❖ Bahamut's Summit

@❖ Daniel Henney Sulfur burned in the air, thick and cloying. Beyond the stone walls, the volcano stirred beneath Bahamut’s Summit. The land was restless. So was I.
My fingers dug into the obsidian windowsill. Candlelight flickered, casting jagged shadows. Cold. Too cold. My pulse pounded against the hush of the room.
Daniel’s voice cut through. “Tell me what you saw.”

I turned, meeting his gaze. Steady. Calculating. The Dream Lord read me too well, but even he couldn’t grasp the weight of my visions—fractured glimpses of a world I knew yet had never walked. Shadows whispered my name, their voices ancient, relentless.
“They’re not just dreams,” I said, throat raw. “They feel like memories.”

I shook my head. “Something wants me to remember.”
Wiping the sweat beading on my forehead my jaw tensed then flex. “What is the Abyss of Forgotten Dreams?”
The name chilled me. TIT felt as if weight of the title was some mysterious a place where time unraveled or some ed up prison for memories too dangerous to exist.

“Something—or someone—is reaching out,” I admitted. “I can’t ignore it.”

@♕❖ Bambi Naka † The guard’s voice cut through the chamber’s suffocating silence. “Lord Henney enters.”

Daniel stepped inside, boots gliding over stone, eyes adjusting to the dim glow of smoldering embers. He had expected tension Bambi never summoned him without cause but this was different. The air itself was thick, pressing, like something unseen had only just withdrawn. And Bambi
She stood rigid, back to him, her shoulders barely rising with breath. Her fingers, pale against the dark stone, gripped the windowsill.

“Your Majesty.” His voice was even, deliberate. She did not move.

Daniel advanced. He studied the taut set of her muscles, the unnatural stillness, the way her pupils failed to find purchase in the flickering candlelight. He had seen warriors trapped in blood-drenched recollections, lost between past and present. This was something else.
“Bambi.” He did not raise his voice, but it cut cleanly through the oppressive quiet. A command, not a question.
Her breath hitched. A single second passed, then another. Then, at last, her gaze snapped to his. Wide, unfocused, pupils blown. A trance. He reached out, fingertips brushing her wrist—cold. Too cold.

“The past is not as dead as you think,” he murmured, steadying her. “But it does not rule you.”
Bambi’s fingers twitched beneath his, her pulse a sharp, uneven rhythm. Outside, the storm howled, rattling the castle’s bones, and deep beneath them, the volcano’s veins pulsed in answer.

Daniel held her gaze, calculating. “Tell me what you saw.”
He already knew the answer would change everything.

@❖ Daniel Henney The acrid scent of sulfur lingered over Bahamut’s Summit, the mountain's molten veins thrumming beneath the castle floors. Bambi stood at her window, staring into the obsidian night as storm clouds convulsed. Sleep had eluded her for days. Each time her eyes shut, voices slithered through her mind, shadows seeping into her vision.

"Nayami..."
A name she had long buried.
Her fingers trembled against the cold stone. These were no dreams—they were echoes. Memories not her own. A field of charred bones. A violet sky. A shifting figure at the horizon. And always, the voice.

"Do you remember?"
Tonight, the abyss loomed closer.
Daniel had warned her. "The Abyss of Forgotten Dreams never calls without reason. And never without cost."

The unseen presence at her back, the fractures in Bahamut’s history—what if her visions were not delusions but the past forcing its way through? A horn sounded from the valley below. A summons.
Bambi exhaled, steeling herself. Whatever haunted her would have to wait. She was Queen. She would not yield. Yet as she turned, a shadow, untouched by storm or candlelight, stood within her chambers.

"Do you remember?"
This time, the voice was directly behind her.

@♆ Choi Seunghyun The world twisted. One moment, Kibum stood firm, calculating. The next they were airborne, shoved forward by the demon’s unholy strength. The ground met them like a promise of death. Kibum twisted mid-fall, calculations firing. Angles. Velocity. Impact points. They landed in a controlled roll, knee grinding into the coarse rock. The growl behind them inhuman. No, not behind. Above.

A clawed limb slammed down where they had been. Kibum barely evaded, a fine mist of dust erupting around them. The creatures mistbound constructs, not flesh, moved like distortions in reality. And Seunghyun? The bastard was already vanishing toward the Mistheart. “Disperse the mist,” he had said. As if it were that simple.
Kibum’s lips curled. “Oh sure, let me just politely ask the atmospheric density to step aside.” But their mind was already moving. Seunghyun had handed them a problem, and problems were puzzles. Kibum excelled at puzzles. They scanned the area, synthetic vision dissecting heat signatures, air currents, density shifts. The mist wasn’t just fog. It was condensed will, bound into form. An extension of something ancient. Something unwilling to let them pass.

Fine. Time to cheat.

Kibum reached into their belt, fingers grazing the high-frequency disruptor—a weapon by design, but in the right hands, a scalpel. A twist of the dial. A recalibration. The hum of energy, rising. They flung the device into the air. A pulse erupted. Not an explosion, no fire, no shockwave. Just vacuum. A forced pocket of nothing. The mist recoiled. The creatures shrieked, their bodies unraveling at the edges. But it wouldn’t last. Kibum turned, eyes locking onto Seunghyun’s retreating figure. “Move, you elegant coward, or I swear I’ll strap you to the next failed experiment.”

