I Only Tame Dragons

Inside the protective shell, Silphie tended to Lydia and Von, her hands trembling slightly as she worked. Von's breathing was shallow, but steady, and Lydia's wounds were beginning to close.

"You're insane," Silphie muttered softly, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she looked at Lydia. "But I suppose that's why he trusted you."

Lydia's eyelids fluttered, and she let out a weak laugh. "He owes me . . . big time," she mumbled before slipping back into unconsciousness.

Silphie shook her head, her smile fading as she glanced at Von. "You better wake up soon," she whispered. "You owe Lydia tons of gold."

=== 🐲 ===

Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Stars retreated, confident that Von had succumbed to the darkness. They believed that by now, he had fully transformed into a mindless creature of destruction.

In their eyes, Von's rampage would inevitably lead to the demise of his own guildmates, leaving their flag undefended. Once the dust settled and Von was gone, they would return and claim victory without lifting a finger.

It was a cruel but calculated plan, one rooted in the dark truths of wielding forbidden power. The darkness was a double-edged sword—a curse that offered immense strength at a terrible cost. Once it fully consumed someone, the result was almost always irreversible madness, a fate worse than death.

Most of the Kingdom of Stars viewed this as a convenient turn of events. To them, Von's demise was an expected outcome for someone reckless enough to embrace such a dangerous power. But not everyone shared that sentiment.

Aeloria couldn't shake her unease. She remembered the moment Von had saved her from her own madness earlier, pulling her back from the brink when no one else could. Though they were enemies, she couldn't deny that Von had shown her a rare kindness, a flicker of humanity amidst the chaos. Secretly, she hoped he would survive, even if it seemed impossible.

=== ===

In the stands, the spectators reacted to the unfolding drama with mixed emotions.

Princess Lyralithra and Queen Eurodayle watched with worry etched on their faces. The elves from Crown Jade Woods, jeered and cursed Von's name, their voices ringing out in hatred.

"Begone, monster!" they shouted, their fear and disdain boiling over. For them, Von's return only rekindled painful memories of his cursed past, a past that had made him an outcast. Read new chapters at empire

Lyralithra's heart clenched with guilt as she listened to the crowd. Was giving Von back his cursed heart the right choice?

Without it, he could have lived a simpler life, weakened but free from the risk of succumbing to his vampire nature. Yet when Von had requested its return, his determination left her with no grounds to refuse. It was, after all, his heart—a piece of him that he had given her to keep safe.

Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered, "It's all my fault."

Her mind spiraled back to the past, to the moment when everything had gone wrong. She had been the reason for Von's curse, the catalyst for his transformation into a dark creature. He had been cast out, shunned by their people, and left to wander the world with a broken soul.

Yet, not once had Von blamed her. He never spoke words of resentment or anger. Instead, he had willingly left his heart in her care, sparing her further burden and disappearing into the shadows. That selfless act only deepened her guilt, a wound that festered every time she thought of him.

Beside her, Queen Eurodayle wore a mask of calm, though her heart ached for her son. She had hoped that Von's return would offer some closure, but the scene unfolding on the battlefield only deepened her fears.

Still, a flicker of relief coursed through her—Von was alive, narrowly pulled back from the abyss by Lydia's intervention.

But the Queen's reprieve was short-lived. The council of elders surrounding her seized the moment to voice their discontent.

"Von must be disqualified!" one elder barked, his face flushed with anger. "A dark creature has no place in this competition."

"This is a disgrace to the games," another spat. "He's a danger to everyone here!"

Queen Eurodayle's expression hardened, her regal composure unwavering. "The rules are clear," she replied firmly. "Any being, regardless of origin, is permitted to participate in the games. Dark creatures and exiles are no exception."

Her words silenced the council, though their dissatisfaction simmered beneath the surface. They exchanged wary glances, already conspiring to propose amendments to the rules that would bar dark creatures from future competitions.

Dark creatures were rare in the open world, preferring to remain in the shadows of the Dark Continent. Shunned by society and feared for their destructive nature, they seldom sought glory or recognition. Most embraced their curse, wreaking havoc wherever they went, uninterested in the games or their rewards.

Von was an anomaly—a dark creature walking a path few dared to tread. And now, his struggle against the darkness would determine not only his survival but also the fragile trust he had managed to earn from those who had dared to stand by him.

As the Queen held her ground against the elders, she silently prayed for Von's victory—not just over his enemies, but over the darkness that sought to consume him.

The Queen knew that Von hadn't chosen this life of torment and isolation. Fate, cruel and relentless, had thrust tragedy upon him. Before the curse, Von had been destined for greatness as the crown prince of the Crown Jade Woods. He was beloved by all—a shining beacon of hope for his people. His charm and charisma lit up every room he entered, and his life had been a tapestry of joy and boundless potential.

Yet, he had not been without his flaws. Von's fondness for women often led him into trouble, his roguish tendencies earning him both admiration and exasperation. Even so, his heart had always been pure, his intentions genuine. He loved his people, his family, and his kingdom fiercely.

But that radiant life was stolen from him. The curse had stripped him of his birthright, his future, and his sanity. Overnight, he had become a pariah—a dark creature feared and despised. The kingdom he once called home turned its back on him, casting him into exile and condemning him to wander alone in the shadows.