The dragon's massive corpse lay still, its scales glinting faintly under the fading evening sun. John stood before the beast, eyes narrowed as he assessed the materials it could provide. He knew dragon parts were incredibly valuable — not just for crafting powerful gear but also for their alchemical properties.
He started with the scales, each one dark as obsidian and harder than steel. Drawing a sharp knife from his belt, John began prying them free. The scales resisted at first, but with precise strikes along the natural seams in the dragon's hide, they loosened. Each scale was roughly the size of a small shield, and John carefully stacked them in neat piles.
Next, he moved to the dragon's claws — long, jagged, and razor-sharp. They would make powerful dagger blades or spear tips. John hacked them off at the base, feeling the unnatural density of the bone beneath.
The dragon's fangs were harder to extract. Using a sturdy hammer, John chipped away at the jawbone until the sharp teeth broke free. Each fang was as long as his forearm, their edges gleaming faintly with magical energy.
The blood came next — a tedious and messy task. With careful precision, John sliced open the dragon's thick veins, collecting the dark crimson liquid in enchanted glass vials designed to contain powerful fluids. The blood's surface shimmered like molten metal, radiating intense heat.
The final and most valuable material was the dragon's heart. It was massive — nearly the size of a boulder — and pulsed faintly with magical energy. John knew it could be refined into powerful artifacts or potions. He carefully carved it free, wrapped it in thick enchanted cloth, and placed it into a shielded box to contain its heat and magical pulses.
Hours passed before John finally finished. His body ached, and his clothes were stained with soot, blood, and sweat. The piles of dragon materials now lay neatly at the front of the capsule house.
---
With the exhausting task complete, John went inside the house, where Alsie and Yumina were already relaxing. The small structure was cozy — a wooden cabin with warm lighting, soft carpets, and cushioned seats. A faint scent of herbs lingered in the air, courtesy of Yumina's tea brewing on the table.
"Finally done?" Alsie asked, stretching her arms. She was curled up on a couch, her boots kicked off and her hair tied back.
"Yeah," John muttered, dropping heavily into a nearby chair. His muscles screamed in protest, but the comfort of the soft cushion soothed his exhaustion.
"You should've let us help," Yumina said, handing him a steaming cup of tea.
"You guys deserved the rest," John replied with a tired smile.
For a while, they relaxed together — laughing softly, talking about their travels, and teasing each other about embarrassing moments. The warm glow of the portable house and the comfort of their presence filled John with a rare sense of peace.
But that peace came with guilt.
He knew it wouldn't last — not until they knew the truth.
Clearing his throat, John straightened in his chair. "Hey… there's something I need to tell you both."
Alsie looked up, raising an eyebrow. "That sounds serious."
"It is." John's tone turned grim. "Please... just listen."
Curious yet slightly worried, Alsie and Yumina moved closer, giving him their full attention.
---
John began slowly, choosing his words carefully.
"I'm… not exactly from this world," he said.
Alsie and Yumina exchanged puzzled looks.
"I'm from a place called Earth — a different world altogether," John continued. "There's no magic there... well, there is, but only in small amounts. There are no kingdoms like this one… but it's full of incredible technology. Machines that fly through the sky, towers taller than mountains, and even weapons that can destroy entire cities."
Their eyes widened, but John continued to speak.
"I was born into a family called the Starks. There are only two people in my family — Tony Stark, my elder brother, and me, John Stark." He added a bitter chuckle.
They shook their heads in disbelief.
"My brother… well, he's kind of a big deal. He is one of the Avengers — a group of powerful heroes who protected our world from powerful threats. People call him Iron Man. There are also others like Captain America, Thor… they are like legends back home."
Throughout the story, Alsie and Yumina's faces shifted from awe to disbelief, and eventually to something more painful — sadness.
John lowered his head, speaking nonstop, unaware that Yumina's eyes glistened with tears. Alsie's face hardened, her fingers gripping the armrest tightly.
"And then… because of an accident, I ended up here," John concluded. "But now, I've already figured out how to go back."
The room was silent for several moments.
"You mean… you lied to us all this time?" Alsie's voice wavered.
"It's not that simple," John said. "I wanted to tell you sooner, but… can you imagine what that sounds like? Even now, it must feel absurd."
"But we trusted you," Yumina said softly. Her voice was barely above a whisper, yet it carried the weight of betrayal. "We… we were like family."
John's chest tightened. "I know," he said quietly. "And I'm sorry. But I didn't know how you'd react. I thought you'd think I was insane… or worse."
Alsie's breathing turned heavy, her hands clenching into fists. "Maybe we would've," she muttered, her voice breaking. "But hearing it now... it still hurts."
John lowered his head. "I understand."
Yumina's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before she turned away, biting her lip as if holding back tears.
For a while, no one spoke. The warmth from earlier had vanished, replaced by tension and unease.
---
Until morning, the atmosphere remained heavy.
"I'm going to see Lindsey," Alsie said, her voice firm. "I need some time to… sort things out."
"I… I'm going home too," Yumina added quietly. Her tone lacked its usual cheerfulness, and her shoulders seemed to droop. "I need to see my family."
John's heart sank. "I get it," he said quietly. "I won't stop you."
He activated the gate — a swirling portal of blue light — and watched as Alsie and Yumina stepped through.
Alsie paused for a moment, her back turned to him. Her fingers twitched as if she wanted to say something… but then she clenched her fist and walked through the portal without a word.
Yumina followed behind her. She paused just before stepping through and looked back. For a brief moment, their eyes met — and John saw the sadness in her gaze.
"You should've trusted us," she whispered, her voice breaking. Then she stepped through the portal.
Neither turned back to say goodbye.
As the portal closed, John stood alone in the now-quiet camp.
He exhaled shakily, feeling an emptiness he hadn't expected.
'Maybe this was for the best...' he told himself.
But deep down, that hollow feeling wouldn't leave him.
He had done the right thing — yet somehow, it still felt wrong.