The creatures reformed faster than expected. Kibum’s breath hitched. The disruptor had bought them seconds, not minutes. They sprinted, the Mistheart’s glow just ahead and then the cavern floor split open beneath them.

@☾ Dong Youngbae “But first things first, can we trust this dragon?”

Your words, laced with levity, masked something deeper—an unresolved history, a question left unanswered.
I opened my mouth, but Daniel answered first.
A roar shattered the night, followed by a sudden, merciless plummet. The wind cut like a blade, the sky a whirling abyss. Then, just as violently, Daniel unfurled his wings, halting us with calculated ease. A warning, not a mistake.
I steadied my breath, pulse betraying me. This was no mere flight maneuver—it was possession, protection, defiance.
I shifted in your grasp, your arms still firm around my waist, your breath too close. Logic urged distance; desire defied it.

“Trust him?” I let the words simmer. “With my life.” A pause, deliberate. “With yours?” My cheek ghosted yours—a fleeting touch, incendiary in its subtlety.

Daniel descended, landing in flawless precision atop the frost-kissed summit. Awaiting us stood the Vharyx Sentinels, their dragonforged armor gleaming, their oath unbroken.
I inhaled, the weight of sovereignty settling. Duty dictated distance. And yet, your gaze defied reason.
I spoke in the ancient Drav’haraen tongue. “Vahros’tai threnna vi res’tal.” Rise, warriors of flame.
They obeyed in unison, their silence absolute.
I turned back to you, voice velvet with amusement. “Forgive Daniel his dramatics. I trust him implicitly.” A measured pause. “As for you?” My head tilted, the challenge unspoken. “That depends on where you intend to place those hands next.”
I smiled—slow, wicked. Before you could answer, I moved, sliding down Daniel’s forearm, landing with effortless grace.
The air was sharp, but all I felt was heat. The castle loomed ahead, its shadow deep against the night. And in that moment, I knew:

The gods were watching. And this time, I wasn’t sure if they meant to stop me—or witness my fall.

@❖♕ Bambi Naka † I just crumbled with you being this close.

My senses betraying me once again. I left all the scars and fears. They disappeared as we travelled in an indescribable universe, where a child of the sun embraced the queen of night and fire. The vast sky became the roof over our heads. The cold breeze bringing comfort to such intimate moment. I coughed a chuckle, daring to touch the dragon that’s carrying us. It had finally dawned on me- it is making me self-conscious.

It hurts. All the bottled-up emotions raging in me. Those words an overflow of the desire I have. My jaw clenched preventing myself from acting foolish since I am aware of our company. You held my hand, resting them around your slender waist. I inhaled every fibre of your being as our bodies pressed together.

“One of the best experiences of my life,” Your voice softer but it triumphed at imprisoning my core. I glanced at the stars around us, if only I could catch them and offer them to you, I would. You shifted in my arms, our eyes met.

“Don’t choke on me now, Your Majesty.” I offered a reassuring smile, pressing my lips against your temple. “We have a lot to catch up on.”

I squeezed you gently, resting my chin on your shoulder. “But first things first, can we trust this dragon?”

@〄 Kim Kibum ¥ [Forgive me for taking such a long time to reply]

It was a slap on the face when the cyborg reminded the doctor that he was leading, “Tsk.” Seunghyun winced boring holes at the cyborg’s back with arms folded across his chest. He was carving for a moment to get rid of his companion as he gripped the dagger tightly. If only he could unsheathe it and released the plague to end this unfortunate comradery. But his movements must remain swift, precise, and fuelled by unholy masked of vampiric dexterity. “Do as you please.” He murmured, forcing a grin that showed his sharp incisors, it was more a symbol than a weapon – a necessary prop in his masquerade.

The mist heavier and the power source becoming tangible as they went deeper. Seunghyun kept close, his dark heart racing in elation.

Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled. A guttural growl, deeper than any earthly beast echoed through the fog. A figured emerged. Seunghyun narrowed his eyes, shifting his feet, ready to strike or run. It was not sleek nor scaled dragon, they expected. It was but a grotesque parody of nature.

Ancient books were right. The vampire’s memory had proven useful. The demon smirked.

The creature resembled a massive hairy spider with eight limbs ending in razor-sharp claws. However, instead of a spider’s head, it had a misshapen appearance, a resemblance to a human skull – somehow distorted, swollen and eye sockets that were vacant. Its mandibles clicked and dripped with a gooey ichor.

“Oh hell...” Seunghyun muttered, momentarily abandoning his practiced composure. He did not avert its eyes from the cursed creature. Or should he say creatures. Two. Three. More surface, creating a blockage between them and the artefact. “No mere beasts but guardians. Twisted and corrupted.” He whispered and moving backwards. He glanced around but it was difficult to make off the area. The mist already too thick to seek an escape. The doctor had two options, fight or run.
He must have the Mistheart.

Catching a glimpse of the cyborg’s stare, Seunghyun exhaled slowly, nodding at Kibum’s direction. The creatures lunged, its speed surprising for its size, their claws directly at their party.

