You, who face the dragon.
Must understand this fact.
In the distant past.
The 2nd Princess, Hedera, was engrossed in her magic training from dawn.
She was so slow-witted that she couldn't afford to slack off in her training,
even for a day. Since she learned to read, she never neglected her reading,
and she willingly trained even on bad days.
Everyone around her clicked their tongues in pity. It was natural. Despite
her relentless passion, she showed no results. It was a heart-wrenching sight
to behold.
Then, one morning.
Truly, without any warning.
Dragon blood.
The girl manifested dragon blood, which was considered supremely noble.
Naturally, she also awakened dragon words and commands, and the news of
a dragon blooded person appearing in the imperial family swept across the
continent.
Dragon words. Commands.
Their power was beyond imagination.
Hedera's position changed overnight. Just looking at the titles she earned
was enough. She, who was once called slow-witted, was now referred to as
a genius and a dragon-born.
Invitations regularly came from the academy and the tower. They didn't
even hope for her to teach; they humbly requested that she just demonstrate
for the inspiration of other magicians.
Hedera, who was hungry for human interaction, readily accepted the
proposals, but no one matched her level. She just wanted to make friends,
but neither students nor professors treated her as such.
─Rise.
─Break.
─Explode.
She could perform magic that an ordinary person would need a lifetime to
master with just a single word. Yet, Hedera was not a girl who would
become arrogant and haughty.
Therefore, since she was not a born genius.
Because she had memories of being slow-witted, she only thought this way.
…Lonely.
During her days of being slow-witted, there were people by her side who
worked hard every day. Although the results were insignificant, the time
spent and the effort shared with them were rewarding.
She wanted to be with everyone.
Hedera was a girl who valued being together more than her own
achievements. She hoped that those around her would quickly grow to her
level so they could be together again.
However.
The world was not as accommodating as she thought.
Instead, it began to flow contrary to her intentions.
─The 2nd Princess? She only succeeded by luck.
─She succeeded overnight without any effort.
─Why did the dragon blood have to go to the 2nd Princess…?
The gap between before and after obtaining the dragon blood was so
extreme that Hedera, at some point, became someone who had never put in
effort in her life. She couldn't easily understand why she was hated.
So, she tried even harder to do well and made efforts to be kind to everyone
she met.
Only after she gave her all did Hedera finally realize one thing.
─Seeing the Princess lowers our motivation…
─It makes our own abilities seem too insignificant.
─We'd rather do it ourselves.
Being a genius was enough reason to be hated.
Her mere existence fueled someone's inferiority complex and crushed
someone's motivation.
Ironically, to get along with them, Hedera had to stay out of sight.
How much time had passed?
Hedera no longer went out.
She just watched her peers through the window.
She endlessly waited for the day they would reach her level again and
yearned for the day they could be together again, uttering commands.
─Become great.
─Become magnificent.
Extremely abstract words. Commands that would not be heeded.
─Hurry and become great.
─Quickly become magnificent.
Nevertheless, Hedera said it countless times.
She was already suffering from severe depression. She had no vitality left,
and she was in a state where she could only wither like a dried-up plant.
She might have truly died.
If that man had not appeared in her life that day.
─I am Jaekiel. I will be taking care of you from today.
How long had it been since someone else entered her life?
His face was barely visible due to the enormous height difference, but his
blue eyes were strikingly clear. His demeanor was exceedingly polite, yet
he had a sharp and intimidating aura.
On the first day of class, Hedera showed the bare minimum of her abilities.
For one reason—if Hedera showed more than expected, he would say there
was nothing to teach and leave. She didn't want that.
─Is this the best you can do?
Hedera felt relieved as soon as she heard those words. It went according to
plan. The teacher wouldn't leave immediately now.
─Your Highness.
But then, the words that followed.
It was something Hedera had never heard in her life.
─If you want to learn from me, you have to be at least this good.
The man began to weave ice into the air.
It started as ice, which Hedera was familiar with. But as the techniques and
strokes overlapped, it transformed into a scene she had never even
imagined. It was an awe-inspiring display.
This was magic.
Moreover, the fact that it was performed by a human was astonishing.
Even if she used dragon words, she couldn't guarantee she could replicate
this magic. Could human magic be more advanced than dragon magic? She
was pondering this when it happened.
─Young Princess.
─Ah, y-yes?
Hedera was so startled that she shivered.
Thinking about it, the phrase "Young Princess" had never been followed by
good words in her life. She became anxious that he might leave without
giving her another chance.
However, the man only said one thing.
─You must always do your best in front of me. Always.
From the next day, it was pure happiness.
Being able to give her all without worry. For Hedera, who always had to
hide something, it was a blessing.
The teacher was beyond strong, so no matter how hard Hedera tried, he was
always better. She could feel at ease.
Therefore, Hedera gradually began to hope that humans could surpass
dragon magic through her teacher.
