A Tale That Cannot Be Told

Whispers of Friendship and Flame

Hoping to remain unnoticed, the princess covered her face and head to keep herself hidden in the shadows. With all the magnificent creatures and their human guests outside, she felt safer observing the interior of Uilliam's castle. As she gazed out of one of the castle's windows, she whispered to herself, "How can I encounter one of those amazing creatures if I'm stuck inside this castle?"

Suddenly, a voice boomed behind her, "WHO ARE YOU?" The sharp tone startled her, making her lose her balance.

"Ah... Ah... Ah… Ah. Ah." She tried to steady herself, reaching for something to grab onto, but nothing was there. Just when she thought she was going to tumble down the stairs, Ioulos swooped in and caught her with his enormous paw. As he helped her stand up, they locked eyes for a brief moment. It was the first time the young dragon had been so close to a human, and Princess Genoa found herself captivated by his large iris and vertical pupils, reminiscent of a cat's gaze.

Ioulos shifted uncomfortably in the silence, finally breaking it with a gentle, steady voice. "Who are you, and what are you doing here inside the castle?"

The princess, taken aback by the dragon's imposing presence, struggled to find her words. "Oh, um, I... I'm just a passerby. I didn't steal anything, I promise! I'm not a bad person. Please, don't tell anyone I'm here. I can leave right away," she stammered, her eyes wide with panic.

Ioulos raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "An uninvited guest? Out of all the castles, you chose a dragon's lair? Show your face; take off that scarf, so I can see you," he commanded.

Though hesitant to reveal herself, Princess Genoa realized she didn't want to provoke the dragon any further. With a deep breath, she lowered her scarf, revealing her face.

The young dragon studied her closely. "Ah, you're King Eliyah's daughter. What brings you to the castle, and where is your father?" he asked, curiosity piqued.

Genoa sighed, her shoulders slumping. "My father doesn't know I'm here, and he's going to be furious when he finds out. I just wanted to see the event and your kind from a distance."

Ioulos frowned. "I can't have you sneaking around here. I won't be part of your hiding. You've seen enough; it's time you returned to your palace before another dragon spots you."

"I get it, and I appreciate that. I'll go now, but… can we be friends?" The words slipped out before she could think them through. She couldn't miss the chance to connect with such a remarkable creature.

"Friends?" Ioulos echoed, a bit puzzled.

"Yes, friends! I mean, can we meet again and talk?" She clarified, her hope shining through.

Though Ioulos had never casually conversed with a human before, the princess sparked a flicker of interest in him. "Uh, yeah, I think we can be friends."

"Really?!" Genoa's excitement bubbled over. "That's fantastic! Alright then, I'll head off now. See you later!" She waved enthusiastically as she made her way out of the castle, practically bouncing with joy.

Ioulos followed her discreetly, ensuring she'd left the area before returning to the event. Yet, as he rejoined his kin and the humans, he found it hard to focus. The discussions about him faded into a blur as his mind replayed the encounter with the princess. Was it real? The thought sent a thrill through him, and he couldn't help but hope they'd meet again soon. "You're just curious, that's all," he assured himself, though his heart hinted at something more.

As Princess Genoa hurried back to the palace, she kicked herself for not asking the young dragon's name. She recalled the townsfolk mentioning it the other day. Determined to find out more, she planned to visit the town first thing in the morning. The encounter with the dragon lingered in her mind, making it nearly impossible to sleep.

"What could he be doing now?" she wondered. "When will I see him again? Where does he live?" Anticipation kept her awake, and she could hardly wait for morning to arrive so she could uncover the answers.

The newly opened bakery in town gave her the perfect reason to go out.

"Would you like me to join you, Your Highness?" Oliva offered.

Princess Genoa immediately shook her head. "No, Oliva, I'm fine. I won't be long; I just want to see what the bakery has to offer."

"I don't want to overstep, Your Highness, but please do be careful," Oliva replied, her concern evident.

"Thanks for the concern, Oliva. I will be okay. See you later!" The princess set out for town on her own.

Once she arrived, she stuck to familiar places to avoid drawing attention. Slowly, she approached a group of textile merchants and pretended to browse the cloth, all while weaving their small talk into a natural inquiry about the young dragon.

"By the way," she casually shifted the conversation. "The other day when I was here, I think I spotted two dragons. You seemed to adore them."

The merchants exchanged glances, intrigued. "Who could they be?" they wondered.

"Oh! It must have been Nahum and Ioulos!" One merchant suddenly exclaimed.

The others nodded in agreement. "Yes, I remember them being around town that day."

"Which one did I meet?" the princess pondered. "At least now I have names," she thought, feeling a bit of excitement.

"Such amazing names for remarkable creatures," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "They must live nearby to visit town regularly."

"Not quite, Your Highness. Their castle is the first one you'll see to the east when you leave town, about 200 miles from here," one merchant informed her.

Thankful for the information, she bought several textiles before rushing out of town, eager to follow their directions. After hours of traveling through dense trees, the silhouette of the castle finally came into view. Her heart raced as she got closer. "Is he there?" she thought. "Will he remember me?" But she paused, unsure which of the two dragons' castles lay before her.

As the princess made her way to the gatehouse, she felt a mix of curiosity and hesitation about finding the younger dragon. But now that she was there, she decided to explore the castle. The stone floor echoed beneath her feet, and the silence suggested she was alone.

"Hello?" She called out softly, but her voice bounced off the castle walls, amplifying her solitude. Taking a few steps deeper into the castle, she spotted a grand painting hanging on the wall. It depicted a massive, fire-breathing dragon with scaly skin, sharp horns, bat-like wings, and a long, muscular tail. Seeing the fierce creature in the artwork made it clear to her that this was not the young dragon she had encountered the other night.