I Only Tame Dragons

Horizon sat by the flickering bonfire, staring into the flames as they danced against the night sky. The crackle of burning wood was soothing, a temporary respite from the unrelenting desert.

Across from him, Velvet was keeping a close watch on Damon, Ford, and David, her eyes narrowed in distrust. It was clear she didn't trust them, and honestly, Horizon didn't blame her.

This alliance was fragile, held together by mutual goals rather than genuine camaraderie.

Inside the tent, Aria and the rest of the group were taking the first shift of rest. The soft murmur of their breaths was almost drowned out by the whistling wind, which carried a chill now that the oppressive heat of the day had given way to the cold desert night.

Horizon's gaze was pulled away as Seraphina approached, her steps light on the sand. She wore a gentle smile, the kind that softened her usually sharp features.

Under the glow of the bonfire, her golden hair seemed to shimmer, reflecting the fire's light like strands of molten gold. The faint starlight added an ethereal touch, casting a soft glow on her skin, making her look almost otherworldly.

"Mind if I sit beside you?" she asked, her voice soft but clear.

Horizon gave a slight nod. "Go ahead."

Nyx, sprawled lazily across his head, opened one eye to peer at Seraphina before closing it again, seemingly uninterested. She yawned, her tiny fangs flashing briefly before she settled back into her cozy spot.

Seraphina settled down next to Horizon, the fire casting warm hues across her face. The stars above glittered like scattered diamonds against the dark canvas of the sky, and for a moment, the harshness of the desert seemed far away.

The tension of the group, the draining journey, the pressing goal to reach the exit—all of it seemed to fade in the presence of the quiet night and the comforting crackle of the fire.

She gestured subtly to the undead minions standing vigil around their makeshift camp, their hollow eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. "Those things never sleep, do they?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Horizon followed her gaze to his undead minions. They stood motionless but alert, their skeletal forms blending into the shadowy dunes. "No, they don't."

Seraphina's eyes flickered with interest. "How do you keep them moving constantly like that?"

Horizon smirked slightly. He knew she was probing for information, but he didn't mind. It wasn't a closely guarded secret—at least, not entirely.

"Constant mana depletion," he explained. "You probably figured that part out already."

Seraphina chuckled, her laughter soft and melodic, like the gentle tinkling of wind chimes. She brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes shimmering with a keen, inquisitive light.

"I did, but what I can't figure out is how you manage it. I've seen necromancers struggle to keep their summons active for hours, let alone an entire day. Yet you've been using your undead all day without pause, and I haven't seen you drink a single mana potion or eat anything to replenish your reserves."

Horizon turned his gaze to her, studying her for a moment. The light from the bonfire illuminated her face, casting shadows that highlighted the delicate contours of her features. Her eyes, a deep and mesmerizing shade of blue, caught the light, glinting like sapphires under the moonlight.

She was undeniably beautiful, and under the stars, with the firelight dancing in her eyes, there was a softness to her that he hadn't noticed before. But then again, Trisha was also beautiful, so he had enough of those types. And after her betrayal, he doubt he was up for romance anytime soon.

Horizon leaned back slightly, resting his elbows on the cool sand. "You're observant," he remarked, his tone casual but carrying a hint of approval. "It's true, most necromancers can't maintain their summons for this long. It drains their mana reserves too quickly."

She tilted her head slightly, intrigued. "So, how do you do it?"

Horizon glanced over at his undead minions, their hollow eyes glowing faintly as they scanned the horizon.

He shifted his gaze back to Seraphina, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "You already know how it works, don't you? So why ask? Just fishing for confirmation?"

Seraphina chuckled softly, the sound a mix of amusement and intrigue. "You're always so cautious," she said, her blue eyes narrowing slightly. "Though I'm not surprised. I'm guessing you've got equipment—some rare artifact, perhaps—that continuously regenerates your mana pool."

Horizon's smirk widened ever so slightly. Her deduction was spot-on. She was sharp, always probing, always observing. It was one of the things that made her an intriguing companion and a formidable ally—or adversary.

