Chapter Three
1381 Words
The First Crack
....
The golden line spread across the black seal.
Elena stared at it.
Kaizeren didn't move.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Elena whispered,
“Did I do that?”
Kaizeren's gaze remained fixed on the crack.
“Yes.”
Her hand immediately moved away.
The glow vanished.
Elena looked at him.
“Is that bad?”
“No.”
“Then why do you look like that?”
His eyes lifted to hers.
“Because this seal has resisted everything for centuries.”
She glanced at the chains.
“And now?”
“You touched me.”
“That doesn't explain anything.”
“It explains everything.”
Kaizeren reached for her hand.
Elena instinctively pulled back.
He stopped.
“I'm not going to hurt you.”
“You said that before.”
“And I haven't.”
She hesitated.
Then slowly extended her hand again.
His fingers closed around hers.
The moment their palms touched, the golden glow returned.
Elena gasped.
“It feels warm.”
Kaizeren's expression tightened.
“What do you feel?”
She thought for a moment.
“Something moving.”
“Where?”
“Inside you.”
His eyes darkened.
“That is my power.”
“Your power?”
“Yes.”
“Why can I feel it?”
“I don't know.”
Elena frowned.
“You're the Dragon King. You should know.”
A faint smile touched his lips.
“I've been imprisoned for centuries. I haven't exactly had anyone available to answer my questions.”
She almost smiled.
Then the seal cracked again.
This time, the sound echoed throughout the cavern.
Kaizeren's fingers tightened around hers.
“Elena.”
“What?”
“Don't let go.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because it's working.”
The chains began to tremble.
Elena's heart raced.
“What's happening?”
“My power is returning.”
“Will it hurt?”
“Probably.”
“Probably?”
“I don't know.”
She glared at him.
“You're terrible at reassuring people.”
“I never had to reassure anyone.”
“Well, you're going to learn.”
His eyebrow lifted.
“Are you giving me orders?”
“Yes.”
A quiet laugh escaped him.
“You really are strange.”
“So I've been told.”
Another crack split the seal.
Kaizeren's expression suddenly tightened.
His breathing changed.
“Kaizeren?”
“Keep your hand there.”
“You're hurting.”
“I can handle it.”
“Then why are you shaking?”
He didn't answer.
Elena's expression softened.
“Does it really hurt?”
“Yes.”
She moved closer.
“Then don't pretend it doesn't.”
His eyes met hers.
Something in her voice made him go still.
No one had asked him that in centuries.
No one had cared whether he was hurting.
“Why do you care?”
Elena looked confused.
“Because you're hurt.”
“That isn't enough.”
“It is for me.”
Kaizeren stared at her.
She didn't seem to understand what her words meant to him.
He slowly turned their joined hands over, examining her fingers.
“You're not afraid of me right now.”
“I am.”
“You don't look afraid.”
“I don't want you to suffer.”
His gaze softened.
Then he asked quietly,
“Why?”
Elena didn't know.
She looked down.
“I don't know.”
For a moment, the only sound was the water surrounding them.
Then Kaizeren whispered,
“Neither do I.”
She looked up.
“What?”
“Why I don't want you to move away.”
Her heart skipped.
Neither of them spoke.
Then Elena quickly looked toward the chains.
“Maybe we should focus on breaking the seal.”
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“Afraid?”
“Yes.”
“Of me?”
“Of the way you're looking at me.”
His smile deepened.
“Perhaps I should stop.”
“Yes.”
He didn't.
Elena's cheeks warmed.
“You're not listening.”
“I heard you.”
“Then why are you still staring?”
“Because I want to.”
She opened her mouth.
No words came out.
Kaizeren watched her reaction with quiet amusement.
Then the cavern suddenly shook.
Elena nearly lost her balance.
Kaizeren caught her by the waist.
She gasped.
His arm remained around her.
“Careful.”
“I’m fine.”
“You almost fell.”
“But I didn't.”
“Because I caught you.”
Elena looked up at him.
They were too close.
She could feel his breath against her forehead.
Kaizeren looked down at her.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Elena whispered,
“You can let go now.”
His arm tightened slightly.
“I know.”
“Then why aren't you?”
His gaze dropped briefly to her lips.
“I don't know.”
Her heart began beating faster.
Kaizeren seemed to notice.
“You're nervous.”
“You're holding me.”
“Would you like me to let go?”
Elena hesitated.
“Yes.”
He released her immediately.
She stepped back.
Her cheeks were burning.
“This is strange.”
“What is?”
“You.”
He smiled.
“I've been called worse.”
Another crack echoed.
This time, one of the chains around his wrist split halfway.
Kaizeren looked down.
“It's almost broken.”
Elena stared.
“What happens when it breaks?”
“My power will return.”
“And then?”
“I'll become what I was before.”
“The Dragon King?”
“Yes.”
She swallowed.
“Will you hurt me?”
Kaizeren looked at her.
“No.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
She believed him.
She didn't know why.
But she did.
Elena placed both hands against his chest.
Kaizeren's eyes widened slightly.
“You're certain?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because you said you trust me.”
He looked at her.
“I do.”
“And I think...”
She hesitated.
“I think I trust you too.”
Those words affected him more than the breaking seal.
His expression changed.
“You trust me?”
“A little.”
“A little?”
“Don't ruin it.”
A quiet laugh escaped him.
Then the seal exploded with light.
Elena cried out.
Kaizeren's body stiffened.
His golden eyes burned brighter.
The cavern shook violently.
“Elena!”
She held onto him.
“I'm here!”
“Don't let go!”
“I won't!”
The darkness around them seemed to twist.
The chains began breaking one after another.
Crack.
Crack.
Crack.
Kaizeren's power surged through the cavern.
His wounds began closing.
His muscles tightened.
Dark markings spread across his skin.
Elena stared in amazement.
“Your wounds...”
“They're healing.”
“How?”
“Your touch.”
She looked at her hands.
“I'm healing you?”
“You're giving me back what was stolen.”
He looked at her.
His voice became quieter.
“And I don't think you realize what that means.”
Before she could ask—
the final chain snapped.
A deafening roar shook the cavern.
Elena stumbled backward.
Kaizeren lifted his head.
His golden eyes blazed.
Then black scales began spreading across his skin.
Elena's breath caught.
“Kaizeren...”
His body grew larger.
His fingers became claws.
His back tore open as enormous black wings emerged.
Elena stumbled away.
“No...”
The man she had been speaking to was disappearing beneath a creature larger than anything she had ever imagined.
A massive black dragon stood before her.
His wings filled the cavern.
His golden eyes locked onto hers.
Elena's entire body froze.
“You're really a dragon.”
The dragon lowered his enormous head.
Elena backed away.
“Stay away from me.”
He moved closer.
She turned and ran.
“Wait!”
She didn't stop.
She ran toward the distant passage.
Behind her came the thunderous sound of wings unfolding.
Elena looked back.
Her blood ran cold.
The black dragon was coming after her.
And then—
he took flight.
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