Seunghyun knew he couldn’t rely on brute force alone. Yet he cannot use his cursed powers. His eyes briefly turned yellow as he focused his demonic senses, reaching out into the fabric of the fog. He searched for the source of its binding power. He realised the creatures was not just a guardian but an extension of the mist itself.

He leaped forward, eyes now dark as blood and pushed Kibum towards the creatures and yelled out, “Its mist. It draws its strength from the fog. Disperse it!”

The doctor ran, sharped claws ready as he jumped so high and landed at one of the creatures back. An eerie cry echoed as he unsheathed Tyrfing and punctured it into the creature’s leathery skin. Seunghyun jumped off then blue flame instantly consumed the creature. But instead of looking back, he kept walking and ahead of him The Misheart – so close as he disappeared inside the cavern.

@☾ Dong Youngbae The wind howled around us, a symphony of raw power and untamed freedom as Daniel carried us through the endless night. The stars stretched infinitely, scattered like diamonds across a sea of midnight blue. Below, the world was but a distant memory, a fading shadow swallowed by the vastness of the sky. But none of it—none of the breathtaking wonder surrounding us—compared to the way you looked at me.

Your words struck me harder than I expected, a whispered temptation against the cold air. Don’t fly too high, Your Majesty. I might have to try and climb up the mountains, only to find myself falling for you.
My heart clenched, the weight of your voice stirring something deep, something I had buried beneath duty, beneath reason. How cruel it was that even after all this time, after all the lines I had drawn between us, you still found a way to unravel me.

I should have looked away, should have let silence be my answer. But instead, I reached for your hand, guiding it tighter around my waist, feeling the warmth of your touch seep through the layers of fabric and steel. Perhaps it was for your security, to steady you against the unrelenting winds. Or perhaps—perhaps I just needed to feel you close.

A ghost of a smile played at my lips. “One of the best experiences of my life,” I admitted, my voice softer than I intended. “I’ve flown before, as a bat in my vampire days, but this…” I glanced down at the endless horizon, at the shimmering world beneath us. “This is something else. Like trying to describe chocolate to someone who’s never tasted it. Like opening your eyes for the first time after years in the dark.”

I turned back to you, the glint in your eyes betraying your thoughts, your desires. A breath hitched in my throat. Like falling in love for the first time.
I almost said it. Almost.

But I didn’t.
Instead, I let the moment linger, let the air between us pulse with something unspoken, something neither of us could afford to name. And as Daniel carried us further into the night, towards the kingdom that awaited my rule, my responsibilities, my fate—I allowed myself one reckless indulgence.
I leaned back, just enough to feel the steady rise and fall of your chest against my spine. Just enough to pretend, if only for a fleeting moment, that this was ours to keep.

@♆ Choi Seunghyun The fog rolled thicker now, swallowing the path before them, obscuring even the faintest glimmers of moonlight that had managed to pierce the clouds. Kibum’s sensors flickered, momentarily distorting the landscape before recalibrating with a soft hum. Their cybernetic enhancements were both a blessing and a curse—precise, efficient, but often at odds with their human instincts. It made moments like this harder to navigate. A human would have hesitated, but Kibum’s mind never faltered, even as their feet crunched softly across the uneven ground. The Mistheart Caverns loomed close, its opening concealed by centuries of fog and shifting rock, waiting for the right hand to uncover it.

The demon was behind them, silent but always present. Seunghyun’s footsteps were measured, calculated—every move designed to avoid attention, every glance wary. Kibum could feel his gaze, sharp and suspicious, yet begrudgingly admiring. "He's a slave. He’ll lead us to our death," he'd once said. It had almost amused them then, the idea of a creature like him questioning their judgment.

But now? Kibum didn’t care about the demon’s doubts. He was a tool—a necessary one, at least for now. They had no time for egos or mistrust. Their mind was focused only on the Innovator, the artifact hidden deep within the caverns. The power to rewrite reality itself. The thought of it set their blood—both human and mechanical—humming with anticipation.

Seunghyun’s voice cut through the mist, his tone tinged with doubt. “Are you sure it’s here?” He rubbed his arm where he’d bumped into Kibum’s cold frame.

Kibum didn’t respond immediately, their gaze fixed on the path ahead. “I’ve been here before,” they said, voice smooth, devoid of emotion. “You don’t need to question me. You only need to follow.”

As they pressed forward, the ground beneath them trembled, a low rumble that seemed to emanate from the very core of the mountain. The air thickened, charged with something primal. And then—a sound. Low. Rasping.

Kibum’s hand twitched at their side. There was something lurking ahead, something waiting. But what truly unsettled them wasn’t the growl—it was the sudden shift in the air. The cavern ahead wasn’t just a place—it was alive.

The mist swirled violently. The entrance was within reach.

And then, the first shadow appeared.

Seunghyun’s hand moved toward his dagger. Kibum’s eyes narrowed. They were close now, and what came next would test them all. Would the demon stand by their side, or would the Mistheart drive them apart? The cavern would demand a choice.

