Dragon Realm
Episode 9

“My brothers need time. They know that it is my right, as the oldest, to be first. Why not take off that sword and belt? Come on, now, am I not attractive?”

He managed to choke, "No, Madam."

He smiled like a predator who would sink his teeth into his prey. The dress made it easier for Cabe to feel the warmth of his body in his body. In fact, it was hard to tell whether he was sweating due to his proximity or from the heat he seemed to be emitting. It's really hot-blooded!

The front door exploded open. Camilla pulled away from Cabe, anger making her face very ugly. He paused for a moment when he saw Magda helping the wounded Tegan in.

"What's going on?"

The youngest is only half conscious. Cabe watched him and narrowed his eyes. He seemed a little unfocused. He looked at his wine and hurriedly put down the cup.

Camilla gave quick instructions. “Magda! Not here! Take her to—to her room!”

"Black horse! Darkhorse...” Tegan murmured indistinctly afterwards.

"He's coming!" Those words belonged to Magda.

There was a rumbling sound from the forest nearest to the path. Cabe grabbed the sword.

"No!" Camilla stopped him before her hand touched the hilt.

"Something's coming!"

“It can't get in here! We're safe!"

The collision continued. Whatever it is, it's getting closer and doing it at high speed. Cabe wondered how safe they really were. He did not put much stock in his abilities with the sword.

The two sisters help Tegan into another room. Cabe stood by the open door, shaking, and looking out. There's something out there, but it seems to stop not far from sight. Cabe put his hand on the handle and took a hesitant step.

Something's shifting in the woods. He caught a glimpse of a horse-like shape but not entirely real. Two strange impulses attracted him. One was to step out into the forest and face the creature; the second was to summon the creature to him. Nothing seemed very plausible, so Cabe fought back against both ideas as best he could. The beast snorted in annoyance.

"What are you doing?"

Cabe turned, his hand still on the handle of his sword. It was Camilla, but she looked different. She was still pretty, but that beauty had now taken on a somewhat reptilian-like aspect. Cabe's grip on the sword became even tighter.

He calmed himself down and approached him. He's still very charming. “Please yourself, Cabe. That thing can't get in. We might ignore it.”

He's not relaxed. “What is that thing? Tegan called 'Darkhorse.' Sounds familiar, but I can't—”

Camilla put a hand to her mouth. "Silent. My sister is confused. You don't have to worry about him. He'll be fine tomorrow morning.”

Objects outside create more noise but do not sound closer.

The woman so close to him becomes increasingly inhumane, even though she seems unaware of any change. When his muzzle came out of his face, Cabe was startled by a sudden realization.

He pushed Camilla away with his free hand and whipped out the dark sword with the other hand.

“Firedrake!” he roars.

The whole attitude of the hostess has changed. With an inhuman roar, he changed completely. Wings grow from his back. The pretty face stretched out to a large extent into a gaping jaw with large, sharp teeth. Slender arms and legs became scaly legs that tried to claw at the man.

Cabe has fallen into a trap. He had heard stories from adventurers who told him about the enchanting firedrake dam and then devoured unwary male travelers. They are more successful in changing their shape than men. The male Firedrake, even the Dragon Monarch, was unable to make his form into a perfect imitation of a man. That was why men always appeared under the guise of armored warriors.

However, females can not only make themselves look like humans, but can even enhance their image. Hence their ability to seduce unwary victims.

Somehow he had been freed from whatever spell he had been given. Maybe it was a sword in his hand. It came from the Dragon King. Perhaps, he thought, it had more advantages than he believed.

All of this flashed through Cabe's mind in a split second. Fear can be a great motivator. With nowhere to go, except towards the creatures in the forest, he pointed the tip of the sword towards the dragon and prayed.

The thing that had been Camilla, was about to crash, suddenly stopped. It seems to shrink into itself. Heartened, Cabe took a step forward and pretended to attack. It worked against the basilisk. Firedrake retreated, his tail between his legs.

The creature speaks. “Pity, Horned Sword Man! I won't attack you!”

Cabe stop. "Do you swear by it?"

“For the sake of the emperor, the Horned Sword, and the Dragon Realm! Please!"

Sounds neighing a great war horse. Cabe blinked and realized that he had fallen under the influence of the sword. No wonder Simon called him three times damned!

Firedrake almost dug himself to the floor in fear. Cabe was disgusted. “Change back, destroy you! I'd rather you look like a human!”

"As you wish!"

The shape melted, and the whole process began to reverse itself. Soon she finds herself noticing the beautiful, but confused Camilla. It was something to watch out for; the sword had allowed him to regain his disguise as a human.

"That's better. Call your sister!"

He's doing. Magda walked in, the injured Tegan leaned against her. They moved to their sister.

Kamilla saw them. "He knows. He also bears the Horned Sword.”

Magda's eyes widened, and Tegan gave a small gasp. Despite his evil nature, Cabe knows that he should either keep holding the sword or risk an attack.

“What do you want from us?”

He grunts. “Not what's on your mind, that's for sure! You play with me like a cat with his dinner!”

“We need food. Our duke was disliked by the Green Dragon and is now dead. Even we can't face the glare of the basilisk. That power was reserved for the Dragon Monarch alone. That's why we've been reduced to this! ”

Cabe did not want to mention his own encounter with the monster. Any secret he kept from the dam would benefit him.

"The sword keeps you away." He expressed that thought as a statement of fact, not a question. They won't know that he's working with second-guessing.

"Yes. The Horned Blade was created by a witch. It's a curse for our kind and yours. Careful, man, it's dangerous. It might bring all our deaths.”

"Yours would be the first if I thought I saw a trick."

He raised his hand. "I'm not gonna do anything."

Little things started coming back to him. “You called me Cabe, but I never told you my name. How do you know?"

Kamilla fell silent.

"If you don't tell me, I'll use this. Or—or I'll get you out and face that thing.” Any creature that preys on firerake is not all evil.

It broke his resolve.

"Mrs Amber told us about your arrival."

Mrs Amber? Cabe felt a light touch in his memory. There's something about him. He didn't know what it was, but he knew that he had to see it.

"Lead me to him."

"Will you let us go when we have it?" Despite the defeat, Camilla still tried to bargain.

"We'll see."

The thing in the forest was screaming and falling. Cabe still felt the urge to call or go there, but he fought it off. Such an action would most likely end in his death.

The eldest sister led. Cabe made the others follow him. Despite their weak appearance, he did not want these women to be behind his back. They move slowly, as Tegan still needs her sister's help.

He knew, even as they stepped into the garden behind, that the fire dragon had taken over this manor from others. A person who is not yet fully human, but far more than any large reptile can claim. In fact, Cabe could almost feel a kinship with his former tenant as he followed his captive.

The garden was similar to a manor where plants mixed with the structure. The vines are wrapped around the arch, and the flowers grow out of the area on the floor. It should look like anarchy; on the contrary, there are commands so subtle that people almost take it for granted that it should be.

"Look, man, Lady of the Amber!"

They were there so suddenly that Cabe initially thought it was part of the design of the park. The large honey-colored crystal was located on top of the marble platform. Here and there, vines grow around it. It's transparent. Also, the longer a person looks, the more visible it is that it shines a little from the inside. A greenish light.

In that light, the center of the crystal, was a woman.