Chapter 8: Trapped

I felt something poking my face, and I blinked my eyes open to see the Dragon man crouching beside me, probably thinking he was doing something helpful. I was about to ask him what the heck he wanted, but then, of course, the universe decided I needed more excitement. A familiar transparent window popped up right in front of my eyes again, like it had nothing better to do than interrupt my already confusing life.

Notification

You've unlocked a new skill:

Whipsword

Master the art of the whipsword, a weapon that combines the precision of a blade with the flexibility of a whip. Strike with both speed and range, and adapt to any combat situation.

As the mana flowed into me, I felt a strange sensation, like a surge of power that wasn't entirely mine. It wasn't just the energy of the world around me—it felt deeper, more personal.

Then, as if from nowhere, a sudden message echoed in my mind.

You have successfully acquired Caden's magic core

"So, when are you going to remove the seal? You already said you could, no backsies," the Dragon guy said, completely interrupting my inner monologue.

Oh, so he can speak properly now? What was all that cryptic mumbo-jumbo before? Did he just like talking like that, or was he trying to sound cool and majestic? And seriously, backsies? I couldn't help but wonder if he'd just discovered that word today. My brain struggled to hold in a laugh.

"What are you laughing at, you lowly human?" he demanded, his brows furrowing like he was about to challenge me to a duel or something.

I almost lost it right there, picturing him trying to look all imposing while using words like backsies .

"Nothing, anyway, something unexpected happened," I said, sitting up slowly. Despite the pain I'd just gone through, my body felt oddly light, like I'd just had a nap instead of being set on fire by my own insides.

"It says that to release the seal, I have to defeat you in battle," I explained, trying to sound casual, like it wasn't the weirdest thing I'd ever heard.

"What?! Is that what he was looking for?! Was he actually trying to kill me?" The Dragon roared, his body starting to shift back into its terrifying dragon form.

"It didn't say kill, it just said defeat," I said quickly, hoping to calm the fiery lizard down.

"What's the difference?" The Dragon roared even louder. "You want to assassinate me too?! You ungrateful creature!! This is how you repay me after saving your life and catering to your every need?! Pests like you deserve to die!!" He bellowed, his fury practically shaking the ground.

Before I could even respond, the air around me grew scorching hot, and suddenly I was engulfed in flames that felt like they came straight from the depths of hell. I didn't know if I should be terrified or impressed—he really knew how to make an entrance.

I felt my skin and my bones melt in a matter of milliseconds, I just woke up from an excruciating pain, and now I am being burned? What the hell did I even do in my past lives to deserve such-

-

"How is this possible?" I heard the familiar voice, and my eyes shot open immediately.

The Dragon, now back in his human form, was staring at me like I'd sprouted a second head.

"How are you still alive?!" he shouted, taking a step back like I was about to bite his face off.

I stared down at my hand, trying to make sense of what was happening. My mind raced, but I couldn't ignore the growing sense of unease. I began checking myself over, my eyes flicking from my hand to my clothes.

Nothing seemed to be missing. In fact, my clothes—those ragged, worn-out things I had been wearing for what felt like forever—were still intact. They should've been nothing but ash by now, considering the mess I had been through. But as I ran my fingers over the fabric, I realized it was no longer torn or soiled. In fact, it looked brand new, like I had just been dressed in fresh clothes.

I frowned. Had something changed while I wasn't paying attention? Was it part of the seal breaking, or had I somehow been... transformed? My mind couldn't decide whether it was a blessing or just another strange twist in this bizarre situation.

I let out a sigh of relief, thinking maybe I'd somehow dodged death—until I was interrupted.

Just as I was about to give the Dragon a piece of my mind for burning me alive, a new wave of scorching hellfire shot toward me, and I looked up to see the Dragon, fully back in his terrifying original form.

"If I had to do this a million times, I would gladly do it!!!" he screamed, as the flames roared toward me again.

-

Every time my consciousness flickered back to life, the Dragon was there, burning me alive again and again and again. It was like his new hobby—he seemed determined to do it a million times, or at least until he got bored.

The pain was unbearable, but my mind kept ticking, trying to figure out what was going on. I quickly ran through every theory I could think of, and then, suddenly, one theory clicked.

This space, it's not like any normal place. The time here is distorted. Caden must've caused the time in here to stop. I know, it sounds like something out of a fantasy novel, but it was the only explanation that made sense. That's why no matter how many times the Dragon burns me, he never seems to get tired. Time has stopped for him too, and since the Dragon seal was updated, my body, like his, can't age or die here. In this space, everything's frozen in place.