[post deleted by owner]

@〄 Kim Kibum ¥ They were an unlikely party, bound by a common goal, navigating the treacherous landscape of Bahammut's Summit. The doctor, with his knowledge of ancient lore and his knack for medicine, often played useful in front of the Grand Council. However, the task is to retrieve the Innovator-a powerful artefact rumoured to have the ability to alter the very fabric of reality. The demon is aware of its importance. The peace treaty still stands and if the artefact falls into the wrong hands the balance amongst the kingdoms will crumble. But he cannot voice it out loud. He must pretend to be a man of principle and on the council’s side.

As they traversed the dunes, the mist proved to be useful as they become undetected from the dragons radar. He couldn’t help but roll his eyes every time Kibum, the cyborg speaks. “He is but a slave. He’ll lead us to our death.” The demon remembered telling a vampire comrade before leaving the Central.

He was wrong. The cyborg seemed knowledgeable.
So he kept his mouth sealed. The demon wouldn’t want the attention to him. Not yet. He reached for his waist and felt the dagger still sheathed.

“Ow!” The vampire grunted when he ran into the cyborg. “Are you sure it’s here?” He asked, rubbing his arm, not looking at the cyborg but at the path in front of them. “I’ve heard they have giant spiders here. Has anyone fought one?” The doctor asked.

@♆ Choi Seunghyun The mists curled around Kibum like living things, tendrils of silver and shadow twisting in the faint light of Drakethorn. The town seemed unnaturally still now, as if holding its breath. Even the crowd's earlier fury over the Dragon Queen's rule seemed to dissolve into the fog, leaving only faint echoes of discontent to accompany Kibum's steady, metallic steps.

Each movement felt calculated, each sound deliberate. The faint hiss of steam from their joints and the quiet whir of hidden mechanisms within their body reminded them of what they were—both flesh and machine, a contradiction wrapped in purpose. Yet, even as their cybernetics thrummed with precision, an ache lingered beneath their chest. Not physical, no. Something older, more human, and harder to suppress.

The dragon statue loomed behind them now, its weathered scales vanishing into the mist. Kibum glanced back once to see the enforcers dispersing the crowd with sharp commands. The heavy presence of law meant they had less time than anticipated. They tightened their grip on the folded map hidden in their sleeve, the parchment crinkling faintly under their touch.

"The Mistheart Caverns," Kibum murmured under their breath, scanning the winding streets ahead. Their voice was low, steady, and devoid of doubt. "A labyrinth of unquantifiable phenomena. Temporal distortions. Sentient anomalies." A faint smirk tugged at the corner of their lips. "And yet, no one has mapped its core. How inefficient."

They ducked into a narrow alley, the scent of damp stone and old iron filling the air. Their enhanced vision adjusted to the gloom, scanning for the unmarked trail that supposedly led into the heart of the Mistheart Range. Proof. That’s what they needed—not whispers of spectral echoes or myths of reality-altering artifacts. Evidence was the only thing worth chasing, and Kibum had spent their entire existence hunting it.

But the nagging thought of Seunghyun’s involvement made their jaw tighten. That vampire was unpredictable, a creature of charisma and chaos. A poor ally but a worse enemy. If Seunghyun was already in Drakethorn, as rumors suggested, this venture might spiral faster than anticipated.

Pausing, Kibum adjusted their coat against the growing chill. The mist seemed thicker now, heavier, almost oppressive. Their fingertips brushed the faint line of an inscription etched into the wall beside them—a forgotten ward against what lay in the mountains above. It felt primitive, almost desperate, yet there was something familiar in its symmetry.

"The cost of discovery," Kibum whispered, their breath curling into the mist. "Always more than anyone anticipates."

They stepped forward, the path ahead disappearing into a silver haze that promised danger, deception, and, perhaps, the answers they sought.

@〄 Kim Kibum ¥ The wind tasted of ash and fear. Seunghyun, the vampire, wrinkled his nose, his pale skin even whiter against the bruised sky of the Drakethorn. He'd expected fire, maybe the scent of roasted meat. Instead, a secret hung heavy in the air. He pulled his cloak tighter, concealing his identity as he watched the raucous unfolds. A crowd had gathered. they were were motley bunch with snouts twisted in anger. "Down with the Dragon Queen! Down with the Unjust! A true dragon must have the crown!"

Seunghyun, ever the opportunist, adjusted the scarf obscuring his fangs, stopped and joined the crowd. His crimson eyes gleaming in the mist. "It would seem the shameless fire lizard' has some disgruntled subjects, wouldn't you say? It appears her majesty has some competition" He said enough to get a few heads turned. "Bambi is not our queen."

He raised his hands in peace, feeling the raw, potent emotions radiating from the group. "Oh. if only we can capture this moment." His companion the snake whispered into his ear. Discontent, yes, but also a simmering resentment is giving these devious spirits the energy they needed.

"We must go down." He insisted, his hand gripping a small travel-worn journal. A disguise as the ever educated and prepared vampire. "We need to hurry."

Seunghyun, used the distraction. He descended the rocky slope, the wind tugging at his clothes, the chants growing louder. There are far more important things than the political woes. He needed to advance his vision. But for now, he kept his mouth shut and pose a sympathetic edge in his soul. "To maintain a status quo." No. Not for the demon. He wanted that power all to himself.