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Horizon didn't confirm or deny it, instead letting silence speak for itself.

Seraphina noticed his lack of response, but she didn't press the issue. Instead, she shifted the conversation, her expression turning serious.

"That magical loop back there . . ." Seraphina said, her voice tinged with suspicion as she glanced over the darkened landscape. "Someone set that up intentionally."

Horizon wasn't surprise. "And you have an idea who it might be?"

Seraphina gave a slow, knowing nod. "With that level of magic and the resources to pull it off? It could only be one group—the Kingdom of Stars. They're the only ones capable of weaving such a complex, self-sustaining magical trap."

"The Kingdom of Stars . . ." Horizon echoed, the name rolling off his tongue like a bitter taste. He'd suspected it, but hearing it confirmed only solidified his unease. His mind raced through memories and possibilities. And then, a particular face flashed in his thoughts—Trisha.

The mention of the Kingdom of Stars brought an unwelcome reminder: it was there she had chosen to go, leaving him behind. The thought of her made his expression harden, his jaw clenching involuntarily. His usual calm demeanor twisted into something darker, a mix of anger and disappointment simmering beneath the surface.

Seeing his reaction, Seraphina raised an eyebrow. "You seem . . . affected," she noted. It wasn't like Horizon to lose his cool.

He forced a smile, but it was devoid of humor. "Let's just say I've got some history with one of them," he muttered. "And it's not the kind that ends on good terms."

Seraphina studied him for a moment, her curiosity piqued but tempered by a rare glimpse of empathy. "If they're involved, things might get hard for you. They're one of the powerful Kingdoms in Eternia, after all."

Horizon didn't respond immediately. Instead, he stared off into the distance, his eyes cold.

"If you have a beef with one of them, then you're not just up against powerful magic," she said quietly. "You're up against an entire kingdom."

Horizon thoughts lingered on Trisha once more, the image of her turning her back on him and walking toward a path he could never follow. Not that he wanted to follow her after everything that she did.

Horizon pushed the memory aside, burying it deep where it belonged. Whatever pain or betrayal he felt, now wasn't the time to let it consume him. He had bigger battles ahead, and if the Kingdom of Stars was part of it, then he'd be more than glad to take them down.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Seraphina watched Horizon, the flames of the bonfire casting shadows across his face. For a moment, she saw the raw emotion he usually kept hidden, and it made her realize that he was still . . . human. But she didn't comment on it; instead, she simply pressed her mouth tight in silence.

"Then we'll have to be prepared," she said after a while, her tone serious. "Because if they're behind this, they're certainly not an easy enemy to defeat."

Horizon's eyes flicked back to her, "I'm counting on it."

Seraphina leaned back slightly, crossing her arms as she continued to watch Horizon. The flickering light from the bonfire painted him in shades of orange and gold, his sharp features softened by the glow. He was handsome, alright, almost not appearing entirely human.

Yet, the look in his eyes was anything but soft—it was piercing and his pupils were turning into dots that Seraphina thought he was a . . . dragon?

She immediately shook her head. What was she thinking? There were no half-dragons in Eternia—at least none that she had ever heard of.

"The Kingdom of Stars . . . they've been quiet for a long time," she mused aloud. "Too quiet. For them to resurface now, using such potent magical trap, it means they're serious about winning this competition. They've always been power-hungry. But this? Setting up a magical loop to trap everyone in an endless cycle? That's a level of planning I didn't expect."

Seraphina gave a short, humorless laugh. "The Kingdom of Stars has the luxury of time and resources it seemed."

Horizon's fingers twitched, a sign of his irritation. "They probably reach the monolith by now and went to the next region."

"Maybe," Seraphina agreed, her expression turning serious. "Knowing them, they might be the first to reach the exit."

As Horizon considered her words, his thoughts drifted back to Trisha. It had been more than a year since he'd seen her, yet the memory was as vivid as ever. She had always been ambitious, her eyes set on something far beyond what they had shared in the past.

He had known her to be selfish, but he hadn't expected her to betray him and forget everything they shared. That decision still left a bitter taste in his mouth.