"This is all my fault. This is all my fault. I should not have been so desperate to not think about others first. I should have known—"

"Cynthia, look at me."

At the concern filled firm voice of the Dragonesian, Cynthia's loud cries transformed into broken sobs. Her wailing eyes looked up to the crimson eyed Leon, whose own seemed to be drenching with teardrops. Both shed tears. One was silent and one was crying her heart out. One with the guilt and concern for not being strong enough to help his friends, and one drowning in guilt for not taking the situation rationally and putting everyone in danger.

As the flames grew and the fire crackled mirroring that of the entrance to hell, Leon could utter under his breath only one thing.

"I'll find a way to save you."

Alana coughed as soon as the flames grew, blocking their entrance. She had no time to protest when Lucian had followed right after the girl, with his gladius. The black smoke that was inhaled by Lucian as well, was not a surprise due to his profuse coughing. The two fell to the ground and the coughing seemed to continue unabated. It was no ordinary smoke produced from the flame after all. A small whiff of it was enough to make them feel as if they were being choked.

"Yo-you are a f-fool. A pathetic fool," Alana managed to blurt out in the midst of all the coughing to the boy beside her.

"So are you," weakly replied the boy with a subtle chuckle, "I-I won't die. Don't worry."

"I won't let you die," Alana coughed out more as she struggled to stand up. The black smoke appeared to impede their physical capabilities, "Or anyone."

Lucian, who once again followed Alana's steps, at last stood up from his crouched position. His gladius was right at bay similar to the girl's dagger as the two looked up at the big thorny vein which had now taken the formation of a terribly gruesome looking tree. Staring at it almost felt like staring at millions of protruding eyeballs. But there were no eyeballs, just numerous pores. The top part of the monstrous tree held onto an unconscious Cora, still by her leg. On the other hand, the possessed Lena stood unfazed, not far away with her blank white eyes.

"Lucian," Alana spoke, "We have to do all we can but Cora and Lena must be saved."

"Ay, ay captain," Lucian mumbled as he cracked his neck and fingers before covering his nose and mouth with a piece of cloth torn from his jacket, just like Alana did. He glanced at the blade of his sharpened gladius and then up at the possessed Lena, who was staring right at the boy. With odd movements, Lena bared her teeth as if threatening them.

"Let's see," Lucian smirked under the cloth hiding his lips, "How long that cowardly Driren continues using Lena as a shield."

Lucian lunged forward at the possessed Lena, who swiftly dodged the boy's attack.

As expected, since control over the thorns had been lost, the tree fell down on the ground with a thud. Alana was quick to reach the part where the thorns were still growing in order to cover and swallow Cora.

Alana crouched down and proceeded to remove the veins, one by one, separating the tangles away from Cora's legs but to her vain.

Out of nowhere, another vein arrived and quite literally grasped Alana's arm and threw her so close to the flame gate that she could almost imagine the pain of being burnt.

"We have to do something!" Cynthia exclaimed while grabbing her hair in frustration, "We can't just wait here for everything to be over."

Leon, who seemed to be in a deep thought, looked over at the gate of flames preventing them from entering the scene. It was not possible for any human to cross the flames. Alana and Lucian were fortunate enough to reach inside before the flames grew, or the two would have been burnt to death. There was no way a human could walk right through the flames, given that these were magical flames created by the Driren.

But a Dragonesian could.

When Dragonesians were born, they were born as humans with inhumane eyes and distinct blood colour which distinguished them from humans. After a certain age, which was usually between the ages of five to seven, a Dragonesian first transformed into their dragon form. The latest age the Dragonesian could transform into their dragon form was nine. Not more than that. And when a Dragonesian kid first succeeded in their first transformation, a celebration in the kid's surrounding always took place in the honour and as a matter of pride. Unlike Eluscan, even after the age of nine, Leon never transformed into his dragon form. He tried. And kept trying. When his father looked down upon him and called him a disgrace repeatedly, Leon stayed up all night just so he could practice and transform into his dragon form soon. When his Dragonesian classmates boasted about their own dragon forms, he could only sit in silence, being not included in the conversation.

The other individuals naturally assumed that Leon Heirora, the youngest prince of the Dragonesian race, was a slender and insignificant Dragonesian due to his incapability to undergo transformation.

Jocasta had strictly ordered Leon to not reveal about his blood colour to any Dragonesian. Leon knew the reason. His blood resembled that of humans, the weak creatures after all. Jocasta was ashamed and had always been of his youngest son, while Leon accepted the truth and moved on.

When he learnt more about the wrongdoings of his own species, Leon was glad that he could not transform into a dragon similar to a true Dragonesian. But today was different.

Today Leon desperately wanted to transform into his dragon form. At least for once.

Leon sucked in a deep breath before looking at Cynthia.

"Cynthia," Leon spoke, his crimson eyes shining under the flames, "Everyone will be alright."

Leon closed his eyes and clenched his fists tight in an attempt to call his inner Dragonesian out. He inhaled and exhaled and tried continually, but nothing took place, to his utter dismay.

"What are you—are you trying to transform?" Cynthia asked when she quickly caught onto Leon's plan.

"Yes," Leon sighed dejectedly, "But I can't. I just cannot."

"You can Leon," Cynthia encouraged the Dragonesian, "Just believe in yourself."

Leon closed his eyes with a deep breath again, but he failed for the nth time.

"Leon, I have an idea," Cynthia voiced out her lingering thoughts, "When do Dragonesians mostly transform?"

"When they want to travel?"

"Other than that."

"When they are angry or want to conquer something or—"

Leon's eyes widened when he caught on Cynthia's words. He looked over to the girl with his widened eyes.

"You are a genius. That's it! That's the key!"

Leon closed his eyes again. Throughout his entire eighteen years of life, he was never furious or wanted to conquer something. He was mostly lonely, which he tried to cover with positivity. The thought of anger merely crossed his mind. But now he was angry. He was angry at the Driren for putting his friends in danger. He was angry at the Driren for disrupting their minds.

Above all, he was angry at the Dragonesians. For every single thing.

And then the young Dragonesian prince felt it. A warm glow blooming inside which soon bubbled up and ignited into something more. The warmth broke apart, showering all over his body. And when he opened his eyes, he had already transformed.

Not into a Dragonesian. Not at all. It was something majestic, unexpected and out of the world.

One eye of Leon glimmered in the colour of emerald while the other in his original crimson colour more, as he looked over at the flames with a newfound courage. In place of his arms, now were red dragon wings, wide and spread apart enchantingly.

Leon was frightening yet charming in his form. He was the true epitome of a Dragonesian, that is, a half human and half dragon.

"I am no more pathetic, Father."