Curse

A child from a dragon family was born into a world that no longer wanted her kind to exist. She did not know what “peace” meant. Not when her first memory was the colour of blood staining white snow… and the sound of something enormous collapsing into silence. She was only a child when it happened. A small figure standing in the middle of ruins that once called themselves home. The sky above her was dark, not from night—but from smoke. Thick, choking smoke that curled endlessly into the heavens like a curse that refused to fade. And beneath it… Dragons were dying. “Run…” The voice was weak. Barely alive. She turned her head slowly, her small body trembling as she tried to understand where the sound came from. Her mother lay a few steps away. Broken. Blood soaked into her scales, turning what was once beautiful into something unrecognizable. Her eyes were still open, but they no longer saw anything. “Mama…?” Her voice was small. Fragile. Like it could shatter if the wind touched it too hard. She crawled forward, her hands sinking into the cold snow mixed with ash. Every movement felt heavy, like the world itself was pressing her down, telling her not to continue. But she still moved. Because she didn’t understand what “death” meant yet. She only knew that her mother was not responding. Her small fingers reached out and touched her cheek. Cold. Too cold. “No…” she whispered softly, her breath shaking. “Wake up…” A sound came from behind her. Struggling. Her father. He was lying near the broken remains of a massive dragon scale, his body crushed beneath what used to be his own strength. His breathing was uneven, each inhale sounding like it cost him everything he had left. “My daughter…” His voice made her freeze. She turned immediately. “Papa!” She tried to run, but her legs were too weak, slipping through blood and snow as she fell beside him. His eyes softened when he saw her. Even like this… even at the end… he still looked at her like she was something worth protecting. “They came…” he whispered, coughing blood as he spoke. “Humans… they came for us…” Irene shook her head quickly, not understanding. “Papa… why is everyone sleeping…?” A bitter smile formed on his lips. Not cruel. Just tired. “Don’t look at them too long,” he said softly. “Don’t remember this world as it is now…” His hand trembled as he lifted it slightly toward her face, stopping just before touching her. “You are still… too small for this pain.” The ground suddenly vibrated. Footsteps. Many. Metal clanking against stone. Voices. Human voices. “Search the area!” “Make sure none of them are alive!” “Burn everything left!” Her body stiffened instantly. Her father’s expression changed. For the first time, fear appeared in his eyes—not for himself… But for her. “Run,” he said immediately. She blinked. “Papa…?” “RUN.” His voice cracked. It was not a request anymore. It was an order carved from desperation. A flash of movement behind him. Steel. Blood. A sound Irene would never fully understand for the rest of her life. Her father’s body fell forward slightly… and then stopped moving. Everything became quiet. Too quiet. The world did not scream. It simply… ended. She ran. She didn’t think. She didn’t understand. She only ran. Barefoot through broken stone and burning snow, her small body shaking violently as the cold bit into her skin. Her lungs burned with every breath she took, but she refused to stop. Because stopping felt like disappearing. And she was too afraid to disappear. Behind her, the world continued to collapse. Fire spread across the valley, swallowing what remained of the dragon clan. Shadows of massive wings still lingered in the sky, but even those were fading now—like memories that refused to stay alive. She collapsed behind a broken stone pillar. Her body curled into itself instinctively. She covered her mouth with both hands, trying to silence her breathing. Voices passed nearby. Close. Too close. “She must still be around here.” “Check every corner.” “Do not leave anything alive.” Her eyes widened slightly. Something inside her chest tightened painfully. Not just fear… Something else. Something buried deep beneath her small human form. But it did not awaken. Not yet. Time passed in a way she could not understand anymore. The sky changed slowly. Smoke faded. Ash fell like tired snow. Irene did not move. Until she heard something different. Wheels. Not heavy footsteps. Not soldiers. A carriage. It stopped near the ruins. A strange sight in a place that had