Leo walked down the road of Dragonfall City with a warm smile on his lips. For ten years, he had stayed inside a freezing mountain pool with nine heavy iron chains cutting into his flesh. Every single day, he bled and suffered in silence until he finally woke his dragon mark and broke free.He hurried through the rain toward the small straw hut that sat near the broken city walls. The grand palace of his ancestors was gone leaving only this leaky shelter in the mud. Still, his chest filled with deep joy because his loved ones were waiting just past the creaking wooden door.Inside the damp room, his father Thomas sat in dirty rags with white cloths tied over his blind eyes. Beside the old man lay Lily, her legs bent and broken from cruel beatings she had suffered in the past. Leo rushed across the room and dropped to his knees, pulling them both into his arms."Father... Lily... I am finally back," Leo choked out, his voice cracking as tears spilled down his cheeks. Thomas’s trembling

"I have to go, Father," Leo said softly, kneeling down to wipe the tears from his father's face. "They took our home, your eyes, and Lily's legs, but they cannot take Mother's honor. I promise you with all my life, Lily, I will return before the sun sets tonight.""Please be careful, big brother," she whimpered in fear, holding his shirt tightly. Leo kissed her forehead, and turned around to walk down the mountain into the bright morning sun.Golden sunlight lit up the massive central square of Dragonfall City, where thousands of people stood in a wide circle. Gareth stood proudly on a high stone platform, wearing golden armor with a cruel smile on his face. Beside him stood victoria in pure white robes, her eyes looking cold like carved stone."Look at the traitor's crown!" Gareth shouted to the crowd, pointing his sharp sword at the beautiful green jade. "Today, we will burn this cursed thing to ashes to show that the evil Lin family is gone forever! But before we burn it, let us se

"You have five seconds to crawl out right now!" Gareth's voice echoed outside the cave. When no one came out, Gareth's face twisted into an ugly sneer. "Burn them out! Fire the flame arrows into the hole right now!"A loud whistle tore through the darkness as dozens of burning arrows shot into the cave entrance. Fire splashed across the dry bushes and stone walls, filling the small space with choking smoke.Thomas coughed violently, holding Lily close as sparks landed on their torn clothes. Leo did not hesitate for a single second. He lunged across the dirt, grabbing an abandoned iron shield left behind by old miners.Leo lifted the iron high, planting his feet firmly in front of his family like a stone wall. Flaming arrows slammed violently against the shield, Hot embers splashed across Leo’s arms and shoulders, burning his skin until it blistered, but he never let out a single groan."Clara, help me clear the smoke!" Leo yelled over the roaring flames. Clara gritted her teeth, tryin

Victoria brought her sharp dagger down with all her strength, aiming the steel straight at Lily’s face. The little girl squeezed her eyes shut, screaming for her big brother as tears washed down her cheeks. Before the blade could touch her skin, a hand clad in black dragon silk shot out from the dark mist.Leo clamped his fingers around Victoria's descending wrist like an iron vise. Victoria froze in place, the breath caught in her throat as a crushing weight locked her arm in midair. She slowly turned her head around, her eyes widening in pure horror as she looked up at the towering shadow behind her.An iron mask carved like a roaring dragon glared down at her with glowing eyes. "Who are you?!" Victoria shrieked in terror, trying with all her might to pull her hand free. Leo did not answer with words; he simply tightened his iron grip.A sickening crunch of breaking bones echoed across the wet cliff as Victoria's wrist and forearm shattered into splinters. The steel dagger slipped f