Chapter 5. Dreadful sign

"If I tell you I am the red wolgan, will you believe me?"

Avalanche of questions dueled inside Hera upon hearing those words. The more she strained to convince herself that it was factual, her heart screamed to know if they weren't just an illusion.

"You're the red wolgan? The red dragon-wolf, right? Are you kidding me?"

"I'm not overly too fond of that one."

One of Hera's brows crumpled in incredulity, crossing her arms over her chest as she scrunched up her face and gave the man a disbelieving stare. "You are the red dragon-wolf? But how? Perhaps the fire was just a stunt, and the whole thing was just something you were made up to impress me?"

"I don't need to explicate my existence in detail to a woman I barely know." Darth didn't dare to divulge his identity. "I don't usually do this to anyone, and that's a swear to myself. Natheless, I did it and transgressed my oath to save you even though it was a bane."

"W-what? I don't understand... you transgressed your oath?"

"Prithee, hold your tongue, and don't disperse everything you witnessed, Hera."

Instead of apprehension, Hera was filled with utmost curiosity, confounded by his utterances. She couldn't decipher if this man were who he claimed to be or not. "But you shouldn't let them flee."

"I don't do killings."

"Then you're not the red one."

He was taken aback by her words, completely motionless and muted. This woman was testing his patience, but there was no way he would unfurl further information.

"According to history, he saved the human world by slaying his greatest foes. Those evil dragons attempted to rule the world in their reign of terror, and the red wolgan killed them all," Hera recited what she heard from her father. "Those were the most feared creature since then. But he even managed to quell the war between werewolves and dragons."

Silence fell after the words exited Hera's lips, but only for a brief moment.

"Are you finished?" Darth asked. "If so, I'd like to get going. I still have things to attend to. Go back to your home now."

Hera's eyebrows rose slightly at his sudden response. His abruptness made her wonder if she had somehow offended him. Did she articulate anything wrong?

Perhaps no. This man was different. He did not know how to smile, but he was very rigorous. He does not know how to be sweet but is very protective. Hera could not help but smile, however. He is indeed quite amusing despite his bizarre demeanor.

A long sigh fell from Darth's lips as he pivoted and walked away without sparing Hera another glance.

"Thank you, Darth!" she called out softly, her voice laced with bliss. "Don't worry; I won't tell them your secret!

He didn't bother to respond and continued walking with a heavy head, his pace slower than usual. Overflowing inquisitiveness cropped up in his ethos. The girl is genuinely peculiar yet intriguing.

Hera decided to return home alone with her maple wood, with a smile etched on her face as the scene replayed within her head. It was a stark contrast to her experience that people always adored her beauty, admiring her works, not until she met this incredible being who was very distant from her but enthralling.

WHERE had they come from? And where were the werewolves? Darth scoured the skies, both obscured and worried. Whatever had transpired so quickly, his brain hadn't had a chance to process it properly.

He informed Master Amoux of what had happened earlier but didn't unveil further information about Hera.

"It was a dreadful sign, Your Highness," Master Amoux stated, shaking his head disapprovingly.

"What if our greatest foes come back?" Darth's tone remained monotonous, but deep inside, he felt troubled. There wasn't much he cared about besides his aim to train his scholar within two months. "But you know what, I could sense my vermilion stone's energy."

"Very astute," Master Amoux replied, amusement in his voice. "That implies it's impossible to conceal such a powerful presence."

"Prithee, enlighten me," Darth entreated.

"Fate is such a playful thing, Your highness. Perhaps it was why it brought you into the path of your greatest adversary. Because your vermilion stone became active the moment you moved here. You must remain vigilant."

The mere thought of Hera sent an undefinable pang through him. "You're right, Master. In that case, let us begin preparing."

"Preparing for yourself, not for the human. If our enemies come again, you must not intrude on the human again. You must not save them. You will surely meet your demise if you ever fight back. Remember why you've been stuck on earth, Your highness."

Darth nodded in agreement. He has to persist in his objectives and evade human interaction as much as possible. He will not want to attract unwanted attention.

There would be no way he would encounter any living being, but he did already. Nevertheless, there's no need to worry because he was capable of handling matters.

"I could not agree with you no more, Master. Let us wait awhile and see if anything else happens, for we cannot gamble making a rash decision. I will let you know if I find my treasure stone."

Master Amoux smiled, nodding his head vigorously in approval. "Your scholar will come tomorrow morning. Keep me apprised of the progress."

Darth bowed his head in acknowledgment. "I shall, Master."

He watched the retreating form of Master Amoux as he disappeared around a corner and sighed deeply.

The thought of the scenario earlier kept playing in his mind and only intensified when he remembered Hera's face. The green dragon and the werewolves.

If he was honest with himself, he was starting to become curious about the human girl and the possibility of finding out why he was being summoned by her whenever she was in danger.

No amount of time could obliterate the effect he felt whenever he was near her, as if there was a mix of imaginary voltaic and lodestone descending from his core to his foot sole.

Suddenly, he thought something odd that drove his heart to thump wildly.

'What if she was the girl I'd been searching for?'