When Soobin opened his eyes, he discovered himself on a bed with a totally unfamiliar surrounding. The room was bright enough. It was also huge and decorated with nice furniture. Although Soobin didn't know where he was, this place felt just like his palace. He sat down and tried to remember what happened before he passed out. And he recalled fighting with an assassin, but his face flushed red when he was reminded of the sudden kiss from him.
At that time the kidnapper entered with a glass of water and some cut fruits.
"Y-you! Who are you? And how did you bring me here? Why?" Soobin stood up and only then he noticed the metal chain on his leg.
"Of course to seek revenge." he smiled. Surprisingly, he looked gorgeous when he smiled. Soobin remembered the kiss once again and turned his head to the other side while blushing.
"But, I don't think I did anything…" Soobin mumbled.
"Your father did. He destroyed my hometown, my family, everyone from my clan." He sighed, his voice was heavy. Then he raised his voice and looked at Soobin angrily, "Now, I'll do the same to him."
"If you do the same, then…what's the difference between my father and you? I know he isn't a good guy. His greed sometimes makes him a monster. Do you know how many times I begged him not to mercilessly kill people just to win some lands?" Soobin gazed at the man, his expression warm.
"If you do what you planned, you'll also be a monster like him. Do you want to kill innocent people? Do you want to be called a monster? I think you're a kind person." Soobin gave a very gentle smile which melted the heart of the dragon guy. But, it was true. The thought of being called a monster made his stomach churn.
"Then… what should I do? He needs to be punished. If I let him go, he'll continue slaughtering people just like he did to my whole village. Look, how empty it is now. He didn't pity even a child." His expression was distressed. His eyes filled with tears as he spoke.
"I have an idea." Soobin placed his hand on the dragon guy's shoulder. His warm, gentle, soft touch raised some unknown feelings which the dragon couldn't describe.
"What?" He gazed at Soobin. Although he was curious, he couldn't move his eyes from Soobin's petal-like lips as he described his plans. He wanted to touch them, kiss them again. He subconsciously recalled the kiss and remembered how soft Soobin's lips were. How sweet it could taste if he hadn't drugged him.
"A-are… you sure?! Would this really work?" He asked curiously.
"I guess it would. At least, I know he won't do anything that'd hurt me." Soobin grinned. Seeing his beautiful smile, the dragon guy could feel his heart pounding, as if it'd come out of his chest.
"E-eat them for now. I'll go bring more food for you." He put the fruits in front of Soobin, stuttering all of a sudden.
"Are you hurt? There's blood in here." Soobin gently touched his bandage wrapped arm.
"Ah! Just got hit by an arrow." Yeonjun moved his hand away. He could feel that his face was burning.
"What's your name?" Soobin asked while gobbling the food.
"You can call me Yeonjun." He grinned, untying Soobin's leg, he left the room.
"Sounds cool." A tiny smile portrayed on the edge of Soobin's lips. He kept eating the fruits, staring at the entrance, hoping Yeonjun would come back, but he never returned.
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The king arrived with his soldiers. Since they already fought in this village, they knew the way. But, the interior had changed completely. The village was completely empty. No, lives, no builds, nothing. Just a haunted castle stood at the end of the village. Yeonjun heard the noises from inside. He quickly changed his form and became the dragon. This time, he was more powerful as he learned a lot, practiced a lot after losing his loved ones.
Seeing him from afar, the king ordered them to attack. But, the head of the soldier, Beomgyu, gestured to them to hold back their weapons.
"Your highness! If you kill it now, you won't be able to find my… our prince. First, we need to figure out where it hid him. After that, we can kill it. Who knows what he's going through, if he's hurt by this monster." He bowed to the king and advised. The king was convinced and told his man to back away.
Beomgyu approached the dragon who roared loudly. But, he was more scared by the thought of Soobin's suffering. He gritted his teeth, clenched on his sword.
"Where is my prince? I know you can understand me." His tone was cold, but calm.