@♆ Choi Seunghyun The town of Drakethorn was a place that should have been alive with the roar of dragons and the whisper of magic, yet it felt hollow. Perched on the jagged cliffs of Bahamut Summit, its weathered buildings hunched against the biting wind, as the swirling mist from the Mistheart Range cascaded down in ghostly tendrils, swallowing everything in its path. The air felt thick, like it carried secrets older than the mountains themselves.

Kibum moved through the fog, a shadow among shadows, unnoticed, as always. Their steps were deliberate, the metallic click of their enhanced limbs echoing softly against the cobblestones. The scent of burning incense mixed with the earthy decay of the mist, filling their senses as they passed the town square. A crowd had gathered around a dragon statue, its scales eroded with time, its eyes dull and lifeless. On it stood a man, his voice sharp and commanding, rallying the crowd with venomous words about Bambi Naka, the Dragon Queen.

"She's a vampire! Not a true dragon!" the man shouted, his fist raised high, spitting with fervor. "She rules by marriage, not blood! Tradition has been shattered!"

The crowd jeered, a sea of faces twisted with anger and discontent. One man shouted, "I heard she still owns that filthy brothel in the Black Light District!" Another followed with a cruel chuckle, "She'll sell herself to the highest bidder... still could bed her for a price."

Kibum slipped past the crowd, the chaos a perfect cover for their true purpose. They did not care about Bambi or her supposed crimes. They were here for something far more dangerous—something that could alter the very fabric of Heleo itself.

As the town's Dragon Enforcers arrived, their massive forms cutting through the fog, Kibum's thoughts shifted to the Mistheart Caverns. The whispers of its power had reached even them, the Innovator—an artifact capable of rewriting reality itself. Kibum could feel the pull, the temptation to harness it, to finally end the institution of slavery that had scarred them for so long.

But at what cost?

"One step closer," Kibum muttered to themselves, their voice cold and detached, "and we might lose everything."

The mists closed in around them, the path forward as uncertain as the choices they would soon face.

@❖ Chris Roma Mini let the cloud she lay on float along with her lover's lookalike, watching him from above. He seemed... upset? 'Ah I want to get closer...', Mini thought to herself, leaning over the edge of the cloud. She in her lower lip, brows drown up together as she gazed at the man. Hundreds of years had passed since she'd last laid eyes on her living lover, but down in icey dungeons of her castle he still lay looking as if he'd just fallen asleep. The demon of gluttony sniffed, easily picking out his scent from the many others that clouded the area. 'Ah... he smells like him too...' She kept following him, watching him from the skies as he wandered the dragon's lands.

Once the scent of dragon eggs had faded from her breath, masked by the sweet mintyness of the cloud she snacked on, she jumped down from the sky. Her humanoid form hit the rocks with a deafening thud, the ground cracking beneath her on impact. She landed a few meters before the man, clad in a simple dress that betrayed her lack of interest in fashion. Now that she was closer, the differences in their appearance were more pronounced, and yet... the similarity was striking. Mini's heart was beating like a drum. She knew there was no way this lookalike was him. She knew he was resting peacefully in her castle. She knew, and yet... "Calvin..?", she asked timidly, the fear tangible in her voice. The one word came out like a whimper, a striking contrast to her literally impactful landing.

@♦ Christopher Bang "Christopher." Taemin began with a soft sigh, shaking his head slightly as he regarded the human who looked so ready to fight. Taemin himself was still as relaxed as ever, his attention mostly on the thing in the cell but he kept a close eye on the human's magic just in case he needed to intervene for all of their sakes. "My daughter and my fiance live here. I have no desire to fight with you in a place like this, it would put innocent lives in danger. I would rather you did not threaten me in my own home." He said, hoping the human would see reason and calm down so that there wouldn't be any unnecessary damage to person or property. He hated to have to pull rank, but he would do it if he had to. An attack against him was an attack against his Kingdom. Though he loathed bringing politics into personal matters if it could be avoided.

The cyborg was still unresponsive though. He'd been far more active in the beginning, but it had been a few days and at some point he'd simply shut down. Taemin felt no sympathy for it. He knew what kinds of things that creature did to further its own ends and it had been getting far too close to his daughter for his comfort. The fact that he hadn't outright killed it was a blessing, and the only reason he hadn't done so was because he didn't prefer to use murder to solve his problems. "You have not asked me what his crime was. You haven't even asked me to release him. Yet you prepare for violence already? Should I take it personally, or assume this is a learned behavior through unfortunate circumstances in your past? I'm not a violent man Christopher, I'd prefer if you weren't either."

@❖ ♕ Lee Taemin This was not how Christopher wanted to meet him. That little tanuki had spoken fondly of Taemin so, for obvious reasons, the mage had originally intended to approach the guy with the intentions to leave a somewhat good impression despite his rough personality. Yet... things never seem to go to plan, do they? In this case, it wasn't even his fault nor was did he even have anything to do with it. His own damn slave caused this, and here he is picking up his mess -- and /paying/ for it on top of it. This surely will land him on Taemin's bad side and thus ruin any chance he'd have at this so-called academy of magic. All because, for some damn reason, he chose to step in and prevent Hyunjin from getting what he deserved; a good whoopin'.