become nothing but death. She lifted her head slightly. Her body was still shaking, her hair covered in ash, her small fingers digging into the ground as if it was the only thing keeping her anchored to reality. A man stepped out. Noble clothing. Clean. Completely untouched by the destruction around him. That alone made Irene afraid. Because it meant he did not belong here. And things that did not belong… usually brought danger. The man looked around once. Then stopped. His gaze landed on her. Silence. For a moment, neither of them moved. Then slowly, he walked toward her. Careful steps. Like approaching something fragile. “Child…” he said gently. She did not respond. Her body tightened. He crouched down in front of her, lowering himself to her level. “Are you alone?” No answer. Only silence. He extended his hand slowly. Not forcing. Just offering. “May I know your name?” She stared at his hand for a long time. Her fingers trembled. She did not trust him. She did not trust anyone anymore. But her body was too exhausted to run. So, slowly… she placed her hand in his. Cold. So cold it made him pause for a second. “I…” she whispered. Her voice was barely audible. “I don’t… have a name.” The man’s expression shifted slightly. Surprise. Then something softer. “…You don’t have a name?” Irene shook her head weakly. A long silence followed. Then, finally, the man smiled faintly. “Then from today onward… you will be Irene von Ashford.” The noble estate was enormous. Too enormous for a child who had only ever known destruction. Tall walls surrounded everything like a silent prison dressed as luxury. Gardens stretched endlessly, too perfect, too controlled. The air smelled clean… but to Irene, it felt unfamiliar. Unreal. Like a world that had nothing to do with her. And that was when she felt it. The stares. Not warm. Not welcoming. Watching. Judging. Like she was something that did not belong inside these walls. Even without words… she could feel it clearly. “You are my daughter now.” The man stood in front of her again, his voice calm but firm. “You will live here from now on.” He paused slightly. Then added softly, “Call me… Father.” Irene hesitated. The word felt heavy. Too heavy for something so small. But she nodded anyway. “…Yes… Father.” The carriage stopped in front of the main mansion. Massive doors. Tall pillars. A place that looked more like a kingdom than a home. Irene stepped out slowly, her small feet touching the stone ground. And immediately… She felt it. A stare. Sharp. Cold. Unforgiving. She turned slightly. A boy stood at the entrance. About her age. But his presence felt different. He did not look at her like a child would. He looked at her like a judgment. “Father.” His voice cut through the air instantly. “Who is she?” The man answered without hesitation. “She is Irene. Your new sister.” Silence. The boy stared at her longer this time. Like he was searching for something. Then, coldly— “You will never be my sister.” Irene flinched slightly. But she did not look away. The boy stepped forward. “You will never replace her.” His voice carried something deeper than anger. Something closer to pain. And hatred. Before Irene could react, he pushed her. Not hard enough to injure her… But enough to make a point. The air around them changed instantly. “Enough.” The man’s voice dropped. Heavy. Authoritative. “In this house, respect is not optional.” “Irene is my daughter. That makes her your sister.” The boy clenched his fists. “I will never accept her.” “She doesn’t belong here.” Irene lowered her gaze slightly. Her voice came out small. “…It’s alright.” Both of them turned to her. “I don’t think I belong here either…” A pause. Then she continued quietly, “If it’s easier… I can be a servant instead.” Silence. The man’s expression changed immediately. “No.” One word. Final. “You will be my daughter. Not a servant.” The boy laughed bitterly. “You choose her… over your dead daughter?” Everything stopped. Even the wind outside the mansion seemed to disappear. Before anything could break further— A voice interrupted. “Duke… the meeting is ready.” The man paused. Just for a moment. Then turned away. And left. The moment he disappeared, the mansion felt colder. The boy stepped closer to Irene. His voice dropped. Low. Dangerous. “This house doesn’t belong to you.” “You don’t belong here.” His eyes narrowed. “And if you forget that…” A pause. “I will make sure you remember.” He turned away. But before leaving, he added one final line “You are nothing here.”