Dragon heart
1366 Words
A flash of fiery light burst from the barrel of the g*n, and the bullet tore through the air like a bolt of golden lightning, trailing a searing tail as it pierced the sky!
The bullet's path was crystal clear in the dim sky, the air rippling in its wake as it sliced through dust and wind, heading straight for Lorn.
Lorn didn’t even flinch. He stood there, wearing a faintly mocking smile, eyes locked onto the dying dwarf and the bullet racing toward him...
Suddenly!
A spell-infused iron sword came slicing in from the side, its blade surrounded by a fiery magical aura. It moved so fast it was almost impossible to see, smashing into the burning bullet.
The moment the blade made contact with the bullet, the sword was cleaved in half, the hot air exploding with a screech of metal on metal.
The trajectory of the bullet, disrupted by the sudden impact, veered sharply, burying itself in the scorched ground at Lorn’s feet.
“No!” The bearded dwarf roared in fury, his eyes wide, staring in disbelief and rage at the scene unfolding before him.
Meanwhile, from Lorn's side came a shriek of despair.
“No! That sword... I bought it with borrowed money!!” Mira clutched her head, her face a mask of utter devastation.
The dying dwarf didn’t have the luxury of worrying about anything else. Blood oozed slowly from the wound in his chest, turning his tunic a deep crimson.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, his trembling fingers fumbled desperately in his pocket for another bullet...
The dwarf’s fingers were stiff from blood loss, the bullet almost slipping from his grasp, but stubbornly, he held on, inching it slowly into the chamber.
His bloodshot eyes were filled with fury, his lips pale, yet he still bit down hard, muttering in a gravelly voice, “You... must... die...”
The dwarf’s voice was hoarse but resolute, like this was his final, unyielding wish.
The barrel of his g*n wavered as he aimed again at Lorn. Yet Lorn remained indifferent, sparing the dwarf only a casual glance before turning his attention back to Mira.
“What are you looking at?! This is all your fault! If I hadn't saved you, my sword wouldn't have snapped in half! You owe me!”
Mira, heartbroken over her shattered sword, was seething. Seeing Lorn still eyeing her with that annoyingly calm expression, she returned his gaze with a glare, mimicking his head-to-toe scan of her.
As Mira’s eyes took in every detail of Lorn’s attire, a scheme started forming in her mind.
This guy clearly isn’t short on money!
Velvet coat, silk shirt, collars and cuffs trimmed with fine gold thread—this outfit was definitely crafted by a master tailor. Just the cost of that coat alone was more than she could earn in three years.
Mira bit her lip lightly, her eyes trailing down to the golden belt at Lorn’s waist. Intricate patterns and sapphire embellishments sparkled, each tiny gem catching the light like a shower of stars.
Everything on this man was worth a small fortune. Mira began to calculate whether she could squeeze some compensation out of him...
If he had any sense of gratitude for her saving his life just now, maybe he’d be generous enough to give her a few gold coins as a tip?
Mira’s mind drifted into a daydream: with those coins, she could finally buy her landlord’s house, toss out all his junk, and, of course, get herself a big, luxurious bed...
But just as she was lost in her fantasy of overnight wealth, the bearded dwarf, with his last ounce of strength, pulled the trigger once more. The bullet shot out of the barrel with a flash, racing towards Lorn.
Lorn heard the gunfire but only turned his head impatiently. Before he could cast a spell, he suddenly felt the world spin around him...
“Watch out!” Mira, quick to react and with reflexes honed from years of survival, threw herself at Lorn just as the gunshot rang out!
The dwarf stared in disbelief at Mira. How could there possibly be a human who would risk their life to save this monstrous black dragon?
“Are you crazy? Why didn’t you dodge?!” Mira, without waiting for a response, grabbed Lorn and began dragging him behind a nearby hill.
As they ran, she shouted, “I just saved your life twice now, twice! Remember that, alright?”
Watching them retreat, the dwarf’s strength finally gave out. He collapsed with a low sigh, his g*n slipping quietly from his hand.
After running just a few steps, Lorn snapped out of it. He reached out and yanked Mira in front of him with such force that she nearly stumbled.
Before she could regain her balance, Lorn was already staring at her, his eyes cold and piercing, filled with confusion and disbelief.
A low voice rumbled next to her ear: “How is it you can survive dragonfire?”
Mira winced as his grip tightened on her wrist, struggling to break free.
“Answer me!” Lorn demanded, his voice as cold as steel, fingers digging deeper into her skin, sending waves of pain that quickly frayed Mira’s patience.
Her eyes narrowed in defiance, fire blazing in her gaze as anger took over. “What do you want me to say? I don’t understand what you’re talking about!!!”
Lorn eased his grip slightly, tilting his head as he pulled her closer, their faces mere inches apart, close enough to feel each other’s breath.
The proximity made Mira's mind go blank. The intimacy of the distance froze her in place, her will to resist fading into a confused haze.
Lorn’s gaze grew more intense, his eyes glimmering with a strange light, as if he’d found something long lost within her.
Slowly, his hand reached toward Mira’s chest, his fingertips glowing a faint crimson, like the flicker of ghostly flames, emanating an ancient, powerful force.
The deeper the glow became, the more it seemed to penetrate Mira’s very being, searching for a hidden secret within her.
As his fingers neared her heart, a familiar yet distant sensation washed over Lorn’s mind.
Yes, it was the aura of a dragon’s heart, brimming with raw, ancient power.
Lorn’s eyes narrowed, memories flooding back, transporting him to that epic battle a thousand years ago.
The vision was vivid—blood soaking the earth, flames devouring all, and the betrayal by his beloved. Surrounded by enemies, his heart stolen by the wretched humans, sealed away in the Abyss of Dragons, where he languished in darkness for a millennium!
Mira, bewildered, swatted Lorn’s hand away, clutching her chest defensively.
“What... what are you doing?!” she stammered. “And by the way, that sword cost me 50 silver! You better pay me back for it…”
Lorn couldn’t help but chuckle, his eyes filled with a mixture of exasperation and delight.
A thousand years of searching, and here it was, within his grasp!
A cold smile curved his lips, as if destiny had finally delivered the missing piece of his puzzle.
Just as his fingertips were about to pierce through Mira’s chest to seize the dragon heart, a sudden, searing pain ripped through him like a tidal wave, sending shockwaves through his senses.
Lorn recoiled, clutching his chest, his face twisting in disbelief, as if an invisible blade had cut him deep.
A pain so intense it threatened to pull him under, just like that fateful moment centuries ago when the human mage Roland had stolen his heart!
Mira stared at Lorn, utterly baffled. What the hell was this guy trying to do? Was he seriously faking an illness just to dodge paying up?
No way! Without that compensation, she’d be kicked out by her landlord, maybe even sold to a mill to work off her debts!
Mira quickly grabbed Lorn’s arm, shaking him. “Hey! Are you alright? I mean, you sure don’t look broke, and come on, my sword wasn’t that expensive! You don’t need to fake a heart attack to get out of paying me back!”
- Writer
