Chapter 124: Chapter 124

DARAN

I ran as fast as I could, my body trembling from both exhaustion and panic. The wet sand of the beach made every step heavier, but I didn’t care. In front of me, the dark ocean stretched endlessly. Waves crashed hard, as if reminding me that I was racing against time. Jonea was out there somewhere, and I couldn’t let her slip away.

“Jonea!” I screamed with all my strength, my voice hoarse. But only the wind and waves responded.

My body nearly lost balance when my foot suddenly hit a rock. I almost fell, but a strong hand steadied me.

“Uncle, are you okay?” Owen’s voice was full of concern. He grabbed my arm, steadying me. “You’ve used up too much energy earlier. You need to rest.”

“Let go of me!” I shoved his hand away. “I need to save Jonea!”

“You won’t save her if you pass out here,” Owen said firmly but gently. “Calm down, Uncle. We’ll look for her together.”

But I didn’t have time for his reasoning. Adrenaline pushed me forward even though my body was nearly at its limit. My eyes scanned the waves crashing against the rocks, hoping to spot something—anything—that could give me a clue.

Then I saw it. A movement on the surface of the water. My eyes locked onto a figure emerging among the waves. Slowly, it got closer, its form blending with the shimmering water under the moonlight.

“What’s that?” Owen whispered beside me.

We all moved closer to the water’s edge. I held my breath as the figure became clearer. A man. His hair was soaked, but I recognized his face.

“Aland Hamilton?” I muttered, barely believing it. My fists clenched at my sides. “Where’s Jonea?” I shouted, unable to hide my worry.

Aland didn’t answer right away. He walked closer, water dripping from his body. His expression was serious, but there was something in his eyes—a mix of anger and sadness. On his back, I saw something that made my heart stop.

It was Jonea. She was unconscious, her body limp. But that wasn’t the most shocking part.

Her body… had changed.

Her once-normal skin was now covered in silvery scales that shimmered softly under the moonlight. Her black hair had turned snow-white, with glowing blue tips. Her hands, hanging limply by Aland’s side, now bore thin, sharp claws. Even her face—her jawline was sharper, almost otherworldly, as if she was no longer fully human.

“What happened to her?” Arabel whispered from behind, her voice trembling. She looked terrified but couldn’t take her eyes off Jonea.

I stepped forward, but my legs felt heavy. Something inside me couldn’t accept what I was seeing, but I couldn’t look away either.

“Aland, what did you do to her?” I asked, my voice low, almost a growl. But in truth, I was more scared than angry.

Aland met my gaze. “I saved her,” he said firmly. “But this transformation… it’s not my doing. It’s because of the dragon energy she absorbed. Her body couldn’t handle the power.”

I stared at him, at a loss for words. Jonea… she looked like someone else now, but I knew she was still Jonea. No matter what, I had to bring her back. I had to protect her, no matter the cost.

“Put her down,” I said sharply.

Aland hesitated, his eyes studying me as if deciding whether he could trust me. Finally, he carefully laid Jonea on the sand. I knelt beside her, checking her pulse. It was there, though faint.

“Jonea,” I whispered, trying to wake her. But she didn’t respond.

“We need to get her somewhere safe,” Eve said, now standing beside me. Her expression was serious, but I caught a hint of fear in her eyes. “We don’t know what’s happening to her, but she needs protection. If anyone else sees her like this…” She didn’t finish her sentence, but I understood. The outside world wouldn’t accept this transformation.

“She can’t stay here,” Aland said suddenly. “I’ll take her to my place. I know how to handle this.”

I stood, glaring at him. “You think I’ll trust her with you? After everything that’s happened?”

Aland didn’t back down. “If you want her to survive, you don’t have a choice. I know how to stabilize her energy. If you take her somewhere else, she might die.”

His words hit me like a blade. I didn’t want to believe him, but I also knew he was probably right. Jonea needed help, and I didn’t have the knowledge or power to give it to her.

“I’m coming with you,” I said finally. “If you try anything, I won’t hesitate to stop you.”

Aland nodded. “Hurry. We don’t have much time.”

I lifted Jonea into my arms. Her body felt light but fragile. I could feel the energy radiating from her scales—an energy not entirely human. My heart felt heavy. What had happened to her? And what would come next?

*

JONEA

I slowly opened my eyes, the world spinning as my vision cleared. The soft morning sunlight streaming through the window brought warmth amidst the cold air. My mind was blank, my body heavy. But the first thing I saw made my heart feel at ease. Aland’s figure was kneeling beside my bed, his expression filled with worry yet gentle care.

He brushed his fingers against my cheek, his touch soothing. I took a shaky breath and called his name with a hoarse voice. “Aland…”

“Take it easy, Jonea,” he said, placing a finger on my lips, signaling me not to strain myself. “Are you okay? Can you sit up?”

I tried to sit up. Pain coursed through my body, but it was nothing compared to the strange sensation on one side of me. When the blanket covering my body slid down, I gasped. Half of my body, from my shoulder to my waist, was covered in black, glossy scales. I froze, my trembling fingers touching the rough yet firm surface.

“Aland… why am I like this?” I whispered, my voice shaking, tears welling in my eyes.

Instead of answering, Aland pulled me into a tight hug. “Stay calm. You’ll recover soon,” he whispered softly in my ear. His soothing voice eased my panic a little. As long as Aland was here, I felt like everything might be okay.

But the moment didn’t last. The door suddenly slammed open, the loud noise startling me. Two figures rushed in with hurried steps, their faces filled with emotion. Owen and Daran.

“Jonea!” Owen shouted first, his voice filling the room. He ran straight toward me without hesitation. Daran, on the other hand, just stood by the door, his cold gaze fixed on Aland. His face was unreadable, but I could tell he was deep in thought.

“You guys…” I whispered weakly.

Owen didn’t waste time and pulled me into a tight hug. His warmth gave me a little strength, even though I was still reeling from the shock of my transformation.

“Jonea, you—” Owen let go of the hug, only to smack me on the head. Hard.

I flinched, stunned and a little hurt.

“That’s your punishment,” he said seriously. “I told you not to push yourself so hard. You could’ve died yesterday! You should’ve let that stubborn uncle of mine handle it.”

I didn’t know what to say. Everything felt chaotic and overwhelming. Before I could respond, Owen reached out and touched the black-scaled skin on my neck. His hand was cold, but before he could examine further, Aland moved quickly, slapping his hand away.

“Don’t touch her,” Aland said firmly, his piercing gaze locked on Owen. “She needs rest.”

Owen glared back at him, not backing down. “I’m just trying to check on her, Hamilton. Stop acting like her self-appointed guardian.”

The tension between them left me even more confused. Daran’s icy stare shifted toward me, making me feel like I was on trial. With all three of them standing there, their expressions brimming with emotion, I felt small and out of place.

Trying to steer the conversation elsewhere, I weakly asked, “What about the dragon? And… everyone else?”

Daran finally spoke, his voice steady but devoid of warmth. “The dragon’s asleep. It’s been sealed for now.” He paused, his gaze steady on me. “Everyone else has gone home. Miller asked me to send his regards.”

I gave a small nod, though the knot of unease in my chest didn’t loosen. Half of my body—what had happened to me? Why had I changed like this? The questions swirled in my mind, but I didn’t have the courage to say them out loud.

Aland sat beside me again, adjusting the fallen blanket over my lap. “Rest, Jonea. We’ll figure out how to fix this,” he said softly.

But deep down, I knew this calm was just the eye of the storm. Something was waiting for us out there, and I had to be ready for it, even if my body wasn’t entirely my own anymore.