Wings of Fate

The forest fell deathly silent as the massive bird-like creature spread its wings, blocking the sun. Mike's heart pounded, his mind racing as he tried to understand what was happening. Rin's face was pale. She took a step back, her breath shallow and quick. She grabbed Mike's arm, her fingers cold against his skin.

"What... is that?" Mike's voice barely escaped his lips.

Rin's eyes widened with horror. "It's a dragon. A mythical creature said to be able to rip apart entire villages with a single strike. How did we... How did we get here?"

"What a dragon! I thought that was a fairy tale." his eyes widened more. All he wanted to do now was run. But there was no way he could outrun a flying creature. It was impossible.

"What do we do?" Rin questioned Mike, her voice full of panic. 

"Get behind me. I will try my best to buy you some time to run," Mike said, looking at Rin with determination in his eyes.

Rin knew she was not going to leave Mike by himself. "No, Mike, I can't leave you alone. We have been through a lot together, and you expect me just to leave you here. I can't do that. If we die, we die together. That's what you said back at the house of Valenstrid ( VALENTIN'S HOUSE). You forget that." Rin shouted, her eyes full of tears. There was no way she was leaving him.

"Fine, we will die together."

A loud, screeching cry. Shaking the very ground beneath them. It lowered its massive head, glaring at the two of them with glowing, amber eyes. Yet... it didn't attack. The cry was intimidating for anyone. All their strength was gone, as if they had been running for hours. But it was just a cry from the dragon.

"Mhhh... I can't move at all. Is this fear?" Mike whispered to himself as he glanced at Rin, who was also in the same state. But one question kept running through his mind: Why hadn't it attacked? If it wanted to, they could have been its meal a while back. 

"Umm, Mike, look over there."

"What is it, Rin?" Mike asked.

"Look, look at its left leg. It looks like it's hurt."

"Are you serious right now?" Mike hissed, his voice rising with disbelief. "That thing could swallow us whole without blinking, and you're worried about its leg?" "This is our chance to get away. Let's run for it." Mike said to Rin with a voice full of hope.

"What are we going to leave the poor dragon like this," Rin asked

"There's nothing we can do, and you know that just look at it. It's over five times your height; it could eat you anytime it wants to, and I'm trying to survive and become a king this time." Mike said, ready to dash out anytime soon.

"Look, Mike. The poor thing is crying and needs our help. I think we should help it, and if we can tame it while it's still hurt, it could be a cool pet." Rin said, looking at Mike.

"Well, you are not wrong about it being a cool pet. We can ride it and do all the things we want." Mike glanced at the dragon. "Okay, fine. Let's help it, but if we get eaten, you are to blame." Mike glanced at Rin.

"Really, can we really help it," Rin replied.

"I said yes, you want me to change my mind." He replied in a teasing voice.

As they approached, the air around them became dense, but they could not help but push forward until they reached its left foot.

"Give me the herbs from the bag, and make it quick before it gets angry," Rin asked Mike.

"Fine (storage)."

Mike was amazed to see the storage. Although he thought he had opened it before, he still had to get used to it.

He pulled out all the herbs Rin needed and handed them to her.

"You got a spare bandage," Rin asked Mike.

"No... what do you need it for."

"I need to bandage its wounds; obviously, give me your cloak then," Rin said.

"Why not use yours," Mike asked 

"It's too short."

"That makes sense….wait (store)," Mike shouted.

[system message: you have unlocked weakly shop] A floating screen appeared before Mike.

"Hey, Rin, can you see this floating screen in front of me?" Mike asked Rin, who was applying herbs."I can't read what it says because it is upside down. I said, Give me your cloak," Rin said.

"I'm trying. I can buy some things, but I need gold, and it says I only have 100 gold. And I'm trying to buy these large bandages."

[System message: would you like to purchase large bandages? Total cost is 10 Gold]

"Yes, purchase."

[system message: you have purchased a total of 1 bandage. Your remaining amount is 90 gold. ]

"Look, Rin, I got this," Mike said cheerfully.

"How did you get that."

"I told you I could buy things from the shop now, and you didn't believe me."

Mike handed the bandage, and Rin started bandaging the wounds of the large dragon.

"I'm done," Rin said cheerfully but tired simultaneously.

The dragon lowered its head, staring at them with piercing eyes. For a tense moment, Mike thought it would lunge at them, but instead, the massive beast began to shrink. Its huge body rippled with light, and within seconds, it transformed into a bird no larger than a hawk.

"What… what just happened?" Mike asked Rin.

Rin's jaw dropped. "I…..I don't know. But I think we just saved a shape-shifting dragon."

The bird flapped its wings, perching on Rin's shoulder as if to thank her.