Bright light that, almost as if penetrated through her eyelids, only made the girl groan in frustration. She was never a heavy sleeper. For the past twelve years, having a good night's sleep was nothing but an imagination. It was then. This was now. After embracing the scent of freedom, for the very first time in her entire twelve years of life, Alana Thornheart could strongly claim that she had received a good night's sleep.

Although, the sleep she got to have lasted only for four hours, but it was worth everything. Even if it meant kicking Leon hard because apparently he had pulled Alana closer in his sleep, thinking that it was his precious side pillow.

A long yawn left Alana's mouth as she sat up straight and stretched her arms and neck. Due to sleeping for several hours on her hard bag, it appeared that she could have developed a pain at the back of her neck. It was understandable, for one could not expect comfortable commodities in the heart of a dense forest.

"Alana. We need to keep moving."

Alana squinted her eyes to make out the voice which had just spoken to her. The bright sunlight was not helping either. When she finally understood that it was Cynthia, with another yawn, she asked, "Why, what happened?"

"Look at this."

Alana was flabbergasted to find a newspaper, which came across as quite new, in Cynthia's hands. The older girl checked the day and date on the top and as expected, it was the current newspaper of the present day.

"Where did you find this, in the middle of the forest?" Lucian, who seemed to have woken up as well and was listening onto their conversation, leaned over to have a good look at the newspaper.

"I woke up quite early. Out of habit, I guess," Cynthia began answering, "When I decided to take a stroll and see if I could locate where exactly we were, I realized that we were not really in the middle of this forest. And rather, closer to the end. I walked down a small plain more and found myself facing the Main City."

If Dragonesia was the main land, then Main City was the nerve centre of Dragonesia. Although there were numerous kingdoms, provinces, districts, cities, towns, suburbs, and villages, spread throughout Dragonesia, the Main City was considered as the supreme power of Dragonesians. It was not only the strongest power militarily, but also economically, politically and socially. After Dragonesia was established in place of Lumina, more number of Dragonesians moved to the Main City because of its vastness; fertile lands which became advantageous for agriculture and an excuse to enforce slavery and labour upon humans. Several institutions for Dragonesians and some for humans or for both were soon built there. Alana had once visited the Main City, with her mother and father (who was still alive then) at the age of three for a short vacation. But it was just a fragment of memory, given Alana's young age. A lot has changed since then in the Main City. It became more developed and the centre of attraction for Dragonesians from all over Dragonesia. Even most of the humans, who were free from the entrapment and slavery of Dragonesians, transferred to settle there. Either because they were wealthy nobles (not that the Dragonesians cared much about it) or were in defence of the Dragonesians' rule over the humans.

Alana had read in the books present in the library of the Dragonesian Castle that after COVID-19, since most of the humans had lost their lives and lands, they could not use their technology like before. Alana had even heard that they had something called smartphones. It was truly fascinating how developed the world was before it was struck by the monstrous pandemic. But after that, as everything was lost, human civilization had to begin from the very first. And thus, present day Dragonesia's condition was similar to that of when, before COVID-19, humans had their own monarchical system.

And these Dragonesians were shamelessly taking advantage and credit of the things that humans had managed to discover and invent once again, with guidance from the historical and archaeological books that they had found buried deep under oceans, sand, ice, or earth.

"I walked down more till I reached a straight road and picked up this newspaper from a roadside convenience shop, when I read the headlines."

With that being said, Cynthia showed them the writings written in bold letters on the front page of the paper. By now, Leon and Lena were fully awake as well, and were reading the headlines with wide eyes, mirroring the similar expressions on Alana and Lucian's. On the other hand, Cora seemed to be in the state of waking up anytime soon.

'The son of the High Lord, alias, the Dragonesian Crown Prince and three human trainees on the run. If caught, will be rewarded with fifty thousand gold coins.'

"Is Leon the—" Cynthia could not even speak. She had presumed that the headline was not meant for the ones she was thinking. She had hoped that her presumption was correct. It was not, and Leon was the Crown Prince. Meaning, he was the son of the very Dragonesian King, who held the most authority in Dragonesia. He was vigour and in every way possessed more power than any and every other Dragonesian kings or royalties of different Dragonesian Kingdoms. Cynthia could understand that this headline was about the four figures in front of her, judging by their expressions.

