Chapter 101: Chapter 101

JONEA

I froze, staring at the giant figure before me, my eyes wide in disbelief. The blue dragon stood tall and proud, exuding power but not menace. Its shimmering scales gleamed under the moonlight, reminding me of the Dragon’s Tear pendant Aland gave me. Unfortunately, the pendant had lost its radiant blue hue and turned dark.

“Who… are you?” I stammered, my voice trembling, a mix of awe and fear.

“I am the Mountain Dragon,” it replied, its deep voice rumbling like an earthquake. “I’ve come for you, Jonea. Come with me, and I’ll explain everything.”

Before I could respond, Owen had already stepped in front of me, his body tense. His claws glinted sharply in the moonlight. “You’re not laying a finger on her!” he growled, his tone threatening.

The dragon snorted, irritated but unfazed. “Hey, little lycan, stay out of this. I’m not going to hurt her. I just need her for something important. I’ll bring her back when it’s done.”

“No way!” Owen snapped, his voice rising in anger. “You think I’ll just let you take her?!”

I looked at both of them, utterly confused. Owen stood like an unyielding protector, while the blue dragon remained calm, albeit impatient. Gently, I reached for Owen’s hand, trying to ease the tension.

“Owen,” I said softly. “I’ll come back.”

He turned to me, his face clouded with doubt and worry. “What if he takes you somewhere dangerous? I don’t trust him, Jonea.”

“I have to know,” I said firmly, though uncertainty gnawed at me. “He might lead me to the land of the blue dragons. To where Aland is.”

Owen’s expression shifted, as though he wanted to argue, but finally, he let out a heavy sigh. “Then promise me you’ll come back. Don’t make me regret letting you go.”

I nodded. “I promise.”

Owen glared at the dragon with unwavering intensity. “If you hurt her, I’ll hunt you down no matter where you go.”

The dragon let out a small huff, unimpressed by Owen’s threat. “Fine, let’s go before Luke Draken’s dragon forces notice I’m here.”

He lowered himself, his massive wings folding neatly against his back. “Climb onto my back.”

With some hesitation, I stepped closer and climbed onto his enormous body. His skin felt cold yet sturdy, like metallic stone. Once I was securely seated, he spread his enormous wings.

“Hold on tight,” he said.

The first beat of his wings lifted us off the ground, a gust of wind sweeping through the trees and forcing Owen to shield his face. I turned to glance back, seeing him standing there, his face filled with painful unease. He kept his gaze fixed on me until the dragon’s massive shadow swallowed him from view.

The wind rushed past me as we soared through the air, gliding over forests and mountains at a dizzying speed. Despite my apprehension, a spark of curiosity ignited within me. This journey felt like the first step toward answers to the mysteries that had been haunting me.

It all happened so quickly. Before I could fully process it, we arrived at a land unlike anything I’d ever seen. Lush green meadows stretched endlessly, crisscrossed by sparkling rivers that glimmered like silver ribbons. The sky was bright blue, dotted with low-hanging clouds.

“The final sanctuary of the blue dragons,” the dragon announced as he gently descended. “We’ve arrived.”

My heart pounded. Was Aland here? Would I finally see him again?

As the dragon landed, my eyes caught sight of a figure standing in the middle of the vast greenery. His silver hair glistened, stark against the vibrant landscape. I recognized him instantly.

“Aland…” I whispered, almost in disbelief.

Before I could speak or move, Aland sprang forward with incredible agility, almost flying, straight toward the dragon. In a blink, he was on the dragon’s back, standing before me.

“Aland, what are you—”

I didn’t get to finish. He grabbed me quickly, his grip firm around my arm. I gasped as he pulled me down, holding me tightly.

“What are you doing?!” I cried, struggling to break free.

But Aland didn’t answer. His gaze was sharp, his face filled with emotions I couldn’t decipher. He carried me away from the dragon with determined steps, as if claiming something that was unquestionably his.

“Aland! Explain what’s going on!” I demanded, my voice urgent, but he remained silent.

Behind us, the mountain dragon let out a small snort, seemingly unsurprised by the turn of events. Meanwhile, I could only follow Aland, caught between confusion and fear. Was this… a kidnapping? And why did I like it?!

A cold breeze brushed against my face as we stopped at a hidden spot behind a cliff. In front of us stood a group of majestic reindeer with grand antlers and sturdy bodies. They were hitched to a wooden sled, intricately carved with ancient motifs that radiated a magical aura.

I was awestruck. I’d never seen anything like it. The beauty of the scene felt like something out of a dream.

Aland jumped off the dragon’s back and turned to me with a warm smile. His silver hair swayed gently in the wind, and his calm expression seemed as if he’d never left this place. He approached me and reached out a hand to help me down.

“Don’t worry, Jonea,” he said softly.

I took his hand cautiously, stepping down carefully. Once I was on solid ground, Aland gently ruffled my hair, surprising me with a sudden wave of comfort.

“What is all this, Aland? Why does everything feel so sudden? Are you okay here? I… I’m sorry I couldn’t free you…”

My words faltered as Aland leaned closer and kissed me softly. His kiss silenced me, making me forget all the questions swirling in my mind.

When he pulled away, he smiled faintly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “You ask too many questions, Jonea,” he teased.

Before I could respond, he lifted me effortlessly as though I weighed nothing. I let out a startled squeak, but he only laughed and carefully placed me on the sled.

“Sit tight. We’re going on a journey,” he said, settling beside me.

The sled began to move slowly, the reindeer pulling it with practiced ease. The soft jingling of bells on their necks created a calming rhythm in the quiet night.

Aland leaned back casually, his eyes never leaving my face. “I know you’re confused,” he finally said, breaking the silence between us.

“Of course I am, Aland,” I replied. “Who was that dragon that came for me? And why has this pendant… changed?”

He glanced at the now-dark pendant around my neck before returning his gaze to mine with a faint smile. “He’s the original owner of the Dragon’s Tear you’ve worn as a pendant all this time,” he explained. “He’s been protecting you, Jonea. But his duty is over now, which is why the pendant has lost its light.”

I frowned, feeling a twinge of sadness. “So, he won’t protect me anymore?”

Aland reached out, gently touching the pendant before looking back at me with unwavering determination. “You don’t need to be sad,” he said. “From now on, I’ll be the one to protect you. Always.”

I froze, staring at his serious expression. His words should have reassured me, but instead, they stirred something uneasy within me.

The journey continued, but my mind was a storm of questions I couldn’t bring myself to ask. The sound of the reindeer’s bells echoed softly, but another noise—an unspoken tension—rang louder in my chest.

Reflexively, I almost blurted out, What about Daran?

But the words stayed caught in my throat. Aland glanced at me, as if sensing my hesitation.

“What is it, Jonea?” he asked gently.

I shook my head, trying to mask the doubts weighing on me. “It’s nothing,” I whispered.

But deep down, I knew this confusion wouldn’t easily fade. Why? Why wasn’t I entirely happy to see Aland?