"Why aren't you burning?!!!!!!" The Dragon's voice boomed in my mind, a little more frantic now.

I glanced down at myself, still in the midst of his fiery assault, but somehow, my body remained completely intact. My clothes weren't even scorched. And then, I noticed something else—there were windows popping up in front of me.

Great. More updates. Just what I needed while being roasted alive.

Notification

You have unlocked a new skill:

Fire Resistance

Elements combined to form this skill:

Earth: providing a protective barrier.Water: Absorbing and cooling flames.Fire: Absorbing a portion of the heat, making body resistant to flames.

These combined elements grant you the ability to endure and resist fire with remarkable efficiency.

So that's why I don't melt anymore. Wait, hold up! This totally messes up my whole theory. Does the seal have more tricks up its sleeve than I thought? Is it secretly a million times more complicated than I gave it credit for?

As I look at the window, a thought suddenly strikes me. These so-called skills aren't just spells—they're something else entirely. They're stored in a specific way, woven into me with a purpose. Unlike the typical magic I've heard of, which needs incantations or gestures, these skills don't require any of that. They're part of me now, permanent and ever-present. Each one has its own unique function, a way to enhance my body, mind, or strength when needed.

"WHY AREN'T YOU BURNING?!!" The Dragon was charging at me, mouth wide open like he was ready to roast marshmallows or, you know, my face.

"Hey, will you just stop and listen?!" I shouted back, my voice shaking like I was being chased by a giant angry fire-breathing lizard—which, well, I kinda was.

The ground shook, like an earthquake was happening under my feet, but then it stopped. I took a deep breath, finally managing to open my eyes and look up at the giant Dragon now looming over me.

"I don't want to murder you, and even if I did, I couldn't. This space keeps us from killing each other," I said, casually sitting up and moving to the strangely unburned couch—yeah, because nothing says 'normal' like having a perfectly fine couch in the middle of hellfire.

"Do you mean it?" he asked, eyes wide like a kid who'd just found out there's no homework for the rest of the year.

Was this Dragon always this naive? Or did he just go completely insane after being stuck here for so long? Honestly, I don't even want to call him innocent. The word stupid fits much better the more I talk to him.

"Yes, so sit down. We need to figure out how to get out of here," I said, sinking back into the couch like this whole conversation wasn't giving me a headache.

"We? Are you also stuck here from now on?" he gasped, looking like I just told him the world was flat.

I shot him a look. "I mean, yeah. It's inescapable and honestly, pretty dreadful, but don't worry, human. You have a magnificent companion!" He puffed his chest up, looking so proud of himself. "I will save you from boredom. Be grateful! Because I, The Great White Dragon, am bestowing upon you my compassion and leisure!"

I swear, I had to roll my eyes so hard I almost saw my own brain. Is this really where I'm supposed to be? Trapped in a weird dimension with this conceited, moronic Dragon? Why me?

--

Since I arrived, things have been... well, bizarre. We tried everything to trick the seal into breaking. We thought about killing the Dragon—don't ask why, okay?—but that didn't do anything. The seal didn't care. It was like it had a mind of its own, almost like it knew we weren't really trying. We also tried the whole "defeating" thing by surrendering, but again, nada. It was like the seal was watching us, judging our every move, waiting for us to do something that actually meant something.

The one thing that did change regularly, though, was my skills. Every time we sparred, a notification pops up about acquiring a skill. After one of our attempts to dupe the seal by killing the Dragon (yeah, I really went there), a new notification popped up: 

Notification

You've unlocked one skill under the contract with the White Dragon:

Draconic Transformation (Incomplete): Dragon Eyes

You can now perceive the world as the White Dragon does. Enhanced vision allows you to see through illusions and detect hidden enemies.

Skill still in progress.

Seriously, what is going on? Am I just supposed to keep pretending this makes sense? Because it really doesn't. And I'm about two seconds away from losing it.

I'm not tired or anything. Physically, I feel fine. But mentally? Oh, that's a whole other story. It's like my sanity is slowly being chipped away, little by little. Not in the sense of, you know, dementia, but in the sense that I'm starting to lose my grip on reality. And honestly, if I didn't have this Dragon by my side in this weird space, I'd probably be pulling my hair out by now.

"Hey, human, how was it?" The Dragon asked, lounging next to me on the floor after transforming back into his human form.

"What was what like?" I asked, blinking at his sudden question. What did he mean?

"Outside. The world," he said quietly, almost as if he was lost in thought.

I glanced at him, and I could see him staring at the golden ceiling like he could see through it, looking so wistful. It was almost... sad.