'I'm not here by any means to excuse whatever he did,' Christopher answered, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he calmly faced his foe. 'I'm pretty damn sure he deserved to be locked in that thing... Unfortunately, he is my slave and it wouldn't look good if I let him be killed, would it?' Rolling his shoulders, hearing them pop a little, the mage lets his magic slowly gravitate towards the tips of his fingers as he takes a few steps forward. 'My magic may be unstable... But you have no idea what I am capable of.' It wasn't even his ego that made him stand his ground against Taemin. Christopher had no ego to begin with. It wasn't even bravery or courage either, it was practically stupidity at this point. He took a deep breath, leveled himself and feels the cold talons of his magic curling around him as his mismatched eyes started to shine an iridescent shine. 'Don't underestimate me.'

@♆ Huang Mi Ni “What happened here? “
The Lord of Dreams enters the mainland he once called his Heleo home. The continent of Ashord's is as complex as its diverse landscapes. From the desert oasis of Pythian in the west to the abandoned ruins in the South of No man's land and the mountainous terrain of Draco lays Bahamut's Summit, for there is nowhere in the world more unique than the realm of the Dragons. Returning after all these years, the caved empire appears as a dark misty graveyard to the old Dragon.
“It smells of rotten corpses and lost dreams.”

Particles of the creature's history lie adrift. Scraps of their people's story lay scattered, dying out with the ancient beginnings of lineage in this realm he'd come to love. The dragon's eyes narrow on foot's print, realizing that their otherworldly creatures must have resided here at one time or another. Even be the dream lord was conducted, this kingdom was seldom a paradise. The deterioration of his realm that has suffered in his absence is reflected in his conduction.

“It smells of rotten corpses and lost dreams. Where am I?”

@⚜ Gabriel Avalos (I am so sorry it's taken me so long to respond to this, my head has not been in the right place for rping lately ;~; )

Taemin, for is part, had more or less forgotten about the letters he had sent. They were sitting in the back of his mind, pushed aside by other more important business that demanded his attention each day. Trying to piece back together a crumbling Kingdom was a chore, and most days were an absolute slog. He deeply regretted several of the choices he made in the past, perhaps if he had been more involved with his own species he wouldn't be sitting there without the slightest clue what the best way forwards was.

A small commotion drew his attention up to his favorite (and to date, only) knight. Sir Dumpling the tanuki walked in with all the pep and excitement he always held, announcing that Taemin had a visitor and that drew the King up straighter in his chair. He knew of no one he was expecting, and it was rare that he had actual visitors that didn't just pop into his company without regard to proper procedures. "Bring him in." He said, curious to see just who had come al the way to Bahamut's Summit to see him.

@♦ Christopher Bang "So it does have allies..." Taemin spoke in quiet surprise as he appeared in front of the cell, the shadows he had moved through shifting around him before settling again and he regarded the human with slight curiosity. Christopher Bang, Taemin knew of him only because Dumpling liked to ramble and had mentioned the mysterious human a time or two, enough for Taemin to have looked into him briefly. He was currently the cyborgs owner if Taemin was correct, from the last auction. "I apologize for damaging your property. I wish I could say I would return it to you, but I'm afraid I cannot." Glancing into the cell it looked for all the world like the cyborg had simply shut down. Taemin could detect no signs of function from it, but he knew that the magic that powered it was still inside the machine so he was still 'alive' or whatever erse version of living that was. It disgusted Taemin, unnatural, it shouldn't even exist. What that thing had done to create itself was appalling, what it continued to do was even more so.

Violence was not in Taemin's nature. It never had been. His penchant for avoiding unnecessary violence was what lead him to being banished from his own home when he was still young, and what had allowed him to stand on the sidelines as his own race fell from power and found itself on the brink of extinction. Violence was ugly, messy, crude. It wasn't something that Taemin preferred but this thing had crossed too many lines and had come far too close to too many people that Taemin cared about. This latest transgression was just the tipping point, the singular action he'd been waiting on to finally make his move and remove this thing from its unnatural existence. "I would rather you did not fight me. I do not wish to hurt you. Your magic is... unstable because of those runes on your arms. It would not be fair, nor safe, to engage in any kind of combat. It has brought this upon itself and its transgressions cannot be overlooked."

@❖ ♕ Lee Taemin Hyunjin had gotten himself into trouble. That much Christopher knew without a doubt. That cyborg, damn his soul if he had one, had no morals or even seemed to grasp the concept of never pushing things more than they should've been pushed. Hyunjin was aware of the line that had been made and would willingly cross it without a single regard. It always irked him, how careless that fool could be. How thoughtless he was. Mindless, empty. There was nothing in that abyss. Despite the handsome face and the alluring eyes, Hyunjin was only but a shell of a man that once was, what had died off way before Christopher's existence began. That "man" had always gotten on his last nerve, always managed to get under his skin without even needing to lift a ing finger. For reasons Christopher is adamant on keeping under tabs, he loathed Hyunjin and every fiber of him.

The resemblance between him and those men was uncanny. And it was not a favorable reminder.

Christopher found out what Hyunjin had planned to do after he heard reports about the cyborg's disappearance. It was unlike him to suddenly drop off the grid without a trace and leave everything his laboratory running. It didn't take long to piece two and two together - he knew Taemin had taken Hyunjin and took him back home. Back to Bahamut's Summit, a place the mage had only heard of in stories.