Indeed, nothing was impossible for humans. If more magicians like the
teacher appear, everyone can get along well… Happy thoughts accumulated
in the girl's heart day by day.
The girl repeatedly said.
─Humans can surpass dragon magic!
─It's possible.
─Let's all surpass it together and get along well!
Hedera always said it with conviction, no matter when that day would
come. Because if she was with her teacher, that day would surely come. She
would stick with her teacher until then.
However, her teacher was very busy.
He had to teach other princesses besides Hedera, and he had many other
minor tasks, often being called away during lessons. She understood but
still felt very disappointed.
Was that why?
Was that why she dared to vent her frustration on her only ally?
Was that why she acted out?
─I don't really understand. Can you explain it again?
─Am I doing this right?
From 1 hour to 2 hours.
From 2 hours to 4 hours.
The time Hedera demanded from her teacher increased more and more.
─Can you make an ice sculpture that looks like me?
Later, she began to demand things other than time.
─Teacher, why don't you play with me?
─I heard you do a lot of things with the other princesses.
─I want to play too, not just have lessons.
She regretted saying it as soon as she spoke, but surprisingly, her teacher
readily agreed. Her heart was filled with excitement.
Finally, the day they promised to play arrived.
Her teacher looked different from usual.
Instead of his usual attire, he wore a formal uniform and boots, with a hat
covering his eyes. He didn't come alone, either.
─Captain, we need to leave immediately.
─… Time is…
─Urgent…
There were more than ten others dressed in the same uniform by his side,
and their expressions were all serious and intimidating.
Her teacher finally approached Hedera and spoke.
─Your Highness, today's game is hide and seek.
─You must not come out until I find you.
Only then did Hedera understand the situation. The people dressed like her
teacher were all seekers. She thought it would be quite challenging and
nodded vigorously.
And her teacher didn't find Hedera.
No, he disappeared entirely.
Hedera hid and waited for two days.
Two days? She could have waited longer. But the palace soldiers found her
first and forcibly pulled her out.
─Your Highness, here you are!
─Found her! We found the Princess!
─Let go! The hide-and-seek game isn't over…!
At first, she denied and waited.
But a week.
A month.
A year.
Her teacher didn't return.
Could it be a matter of finding the other seekers?
─Such people don't exist.
But even after thoroughly searching the royal personnel directory, she
couldn't find those who were with her teacher at that time. Maybe her own
behavior was too stifling, and her teacher left because of it?
If that were the case, she wanted to apologize somehow.
However, her teacher never returned. Even when she sought out the
Emperor, she only received unhelpful answers.
─He had his reasons for quitting.
Hedera was alone again.
Left alone, she devoted her life to building the Magic Tower.
She wanted to proudly show off what she had built while waiting, so her
teacher would praise her when he returned.
And she soon realized.
Other humans weren't as remarkable as her teacher.
The potential she saw wasn't humanity's, but something her teacher
possessed. Hope turned to dust.
She cried every day and spent nights with hollow eyes.
─Come back.
─Please come back.
That command never came true.
After many long years.
She, who had grown with tears as nourishment, stopped crying one day.
Finally, she blossomed into the flower of adulthood.
At the same time, her emotions completely withered.
After neglecting the Magic Tower, she lived in the celestial realm with the
dragons. Realizing that no matter how much she begged, her teacher
wouldn't return, she stopped clinging to futile dreams.
But… sometimes she tried to forget.
─Let me forget.
─Let me forget.
─Let me forget.
Like only embers remaining, she no longer had the passion to burn brightly.
She just wanted to forget. If she could never reunite with him, she thought it
would be better to forget.
If she forgot the taste of hope, the present wouldn't be so painful.
On that day, as usual, Hedera was immersed in training in the celestial
realm. If nothing else, training never betrayed her.
It was then that she received a letter out of nowhere.
"…?"
She read it once. And then read it again.
"…What is this?"
After reading it ten times, Hedera had to furrow her brows.
She didn't know how to react, but the letter contained just one line and a
hand-drawn picture.
Moreover, a proposal.
…A proposal? It seemed entirely unrealistic.
"…"
There was too much time missing between her and him. But suddenly, a
proposal with no explanation? Complicated emotions surged in her dried-up
heart.
She quickly made a decision.
Young Hedera and present Hedera.
The biggest difference between the two was her resolve. The girl who had
been extremely afraid to go outside had become a woman who could
confidently navigate the world.
So, she decided to confirm it herself.
She had to meet him, ask him something, and hear something in return.
…Absolutely.
.
.
.
.
.
And now.
In the corridor of the Imperial Magic Tower.
"…"
That man was standing in front of Hedera.
His eyes were still inscrutable, his expression a mix of fatigue and ease,
with a tobacco stick in his mouth. He looked just like she remembered, yet
so different from her memory.
What was he thinking when he sent the proposal letter?
She couldn't fathom it.
She couldn't even guess.
"…It's been a long time."
Hedera finally managed to open her mouth.
It was the beginning of a reunion that would shake the entire continent.