The Drache's Love

 My world is one humans of other dimensions wouldn't recognize, except perhaps from their faery tales.  Magic is real here, and all of the creatures that seem only fantasy to them are a part of the very fabric of this world.  Here, monsters are real.     We humans outnumber the creatures three to one, but their multitude of strengths - including brute strength for some of them - makes them more than our equal, when the different races are united.  For centuries, the infighting among the creature races made them no match for us, but as their numbers dwindled, the reality of their dire situation came crashing down on them like so many tidal waves, and they united to fight for their survival against the human race.     It didn't take humans long to realize how outmatched we were.  In reality, it took longer than it should have.  Many lives were lost.  And so, we negotiated a fragile peace with the creatures.  A peace that has held for thirty years.  It seems like something happens every single day to remind us just how tenuous that peace really is.  Prejudices on both sides seem undying.     But with the threat of the creatures seemingly neutralized, the treaties between the human kingdoms began to waver, so our King, Asmund, decreed that the creatures in the Kingdom of Broma would be integrated into the Broman army.  We would learn from them.  They would learn from us.  And they would strengthen our ranks.  We were a small kingdom, and may never have sheer numbers on our side, but if the humans and creatures could work together, we could be the strongest.     King Asmund's experiment began with one company.  And as proof of his good intentions, he sent his second daughter to be a part of the regiment.  I am Avva, second daughter to King Asmund of Broma, and this is where my story begins.