Was he really about do to this? Was he about to face an Elder Dragon just to save that prick? This was a risky move to break in and try to rescue his slave. A /very/ risky move. He only heard of Taemin from that little tanuki and even then, the emphasis on magic was prominent; this man was undoubtedly more powerful that this mortal mage could ever hope to be. Needless to say, Christopher doesn't exactly plan on coming out unscathed or alive, for that matter. Perhaps it's why he is so calm, standing there in front of Hyunjin's little "cell" while completely ignoring the fact that his presence triggered the alarms. The mage knows what he's getting into coming here like this, facing someone like this.

'If I survive this,' Christopher began, staring down at the cyborg with an unimpressed scowl. 'You better start regarding me with more respect.' With that, he turns around with hands in his pocket to face his foe, taking a slow inhale through his nose. This was about to get really ugly really quick...

@♦ Christopher Bang To say that Taemin was angry would be a pale understatement compared to the absolute fury that sent shockwaves throughout the Kingdom. The ground was vibrating and the castle trembling around him with a rage that he only kept contained by sheer force of will. All he wanted to do was tear apart the miserable /thing/ that dared to lay its disgusting, unnatural, hands on what was so precious to him. Had the egg been harmed in any way Hyunjin wouldn’t still be existing in this world. It was only still alive because the egg was safe and back in a secure location where it would remain so. The /thing/ of course held no remorse of any kind for its actions. Taemin hadn’t bothered to interrogate it, he knew better by now. Hyunjin wasn’t even alive, it had long since lost anything that would have made it living hundreds of years ago. It was an unnatural blight upon the world that Taemin would rather see exterminated and erased from existence. However, it was friends with his daughter and despite Taemin’s absolute fury he was loath to move against his daughter. Yooa was far too kind and too trusting for her own good, and Taemin knew that the world would take that from her someday, but it would not be his hand that caused it.

That left him with little options. He couldn’t destroy the thing like he wanted to, and he couldn’t very well release it either for what it had done. So he left it, locked away deep in the dungeons of the palace where the light would not reach it. He had taken away all of its little toys and gadgets and the runes that lines its cell would keep any magic from being used within, and anyone who was not Taemin from entering. If anyone attempted to teleport to reach the thing it would find itself outside the cell and Taemin would be alerted. He doubted the thing had any kind of friends or allies who would come looking for it, but he wasn’t one to overlook the possibility. It would not escape until Taemin released it, and Taemin had no intentions of doing so. Perhaps a thousand years in darkness would teach it something, but he doubted that. It had no emotions, it was incapable of learning.

@❖ Chris Roma Dinner time, Mi Ni ponder what she would like to have after a visit to one of her sibling. Floating across the vast of land of Heleo, eyes lazily gazing down below in search of what could excited her for a meal. Well, not like that were ever a hard task to the demon of Gluttony. Honestly, if she really wanted, she probably even devour the cloud she is currently laid on. Or that tree down there that remind her of a broccoli. Or perhaps that tiny bird that flew in group. Anything seem delicious to her, any time, any moment.

Ponder what to eat isn't the exact favorite past time she like, but consider it is about food, it always worth it. Plucking a piece of cloud and plop it in , it melt away like cotton candy. Eyes glance down at the land of the dragon as she found herself absentmindedly and unknowingly come to. Decide that there is no need to ponder since it seem like fate has brought her to her dinner when he spot some dragon egg below, of course, hidden to other but not to her. Without thinking much about it, she went down with a happy smiles, latching herself on the egg before swallowing it whole. A faint burp of satisfaction came follow with a small giggle. "That was delicious," she said before proceed to devour a few more eggs nearby.

Afterward, she flew up to the sky, once more lazing on one of the tasteless cloud while still plucking it and pop them into for dessert. Bare legs kicking and sometime hitting onto her buttock, eyeing down once more while she /digest/ her meal. Her eyes caught a silhouette, a familiar figure, reminded her of someone special to her in the past, the long distant past. Clearly, the man looks wasn't of that person that stay in her heart, but the movement come from his body, the way he turn his head, a few more similarity actions, all those was enough to remind her of that man she once love so dearly. She decided to approach him, wanting to see more of the actions that remind her of that person. At least, she can see him through this man, someone who show some similarity to her deceased lover.

Staying close enough to see him yet far enough for him to not notice that she is watching. "The similarity, so close, so alike," she mutter quietly as her eyes glued to the person in question. She wonder, ponder, if he could be, maybe, related? Or could be the reincarnation? But that can't explain the different looks, yet can't explain the similar movement. So strange. So unexplainable. Yet it drawn her to him. So many questions and she can't answer any.

