The morning sun hung lazily over the Forgotten Fortress. Inside its ancient stone halls, a black-haired girl with faint red streaks swept the floors, dusted armor stands, and hummed a horribly off-tune song.
"Why am I doing chores again?" Milly muttered, glaring at a stubborn stain on the marble floor. "I'm a dragon, not a maid…"
After finishing the chores, she wandered toward the dining hall, where she found Luma and Simni chatting over breakfast.
"Morning, Milly," Luma greeted, sipping her tea. "You're up early."
"Too early," Milly grumbled, plopping down beside them.
The three spent hours chatting about fortress gossip, Luma's weapon repairs, and Simni's new mechanical disasters. The laughter that echoed down the hall almost made Milly forget the heaviness she'd been feeling lately.
But as night fell and the fortress grew silent, Milly sat by her window, staring at the moonlight.
Her reflection in the glass stared back familiar, yet distant.
"If I can't remember who I was… then maybe I'll find out if I leave."
When midnight came, she tiptoed through the dim corridors, clutching a small satchel. She sneaked into Luma's room and swiped a handful of gold coins.
"Sorry, Luma… I'll pay you back. Maybe."
Next stop the inventor's workshop. She rummaged through the cluttered benches, grabbing a few of Simni's spare tools and tiny gadgets.
Then step… step… step…
Milly froze. The metallic footsteps echoed across the hall.
She spun around, bracing herself for a long and painful scolding but it was Simni's headless body, now fully repaired.
It just walked right past her, humming softly (somehow) and tightening a few loose gears on a nearby project. After a few adjustments, the body turned and left the room calmly.
Milly blinked, speechless.
"…I'm never getting used to this place."
She sighed, then smiled faintly and pushed open the fortress gates. The cold wind brushed against her face, and the world beyond waited.
"Alright… world, let's see what you've got."
And with that, the dragon girl stepped into the moonlit forest unaware that her small act of curiosity would set a new story into motion.