The Dragonborn of Raymonds High

The Dragon’s Wrath

Jones and Bob lived in opposite directions of the slums, so they parted ways at the intersection. But just before leaving, Bob stopped him.

His eyes shone brightly, his nose twitching slightly.

“Jones, my brother,” he said earnestly, “I really enjoyed today—wearing designer clothes, driving a supercar... It’s been incredible. But all of this—these clothes, the car—they’re not mine. They’re great, but they don’t belong to me.”

Hearing Bob’s honest words, Jones’ gaze flickered. There was much he wanted to say, yet in the end, he stayed silent. He understood his brother well. Bob, the one who woke before dawn every day to train basketball, was more proud and self-reliant than anyone else.

“Alright,” Jones said with a smile. “I believe you’ll buy all of this again yourself one day—when you’re an NBA star.”

“Damn right!” Bob laughed heartily, waved goodbye, and soon disappeared down the road.

“I never realized Bob had that much character,” Sarah said softly, smiling—a smile as radiant as a rose in full bloom.

“And what about me?” Jones turned to her, the corner of his lips curving upward.

Sarah’s cheeks flushed pink. Her heartbeat quickened. “You… you drive really well.”

“That’s it?” Jones stepped closer, closing the distance between them.

“You’re… especially handsome today,” she murmured, her voice trembling slightly. Their eyes met and locked, the air between them suddenly charged.

They could hear each other’s breathing, sense the pounding of each other’s hearts.

Honk!

A sharp horn shattered the moment.

“Hey! That Lamborghini yours? You’re blocking the road, kid,” a driver shouted.

“Got it,” Jones said casually, then turned to Sarah. “Since you’ve escaped, what now? Where are you going?”

Sarah brushed her golden hair back. “I had a plan… but now I think I’ll come with you. See where it takes me.”

From that moment on, Sarah found herself deeply intrigued by the man before her. And that—was where her downfall began.

*********

When Jones stepped inside his home, voices from the living room caught his attention.

“Haha! I just told Henry one little secret—guess how much I got? Three thousand bucks!”

It was Kevin’s voice—his brother. The tone was so smug it made Jones’ stomach twist.

“Three thousand? That’s amazing, honey! But what kind of secret is worth that much?” his girlfriend asked curiously.

“Secret?” Jones narrowed his eyes, walking silently. He motioned for Sarah behind him to keep quiet.

“That brother of yours doesn’t sound like a good person,” Sarah whispered.

Jones said nothing, only kept listening.

“It was about my dear brother,” Kevin bragged. “He got an admission offer from MIT! Like he deserves that? Please. He belongs under my feet, not above me.”

“Your brother? He must be smart then,” his girlfriend said in surprise. “Are you sure it’s right to betray him like that?”

“Smart? Hah! Not smart enough. Look—he’s already lost his admission! See? The school’s notice says Jones has been disqualified for theft!”

Outside the door, Sarah’s heart ached as she looked at Jones. She couldn’t imagine the pain he’d endured.

Jones’ face, however, was calm—ice-cold calm.

Kevin kept boasting, “He’s probably disappeared by now. Couldn’t handle the shame. Maybe he’s a homeless loser now! That adopted freak, wearing my old clothes—how dare he think he belongs in a good school? As long as I’m here, he’ll never rise above me!”

“But what if he finds out?” his girlfriend asked, a note of fear in her voice. It was as if she sensed the predator lurking right outside.

“He’ll never know…” Kevin said confidently.

“Is that so?”

Jones pushed the door open. The sound alone made Kevin jolt in terror and fall off the couch.

“Y-you—how are you back?” Kevin stammered. His guilt was all over his face. Then, seeing Jones in tailored designer clothes, with a stunning woman behind him, Kevin’s eyes went wide with disbelief.

This wasn’t his poor, pathetic brother.

This was a man reborn—like the heir of some powerful family.

“I had to come back,” Jones said coldly, “to see the surprise my dear brother prepared for me. Or should I say… the traitor who sold me out?”

Kevin scoffed, trying to hide his panic with arrogance. “So what if you know? Look at you—playing dress-up. Don’t forget you’re just an adopted brat. You should crawl back to Raymonds High and beg Henry for forgiveness. Maybe he’ll take you as his lapdog.”

Kevin spoke with confidence, knowing their parents despised Jones. Even if Jones caused a scene, the outcome was predictable: he’d be the one kicked out.

But Jones didn’t plan to argue. He stormed forward, grabbed Kevin by the collar, and struck him—two thunderous slaps that left Kevin unconscious.

“Ah! What have you done?!” Kevin’s girlfriend shrieked, just as Jones’ adoptive mother rushed out.

“Kevin! My boy! What happened?!” She glared at Jones, face twisted with rage. “You monster! How dare you hurt him? Get out—get out of my house!”

Jones drew in a deep breath and said quietly, “I thought… maybe there was still a bit of affection left between us.”

“Affection?” she spat, her jaw tight. “Don’t make me laugh. You think you’re my son? We only adopted you for the government allowance! You were never family.”

At that, Jones’ eyes dimmed. There was no point staying any longer. He glanced once more at the shabby house that had held his childhood and youth—and turned to leave.

“Stop right there!” his adoptive mother shouted. “You hurt Kevin, you pay for it! And all those years of food and rent—you owe us for that too!”

“Money?” Jones’ voice dropped low, dangerous. “So that’s what you love most?”

“Of course! You’ll pay every cent before you walk out that door!”

Jones turned his head slightly toward the shadowed corner. “Richard,” he said coolly, “you know what to do.”

Without another word, he walked out, Sarah following him silently.

It was time.

Time to find the hand behind all this—Henry—and deliver the Dragon’s wrath.

“Stop! Come back here!” his foster mother screamed. But her voice cut off abruptly.

Richard had stepped inside.

“You’ll pay, huh? Ten thousand dollars?” she shouted, still defiant.

Richard’s face hardened, his expression merciless.

“W-what are you doing?” she cried. But her words seemed to vanish into the air, swallowed by the walls.

“Those who offend the Dragonborn family,” Richard said coldly, “must be punished.”