@❖ ♕ Lee Taemin (Omg random but I love this)

After receiving the letter that had been left at his door of his room **assuming he rents a space here and there**
Gabriel had taken a few days to really think over what exactly he would do, and would this kind of offer and position suite him? He decided to take on the journey at least and see who this Lee Taemin really was. Though he had heard of him before...
Still he had never physically seen him, Gabe wasn't the type to pay attention to anything in particular when it came to status but once he knew something he always kept note. "Well I might not be full dragon but he seems to be interested in me, here goes nothing." He said to himself as he has morphed into his dragon form, his not being any bigger than a German Mastiff dog **for a dog those were huge** and his wings were a beautiful green and purple iridescent, coating his black leathery body the wings also black. Yet he did possess a white heart shaped marking directly on his leathery chest, and on his dragon faced head was the embedded gemstone that was half opal and half amethyst.

((Ah I haven't truly figured out how I'd like for his gemstone to look so if u can imagine a stone that really is half n half and molded together naturally somehow and it just inunder his human skin than you can please do- lol. Dragon form it's obvious I'm sure.))

@⚜ Kang Daniel "Let me make one thing very clear right now Daniel. I don't need to be your enemy. I would prefer not to be. Whatever is happening to the halflings, and to whatever is left of my race, was happening well before I took the crown. So you can either work with me, or work against me." Taemin said with a sigh. He wasn't in the mood to entertain a child wanting to play superhero. If Daniel was unwilling to help then Taemin would deal with him a different way, but he couldn't say that he hadn't at least tried. He would rather not have this halfling as his enemy, if only because it was less convenient to have to deal with him. Taemin knew the balance in the kingdom was precarious at best, and an outright show on average. He'd seen it, he'd lived it. He'd known this land when the dragons were still at the height of their power. He'd watch it fall and crumb into ruin, and he was watching the last remnants of what was left trying to scrape itself back together.

@❖ ♕ Lee Taemin Daniel took a finaly glance around his surroundings as lips kissed the rim of his glass, pushing the liquor passed them. He set his short glass towards the bartender while his hand had brushed through the sort locks of amber hair. Silence remained following the king's question. Only a lengthy lingering golden stare towards the royal. Orbs since to glow with the dim light candles inside the tavern. To him, surely the King would have his loyalities to fill him in with the mess among the kingdom. Or, if Taemin wasn't blind, he could see the streets dirty and his lower class hiding from being enslaved. Daniel had became the back bone of the halfings. Family or not. They relied on the crimelord to give them a safe place from the purebloods.

There was a number of them and Daniel could see the rise of the half breeds. Who knows. Maybe they'll spark a revolt. Of course, they'd all have to keep it lowkey. The thought of it only made Daniel snicker little as his mind was somewhere else. "They haven't completely died out. People are kidnapping your people under your nose and breeding them in incaptivity and experimenting with other breeds. Do you realize how many of us are there now? What are you going to, our King?"

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@⚜ Kang Daniel "Good, that's what I wanted to hear." Taemin nodded, his heavy tone lifting almost immediately and he relaxed back in his chair as he finished off his drink. "I won't tolerate that in my Kingdom, anything else you're welcome to do what you will. Mostly. I have to keep some rules I suppose, but really... the old ways were a joke. There's a reason the dragons have all but died out, and I have no interest in bringing them back. You are the future Daniel, and I've been absent from the world a long time." He admitted, deciding that being open and honest would probably be the best way to go. He could only imagine what kind of anger the halfling was harboring and Taemin couldn't blame him for any of it.

"So tell me, honestly this time, how is business going?" He asked, gesturing to the bartender for a refill of his drink. He was content to talk to Daniel for a bit, he seemed far more knowledgeable about the truth of the current state of the kingdom than Taemin himself was. Valuable insight for any King to have. "And don't worry, I'm not here to shut you down. It would rather stupid of me to tear down the only solid infrastructure in the Kingdom."

@❖ ♕ Lee Taemin Slender fingers tussled back amber hair after finishing his drinking and pushing it towards the bartender, indicating for another in silence. Meanwhile, his ears listened to the king calling out his illegal activities to which Daniel still played koy about. The half dragon's now refilled glass sat between his lips as he took a fresh sip. He let the warmth of the alcohol burn the back of his throat and let it travel down. Civily. Heh. This time, a small sharp glare daggered towards Taemin. There wasn't civilary towards halflings before and today doesn't make a difference. Daniel had to stop himself from blowing a gascet and let it go.

"No," Said the half dragon with stern flat tone. Despite the threatening glint in the dragon's eye, Daniel didn't back down either. "You think I'm the type to traffic people? Please." There was offessiveness in his voice. Daniel was much higher than those to sell people off the boarders into the hidden market. Being a victim of ual assault himself, he had no interest in forcing that onto others. "You have the wrong person."

@⚜ Kang Daniel "I would say it's seen better days. Much like everything else here," Taemin answered with a small shrug, a smile dancing at his lips as he sipped his drink. "But we both know I wasn't talking about the bar, Daniel. I have no desire to be your enemy, why should I? I cannot, however, let things go entirely unchecked." He explained, sighing though he kept his tone just as quiet and conversational, like he was about to start complaining about tedious office work, and not talking to a gang leader about his illicit activities. "I would like to ask for your honesty. We can be civil, you and I, keep things peaceful. I would prefer that." He admitted, watching the amber liquid in his glass as he idly tipped it from one side to the other. Lifting his jewel blue gaze to the half-dragon he offered a smile that was as pleasant as it was threatening. "Are you trafficking people across my lands or my borders?"