Few years later
Ryu lying in his bed, staring at the ceiling. His small body ached from the fight with the black dragon, but his chest hurt for another reason—Nyx.
"She left me… just like that," he muttered to himself. "So this is… rejection?"
It was his first real heartbreak. The mighty fourth prince of the Drakheart Kingdom—rejected by his master, the cold goddess Nyx. His pillow was wet from his dramatic rolling and sulking.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in," he groaned.
Queen Qurika, his mother, entered. Her soft steps carried a sad tone to match her voice.
"Ryu… I can't watch you like this. There's a grand party in the kingdom this week. Meeting people will cheer you up. Please go."
She left quietly, giving him space.
Ryu sighed.
"A party, huh? What will I do there? It's not like I'll magically get a wife or something…"
---
The Kingdom's Grand Party
Days later, the castle glittered with golden chandeliers and flowing red carpets. Nobles and royals from neighboring kingdoms filled the hall, laughing and dancing. Music echoed through the marble corridors.
Ryu arrived in his small royal attire, sneaking a cup of wine like a professional thief. He sipped, trying to look cool.
Then—SMACK!
A foot hit his face, and he spat the wine everywhere.
"You're a kid! Drinking at my party?!" a fiery voice snapped.
He blinked and saw her—a girl with crimson hair tied in twin braids, wearing a fiery red dress embroidered with gold. Her eyes were like burning rubies.
"Who the hell are you, witch?! You spilled my drink!"
She planted her hands on her hips.
"I'm Flare Flamewarth, second princess of the Fire Kingdom. And who are you, brat?"
Ryu puffed out his chest.
"I'm Ryu Drakheart, fourth prince of the Drakheart Kingdom!"
Flare scoffed.
"Still a low-level prig to me."
Ryu's jaw dropped.
"How dare you, you witch!"
Before anyone could stop them, the royal children lunged at each other.
They rolled on the floor, pulling hair, scratching faces, and yelling insults like toddlers fighting for a toy.
"I'll make you bald, you fiery demon!"
"Try it, you stupid baby prince!"
The music stopped. Nobles gasped.
The two queens stormed over—Queen Qurika and Queen Satani of the Fire Kingdom.
"STOP!" they roared in unison.
Both kids froze, hair messed up, glaring at each other.
Queen Satani scolded, "Flare! You're ten years old. He's only seven. You should know better!"
"I'm not apologizing! Hmph!" Flare crossed her arms and stomped away.
Ryu shouted after her, "Go away, or I'll snatch all your hair, you witch!"
The party resumed awkwardly. Ryu sulked in a corner, fuming.
"She's the worst… and yet… kinda cute when she's mad…"
---
The Goblin Attack
Suddenly, a soldier burst into the hall, panting.
"Emergency! A monster attack near the mountain fortress! Princess Flare is trapped—our rescue squad isn't returning!"
Ryu froze.
Flare… in danger?
Before anyone could react, Ryu bolted. He summoned his black aura wings and soared into the night sky, wind tearing past his face.
The mountains glowed with fire. He saw goblins—massive, ugly things with gray skin and axes bigger than him—slaughtering soldiers. Among them, Flare fought with flames swirling from her palms, holding her ground.
"Hero entry time!" Ryu yelled as he dived down, slicing a goblin in half with his Dragon Fang Katana. He landed like a hero in a fairy tale, grinning at Flare.
She blinked in shock.
"You?! Idiot!"
Before he could reply, an axe smacked him, sending him flying into a boulder.
"Ughhh… I still saved you!" he groaned.
"Oh please, less talking, more fighting!" Flare barked.
The two unlikely allies fought back-to-back. Fire and black aura clashed against goblin flesh, cutting down the monsters one by one. For a moment, they felt unstoppable.
Then the ground trembled.
An army of goblins emerged from the forest, howling.
Ryu's eyes went wide.
"Oh, crap… here we go again."
Flare shot him a glare.
"Shut up and fight!"
Side by side, they battled fiercely—fire blasts and aura slashes painting the battlefield in chaos.
Then, a giant goblin chief stomped into view, holding a golden axe the size of a carriage.
"RRRAAAAHHH!"
He swung, and Flare barely blocked with a fire shield. The impact paralyzed her, dropping her to the ground.
"Flare!" Ryu yelled, watching the giant raise his weapon for a killing blow.