the air with a sense of calm and serenity.The world seemed to have slowed its pace, the hustle of the day giving way to a peaceful stillness. The sounds of the night were gentle and comforting—the distant chirp of crickets, the occasional hoot of an owl, and the soft rustle of nocturnal creatures moving about their nightly routines. Even the air itself felt different, cooler and lighter, as if it carried the essence of dreams within it, urging all who breathed it in to close their eyes and drift away.The scent of blooming jasmine and n