"It was peaceful," I said, unsure how to put my thoughts into words. How do you describe a world you've only half experienced?

"Hmm," he muttered, his eyes still lost in the ceiling. "You once mentioned that dragons no longer exist. Are you sure? What if they're all imprisoned, like me and you?"

"Perhaps," I said, rubbing my forehead. "But it's been thousands of years, and there are barely any records left about Dragons. Your species are mostly just myths and legends now."

As soon as those words left my mouth, a horrifying thought hit me like a ton of bricks.

I froze. My heart rate shot up, and panic started to rise in my chest.

Does that mean, the longer I stay here... thousands of years might pass outside while I'm stuck in this endless loop?!

My mind raced, trying to make sense of this twisted reality.

"Hey Dragon, have you ever taught a human?" I inquired.

He sat up and looked at me with mixed expressions

"Yes," he finally said after a brief pause.

"Caden was the human I nurtured and educated, believing that humans and Dragons could coexist," he explained, his voice soft but heavy with the weight of the memory.

The mention of Caden hit me like a punch to the gut. This was the first time the Dragon had shared something like this, and it was a revelation that stunned me into silence.

"But then he betrayed me," the Dragon continued, his voice dropping into a rasp. "He learned our ways, our language, our magic. I treated him like a younger brother, like a son, like—what you humans call family. But in the end, no matter how much I taught him about being a Dragon, he was still human. And humans, they're greedy. They're never satisfied with what they have. They always seek chaos, destruction... They call it the prerequisite of peace," he said, his tone bitter, almost like he was speaking from the depths of a wound that never healed.

I couldn't help but feel the sadness in his words, but there was still a part of me that was confused. "That doesn't explain why he locked you here," I pointed out, my brow furrowing.

The Dragon let out a deep sigh. "Dragons have always been a threat to humans. They fear my kind and slaughter the weaker Draconian, claiming it was for the best, labeling us monsters just because we are stronger than them."

"So dragons aren't monsters?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"There are monsters," he replied. "But Dragons are not one of them. My kind is the epitome of existence. We are just as aware of our environment as you are, humans. Those who lack that awareness—that's what our kind calls monsters."

I mulled over his words for a second. "Oh, I suppose I see what you mean. Outside, there really isn't much distinction between species. As long as something isn't human, it's automatically labeled a monster, or an animal, or a pet," I said, squeezing my palm. My thoughts drifted to the unresolved issue of the empire's auction house, where lives were treated as commodities.

The Dragon nodded, his eyes distant. "That is what our king sought to change. That human misunderstanding. That's why we took in humans and taught them our ways. But that very human I saved, who I trusted with my knowledge, imprisoned me here. I believe he wanted me to go insane, to become a mindless monster."

The weight of his words hung in the air, and for a moment, the space between us felt heavier. The Dragon wasn't just some fire-breathing creature—it was clear he had been through something far worse than what I could imagine. The betrayal, the loss, the endless isolation. He wasn't the same proud, untouchable being I'd seen when I first arrived. In that moment, I saw a side of him that was vulnerable, tragic even.

I leaned back, staring at the golden ceiling above us, trying to process everything he'd said. "You really believed in Caden, didn't you?" I asked quietly.

He didn't answer right away, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, the kind of stare that felt like he was seeing something far beyond it. "I thought... maybe humans could change, that they could learn and understand, maybe not all but at least Caden. That's why I helped him. I wanted to believe that peace could be more than just a dream. But now... I wonder if that was just my foolishness." His voice cracked slightly, like the weight of all those years had finally started to show.

There it was again—the sharp, aching sorrow in his words, and it hit me hard. He'd put his faith in someone who ultimately shattered it. And now, he was trapped, caught in this strange loop with me. Neither of us really knew how to get out, and the more we talked, the more I realized how much this Dragon had suffered, how much he'd lost.

"Maybe you weren't foolish," I muttered, more to myself than to him. "Maybe you just didn't have a choice but to hope."

"I can't really tell much about my kind because I was scarcely outside of the palace, I'm a princess so I haven't really gone out that much and I wasn't permitted to either, because my safety would be jeopardized," I explained.

"What is a princess?" he asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

I blinked at him, a little thrown off. "You have a king, but no princes or princesses?" I asked, almost as if the concept was too simple to be foreign to him.

"No," he said, waving his claw dismissively. "The King of Dragons is the absolute monarch of our kind; that title can only be obtained by the strongest Dragon. Once the King of Dragons dies, all of the Dragon clans—White, Red, Black, Yellow, and Blue—send a representative to fight in a battle royale. The last one standing is crowned the Dragon King."