Leon nodded eventually, giving away his identity in the process, "Yes, I am the Dragonesian Crown Prince, youngest son of King Jocasta Heirora."

Now it was time for Lena and Lucian to be in a state of shock. They were aware that Leon was a Dragonesian. They also knew that Leon was not like other Dragonesians. But this new information was too much of a stupor for them. And unconsciously, Lucian, who was standing close to Leon, stepped back, pulling the stoned Lena along with him.

An upsetting mien took over Leon's face. Whatever happened, people still associated him to his father. He was a Dragonesian by birth, but had his own identity. Why could no one ever see that?

"Do not be afraid of me please," Leon pleaded glancing over to Lena, Lucian and Cynthia, "I am different, please understand."

Leon had expected for them to abandon him and leave. Leon had expected them to stare at him with disgust. He had even expected to hear bashful phrases.

But what he had least expected was for Alana to stand up for him.

"Look at this vial," Alana showed them the very vial which Leon had gifted her, to hide her human scent, "This vial contains something that can easily hide human smell from Dragonesians. This green liquid was given to me by Leon. And trust me when I say this, even he does not know, but I have already tested this experiment on a passing by Dragonesian. And it works perfectly. If Leon had been like the other Dragonesians, would he have given me this vial, just to show his appreciation towards me?"

"You are correct," Cynthia looked at Leon apologetically, "I apologize for doubting you when you were kind enough to give away all of your money to me and my sister."

"It is all good, don't bother," being flustered, Leon laughed awkwardly. He wasn't quite used to people apologizing to him, since it had always been the other way round. Even when something was not his fault.

His joyous crimson eyes met with Alana's. And in silence, the two shared words of affirmation, the beginning of trust and thankfulness. Leon had finally found his true friend, and he could not be happier than he already was.

His attention was taken away by the nervous throat clearing of Lucian, while Lena looked everywhere but at the Dragonesian.

"Sorry for judging you too quick," Lucian murmured, his gaze on the ground.

"Yeah, it was not very decent of us," Lena continued.

Leon only chuckled heartily in response, "Alright, can we all just go back to being casual with one another, as friends?"

Alana's heart skipped a beat when she heard the word friends. Leon deserved to have friends, and so did Lena, Lucian, Cynthia, and little Cora who was now staring in confusion at the elders around her after being woken up from her slumber. However, did Alana truly deserve the privilege of having true friends? Did she deserve it after slaughtering innocent animals just for her so-called training? Did she deserve happiness?

Did she deserve to laugh and run away when the future of Lumina was on the verge of ending?

Did she? After letting her mother die.

The Insurrection. The Takeover. She had not forgotten those Dragonesians' words. And for some reason, she knew that more than her human companions or Leon, they were after her.

Because Alana Thornheart was their weapon.

The laughter that the people in front of her shared, seemed so heart-warming and wholesome. More than Alana, their lives were in danger because whatever happened from this moment forth, they would face death first. Perhaps not Leon, but what were the chances? After all, circumstances forced Leon to run away, even though he was the Crown Prince and received every privilege as a wealthy Dragonesian.

All eyes fell upon Alana, when she silently slung the straps of her backpack over her shoulder.

"Where are we heading off to?" Lena asked.

Alana shook her head, as she made distance between her and the others, "Not you all. Me. I am heading to the Main City. If I am not wrong, The Takeover and eventually The Insurrection could be stopped from there."

Leon's eyes widened when he realized Alana's words. She was heading to the Dravenue, the original residence of the King Jocasta Heirora and the centre of the meeting place of Dragonesian officials, ministers and kings from kingdoms all over Dragonesia.

"I cannot think of a happy life or survival, if there is no bright future for Lumina. Lumina has always been Lumina. It was never Dragonesia. And I will prove it.

Until then, stay together, do not get caught, do not follow me and be safe, please."