"Nobody! Nobody can find him. I hid him somewhere where nobody could go except for me. You can kill me, but he'll be stuck there forever once you do." He replied with his heavy, beastly voice.
"What do you want?" Beomgyu asked, his tone bitter.
"I want the king to return all of my friends. Or else, I'll finish his dear one just like he did mine."
"Don't be ridiculous. They are all dead. Ask for something else. He can give you however much money, jeweyl you'd want." Beomgyu replied, his expression irritated.
"Fine! Then, let's make a deal. Make him announce that he'll give his empire to them who could win the prince from me. They must come and fight me alone. If they fail, the prince will be captivated by me for eternity. If they win, they can bring him back." Yeonjun smirked as he applied the condition. Beomgyu stepped back and delivered the message to the king. After the king discussed the matter with his men, he accepted the condition. However, Beomgyu lied to the king, adding one more condition that the dragon had no idea about.
The king declared right then and right there. His man announced that whoever could defeat the dragon, the prince and the entire empire will be that person's. Beomgyu smirked, knelt in front of the king.
"Then, please allow me to be the first and last one." He offered, lowering his head, smiling victoriously as if he won the battle.
Beomgyu went to fight the dragon. They fought until the sun sat down.
"Give up, kid. I know you're here to save your lover boy." the dragon huffed. Both of them were injured, exhausted, but never willing to give up.
"But, alas! He doesn't love you back." his voice was full of mockery.
"I will finish you here." Beomgyu's body laid on the ground as the dragon stepped onto his chest. Beomgyu kept panting and then stabbed the dragon's paw with his sharp sword with his full might. The dragon pressed on the captain's chest with all his might which broke a couple of Beomgyu's ribs and he could no longer fight.
Then, The dragon roared. His powerful roar made tremors around the land. And the quaking unsteadied the king's army. Many of them fell from their horses, many of them got injured and died by getting stepped on by humans, horses, and elephants. The king also fell from his horse and broke his one leg. He was sent to his kingdom. He was afraid as he saw how strong the dragon was. If it wanted, it could kill his son in no time. He understood that the dragon definitely had some tricks under its sleeves.
The entire kingdom's walls were full of posters of the news of the one and only prince's abduction, attached with the prize whoever could defeat the dragon. Many princes from several kingdoms-subkingdoms showed up. And most of them were the ones who lost their lands and people to Soobin's father and now ruled by him. They were willing to fight the dragon and save the prince, not because they loved the prince, but because they seek revenge. They planned to kill the dragon, win the empire, bring the prince and make him their slave. But, the king didn't know about it. He was so desperate to save his son, he nearly begged those who were willing to go save Soobin.
But, alas! None of them could come back in one piece. Days went by and there was no news. Now, nobody wanted to go and be injured. And the king had fallen sick. His legs couldn't be cured. The king who everyone feared one day, can't even walk by himself now.
How many kingdoms did he win! How many people did he kill! When he looked at himself, he felt helpless now. His son needs him now. But, he can't go and help him now. Is his son still alive? Or the dragon killed him by now? His heart ached by the thought of losing his beloved son.
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After every fight, Yeonjun turned back to his human self as it reduced the hurting for even a bit. The day when he defeated Beomgyu, he went back to the castle and tried to treat himself. While he was sewing his palm, Soobin appeared. He was shocked and scared by the scenery before him. Yeonjun didn't have clothes on his upper body. And his body was covered with blood and different kinds of marks and bruises. He slowly went to him and placed his hand gently on Yeonjun's injury. Yeonjun looked back, his eyes were red, his fangs were way too big, his expression beastly, the scales on his neck appeared.
"I-I'm… I'm sorry." Soobin stepped backwards.
"You shouldn't have come here." Yeonjun snapped. As it hurt so much, he couldn't control himself anymore and turned into the dragon. Soobin stepped backwards, frightened by the creature's existence. The dragon named Yeonjun jumped to him, making him fall on the ground. He pressed Soobin against the ground and glared at him. Meanwhile Soobin squeezed his eyes shut, afraid that he'll be eaten alive.
TBC…