EIDYH-07✌️

The Dragon’s Choice

Why are ominous premonitions never wrong?

Seriously—if instincts didn’t exist, how could they be this accurate?

As I stood there, staring at the spectacle in front of me, I found myself trying to escape from reality by focusing on random, useless thoughts.

“Whoooaaaa!”

The latest trainer attempting to approach the Agryx dragon stumbled back in a panic, desperately swatting at the burning edge of his tunic. Black smoke curled from the fabric, set aflame by a single spark from the dragon’s snorting nostrils.

The Agryx dragon watched him flee with what could only be described as bored amusement. It lifted its head ever so slightly—clearly unimpressed—and flicked the tip of its tail in a languid, arrogant gesture.

“As expected.”

“Oh no, I’m next…”

“I have to try, at least…”

Melissa clutched her training flute tightly, face pale with dread. I couldn’t blame her.

“This is fucking insane.”

There was no better way to describe it. Even if it sounded crude, it was the only phrase that truly captured the absurdity of what we were witnessing.

The Agryx dragon wasn’t simply intimidating—it was outright hostile. It refused to let anyone come near, snorting sparks and flapping its wings to blow trainers back like paper dolls. It didn’t need to roar or lunge; its sheer disdain was enough to keep even the boldest at bay.

And the worst part?

It knew. The dragon knew it was untouchable. That the trainers couldn’t retaliate, couldn’t raise their voices, couldn’t even show irritation without risking being incinerated.

“It’s not going to be easy,” I muttered.

If the Duke had truly come here to find someone to tame this dragon, then he must’ve already exhausted every other option. The family’s exclusive trainers must’ve tried—and failed—before coming to us.

“Number fifteen!”

“Ugh… wish me luck,” Melissa groaned.

“If you get a bad feeling, just run.”

She nodded weakly and stepped forward. As she approached the dragon, she pulled out a bundle of calming incense—standard procedure now, ever since that first poor soul got singed bald.

But the Agryx dragon had grown wise to it.

With a sharp snort, a fresh shower of sparks ignited the incense in Melissa’s hand. In an instant, the bundle and part of her sleeve went up in flames.

“Ahh!”

Melissa stumbled back. The dragon didn’t even blink—just yawned, bored out of its mind.

Its attitude was outrageous. As if it were saying, “You dare approach me? You insignificant thing?”

My head ached just looking at it. Whoever ended up with this dragon would have the hardest time of their life.

“All women are the same,” Thompson sneered, snickering from behind.

I ignored him and rushed to Melissa’s side.

“You okay?”

“Yeah… just a little scorched fabric.”

“Next!”

“Watch and learn,” Thompson smirked. “You’re about to see how it’s done.”

Neither Melissa nor I bothered responding.

What was the point? He’d strut up there, get singed like the rest of us, and return with his tail between his legs.

“I’m going to handle this perfectly,” he declared, holding a bundle of incense like it was a royal gift.

“You’re going to tame an Agryx when you couldn’t even manage Rock Will?” I muttered under my breath. Dream on.

I watched Thompson approach the dragon, fully expecting it to roast him on the spot.

But then…

“…Huh?”

To everyone’s surprise, the dragon didn’t attack.

It didn’t flare its nostrils, or spark, or even so much as twitch.

It just blinked slowly—its golden, ember-glowing eyes fixed on Thompson.

“…Is this really happening?” Melissa murmured.

I stared, baffled. Ignorance is bliss, they say—but this?

This was something else.

Thompson kept moving, now close enough to touch the dragon’s lava-colored scales.

“See? What’d I tell you? Some things just need confidence,” he boasted.

He reached out, smug and overconfident.

And then—

CRACK.

The air split with a deafening sound.

In a blink, Thompson’s body was thrown high into the air like a rag doll.

“Wha—?!”

A red blur surged forward.

The dragon moved like lightning, pinning him down under one massive forepaw before anyone could even react.

“That tall idiot!” someone shouted.

It hadn’t allowed him close. It had only tolerated his arrogance until it no longer could.

Now its mouth glowed with fiery light, and smoke billowed from its nostrils.

Panic surged in the crowd.

I didn’t even think. My hand moved to the dragon’s whistle at my neck and I blew—hard.

The sound wasn’t audible to human ears, but to dragons, it was as piercing as a shout.

The dragon’s head snapped toward me, its pupils wide and glimmering with fury.

“Krrrrrrrrrr…”

“Get your magic tools ready,” I warned, backing away from the others. “Don’t come near!”

“Lithia!”

Melissa tried to reach for me, but I shook my head. I had its attention now—if anyone else got close, they’d be caught in the blast.

“God, I’m such an idiot,” I muttered. “Should’ve just let him roast.”

It was too late now. I’d stepped in—reflex, instinct, occupational hazard.

The dragon roared, searing hot breath curling from between its teeth as it threw Thompson aside like trash. He landed hard, rolling across the ground to the feet of those who had just prepared their magic tools.

I caught a glimpse of him—dazed but alive.

Then the dragon turned its attention back to me.

The red glow from its scales was hypnotic, terrifying. It truly was like standing before a volcano on the verge of eruption.

It lowered its head slightly, snarling. Flames licked the corners of its mouth, and the grass beneath it yellowed and withered from the toxic heat of its breath.

I raised one hand to stop the other trainers from casting any spells.

If we stunned it suddenly, it might lash out in panic. If that happened, I’d be reduced to ash in less than a second.

“Look at me,” I said quietly.

I held its gaze, refusing to look away. Its pupils flickered—constricting, dilating, swirling with emotion.

It spread its wings halfway and exhaled again, raising its spine, sharp thorns along its back twitching with irritation.

“I won’t come close unless you let me,” I told it calmly.

I took two small steps back.

The pressure in its forelimbs lessened. It didn’t back off, but it didn’t advance either.

“Calm down,” I whispered.

I watched carefully. The dragon was intelligent. It didn’t attack mindlessly—it had sent a warning. That was all.

Even if Thompson hadn’t acted like an idiot, this was bound to happen eventually. Still, I owed him one punch to the gut later.

Preferably with my full strength.