I blinked, trying to wrap my head around it. "Survival of the Fittest, huh? I guess it fits your kind. You're like the single most powerful race in existence."

"Yes," he said with a puff of pride. "And I am the White Dragons' delegate!" His chest puffed up like he was some sort of proud rooster, though I didn't have the heart to tell him that "delegate" didn't really have the same majestic ring to it as "King."

"So, you're like a prince, right? Someone in line for the throne?" I asked, trying to make sense of all the Dragon hierarchy.

"A prince?" he asked, his head tilting to one side like a curious puppy. It was kind of adorable in a "really, you're supposed to be terrifying" sort of way.

I couldn't help but chuckle at his confusion. "I guess that's one way to think about it," I said, rolling my eyes. "But sure, let's call it that."

And so, there we were, sitting on the floor of this bizarre, time-stopped space, teaching each other about our customs in the most chaotic and unexpectedly amusing way. 

I tried my best to explain the complexities of the human world, especially our obsession with titles and royalty. You know, the whole system where some people are born into power and others are left scrapping for a seat at the table. It was a lot to explain, but I did my best. I told him about kings and queens, princes and princesses, how we give these titles to people based solely on who their parents were, and how the whole thing is wrapped up in centuries of tradition, like some endless game of "who's related to who." It sounded ridiculous even to me when I said it out loud, but that's the way it works, right?

In return, the Dragon did his best to make sense of it all. The idea of handing down power like it was some kind of family heirloom was just too much for him. 

"So, wait," he started, his golden eyes narrowing as he processed my words. "You just... pass on your title because you were born into it? But what if the heir is weak, or stupid, or completely useless?" He looked at me, genuinely perplexed, like this was the biggest conundrum he'd ever heard. 

"How does that even make sense? In the Dragon world, we fight for power. The strongest, the smartest, the most capable earns the title."

I could see where he was coming from. In his world, strength, prowess, and leadership were earned through battle and survival, not through a random lottery of birth. I explained that while we humans might not always agree on the best way to pick our rulers, it was simply how we did things. The idea that leadership could be passed down through bloodlines, no matter how unfit the heir might be, was a foreign concept to him. I could almost see his mind struggling to process this.

"You mean to tell me," he continued, "that someone who's never fought, never bled, never shown any true strength, could become king just because their father was king?" His voice had a bit of an edge to it now. "Isn't that... dishonorable? How do you even trust such people?"

"Well, it's more complicated than that," I said, trying to smooth things over. "Sometimes, rulers are chosen based on their ability to govern, not just fight. We have advisors, councils, and all that. It's not all about personal strength."

The Dragon scoffed. "It should be about strength! You can't rule if you can't protect, if you can't defend your kingdom. That's how you keep the respect of your people!" His frustration was palpable, but there was a hint of awe in his voice too, like he couldn't quite grasp how something so inefficient could work.

I chuckled. "You're not wrong. It does sound pretty absurd when you put it like that." I sat back, trying to think of a better way to explain it. "But you see, humans are... complicated. We've got all these social systems, structures, and beliefs about what makes a person worthy of power. It's not just about being the strongest; it's about being able to maintain order, balance, and sometimes even diplomacy." I paused. "It's not perfect, obviously, but we try."

He sat up, his claws digging into the floor like he was contemplating the meaning of life. "I suppose... It sounds weak, but if it works for your kind, who am I to argue?" He gave a half-hearted shrug, clearly still processing everything I had said. "Still, the idea of passing down a title without earning it... it's strange."

"Well, that's the way it is," I said, with a sigh. "But hey, you get to fight for your power. You don't have to deal with all the backstabbing, the politics, or the endless paper-pushing. So, I guess we're both stuck with our weird systems."

He snorted. "Backstabbing sounds... annoying. I'd rather just claw through anyone who stands in my way."

I laughed, despite myself. "Yeah, I guess the whole 'direct approach' has its advantages. You never have to worry about a council vote or a royal scandal."

We both sat there for a moment, reflecting on how bizarre our worlds were in comparison to one another. The more I explained the intricacies of human society, the more I realized how much I took for granted. And the more the Dragon tried to understand our way of doing things, the more I felt like an alien in my own world. It was a strange feeling, but oddly comforting. We didn't have to agree on everything, but at least we were trying to understand each other.

"So, you're telling me," the Dragon said, breaking the silence with a mischievous gleam in his eyes, "if I wanted to become the king of your people, I could just walk in, take the title, and call myself the ruler?"

"Uh, no," I said quickly, "that would never work. But you could try... you know, maybe run for president or something."

He stared at me blankly. "President? What does that even mean?"

"Let's just say it's another way of saying 'someone in charge but still doesn't get to set everything on fire,'" I said with a grin.

He rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a chuckle. "I don't think I'm cut out for that kind of power, then. You can keep your... politics."

Now, fast forward, and here I am, lying on the floor next to him in his original, massive dragon form after another "sparring session." Sparring, for the record, means me getting burned alive repeatedly while he just flexes his muscles and says stuff like, "You're too weak."

"No, you're just unusually strong!" I shot back, not even feeling frustrated anymore. It's weird how you start to accept things when you've been through them a million times. Plus, it's not like I can do much about it.

He didn't respond. He just closed his eyes like a cat that had eaten a whole meal and now decided to nap in the sun. He just turned sparring into a hobby, a way to pass the time. When he got bored of throwing fireballs at me, he'd just lie down on his stomach, eyes shut, looking like he could nap for eternity.

As for me? I was lying flat on my back, my body still recovering from my latest "death" by dragon fire.

Notification

You have acquired new skills:

Skin Reinforcement

Elements combined to form this skill:

Earth: The stability and durability of the Earth fortify your skin, enhancing its toughness to resist damage.Fire: A layer of heat-resistant energy coats your skin, offering protection against fiery or extreme environments.

Your skin is now reinforced, providing additional protection against physical attacks and environmental damage. The skin becomes tougher, acting like armor to absorb impacts and reduce injury.

Muscle Mass Enhancement

Elements combined to form this skill:

Earth: The strength and density of stone are now reflected in your muscle structure, increasing your raw physical power.Air: Lighter, more agile muscles enhance your speed and flexibility, allowing for greater movement efficiency.

Your muscles have grown stronger and denser, increasing your physical strength and endurance. This enhancement improves your ability to perform strenuous tasks and boosts your combat prowess.

"Hey Anya, now that I look at you, your magic core seems to have healed?" The Dragon said, totally out of nowhere.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I was kinda shocked about that too," I replied, trying to act casual but still a little thrown off. How did he even notice stuff like that when he's mostly lying around like a massive, glowing couch?

"Hmm, I think I can teach you magic now," he said, like it was no big deal. His eyes were still closed, like he was about to take a nap or something.

I just stared at him, unsure if he was joking. "Wait, what? You can teach me magic?" I asked.

Without even opening his eyes, the Dragon just gave a lazy nod. "Yup. First lesson: Barrier."

Now, I wasn't sure if he meant 'barrier' as in magic or like, a metaphorical 'stay away from me, human' kind of barrier. So, I took a step toward him... and bam—out of nowhere, this invisible wall popped up in front of me. It was like walking into a sheet of glass, but with no glass. Just... nothing.

I frowned and poked it. Nothing. I pushed harder, still nothing. I felt like a dog trying to push through a door that's not even there. "What is this?" I shouted.

"First lesson, Barrier," he repeated, sounding like a guy who had just invented the concept of walls.

I looked at him, thinking, "Yeah, I got that part, but how do I get through it?!" He was still just lying there, all cozy, eyes closed like he was having the best nap of his life. This was definitely not how I imagined learning magic.

I sighed, cracking my knuckles like I was about to do something big. "Alright, if you want a barrier, I'll give you a barrier!" I gathered all my energy and punched the glass wall with everything I had.

...And it was like hitting a brick wall made of marshmallows. It didn't even move. My hand felt like it'd just high-fived a mountain. My knuckles throbbed, and the barrier? Totally fine. Not a scratch.

"How am I supposed to destroy this thing?!" I yelled, shaking my hand out. This was starting to feel like one of those "it's not you, it's me" moments. Like, I was the problem here, not the barrier, and that was really starting to annoy me.

The Dragon, still not moving, finally opened one eye and lazily said, "I didn't say destroy it. create one like it."

Wait, what? Create one?! What do you mean create? I dont even know the fundamentals and basics of magic yet now he wants me to create something using magic? that's like telling a one year old child to compute something using his brain!

I threw my hands up in frustration. "Create? What? You want me to pull this magic thing out of thin air? I barely know anything about magic!"

The Dragon just closed his eye again like he couldn't care less. "You're the one with the magic core, not me. Figure it out."

I stared at him. This was my magic teacher? A giant, grumpy lizard who was probably napping through my struggle? This was the equivalent of being taught to swim by a lifeguard who's eating chips and watching Netflix. Fantastic.

I slumped down dramatically. "This is going to be a great class, I can already tell."